When you said "Jethro Tull sounds country to me!", my wife burst out laughing. "Boy is he in for a surprise!". Jethro Tull (Tull, like in the hull of a boat) is this British band's name. Ian Anderson sings lead and plays the flute (self taught, by the way). He also plays guitar and other instruments and does the writing and arrangements. That 'clicking' sound you mentioned, is done by the lead guitarist, strumming the string, but muting them with his fingers across the frets. Next, you should do 'Minstrel in the Gallery', by Tull. 'Aqualung' is good, also 'Two Fingers', 'The Third Hoorah' and 'Cross-eyed Mary'. The group had so many great songs, l can't mention them all. Ian is a showman and their live concerts are great. I had the privilege of seeing them live at St. Lawrence University in Northern NY State, l believe it was, in the fall of 1970. A long time ago. Ian is still out there performing Tull songs and has announced a new album.
not just Clapton but soo many other great guitarist of that era, so he thought they would do something different. so he picked up the flute for the first time about 2 weeks before their first gig and taught himself as he went along, and ended up amazing at it. maybe try thick as a brick live, or 'my god' live for a sample of his performance style
It's called "A Magic Flute" for a reason. Just ask the Pied Piper or H.R. Pufnstuf. Like a "Sexy Sax" each instrument has their INFINITE power. If you can collect 6 of them in one hand you can SNAP half of existence into your corner of fandom. Like Prince for instance.
It's strumming of guitar. He is playing the flute and you can still hear the strumming with the flute. I would mention that you can't play the flute and sing at the same time but HE actually can. Love you both!🤗
Not named Jethro Tull, but Ian Anderson whom also raced dirt bikes. You can see him in the movie "On Any Sunday" also there racing with him is legendary Steve McQueen.
Another musical genius, but so sad how he got screwed over at every turn. I will never forget listing to CCR's Greatest Hits back in the early 90s while driving to go trout fishing in SW Wisconsin. One awesome song after another. I actually drove though Lodi, WI on the way. Every song is good, but I especially love Molina, Proud Mary, and Lodi.
@@timlevis3630 Quote from Ian Anderson - "I know all about this now but in 1968 when our manager suggested it as a name I said 'okay, but about 2 weeks later I was horrified! - named after a dead guy who invented a seed drill ! However most of our audience was as oblivious as we were..."
So glad you’re finally diving into Jethro Tull, and yes as many other’s have said Ian Anderson (the lead singer) plays the flute, he’s amazing. According to him he gave up on the electric guitar as he felt he would never be as good as Eric Clapton so he then picked up the flute and thank god he did. “Aqualung” next please
to add to Pattyestrada6's point... Ian Anderson had only been playing flute for three years when Tull produced this album... You should definitely listen to more. The thing I love about Tull is that about every 3-4 albums, their "feel" completely changes, with hints of what came before, and what's coming after. 68-70 was very bluesy, 71-76 more rock, almost psychedelic in places, 76-80 more folksy, 81 on was a little more synthesizer rock. Their music so defies classification that they beat out Metallica's Black album for the 1988 Heavy Metal Grammy. Ian Anderson said he didn't understand it, as Tull isn't metal, and Metallica's album was so much better in that category, but he appreciated the recognition.
The sound that “claks” is the guitar pick striking muted strings. It’s a common guitar technique used by guitarists to produce percussive sounds on acoustic or electric guitar.
The metallic chugging is the band's guitarist Martin Barre adding just the right sound to emphasis the songs title, like a pumping engine or someone's laboured breathing. Taking the pressure off of the strings with the hand that would normally be playing chords on the fretboard, but applying just enough to stop the strings from ringing out, it creates a muted percussive sound when strumming a rhythm with the other hand. The technique of muting can also be applied with the strumming hand too by muting the strings with the side of the palm as part of a rhythm pattern, you can add a tightness to chord patterns. Muting is often heard in funk style music for it's choppy rhythms, for such as The Doobie Brothers, The Average White Band, and Chic.
Watching young people enjoy the music I listened to at the same age is heartening. When my son and his family lived in the other half of my duplex, my grandson would come over and borrow my music to listen to. I could hear Pink Floyd coming through the wall and smile. Yes, my generation had the BEST music, no doubt about it.
Yes We did I am 69 and still prefer our music to 75% of today's music. I introduced my grandsons who were 18 and 15 when I took them to see Tull 6yrs ago.
It literally brought tears of joy to eyes, to see you enjoy this true masterpiece of rock. Watch them live for sure! Ian Anderson is the heart and soul of the band, a mad jester onstage.
Me too. She looked just like me when my older bro brought the album home and put it on dads hifi. The best speakers were in the living room. I was in awe through the entire album. Loved that my parents let us play our new albums wide open. Mom wasnt crazy bout Tull but she loved some CCR & Simon & Garfunkel. I sure miss my folks.
First concert I ever went to was Jethro Tull. Along with head east and Savoy Brown. Went with my older brother. I had not really heard of Jethro Tull before. It was awesome. I was a young teenager
Tull is the band… Ian is the singer and flautist. A lot of great music, heavily influenced by English pastoral music, brought into the modern (back then) day. I would strongly recommend one of their lighter tunes that is absulutely brilliant - “Skating Away”. It’s a song that you won’t forget.
