Songs from the Mushroom?

[Nonfatman]

Here's something from Ray's website -- which by the way was the first Tull-related website ever on the internet. Ray founded it way back in the dim and distant nineties, when he released an album of acoustic Tull-inspired original music (and two Tull covers), entitled 'Somewhere in the Universe.'

Nowadays, Ray is the frontman of the superb Tull tribute band, Living with the Past, and, as we say in the Yiddish, he's a real mensch. We will be featuring them here, in a big way, in the next month or two, with a fun contest involving prize giveaways of their recent and very exciting DVD/CD release celebrating the 40th anniversary of Jethro Tull, and featuring special guest Dave Pegg on no less than six songs!

So here, with kind permission, is a painting by artist Gloria Laurie from Ray's site, entitled Songs From the Mushroom! I love the way Ian is sitting on top of the mushroom head, very phallic and in keeping with the randy side of Jethro Tull!



For a better look at it, and for more information on the band's 40th anniverary DVD/CD set, go to Ray's great site at:

www.universerecords.com/

Jeff

[livingwiththepast]

Thank you Jeff, and all, for the kind attention and words.....

The attached drawing is a great original piece of art by Gloria Laurie that was given to me whilst Tull was on tour in Vermont some years back. This drawing hangs in my home, but it was also made into a very intricately designed jigsaw puzzle by Tull fan Diane Swett and was presented to Ian backstage at the show. It was also framed and sealed, and I've no doubt that it has a special place in Ian's home today.

The 40th anniversary project was a great endeavor to be involved in, and I think it captured the heartfelt feelings all of us Tull fans have for one of the greatest, if not THE greatest band in history.

We also wanted the project to reflect our deep appreciation for what Ian, Martin, and Company have given us for these 40+ years....many years of great music that not only provided us with great enjoyment and cherished times, but also music that changed our lives in a very positive way.

This DVD/CD set is our gift to Tull (and their fans), to say thanks for the great shows, awesome recordings, their immense sacrifices running through airports, dodging groupies waving pens in their faces, eating inferior fast food on the fly, being taken away from their homes and families for months on end for our benefit, and especially for putting up with us tribute bands that pester them...but remind them of just how absolutely wonderful they really are!!!

A special thanks to Peggy for his involvement, inspiration, and superb playing on music he hadn't played in many years, yet played flawlessly, as we knew he would!

Many thanks all, and we look forward to the upcoming contest.

Ray - Living with the Past

[Nonfatman]

Here, from Ray's website is a description and photograph of the peformance they did in the Buffalo area, in 2008, in honor of the 40th Anniversary of Jethro Tull, with Dave Pegg as a special guest! The concert was recorded and released as a double CD and DVD, which we will be giving away as a prize during an upcoming contest here in March:

Lifes A Long Song 40th Anniversary Tribute to Jethro Tull

"Ray and Living With The Past performed in a very special 40th anniversary Tull tribute show in Clarence, NY. Joining the boys for this memorable performance was the great legendary bassist, Dave Pegg of Jethro Tull and Fairport Convention fame, along with special guest, international recording artist, PJ Wright.

The show, held at Club Infinity, Upstate NY was opened by Dave Pegg and PJ Wright performing a set of their amazing songs from Galileo's Apology, followed by Living with the Past, joined by Dave, doing a set of Tull classics.

This celebration of the great Jethro Tull's 40th anniversary captured live on DVD has been released on Universe Records and includes the performance DVD and two soundtrack CDs.. Licensed by kind permission of Ian Anderson and Chrysalis Music, Proceeds will go to various charities to benefit those in need."

Didn't I tell you they were real mensches!




TRACK LISTING

1. THICK AS A BRICK (18 min)
2. LIVING IN THE PAST
3. TO CRY YOU A SONG
4. CROSS EYED MARY
5. SALAMANDER
6. LEVEL PEGGING*
7. LIFE'S A LONG SONG*
8. SKATING AWAY*
9. BUDAPEST*
10. BROADSWORD*
11. MY GOD
12. TULL MEDLEY (Pibroch/Whistler/Passion Play/Songs From The Wood/Seal Driver)
13. LOCOMOTIVE BREATH

Living with the Past is:

Ray - vocals, acoustic guitar, flute
Erin Ward and John Berg - acoustic and electric guitars
Kevin Kukoda - keyboards, vocals
Chris Martin - bass
John Olivier - drums

Stayed tuned for more details on our contest and give-away, coming soon!

Jeff

[Deleted]

This an excellent I picked this up about 1 month ago and was quite impressed with it and also came with 2 cd's . Highly recommended

Thick As A Brick is great 20 minutes and to Cry You A song is nicely done as well. There are some surprises along the way that dance along . And Peggy makes an appearance as well so its a great two hours. I watching the DVD again right now. thanks Ray for great show

[Nonfatman]

Feb 15, 2010 19:38:47 GMT -5 @derekpith said:

This an excellent I picked this up about 1 month ago and was quite impressed with it and also came with 2 cd's . Highly recommended

Thick As A Brick is great 20 minutes and to Cry You A song is nicely done as well. There are some surprises along the way that dance along . And Peggy makes an appearance as well so its a great two hours. I watching the DVD again right now. thanks Ray for great show

I'm going to be doing a full review of their DVD soon, and then we're going to have a little contest with that, and perhaps some other things as prizes!

Jeff

[Deleted]

Well I picked it, with out knowing anything about Ray and Company and by the first minute was totally into it. Like I said I thought it was a great show.

[livingwiththepast]

Thanks Derek and Jeff. Glad you guys enjoyed it. Obviously a project like this is a tremendous amount of work, and attempting to do complex Tull music like The Brick and Budapest can be an overwhelming challenge! We worked very hard to put on a respectable performance, and we are pleased that the Tull fans who have gotten the project seem to be genuinely satisfied with our effort and in the quality of the production..

For people who have not yet seen it, please don't be shocked that I do not run around bug eyed, leaping about on one leg, throwing the flute up in the air, or Christ, even standing on one leg! The band and I are the sorts that concentrate on the musicality of the Tull experience, not the theatrics or mimicry of Tull. There are other fine Tull bands out there that do that well, but our goal was to try to duplicate the music to the best of our ability, and not get too involved in the persona aspects.....just wanted to set the stage and clear that up right up front.

Best wishes for a fun Tull contest! It's for you.......

Ray

[Deleted]

Ray you and the band certainly have the muscalitly of Tull down to science. The bug eyed look and leaping about might of taken a couple of extra weeks of practice anyway (lol),