Stormwatch The 40th Anniversary Force 10 Edition

The 40e “Stormwatch” Force 10 Edition picks-up where Tull left off last spring (2018) with these RE (reissues) as part of their late-70s “folk-rock” trilogy. These particular cd/dvd 5.1 bookset REs began with the (now OOP - and first in the “trilogy”) 40e “Songs from the Wood” in 2017; and that was followed-up with 5.1 bookset, the 40e RE of “Heavy Horses” (new shoes edition) in 2018 (my personal favourite) — all mixed in the now familiar, and (always) greatly-anticipated, surround-sound glory, that multi-talented (and now married) Steven Wilson brings to bear on the projects with which he chooses to participate.Simply put, after multiple “play-throughs“ of ALL the studio, 5.1 recordings associated with THIS release, it is evident to me that Steven Wilson’s (surround) soundscape-approach should become the standard by which all other audio engineers follow (more or less - MORE than less) in order to guarantee (some) conformity for consumers (as to what to expect) when labels “market” their (MUSIC) product as discrete, surround-sound.(For the record, Ian, these 5.1 booksets are quite a RE, fan-friendly package!)Lastly (with this go ‘round), not only does one get the original album in Wilson’s GLORIOUS, 5.1 surround-sound presentation on DVD1, but on DVD2, one gets 65+ MORE minutes of 24/96 dts 5.1 surround-sound via 13-associated recordings from the “Stormwatch” era - ALSO (all) remixed by Steven in 2.0 AND 5.1 surround.Wow!Quick follow-up: Ian Anderson considers “Broadsword and the Beast” to be the actual “last album” in the “folk-rock” “trilogy” (Ian’s words from a new, as of yet unreleased, Tull book called: “The Ballad of Jethro Tull”).So, for 2020 and beyond: along with an overdue, 5.1 re-RE of the “TAAB” cd/dvd 5.1 bookset (b/c of post-mix audio-glitches never fully-resolved with enough replacement, 5.1 DVDs from EMI before their dissolution), a “TAAB” 5.1 RE with extras or a “TAAB”/“TAAB II” (optical) 5.1 BOOKSET (similar to the 2012-duo vinyl boxset of same) would be greatly appreciated; and of course “Benefit” is deserving of (and has not yet received) this super-deluxe edition cd/dvd 5.1 bookset, RE treatment.Steven has done wonders with Tull’s back-catalogue - even finding treasures never before heard (let alone in surround-sound), let alone released (e.g. “Old Aces Die Hard”) — and he’s always breathed new-life into ALL of these tracks (e.g. 5.1 extras on “Aqualung” *adapted edition* RE circa 2016 - an EP’s worth of era-extras including “Life’s a Long Song” in discrete surround)Given this, there is hope that SW will find time to (at least) surround-mix the last of the “classic-era” Tull catalogue - an early 40e “Broadsword & the Beast” cd/dvd 5.1 RE bookset (late fall 2021 release) before he moves on — simply based on this breaking news!...which leaves the “Crest of a Knave” (1987) era album that did garner Tull in 1989, an overdue Grammy!*As another aside: Steven Wilson deserves an Immersive Audio (formerly Surround Sound) Grammy for his work on the Tull (5.1) canon - a going concern for the better part of the last decade. In particular, last year’s “HEAVY HORSES” (new shoes edt.) 5.1 was “overlooked,” but by far the best of the 2018 5.1 (IA) Grammy-lot imho; and that’s not meant to take anything from the 2018 IA Grammy recipient, who was properly rewarded and also deserving!So, call it “taking one for the fans,” but what Steven Wilson could do with “Crest ...” (esp. in surround), or better yet ALL of the albums up to and including “Crest...,” boggles the mind and tempts the imagination.In any case: “Thanks,” to Ian and Steven!My booksets are safely, but prominently stowed (see 1st pic) in my “surround-sound” archives, but I do wish more had access to these, as when they do go OOP (quite quickly in most cases), they command ridiculous ask$ in the secondary and tertiary markets. The proper thing to do imho, by the publisher (Rhino/Parlophone) would be to order another production run!

Marking the end of a decade in which Jethro Tull consistently released one album per year, one would think by then that 1979's "Stormwatch" would be merely an afterthought or rehash of previous material. Not the case. Anderson and the gang continued cranking out folk-rock with the same bravura as ever. Whether the music is familiar or not, if you know this era of Tull, Stormwatch is a must-listen.The 40th Anniversary Force 10 edition, like many (but not all) of the anniversary editions, does not disappoint. Yes, this set is noticeably more expensive than the other anniversary editions, and what you get across six discs is head-spinning: the Steven Wilson remix in stereo and surround in both redbook CD quality and hi-res 24/96, a flat transfer of the original mix in 24/96 stereo, a DVD-A of 'associated recordings,' much of which has been previously unreleased, and the full concert across two CDs of Tull's 1980 tour of the album recorded in The Netherlands. The latter is truly interesting - to hear the band improvise and play these songs with the energy of a live audience. There's some constant tape hiss in the live material, but it isn't distracting once your ears acclimate. But despite that, the sound quality is still quite good. Bottom line: it will take the greater part of a day to hear it all. Thank you Mr. Anderson!The packaging is top-notch, just like most previous releases in this series (1970's "Benefit" aside, which has yet to receive the royal packaging treatment). The liner notes are such a joy to read - you get a miniature book written in documentary style about the creation of the original album, the tour, and the remix. Wonderful.The main point of these sets, just like Mr. Wilson's work with the King Crimson back catalogue, is the surround sound. If all you do is listen to the new stereo mix, you'll appreciate what he has done, and I notice several places where channel shifting is different, and the soundstage is opened up and allowed to breathe. But the surround mixes are jaw-dropping. You'll hear things that truly are in the mix, but in stereo get "buried" by the limitations that 2.0 signals cause to our binaural hearing. In fact, in a few places, I have heard things that made me think there is new material being introduced, went back and carefully listened to the stereo, and confirmed that indeed everything in the surround mixes was there in the original stereo mix. Brilliant.Spend the money on this set. Stormwatch may not have the widespread popularity of "Aqualung" or "Thick as a Brick," but it is a real treat, and this refreshed anniversary edition is worth every penny.