When Rob said that he thought Tull would be country, I burst out laughing. My son came in the room to ask what I was watching and when I told him, he just shook his head and giggled. I began to participate in school band activities as early as possible (elementary grades) and so was exposed to a variety of genres. Our long-time director played in jazz bands, I was accelerated in school and via band was around even older kids---especially when I started to march with the senior band when I was still in 7th grade. One day in middle school, the girl next to me asked in class if we could play popular music at our concert. Our director picked up our fully loaded music stand and threw it against the wall. Sheet music, mouthpiece covers, reeds and pencils flew everywhere. I think he felt second-guessed. We all knew that she was stuck on the Carpenters and wouldn't be happy with anything else anyway. He did make a selection and it was---the Carpenters. I was 9th grade when I bought this 8-track. We had stereo equipment in the band room and would sometimes hangout after school to play our new stuff. Our director was intrigued by this band I was playing, so I switched it over to "Locomotive Breath" and he was hooked. Pop music, which he called "ditties", bored him. Another of his favorites was Yes. I miss that man.
@@bobblethreadgill4463 Well, "flautist" it should be, though your "flutist" is also fine. "Floutist" is incorrect and has completely different implications......
"Jethro Tull was an English agriculturist from Berkshire who helped to bring about the British Agricultural Revolution of the 18th century. He perfected a horse-drawn seed drill in 1700 that economically sowed the seeds in neat rows, and later developed a horse-drawn hoe. Tull's methods were adopted by many landowners and helped to provide the basis for modern agriculture."
Ian Anderson, the singer for Jethro Tull, is completely NUTS. Your friend wasn't lying about the whole 'dancing while playing the flute' part. He would often be seen prancing around like a fairy while other bandmates were playing their parts, literally dancing circles around them before eventually making it back to the mic and continue singing. The *Clicka Clicka* sound you mentioned was being made by a Bass guitar, meant to imitate the sound of a locomotive running over the tracks. I suggest you look into: Aqualung, Broadsword, Just A Christmas Song, Thick As a Brick, Sweet Dream, and Songs From the Wood next. * the name Jethro Tull comes from a famous agriculturalist who lived in the late 17th Century, for which the band is named after.
I saw Jethro Tull in 1994. He would go nuts on stage, which was funny because the crowd was mobbed with middle aged boomers smoking weed standing around in a trance.
I’ve had the privilege of seeing Jethro Tull twice, and they are amazing. Ian Anderson is both a musical, and a theatrical genius. You must do a video of a live performance 🎭. You will be amazed at Anderson’s prowess with the flute. You will not be disappointed. ✌🏼😎
Amazing group, and especially this song, I am 63 and, believe me, seeing young guys such as Rob Squad getting so enthusiastic to older sounds is really refreshing
Jethro Tull is the name of the group: Ian Anderson who is the mastermind behind it, plays the flute (the band as been identified with the ''flute'' for over 50 years now) acoustic guitar,sings and writes all the music and lyrics.
Man, did this bring back memories! I am 72 years old and saw Jethro when I was around 20 or so at the university I was attending in Kentucky. The whole crowd was stoned and/or tripping, including myself. I and my friends were all down front and Ian Anderson was right in front of us standing on one leg and playing that flute. He would play and then sing twitching his eyebrows and lost in the character he had created. Jethro Tull was performance art before there was performance art, at a very high level. I remember during one song, I think Aqualung, the group came out in bunny rabbit suits and the stage was set up as a park. Everyone went nuts because most everyone was in an altered space and was on their own trip with Jethro. It seems the music was non-stop. One song went into another and everyone was wild and innocent at the same time. What a wonderful time! (until it wasn't).
True story: my ex-husband saw them in the early-mid 70's and Ian Anderson was jamming away on the flute, when suddenly he stops and says, "sorry, folks, I gotta take a *poop*!" (not what he really said, but you get the picture) He goes offstage, takes care of business while the band just stands around dumbfounded. He came back onstage, picked up where he left off, and killed it the rest of the show.
The song starts out as a classical song, sounding kind of like Chopin. Then when the guitar comes in blended with the piano it drifts into a jazz sound.. Then it explodes into rock and roll. It's an awesome song.
@@richardlicht7927 Had the opportunity to see them in Buffalo, NY for free. I can’t remember why I didn’t go now other than maybe lack of interested friends. Definitely a huge regret though.
Got to see Ian Anderson a few years ago doing Thick as a Brick in it's entirety. Even though he didn't sing or play the flute through every song he was still mesmerizing to watch. With so many rock legends passing I feel lucky to have seen him.
Jethro Tull Is named after a British agriculturist who Invented a farm implement. I believe Ian Anderson is Scottish and And started out with his band as a blues band in England.
I loved watching you twos surprise when you realized he wasn’t country. How cool for me to watch JT through young eyes. I’m telling you guys…my generation had the best music!! (60s/70s) 😉
Absolutely.I saw them at Shea Stadium in the 70's. People were stamping their feet so hard I thought the whole stadium would come down. Love me some Jethro Tull love it all. I miss those days. ✌🌻🌻
That was Ian Anderson, the group is Jethro Tull. The name "Jethro Tull" is an homage to the English inventor of the seed drill. I LOVE watching you guys get hit with how awesomely great this band is. This is a theme album, this is just one great cut from an awesome whole. Jethro Tull was definitely a rock and blues band, check out their several albums before Aqualung ("This Was", "Benefit", "Stand Up"). They have two awesome albums after -- "Thick as a Brick" and "Passion Play". I had the pleasure of seeing them live twice in the 1970s, and they were one of those acts whose live performances were WAY BETTER than their albums -- and their albums were great. Sir Ian now lives in comfortable retirement in Scotland. He is among the best of the great musicians of the rock and roll era.
