THE JETHRO TULL CHRISTMAS ALBUM- FRESH SNOW AT CHRISTMAS (Inside Out) (2024)

Here’s one to look forward to: available in a 180g 2 x LP edition or a 4 x CD + Blu-Ray. In the latest PROG magazine Ian Anderson describes Tull’s Christmas music as “more seasonal than Christmas”. I remember buying ‘Love Story/ A Christmas Song’ when it came out in 1968, or shortly thereafter, and admiring an early example of protest against the commercialisation of Christmas and an excellent tune to go with a brilliant A-side. But the commercialisation back then could not light a candle (pun intended) to the crazy level of advertising and premature hype we have to endure these days. As Mr Anderson says: he prefers to consider the festive season in more spiritual terms. And so, we have some of the best Christmas/ seasonal songs written: ‘Ring Out, Solstice Bells’ (shame that as Mr A notes, “it’s about the only radio play we get”), ‘Bourée’ (with a little help from Bach), ‘Jack Frost and the Hooded Crow’ – it’ll all be there, and much more on 6th December. I believe there is also a 2008 concert at St. Bride’s Church in Fleet Street, London as part of the package.