Jethro Tull - Thick as a Brick Anniversary Edition - Page 2

Look, the FACEBOOK post said "information to be available soon".
People are pissed about the glitches, the glitches are going to fixed, current owners will be able to exchange, new stock will be available.
Tell me what of the above is a sham?
What more do you require?

I would imagine that once a replacement disc is available, those of us who have the defective set already will have to contact the record label and they will send it out. That is how I got fixed discs the last two times there were problems (Rush Sector sets and the remixed Genesis Seconds out). Incidentally, appears that the fixed disc will not only have the glitches removed, but the overly bright, phasey treble as well.

I listened over the weekend and I agree 100%. From about 6:00 to 11:00 it's extremely painful and I actually heard some crackling out of the left rear around 10:20. Ouch! No bass either. It reminds me of the Genesis surround mixes, but at least SW agrees there was a problem - unlike the deaf people (like Tony Banks) who saw nothing wrong with the Genesis garbage.


Here's the latest from SW:


"Have just approved the new replacement DVD and it sounds wonderful now! At least to me it does, if you still think the 5.1 sucks then only me left to blame, flat transfer / no glitches (-:"


http://www.quadraphonicquad.com/forums/showthread.php?16826-Jethro-Tull-Thick-As-A-Brick-(Steven-Wilson-5-1-DTS-Dolby-DVD)/page6

That's excellent news. I was only expecting to see the glitches removed, but if SW also fixed the harsh and bright sonics, the end result may be what this recording deserves.

Still hoping that someday we would get a lossless version with high resolution images so you could read the newspaper pages on a large display (Blu-ray anyone?) Still, I can't complain too much if SW can improve the audio to an acceptable level. It is TAAB in glorious surround after all, when a couple of years ago I doubted it would ever happen.

The Genesis SACd”s were a supreme disappointment! Banks and Rutherford made sure the keyboards, vocals and guitars sounded good but apparently Collins just wanted the money and couldn’t be bothered to correct the drum sound. Nick Davis felt the drum sound was dated! Well yeah the music is from the 70’s! The big drum sound that was the defining characteristic of Trick of the Tail, it’s MIA. The bottom end did a disappearing act. My Redbook remaster from the 90’s has a drum sound that knocks you off your feet! Unfortunately the Redbook can’t compete with the clarity and openness overall, especially the vocals. When I listen to the SACD’s it makes me sad that a onetime opportunity to get it right was squandered.
Thank goodness that Gabriel gives a damn about the fans and his legacy. The Box that includes his time with the band sounds the best. The drums actually have some impact. I wish they had gotten someone else to do the mixes. Davis obviously wanted to put his stamp on these boxes and unfortunately he was 2 for 3.

I don't think it is SW 'fixing' anything necessarily, just avoiding the damage that was apparently done by the subsequent mastering. I do not believe he re-mixed anything for the replacement disc, although it would be interesting to know for sure.

I don't think any of the band members other than Banks had much input at all to the process other than essentially rubber-stamping the final result. The problem with the sets is mastering not mixing. IMO, the SACD 5.1 discs have the best low end of any version.

I realize he probably didn't remix, I don't think the surround mix was necessarily at fault, but he must have had some input in the remastering based on his comments. That's what I meant by "fixing" the fidelity problems since it evidently was a result of the mastering to begin with.

I own just about every project SW has worked on (PT, No-Man, Blackfield, Bass Communion, KC, ELP, Anathema, Opeth, IA, JT, his solo work, what else did I leave out?) and I have confidence that the TAAB will be improved if he states it is so. I also give him credit for admitting the original TAAB DVD was substandard.
Edited by scolumbo - 11/27/12 at 9:10pm

Just got an email from Burning Shed saying that they will send a replacement disc, when available, without a need for buyers to do anything! Wow! A sixth star for a five-star operation!

The key words here from SW are 'flat transfer'.

Most final mixes are 'mastered' onto their target delivery vehicles, a DTS 5.1 surround track in this case, and often the mastering engineer, usually someone other than the mixer (SW in this case), performs that step. They apply EQ, compression and all kinds of crap that can destroy the fidelity of the original mix. And in this case (of the original pressing), even introduce artifacts into the output.

So a 'flat transfer' means the master mix has zero effects applied to it during mastering, not even level adjustments.

SW insists on flat transfers of his personal recordings, so if delivered on DVD-A or BluRay, they are essentially bit-copies of his masters. Which is as all recordings should be delivered

Yep, I got the same e-mail from Burning Shed. Nice to know that a replacement disc will be sent without the need to send the old disc, or the whole package, back.

