Jethro Tull
20 Years Of Jethro Tull The Definitive Collection

When the box set '20 Years Of Jethro Tull' was released in 1988, a 3-CD box with a booklet, we were more or less at the beginning of the digital frenzy, and the definitive editions on CD and Blu-ray of the remastered editions of the reissues of the digital editions of the records had not yet been released, something that today makes enthusiasts spend copious amounts of money (and I, generally anchored to vinyl, look on with suspicion. Not that vinyl costs less).
The era is that of the "historic" anthology boxes - Crossroads, Biograph, Dreams - and in short, when the box set offers copious unreleased or rare material, one feels inclined to bless the advent of digital, which has put into circulation very precious things hidden in the archives.
This Tull box immediately stands out as one of the truly unmissable releases, being composed almost entirely of unreleased material: live versions, demos, alternative versions, singles, and proper outtakes, to such an extent that it astonishes and immediately classifies Jethro Tull among the ranks of the most prolific bands, and at a very high level.
Obviously, one must appreciate the Tull to rejoice in the unexpected harvest, but I tend to assume that one cannot really oppose such a versatile band, rich in surprises, nuances, genre changes, and explosive creativity, at least in their golden period.
What makes this box almost unique in the discography of all time is the extreme quality of the "leftovers" that survived the studio album sessions. Almost all the tracks, which were extensively completed and ready for eventual inclusion, make one jump in their seat and exclaim, but wouldn't it have been better to include this one instead of that one, or expand the vinyl offering? And the singles and B-sides, all songs that would have fully deserved to be on the albums, and the concert recordings that make one regret Ian Anderson's choice to limit live albums to the strictly necessary.
Those familiar with the great celebration of "Living In The Past" should consider that the fun continues here, and that many of the unreleased tracks included in this box set could have become great Jethro Tull classics (Overhang, Coronach, No Rehearsal, Beltane, Part Of The Machine, Living In These Hard Times, and others). The usual technique, the heart, and Anderson's Scottish pronunciation, the great variety of styles, and the ever-present spirited flute make this collection an indispensable piece of Jethro Tull's discography, and one of the most successful box sets in the history of rock.