Ian said he had no idea whom Jethro Tull was, thought it was a made up name, until after the first album was released, then he was like, well, shit, were stuck with the name now
He lives in Minety , England. Also the name Jethro Tull stuck as it was the first time they got a rebooking, as every other gig under whatever name they thought of wasn't asked back. Nothing to do with any homage
“Thick As A Brick”. A 45-minute, both sides of the album “song”. The band’s masterpiece. Mind-blowing 😀. Check it out. Keep up the honest first reactions.
This is a very early concept album that spans both sides of the album. I would love you to take an afternoon to react to that song. An early version of what Rush did when they made side 1 of 2112.
Saw a Tull show during the Thick as a Brick tour in 1974. Not 45 minutes, but 2 hours of Thick as a Brick and Cross-Eyed Mary for the encore. Still, by far, the best show I've seen.
Check out Aqualung by Tull. I believe the band took the name from Jethro Tull, an English agriculturist and writer, also credited for inventing the seed drill. The incredible flautist and vocalist is Ian Anderson..
The way I've heard it was, back in the day when they were starting out, it had to do with the way getting booked in the clubs worked, etc. But they basically had a manager that would change the name of the band to something different every couple weeks, and they just randomly happened to be called "Jethro Tull" when they started developing an audience. But I also remember learning about the creator of the first mechanical drill in school, and assuming that connection, but at the time Ian Anderson probably wasn't even aware of that.
Yeah, I forget exactly, but I heard Ian Anderson talk about it in an interview once. Like, you'd get a temporary residency at a club, but then couldn't get booked there again for weeks until they cycled through other bands, so you'd just try to get booked there again sooner under a different name, or you might play certain nights at one club, and then other nights at another club under a different name. Something like that.
When Amber shouted "It a Flute", i spit my coffee across the room. LOL!! Yes Amber, it is a flute and Ian Anderson introduced it to the rock world in the 70's and he was so good that everyone knew they couldn't top it.
You're so right, only that in fact the flute was introduced a bit earlier to rock music e.g. by "The Moody Blues" (Night's in white Satin) but this makes his influence on rock not smaller. I love Tull since I heard "Thick as a Brick" for the first time in 1974.
@@DungeonBossTipsundTricks Thanks for the info. Therefore I said e.g. Moody Blues, because several Artists whre using it in my opinion quite simultaniously. But still Tull (Ian Anderson) has done a great job also :-) ...
Videos like this bring me joy watching young people discover the music we older people have loved since we were their age. I'm actually re-living my introduction to these songs thru the ears of the first-timer kids on TH-cam. My First time hearing these songs, hit like a tidal wave of inspiration to the world of musical art. Thank you for sharing ~
The song is basically about a guy whose life is falling apart. His wife is cheating on him with his best friend, his kids are leaving,etc. and he's reduced to crawling on his hands and knees while everything is falling apart. His life has become a runaway train and he can't stop it.
Actually it refers to overpopulation and environmental decay - some songs get more timely with age.... "We’re on this crazy train, we can’t get off it. Where is it going? Bearing in mind, of course, when I was born in 1947, the population of planet earth was slightly less than a third of what it is today, so it should be a sobering thought that in one man’s lifetime, our planetary population has more than tripled. You'd think population growth would have brought prosperity, happiness, food and a reasonable spread of wealth, but quite the opposite has happened. And is happening even more to this day. Without putting it into too much literal detail, that was what lay behind that song." en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Locomotive_Breath
@@Music--ng8cd No, that might be what Ian wants it to mean now, but he had a different take around the time he wrote the song. * "'Locomotive Breath' is another song about dying, but it's not so serious as 'Slipstream'. It's an analogy of the unending train journey of life; you can't stop, you've got to stagger on. But it's not that serious. All of the songs have an element of humour, and sometimes pure silliness". * Ian Anderson in Disc and Music Echo, 20th March 1971 This interpretation makes a lot more sense.
@@charlieghostwolf6161 Well, that's a load of bull crap. I have every album, studio and live, ever released by Jethro Tull. I have seen them live eight times. There are loads of Tull songs without the flute. What are you talking about?
If you want to see Jethro Tull live a would highly recommend "Thick As A Brick" Madison Square Garden 1978. It gives a perfect representation of Ian Anderson's (singer) showmanship. Just have to say you guys are great. I look forward to watching your reactions every day. Ian. Kent, England
This song was released 50 years ago. The music of the late 60's and 70's was the greatest ever. They wrote the music and lyrics, they played the instruments and they sang. There are many bands from back then that are amazing. Ian Anderson is the flute player - Jethro Tull is just the name of the band.
Bang on Rob, the music of my youth. And watching these guys was an Experience in its Self. As was seeing the 'Tull' live too many moons ago in Uk. Think I was about 18yrs Old. (Maybe younger, its a Blur.!!) Now 66 but still Enjoying such Magic..! Great Comment..! 😎 Kim in Oz.