I pay a little more for shipping across the pond from BS, but it's a first-class operation. When the Anathema Weather Systems was poorly mastered onto DVD-V and there were complaints, they made lossless FLAC files available for download free. I always choose to give them my business if it's available through them, and with all of SW's projects, they've gotten a lot of my business.

It sure sounds like SW came through again, and insisted on a quality product that has his name associated with it, even if he wasn't involved in the original mastering. I'm still amazed that he seemingly convinced Sony to release the ELP re-issues on DVD-A.

He's the best! A great musician, and a true fan of the music as well. It is clear that he appreciates these classics as deeply as many of us do, and they are a labor of love for him. I can't wait to hear his work on Tull's A Passion Play; like Crimson's Lizard and Islands, an overlooked masterpiece even by the creator. It's too bad that EMI isn't releasing TAAB or APP as DVD-A, but it could happen some time in the future. One can hope.

Yeah, the word was Banks was was the only one actively involved with the box sets. He actually came out and defended them in print. If the SACD is the best, that's not saying much. I listened to the Lamb SACD in 5.1 over the weekend and it was wretched, to say the least. In fact, I couldn't believe how similar it sounded to the TAAB DVD. That's why I brought it up in the first place. The sad part is, Steve Wilson and Ian Anderson have at least acknowledged TAAB is defective, while we're stuck with the Genesis stuff as it is.

Any word on the replacement disk?

I inquired with Amazon UK yesterday and they replied that their supplier still could not ship the correct article. If and when it is available, They will send one out with no additional cost.

According to a poster in the QQ Forum, a replacement disc was received today from EMI Germany.

Burning Shed reported they have the replacement discs in stock and they are shipping them out to buyers.


Unfortunately, those of us who bought TAAB from a B+M store will probably have to contact EMI directly. I've been keeping tabs on this on a couple of forums and will report if I find out anything.

Amazon UK are dispatching a whole new set to me tomorrow. No need to return the faulty set. They suggest donating it for charity. Any ideas?

Boy Scouts

Thanks! This is what I have been waiting to hear. Ordered it right away from Amazon UK as I don't trust Amazon US to get it right with the new set. So it will arrive after Christmas; I can wait to hear it done right. Hope that the experience doesn't delay (or stop) EMI from releasing an anniversary edition of A Passion Play.

Below is a message from Amazon USA where I bought my copy from. While I'm disappointed they are not sending me a replacement like their UK site at least it was easy enough to get a credit without having to go through the hassle of returning the item. Nil you were smart to not order from the USA site, most likely the old version or you'd need to go through a re-seller. Steve

From Amazon CSR:
I'm sorry to know that the item you received turned out to be defective. This usually doesn't happen. That's definitely not what we want our customers to experience. I can completely understand your disappointment. I will surely help you with this concern.

When something like this happens, I'd normally send out a replacement order. In this case, though, we don't have any more stock of the CD.

Instead, I've requested a full refund in the amount of $26.85 to your credit card. You'll see the refund in the next 2-3 business days.
Once processed, you'll also be able to see the refund here:

There's no need to return the item you received. You can keep, donate or dispose it off as per your convenience.

The item is available from another seller on our site. If you're interested in placing a new order with a seller, go to the page below to see the offers available:


I'm sorry I wasn't able to be of more help. We hope to see you again soon.

I had ordered from Amazon US. Does that mean I have to contact Amazon and get a refund? I just want the replacement disk. And... how do you know when you re-order that you are getting the "new and improved" version of the disc? This does not make me happy in the least bit.

Order it from Burning Shed and you know you'll get the correct version. Might be a little more with shipping, but I learned a long while ago it's worth it to get first-class customer service for just these types of situations.

Amen to that. I usually order from Burning Shed, that's how I get all my Steve Wilson discs.

But I was weak / lazy, as I just clicked through someones link here and ordered TAAB via Amazon, and now need to figure out how to get refund/replacement.

According to what i've read on the Jethro Tull forum EMI will most likely set up a P.O. box where you can send for a replacement disc.

This is the new listing on Amazon US for TAAB:

http://www.amazon.com/Thick-Brick-40th-Anniversary-Combo/dp/B00APTBXMA/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1356381537&sr=8-7&keywords=thick+as+a+brick+40th+anniversary

It "should" be the corrected version since it will not be released until 1/2/13.

The mod over there was just stating he thinks EMI will do this. There is no confirmation of this and no other word so far.

There is no site yet for this but if you contact EMI you can have a replacement sent to you. .
I have a friend who has already received his replacement disc from EMI.
This one by the way has NO glitches and sounds FANTASTIC.

I'm still waiting for my replacement from Burning Shed to arrive. So there's a noticeable SQ improvement besides just the glitches removed?