Following the release earlier this year of the sequel to Jethro Tull’s 'Thick As A Brick,' on November 6th EMI will release a 40th anniversary edition of the original album.

In 1972, Ian Anderson wrote and recorded the Jethro Tull Progressive Rock classic album ‘Thick As A Brick’. The lyrics were credited at the time to the fictitious child character, Gerald Bostock, whose parents supposedly lied about his age. The record instantly became a number one Billboard Chart album and enjoyed considerable success in many countries of the world.

The 40th Anniversary Edition features a new 5.1 stereo mix, mixed by Steven Wilson, plus a DVD containing DTS & Dolby Digital 5.1 surround mix, high quality stereos 96/24 (new mix and 1972 flat transfer), the original newspaper over 40 pages, an article by Classic Rock’s Dom Lawson, rare photos from photographers Didi Zill and Robert Ellis, recording and touring mementos and much more, all contained in 104 page 7 ½”x 5 ½” hardback book. It will also be available as a 2 LP set with the original Thick As A Brick remix, and the new Thick As A Brick 2, both as 180gm audiophile pressings and available for the first time in vinyl . The package also has a 72-page 12x12 book all held in a hard card slipcase.

40th Anniversary Edition book details:
New stereo and 5.1 mixes by Steven Wilson
Original 1972 recording at Morgan Studios by Robin Black
The book contains:
-the original newspaper rebuilt for the 12 x 12 format on 16 pages of newspaper style paper (but more durable).
the 2012 newspaper printed on gloss paper (originally pdf files on the TAAB 2 DVD).
-an article by Classic Rocks’ Dom Lawson about ‘Thick As A Brick’
-an Ian Anderson interview conducted by The Reverend George Pitcher covering both albums, and the current 2012 tour.
-many rare 1972/73 photos from photographers Didi Zill and Robert Ellis covering ‘street’ and live situations and 2012 tour photos by Martin Webb.
-memories of the recording from engineer Robin Black.
-recording and touring memories from Martin Barre, Ian Anderson and Jeffrey Hammond.
-a Q & A with tour manager Eric Brooks with tour memorabilia and the full 1972 itinerary.
-Italian & German lyric translations of the original album and German, Czech, Italian, Polish, Russian, Spanish & Portuguese lyric translations for TAAB 2

LP
A 2 x LP set with the original Thick As A Brick remixed, and the new Thick As A Brick 2, both as 180gm audiophile pressings and available for the first time in vinyl . The package also has a 72 page 12x12 book all held in a hard card slipcase.

After 44 years of leading Tull to 54 countries worldwide and over 60 million albums sold, Ian Anderson celebrates a true progressive rock classic with old and new fans across the UK for a whole three weeks. Anderson is known as the flautist, singer and composer of the legendary Jethro Tull, formed in England in 1968 from the amalgamation of blues-based John Evan Band and McGregor’s Engine. Since their first performance at London’s famous Marquee Club in 1968, the band has released 30 studio and live albums and earned a prominent place in rock history.

More From Rock Music Report