Hi Rob. I put it to you that 1973 was the greatest year for music ever. Just take a look at the albums released that year. There was definitely something in the water that year.
On this song, the piano is by John Evan, and ever since he left the band in the late 70s, all subsequent keyboard players have to be able to play that intro as part of their audition :)
Ohhhhh, man! When I saw the title for this I knew Jordan was going to love this! Piano AND flute in the same song??? Can't miss!!! Check out a live video and you'll be blown away watching him play - he DOES stand one one leg while he plays! The band is very progressive rock with a heavy touch of theatricality!
This entire album is a masterpiece, it's in my top ten of the century. Your first approach to prog-rock. This group is excellent live. Ian Anderson is the singer and flute player. He said he realized he was never going to be good on guitar, so he picked up the flute and taught himself to play it. This man's life is running away, he has lost control, he can't slow down or stop.
Ian Anderson does play the flute-the one leg stand with the other folded with his other foot on the inner knee is a ‘minstrel pose’. I stood in line to buy this LP for 2 hours to get a copy-that would be 50 years ago this year! Oh, Tull rhymes with ‘dull’. It’s the name of a machine, serious, look it up
He uses the flute in inventive ways. Plays classically, sings through it, gasps in tune and harmony with it, puts a color into the song that come from a primal-earthy-medieval-rock and roll-jazz-r & b, that no group has ever matched.
The first live concert I ever saw, just after "Thick as a Brick" came out. Concert started with that song...45 minutes later, Ian Anderson says "For our second number..." What a show!
As a young man in the '70s I went to a lot of concerts. The two bands that stood out to me, as far as a live experience, were the Grateful Dead and Jethro Tull. Though for completely different reasons. Seeing Tull live is like experiencing a medieval Renaissance Faire, if they had electric guitars back in the 12th century.. Take a watch/listen of Jethro Tull live performing "Thick as a Brick" (from the 70s) to see what I mean.
I don't know what I enjoyed more, remembering my teen age years listening to JT all the time or your reactions! I really loved how you both were so caught in the groove! You made me laugh and smile. But really I think with Jethro Tull its all about the story telling. If you really pay attention to the lyrics there's a lot being said that will make you think about perspective in life. Besides Ian Anderson's flute playing is absolutely amazing, especially as a front man lead singer. This man has it all!
They always give fun concerts. They have a song Skating Away with the lyric "You're a rabbit on the run" And the moment Ian sang that line a member of the stage crew dressed in a rabbit costume rides out of the wings onto the stage peddling away on a tricycle. They are all seriously good musicians but they have a good deal of fun interacting with the crowd. As for Ian playing a flute, he is self-taught. It's hilarious to hear classically trained flutists critique his method and style. But he gets the job done.
You guys have made my day again - as a longtime Tull fan, it's awesome to see you give them a try. They're a unique beast musically speaking, most notably for Ian Anderson and his flute playing (self-taught!). This song is off an album that is more of a concept album, a condemnation of organized religion and the harsh realities of the modern world. The album title is actually a reference to a person, a homeless man who is very ill, so his lungs sound watery as he breathes, hence 'Aqualung' as a name. BTW, Jethro Tull is the name of the band, which is led by Ian Anderson, lead singer, flutist and songwriter - Jethro Tull was a British farmer who lived in the 1600s who invented the seed drill and helped revolutionize farming. Peace and love from Canada, and thanks for spreading the light!
The genre for Jethro Tull is... "Jethro Tull". Over their long career the group took from just about all genres, mixed them up, merged them, made their own "thing" and that "thing" changed and morphed over the years. The singer and flute player is Ian Anderson, the much under rated lead guitarist is Martin Barre.
@@skygazer858 True, although the category, which was new, was hard rock/Heavy metal. The others were James Addictio, AC/DC, and Iggy Pop. Although Tull's album had some hard rock songs, they were the least likely to win in everyone's mind, except for the Grammy voters. It was a train wreck and Jethro Tull unfairly got a lot of flack over it. It didn't help when Tull's record company took out an add in the newspaper that said flute is a heavy metal instrument.
the "chugga chugga" sound (highly technical term lol) is actually just strumming muted guitar strings. One of the coolest mind opening experiences I ever had with music was with this song. 8th grade music class, and I played guitar. The teacher was a floutist (Brian Flynn- coolest teacher ever) and he taught me the chords ( G D Em.. chugga chugga chugga.. G D Em) and I'd just do that, and he would absolutely rip with the flute like Ian Anderson does in this tune. For a young kid, it was like fireworks going off in your brain. So many great memories! BTW Jethro Tull was an agriculturalist in England in the 1700s. The band is from England too. Thanks for doing this! Please check out Aqualung, or Cross Eyed Mary. This whole album is rad though.
Mark Farner does the same "chugga chugga" on Inside Looking Out. A less muted version was a trademark of the late Johnny Cash. If you want to see an acoustic guitar used as a complete band, check out Ted Talks videos and look for guitarist Tommy Emmanuel's "One Man Band" video. It can open up a lot of doors for a guitar player.
@@kathleenkarsten5739 thanks! Ever since then I've always tried to encourage people of all ages to grab an instrument and make it happen! Thanks for the kind response!
