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Versione 1
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This review could easily have the subtitle: 'How to make an already spectacular album truly stellar.' It seems strange to say, but Heavy Horses (New Shoes Edition) takes us to a literally cosmic dimension (maybe even more); suffice it to say that among the Associated Recordings there is also an almost unheard version of Living In These Hard Times, a song whose first version had already been included among the bonus tracks in the standard remastered version of Heavy Horses released in 2003.
But let’s go in order. This re-release was issued on March 2, 2018, precisely on the occasion of the album's fortieth anniversary. This deluxe repackage consists of 3 CDs and 2 DVDs. In CD 1 we find the album and the Associated Recordings, including the two versions in which the song (spectacular, as far as I'm concerned) Living In These Hard Times was recorded. I must admit that my favorite is the second version, the one with the strings masterfully arranged by David (now Dee) Palmer. After that, there's a whole series of unreleased songs, or at least those that remained in the band's archives without anyone deciding to bring them to light for the joy of the numerous fans scattered throughout Europe (and beyond). One of these is surely Horse-Hoeing Husbandry, a song inspired by the namesake book written by the English agronomist from whom the band takes its name. Among the pleasant surprises, there are also Botanic Man and Botanic Man Theme, tracks written to be used as soundtracks for television documentaries of the same-named series, although they were never used. We also find wonderful confirmations: Beltane, a song that had already been included among the bonus tracks of the remastered edition of the album Songs From The Wood released in 2003. Among the rarities, there's the very first version of Jack-A-Lynn, a song that, in its final form will be subsequently included in the remastered version of the album The Broadsword And The Beast in 2005, another truly spectacular album whose re-release we Tull enthusiasts are eagerly awaiting (which will most likely be called The Broadsword And The Others, given the amount of B-sides, unreleased songs, and early versions recorded during the album sessions), planned, it seems, for March 2023. We also find a truly delightful listen: Everything In Our Lives. Additionally, among the surprises, there is also the studio version of Quatrain, a track that was included in the live double album Bursting Out. It should be noted that on this CD, there is a ghost track: A Town In England. CD 2 and CD 3 complement each other, in the sense that CD 2 contains the first part of the concert that Tull held in Bern (Switzerland) in May 1978. It’s a great concert, but not my favorite (in this respect, I prefer the concert they held in Chicago in 1970).
Finally, as for the two DVDs, it should be said that the first is an audio DVD that includes Heavy h the entire album and the following Associated Recordings: Living In These Hard Times (version 1 and 2), Everything In Our Lives, Jack-A-Lynn (Early Version), Horse-Hoeing Husbandry, Beltane, Botanic Man and Botanic Man Theme in the 5.1 DTS, AC 3 Dolby Digital Surround, and 96/24 LPCM Stereo audio formats. It also contains the original stereo mixes of the album, of the songs: Rover (no strings version), Living In These Hard Times (Version 2), Beltane and Quatrain, in the 96/24 LPCM Stereo audio format. The second DVD, on the other hand, is an audio and video DVD, and includes the recording, originally made in 24 tracks, of the concert at the Festhalle (Bern [Switzerland]) in 5.1 DTS, AC 3 Dolby Digital Surround, and 96/24 LPCM formats. It also contains the promotional videos for Heavy Horses and Moths, and two promotional spots for Bursting Out.
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