Jethro Tull Plan 40th Anniversary ‘Thick as a Brick’ Reissue

Jethro Tull leader Ian Anderson has already commemorated the 40th anniversary of its hit 'Thick as a Brick' record by releasing a sequel -- and now the band is continuing the celebration by reaching back into the vaults for a newly remastered version of the original LP.

Due Nov. 5, the anniversary edition of 'Thick as a Brick' will, of course, boast some additional goodies on top of the new mix. Fans can also look forward to a DVD containing several presentations of the album (including a 5.1 mix and the "original transfer"), a 40-page newspaper that duplicates and expands the cover artwork, and new liner notes and essays in a 104-page book. In addition, 'Brick' will be available in a double-LP vinyl set that combines the original album with its 2012 sequel, which peaked at No. 2 on the Hungarian charts.

The follow-up to the band's smash 'Aqualung' record, 'Thick as a Brick' was reportedly Jethro Tull's sarcastic response to critics and fans who -- incorrectly, in the group's opinion -- called 'Aqualung' a concept album. Supposedly meant as a spoof of the concept album format, 'Brick' consisted of a single song, presented as the work of an eight-year-old boy named Gerald -- but spoof or not, it debuted at the top of the Billboard charts, and has gone on to become one of Jethro Tull's signature albums.