A lot of people seem to want to classify Jethro Tull as “progressive rock”, but they don’t really sound much like other iconic prog rock bands. I think the best way to classify Tull is as classical jazz blues medieval folk rock with lead flute. I’m sure you can think of a lot of other bands in that popular genre. :)
Prog rock; A sub-genre of rock music that emphasizes ambitious compositions - check, experimentation - check, concept-driven lyrics - check, and musical virtuosity - check!
The best was when they were classified as heavy metal one year at the Grammys and actually won,beating out Metallica amongst others, I want to say it was for the Lap of Luxury album,but that was a lot of bong hits ago,so I could be wrong. It was hilarious though.
"I’m sure you can think of a lot of other bands in that popular genre." Naughty, pal, but not totally removed from the truth. Mr Anderson was responsible for a large part of the sound track of my early years. And, when I listen to Jethro Tull songs I first heard 50 years ago, they still sounds fresh and interesting. It is a very deep reservoir.
This band is simply brilliant! I strongly suggest you explore Jethro Tull for the excellence of its prog rock sound. Ian Anderson plays the inimitable rock jazz flute and his vocal delivery is immediately recognizable. J., you have the right idea. Watch a video. He's a total trip!!
I listened to Jethro Tull in high school in mid-70s, then saw them in concert in St. Louis in '79 or '80. Ian Anderson did not disappoint live on the flute. Their albums Songs from the Wood and Heavy Horses got me through college freshman year. Nothing like them. Great reaction!
Jethro Tull has some of the most amazing stuff, a mix of rock and folk. Everything on 'Songs from the Wood' is a must-hear. Definitely watch a video showing the band next time - Ian Anderson is a blast to watch perform.
Ian Anderson (lead singer) has one of those voices that sounds exactly the same live or in studio. tremendous Lead Singer and Performer. next video you gotta do needs to be live so you can see him work. the nusic comes out of every pore of his body. It is amazing! "Cross-Eyed Mary" "Aqualung" are a couple of goodies
That sound that you're having problems identifying identifying is actually a electric guitar. And by the way, Jethro Tull is the group's name the lead singer is Ian Anderson. Who is the very accomplished flute player in the band. Cross eyed Mary is another song off the same album that this one is on and you should definitely give it a listen.
the Aqualung album is what they called a concept album, Aqualung is another name for a drunk, wino, boozer, that has lost it all, locomotive breath is a song about the journey down to skid row, watching everything, and everyone in his life jump off the train like rats on a sinking ship, from start to finish, each song on the album interacts with the one before it, the whole album is one long story
Pretty sure Ian Anderson has consistently denied that Aqualung was any sort of concept album. In fact, he got so annoyed that the following album (in his words) was 'the concept album to end all concept albums', and then produced "Thick As A Brick"!
@@jaded2424 Indeed, aqualung is a reference to the wheezy breathing sound made by someone with a lung infection (e.g tuberculosis), and in the song Aqualung one of the verses describes him dying from it (“and you snatch your rattling last breaths, with deep-sea diver sounds”).
The song is about a man who's life is falling apart. His wife is having an affair, [his woman and his best friend in bed and having fun] his kids are growing distant, [jumping off one by one] even his co-worker is out performing, [has got him by the balls]. He's tried religion and philosophy, but there is no stopping the inevitability of his downfall. [the train just won't stop rolling, no way to slow down] Ian Anderson is the flute player and lead singer. This album was released in the 1970's. The "chucka-chucka" sound is produced by muting the guitar strings with one hand and strumming the pick across the pickup.
There's no other way to describe it..once that ball starts rolling. There's no stopping it..or as J.T. puts it no stopping that run away train.. it's how we come out on the other side..
I saw Jethro Tull once ( with my parents) when I was 4. I took my parents and my younger bro to see them 3 years ago. They were as amazing as I remember and I remember Tull so vividly from the first concert! I’m going again once it’s safe and hopefully they’ll tour with CCR again!!
I’m old af, I love seeing a younger generation discover these artists from back in the old days. They were pretty amazing, weren’t they? Best wishes, take care. 💙
Historically Jethro Tull was an English farmer, wrote a book called "Of Housing and Husbandry" wherein -- I can't swear by this, but I think -- the whole notion/technology of crop rotation was first discussed. Why this band chose his name, well... it feels right, but I can't exactly how! They do have some seriously rural-English vibe about them (particularly a bit later, on their record "Songs from the Wood" -- which is brilliant -- but pretty much on everything after their first record).
Ian Anderson is the lead singer and flute player. This band is a trip if you want to keep exploring. About the fartherest thing from country you could imagine though. This was pure progressive rock.
@@stevebagnall7621 OK. Have you never heard Ian Anderson's guitar work? I well know that Martin Barre is Jethro Tull's guitarist. This however is Ian playing the acoustic guitar. So when attempting to correct someone please know what you are talking about. Be well.
