Jethro Tull – Under Wraps: The Unwrapped Edition Deluxe Box Set Review
Plus Ian Anderson’s Walk Into Light Revisited
There are certain deluxe editions that do more than simply gather together extra tracks, alternate mixes and archive material. They make you reassess an album, sometimes even an entire period in a band’s history. For me, this new Jethro Tull Under Wraps: The Unwrapped Edition box set does exactly that.
This latest release in the ongoing Jethro Tull deluxe book-set series focuses on Under Wraps, originally released in 1984, but it also brings in Ian Anderson’s 1983 solo album Walk Into Light. That pairing makes complete sense, because both albums come from a period where Ian was pushing hard into electronics, programming, drum machines and the sounds of the early 1980s.
As with every release in this series, the presentation is superb. The hardback book format remains, for me, the ultimate way to present a single-album deluxe edition. I have said this many times before, but I still wish more legacy artists had followed this route. It is compact, beautifully designed, full of detail and gives the music the historical context it deserves.
The set includes five CDs and a Blu-ray, with Under Wraps, Walk Into Light, associated recordings from 1983–84, BBC live material, stereo, surround and Dolby Atmos mixes. Everything has been remixed by Bruce Soord, who many will know from The Pineapple Thief, as well as his recent work with Jethro Tull and Ian Anderson.
What makes this set especially fascinating is the approach to the drums. Under Wraps has always been known — sometimes unfairly dismissed — for its use of drum machines. Ian Anderson had mentioned when I interviewed him that they were hoping to revisit the drum sound, and Bruce Soord’s notes in the book explain how this was approached. Rather than bringing in a drummer to simply play over the top, which would have changed the feel of the album completely, Bruce has used more modern drum samples to retain the programmed structure while giving the drums a more acoustic and natural sound.
The result is transformational.
This is still Under Wraps. It has not been rewritten or turned into something else. But it now breathes in a way that perhaps it never quite did before. Dave Pegg’s bass has far more presence, the arrangements feel warmer, and the songs themselves come forward. Tracks such as “Lap of Luxury” and “Under Wraps” reveal just how strong Ian Anderson’s songwriting was during this period.
I have to say, this has been something of a revelation. Because this is not one of the Jethro Tull albums I know inside out in the way I know the classic 1970s material, I found myself coming to it with fresh ears. In some ways, I may have enjoyed this deluxe edition more than some of the more familiar albums in the series, simply because the music has been opened up so dramatically.
Walk Into Light also benefits enormously from this treatment. Heard alongside Under Wraps, it feels like an essential part of the same creative chapter. The new mixes give it more warmth and musicality, while still retaining that experimental early-80s identity.
The Blu-ray is excellent, with the Atmos and surround mixes, flat transfers, original masters and video material. There is not a huge amount of video content, but what is here — including a promo video and tour rehearsal footage — adds to the archive value.
The BBC live concert from Hammersmith Odeon in 1984 is another major highlight. It sounds superb and brings real energy to the material. Hearing songs from this period alongside tracks such as “Jack-in-the-Green” and “Hunting Girl” helps place Under Wraps within the broader Jethro Tull story rather than leaving it isolated as “the electronic one.”
The book itself is exactly what you would hope for from this series. Ian Anderson’s involvement means no stone is left unturned. The history, the interviews, the memorabilia, the track-by-track notes, the tour details and the recording background all help tell the full story. One of the things I admire about Ian is the respect he shows to musicians who have passed through Jethro Tull. People are allowed to have their say. That gives these sets a sense of honesty and completeness that many deluxe editions lack.
For me, Under Wraps: The Unwrapped Edition is not just another archive release. It is a genuine reassessment of a misunderstood album. Bruce Soord’s remix has brought out the musicianship, the warmth and the songwriting in a way that makes this period feel much closer to the central Jethro Tull canon.
Highly recommended — and, as always with these sets, they do not tend to hang around forever. Thank you for all your support
