Jethro Tull – Aqualung Live (2004) on Vinyl for the First Time
The classic Jethro Tull catalogue continues to offer surprises, and this latest release is one many fans—myself included—didn’t quite see coming: Aqualung Live, recorded in 2004 and now issued on vinyl for the very first time by Inside Out Records.
If you’ve followed this channel for a while, you’ll know that Aqualung was my own entry point into the world of Jethro Tull. My original early-70s UK pressing still sits proudly on my shelves, and over the decades I’ve also picked up the 25th Anniversary CD, the 40th Anniversary book edition, Steven Wilson’s remix, and the later deluxe CD/DVD sets. But this 2004 live performance? Somehow, I’d missed it.
And what a revelation it is.
Aqualung Live – A Unique Moment in the Tull Story
This recording isn’t from a grand arena, a festival, or a high-profile anniversary show. Instead, it was captured in 2004 in front of an audience of around forty people—a tiny, intimate gathering where the band revisited the entire Aqualung album in sequence.
As Ian Anderson explains in the new 2025 liner notes, this concert came right at the end of a tour. The band thought, why not? Let’s run through the whole album properly—live, raw, close-up. And that’s exactly what they did.
There are only two retakes in the entire performance:
A technical glitch on Martin Barre’s guitar during “Slipstream”
A moment where Andrew Giddings stumbled over the piano intro to “Locomotive Breath”—a piece he must have played hundreds of times, but with the audience literally in his lap, nerves won the day.
This isn’t just a run-through of the hits. It’s an immersive reinterpretation that brings out the acoustic delicacy, the danger, the humour, and the grit of the original album.
The Packaging & Sound Quality
Inside Out Records once again proves why so many collectors hold them in such high regard.
Gatefold sleeve
Album-sized 4-page insert featuring Ian Anderson’s fresh reflections (written in 2025)
Polylined inner sleeve – something Now Spinning Magazine continues to campaign for across all vinyl releases
High-quality pressing, silent and dynamic
Inside Out consistently deliver vinyl that is:
Clean out of the sleeve
Quiet without needing a wet clean
Warm, dynamic, and beautifully mastered
And this release follows suit—the quiet passages, the light and shade, the dynamic jumps all come through beautifully. This is Aqualung played in an intimate room—and the vinyl format preserves every detail of that space.
The Performance
Fresh enthusiasm from younger members of the 2004 lineup—musicians who weren’t even born when Aqualung first came out. Playful rearrangements on tracks like “Mother Goose” and “Hymn 43”
A wonderful atmosphere of intimacy, as if you’ve been invited into someone’s front room
There are no string quartets, no additional winds—just the band, reimagining Aqualung with electric guitars and live energy.
The only thing missing is some of Ian’s commentary between tracks, though a few snippets remain. But this was a conscious choice: the aim here is to present the album performance in full, without the usual stage banter.
If you’re a fan of Aqualung, this is essential. If you’re a fan of Tull in their mid-2000s live prime, this is essential.
For many years, this recording lived quietly on CD—now, finally, it’s been given the full vinyl treatment it deserves. For me, hearing this performance properly for the first time was a joy. And as someone who has long championed Aqualung in all its incarnations, this live version genuinely adds something new.
It is beautifully recorded, beautifully performed, and beautifully presented.
Highly recommended.
Phil Aston | Now Spinning Magazine