_I'm a long-time Jethro Tull fan, but the first time I saw his band was at the Monsters of Rock Golden Summernight in Nürnberg Germany his band played with Neil Young, April Wine, King Crimson, and two or three more bands, I forgot their names. I had a blast it was like no other concert I have ever been to; back then!_
“This has gotta be country” oh no Jordan oh no 😀 A while ago you said rock records don’t have flutes. Hate to correct you but……..😜 The sound you hear is guitar with finger bridging all strings on the fret to dampen the sound to a scraping tone
@@harlechmaker Wrong country and wrong continent 😂😂😂😂 What’s great about Jordan and Amber is how open they are to embrace and learn new music. Their musical knowledge just gets wider everyday. Lovely couple
Exactly! I’ve been playing the guitar for years and I would always watch or go to concerts growing up people like the group Jethro Tull, Led Zeppelin, Santana (who besides the late Jimi Hendrix) and of course the lead guitarist for Led Zeppelin are to be the best for guitar
@@anononnl I figured that I'd be my parents..middle class house in suburbia, some grandkids, vacation cruise once in a while..instead I made a million dollars that my ex squandered and now I'm a mad poet woodcarver living in an artists community of similar lunatics in a huge old factory beside a coastal river in Maine with a room full of musical instruments surrounded by stained glass windows, oil paintings, and wood and granite sculptures, 19th century industrial steam powered machinery is part of the decor. Not what I expected but I really like it...
So many great Jethro Tull songs to listen to. How they're not in the Hall of Fame yet is beyond me. Some of their other songs are "Bungle in the Jungle" and "Aqualung". My personal favorite is "Thick as a Brick", which really highlights the flute playing. It almost sounds medieval! (There's also great guitar and even some violins.... it's an orchestragasm!) FYI - Their name comes from an 18th-century agriculutrist, which they adopted in their early years, and the name just stuck.
Regarding lyrical context, from the song's Wiki page - "Lyrically, "Locomotive Breath" was inspired by Anderson's concern regarding overpopulation. He explained, "It was my first song that was perhaps on a topic that would be a little more appropriate to today's world. It was about the runaway train of population growth and capitalism, it was based on those sorts of unstoppable ideas. We’re on this crazy train, we can’t get off it. Where is it going? Bearing in mind, of course, when I was born in 1947, the population of planet earth was slightly less than a third of what it is today, so it should be a sobering thought that in one man’s lifetime, our planetary population has more than tripled. You'd think population growth would have brought prosperity, happiness, food and a reasonable spread of wealth, but quite the opposite has happened. And is happening even more to this day. Without putting it into too much literal detail, that was what lay behind that song." The song additionally features a train motif that Anderson has employed on many songs. Anderson later said, "Train songs have been with us ever since the blues began, and I have written my fair share of these. I keep being drawn back to the subject, because public transport is part of my life. I don’t drive, so rely on buses, trains and the like."
Yes, Jethro Tull were at the height of their powers on this album. And you DEFINITELY should listen to the whole thing when you get the chance. From the title cut (Aqualung), "Cross Eyed Mary" to my personal favorite "My God"; Aqualung is an album that is DESERVINGLY called a CLASSIC..
Hey guys I’m 70 and just flip out when “young people “ discover the music I grew up with and truly appreciate it ;Ok Ian Anderson is the lead singer and flautist you must watch the Aqualung performance form the Miami concert your minds will never be the same. That sound is called a scratch. It is made on six string electric guitar by placing the index finger (muting)across all six strings at the 5th or 12th fret these are harmonic positions on the fret board and scratching the pick across the strings.
Live version of "Thick as a Brick" from 1978 is very worthwhile. The first five minutes is basically 5 totally different 1 minute songs one right after another. The whole thing is genius. Such a versatile band.
Yes, Ian Anderson was known to play the flute in a "flamingo" stance. Jethro Tull also had an album cover with Ian in that pose. It's also the logo on Ian Anderson's personal website. Jethro Tull was a one of a kind band. However you imagine them to be, disregard the image because you will be way off base. Locomotive Breath would have been a great Live performance to watch, next should be "Thick As A Brick (live in London 1977)"
When you said "Jethro Tull sounds country to me!", my wife burst out laughing. "Boy is he in for a surprise!". Jethro Tull (Tull, like in the hull of a boat) is this British band's name. Ian Anderson sings lead and plays the flute (self taught, by the way). He also plays guitar and other instruments and does the writing and arrangements. That 'clicking' sound you mentioned, is done by the lead guitarist, strumming the string, but muting them with his fingers across the frets. Next, you should do 'Minstrel in the Gallery', by Tull. 'Aqualung' is good, also 'Two Fingers', 'The Third Hoorah' and 'Cross-eyed Mary'. The group had so many great songs, l can't mention them all. Ian is a showman and their live concerts are great. I had the privilege of seeing them live at St. Lawrence University in Northern NY State, l believe it was, in the fall of 1970. A long time ago. Ian is still out there performing Tull songs and has announced a new album.
I smiled too 😃 and thought “wait to they hear a flute 🤯”.
not just Clapton but soo many other great guitarist of that era, so he thought they would do something different. so he picked up the flute for the first time about 2 weeks before their first gig and taught himself as he went along, and ended up amazing at it. maybe try thick as a brick live, or 'my god' live for a sample of his performance style
Must do Aqualung LIVE.......th-cam.com/video/TcKSUvEhZM8/w-d-xo.html
And skating away on the thin ice of a new day.
I laughed too. Thought the same!
"It's a flute!" the moment everybody discovers the magic of Ian Anderson....
It's called "A Magic Flute" for a reason. Just ask the Pied Piper or H.R. Pufnstuf.
Like a "Sexy Sax" each instrument has their INFINITE power.
If you can collect 6 of them in one hand you can SNAP half of existence into your corner of fandom.
