This generous 17-song set is culled from live performances from all over the world: Athens, Berlin, Jerusalem and Munich, to name a few. Despite a few intense electric moments ("Locomotive Breath," "A New Day Yesterday") this is very much in the "unplugged" tradition, meaning many of the formerly electric rock numbers are recast in gentler settings, featuring spare, acoustic accompaniment. The approach is perfectly suited to the songs of Jethro Tull and Ian Anderson's image as the rustic troubadour.
The collection provides a thorough retrospective of the group's career, from the blues-rock that marked its earliest incarnation (""The Sun Won't Shine For You") to classic hit singles like "Living in the Past," which has been reworked into a purely instrumental version. Anderson revisits some of the cream of his later records on songs like "Pussy Willow" and the instrumental "Under Wraps." Highlights also include the gentle "Bouree," a longtime concert staple based on a Bach theme, which remains utterly charming. The group stretches out on a spirited, reggae-tinged rendition of the traditional "John Barleycorn," which was made popular by Traffic in the mid-'70s.