Jethro Tull questions...

Have "Benefit" on vinyl and "Stand Up" on CD...haven't heard the alternative format for either but enjoy the music on each of these very much. To my mind these two (followed by "Aqualung") are the best of the Tull releases. I remember when Aqualung first came out and how popular it was. I especially enjoy the reverb-heavy flute intro to "Cross Eyed Mary". Personally, I found subsequent Tull releases kind of boring (don't mean to offend). A bit off-topic but I'm posting mainly to ask if anyone else had ever read a comment by Ian Anderson that he (the band?) despised "Benefit". My recollection is it wasn't the recording they wanted to do; they were forced into it by the producer/record company. Might have the details a bit confused. Anyone else read that opinion by Anderson? Regardless, I find it a very magical recording.

Sgr:

The same can be said of Springsteen. I love the music, I just can't listen to it on anything other than a automotive system and even then.......

By the way I agree w/ you on the Aqualung remaster. Also when I checked the dr database pointed to by Mapman's link, it appears that CD is rated as acceptable. That certainly doesn't agree with what I've heard.

The DR databas site is very interesting, but I suspect the summary level measurements being done to quantify dynamic range alone are insufficient to determine the overall sound quality.

It is the shame one can't return a disc because it is unplayable because of poor sound quality. That would be the only way that the record companies would get the message to not produce junk.
I agree about Springsteen too. There are artists whose music I will never purchase again because, "Once bitten twice shy"!
A couple of reviews of the Japanese mini LP version of Aqualung on Amazon warn would be purchasers to save their money too.
I will look into the "live" version of Aqualung.
Strangely enough a friend owns s CD I believe is called 'Original Masters' sounds great. I see it was remastered by Steve Hoffman. That's why it sounds so good.
However this shows there was nothing the matter with the original master tapes, but just a crappy remastering/transfering to CD job done by Chrysalis.
What a shame!

i have a copy of one of the later cd issues i believe. i will rip it to music server give a fresh listen and report back.