Like Prince for instance.
I've seen that happen in real time- a friend of mine listens to the song and then the flute comes in and blows their mind!
The band is called Jethro Tull, the singer and flute player is Ian Anderson. Aqualung is a masterpiece album!
It's strumming of guitar. He is playing the flute and you can still hear the strumming with the flute.
I would mention that you can't play the flute and sing at the same time but HE actually can.
Love you both!🤗
I’ve been to 7 Tull concerts!!! I’ve never seen any band/person play off the crowd more than Ian Anderson. The band was incredible.
The singer is the flautist, the composer, the director, the productor, he’s a genius!
Not named Jethro Tull, but Ian Anderson whom also raced dirt bikes. You can see him in the movie "On Any Sunday" also there racing with him is legendary Steve McQueen.
and he does it all on one leg
Good English lad, distinguished gentleman and I understand a bit scholarly, also certified fuh-reeq.
Also a great member of Fleettwood Mac!!! Stevie Nicks is bad to the bone!
@@macbrewster2392 Ianserson also plays over 30 instruments!
Ian Anderson is one of the most talented musicians to ever walk onto a stage. He's incredible!!
What do you think about John Fogerty?
Another musical genius, but so sad how he got screwed over at every turn. I will never forget listing to CCR's Greatest Hits back in the early 90s while driving to go trout fishing in SW Wisconsin. One awesome song after another. I actually drove though Lodi, WI on the way. Every song is good, but I especially love Molina, Proud Mary, and Lodi.
The band is Jethro Tull. The lead singer/floutist is Ian Anderson.
The real Jethro Tull was the 18th-century agriculturist. He perfected the horse-drawn seed drill.
@@timlevis3630 Nice
Thanks for clearing that up, but which one's Pink?
And HAPPY BIRTHDAY to him . . . Ian recently celebrated his 74th on August 10th!
@@timlevis3630 Quote from Ian Anderson - "I know all about this now but in 1968 when our manager suggested it as a name I said 'okay, but about 2 weeks later I was horrified! - named after a dead guy who invented a seed drill ! However most of our audience was as oblivious as we were..."
So glad you’re finally diving into Jethro Tull, and yes as many other’s have said Ian Anderson (the lead singer) plays the flute, he’s amazing. According to him he gave up on the electric guitar as he felt he would never be as good as Eric Clapton so he then picked up the flute and thank god he did. “Aqualung” next please
That or Eric Clapton next.
to add to Pattyestrada6's point... Ian Anderson had only been playing flute for three years when Tull produced this album...
You should definitely listen to more. The thing I love about Tull is that about every 3-4 albums, their "feel" completely changes, with hints of what came before, and what's coming after. 68-70 was very bluesy, 71-76 more rock, almost psychedelic in places, 76-80 more folksy, 81 on was a little more synthesizer rock.
Their music so defies classification that they beat out Metallica's Black album for the 1988 Heavy Metal Grammy. Ian Anderson said he didn't understand it, as Tull isn't metal, and Metallica's album was so much better in that category, but he appreciated the recognition.
Yes to Aqualung and Eric Clapton.
Yes! He would stand on one leg the entire concert!! He was amazing in concert!!
Tull pronounced as in gull
The sound that “claks” is the guitar pick striking muted strings. It’s a common guitar technique used by guitarists to produce percussive sounds on acoustic or electric guitar.
Yes, in this case a distorted electric guitar.
It's also called "dead strumming", or using dead notes with a loose hand on the frets for percussion purposes.
Done by the incomparable Martin Barre and his trusty Les Paul Guitar
Palm muting
The metallic chugging is the band's guitarist Martin Barre adding just the right sound to emphasis the songs title, like a pumping engine or someone's laboured breathing. Taking the pressure off of the strings with the hand that would normally be playing chords on the fretboard, but applying just enough to stop the strings from ringing out, it creates a muted percussive sound when strumming a rhythm with the other hand. The technique of muting can also be applied with the strumming hand too by muting the strings with the side of the palm as part of a rhythm pattern, you can add a tightness to chord patterns. Muting is often heard in funk style music for it's choppy rhythms, for such as The Doobie Brothers, The Average White Band, and Chic.
Watching young people enjoy the music I listened to at the same age is heartening. When my son and his family lived in the other half of my duplex, my grandson would come over and borrow my music to listen to. I could hear Pink Floyd coming through the wall and smile. Yes, my generation had the BEST music, no doubt about it.
yes!!!!! 1
mid 60s to early 80s never, ever will be duplicated so many individuals, groups...blessed to be left with so much to reach back to...
yes. Gen Z here who LOVES tull. So much more musically tallented than the shit today
Yes We did I am 69 and still prefer our music to 75% of today's music. I introduced my grandsons who were 18 and 15 when I took them to see Tull 6yrs ago.
This entire album is a masterpiece. Listen to it all the way through. Story after gritty story, Aqualung, Cross-eyed Mary are both classics.
To my way of thinking, there are NO bad Jethro Tull songs, every one a winner!!
The b-side songs are more introspective but I feel they are in many ways better than the a-side songs
You beat me to it.
It literally brought tears of joy to eyes, to see you enjoy this true masterpiece of rock. Watch them live for sure! Ian Anderson is the heart and soul of the band, a mad jester onstage.
Me too. She looked just like me when my older bro brought the album home and put it on dads hifi.
The best speakers were in the living room. I was in awe through the entire album.
Loved that my parents let us play our new albums wide open.
Mom wasnt crazy bout Tull but she loved some CCR & Simon & Garfunkel.
I sure miss my folks.
First concert I ever went to was Jethro Tull. Along with head east and Savoy Brown. Went with my older brother. I had not really heard of Jethro Tull before. It was awesome. I was a young teenager
Saw them at Memorial Coliseum, Portland OR. Anderson never stopped moving. He was all over the stage. Great show!
I just left a comment saying almost the same thing, he is a character onstage, as was the pianist (i believe)
@@juliecrane9647 +p
You MUST do some live performances from Jethro Tull. Ian Anderson is quite the showman!
Yes, agreed! I saw them in the 70's and in the 90's. Alway a surprising show!
It was Ian Anderson. The same guy singing
Ian is Jethro Tull
Tull is the band… Ian is the singer and flautist.
A lot of great music, heavily influenced by English pastoral music, brought into the modern (back then) day.
I would strongly recommend one of their lighter tunes that is absulutely brilliant - “Skating Away”. It’s a song that you won’t forget.
Aqualung is an amazing album- saw the tour in the 70s- tears of joy- flute can make me cry.
When Rob said that he thought Tull would be country, I burst out laughing. My son came in the room to ask what I was watching and when I told him, he just shook his head and giggled. I began to participate in school band activities as early as possible (elementary grades) and so was exposed to a variety of genres. Our long-time director played in jazz bands, I was accelerated in school and via band was around even older kids---especially when I started to march with the senior band when I was still in 7th grade. One day in middle school, the girl next to me asked in class if we could play popular music at our concert. Our director picked up our fully loaded music stand and threw it against the wall. Sheet music, mouthpiece covers, reeds and pencils flew everywhere. I think he felt second-guessed. We all knew that she was stuck on the Carpenters and wouldn't be happy with anything else anyway. He did make a selection and it was---the Carpenters. I was 9th grade when I bought this 8-track. We had stereo equipment in the band room and would sometimes hangout after school to play our new stuff. Our director was intrigued by this band I was playing, so I switched it over to "Locomotive Breath" and he was hooked. Pop music, which he called "ditties", bored him. Another of his favorites was Yes. I miss that man.
Hehehe, country, hehehe.
Aqualung, Cross Eyed Mary...
Can't go wrong with the Tull, Ian Anderson is the best flutist I've ever heard.
Floutist 😁
and he's quite the character! They need to watch them live!
@@OG_Wakanobi you know, that's what I typed in, dad gum autocorrect.
@@bobblethreadgill4463 Well, "flautist" it should be, though your "flutist" is also fine. "Floutist" is incorrect and has completely different implications......
This song came out in 1971 ,,,
"Jethro Tull was an English agriculturist from Berkshire who helped to bring about the British Agricultural Revolution of the 18th century. He perfected a horse-drawn seed drill in 1700 that economically sowed the seeds in neat rows, and later developed a horse-drawn hoe. Tull's methods were adopted by many landowners and helped to provide the basis for modern agriculture."
But he wasn’t a member of the band :)
But Ian IS a farmer !
'E'd spin like a lathe if 'e knew...
Ian Anderson, the singer for Jethro Tull, is completely NUTS. Your friend wasn't lying about the whole 'dancing while playing the flute' part. He would often be seen prancing around like a fairy while other bandmates were playing their parts, literally dancing circles around them before eventually making it back to the mic and continue singing. The *Clicka Clicka* sound you mentioned was being made by a Bass guitar, meant to imitate the sound of a locomotive running over the tracks.
I suggest you look into: Aqualung, Broadsword, Just A Christmas Song, Thick As a Brick, Sweet Dream, and Songs From the Wood next.
* the name Jethro Tull comes from a famous agriculturalist who lived in the late 17th Century, for which the band is named after.
The clicking sound is made by a technique called “palm muting”
I saw Jethro Tull in 1994. He would go nuts on stage, which was funny because the crowd was mobbed with middle aged boomers smoking weed standing around in a trance.
I’ve had the privilege of seeing Jethro Tull twice, and they are amazing. Ian Anderson is both a musical, and a theatrical genius. You must do a video of a live performance 🎭. You will be amazed at Anderson’s prowess with the flute. You will not be disappointed. ✌🏼😎
Prancing around like a fairy? Sorry, but that guy was an OG getting ready to Pie Piper the crowd into liftoff. Dude was a badassss
I named my son Ian because of Jethro Tull’s Ian Anderson . ☮️♥️😎🤟🏼
Amazing group, and especially this song, I am 63 and, believe me, seeing young guys such as Rob Squad getting so enthusiastic to older sounds is really refreshing
Try "Cross Eyed Mary" by Jethro Tull next. Aqualung is a must listen. Farm on the Freeway, Hymn 43, Bouree, and Mother Goose are all worth a listen.
Perfect play list. Do the top 3 or 4. Some great live performances as well.
Yes Aqualung
Bungle in the Jungle is also amazing!
Crosseyed Mary was written for his wife. Aqualung was written to him by his wife....ah, true Love.
And My God
Jethro Tull is the name of the group: Ian Anderson who is the mastermind behind it, plays the flute (the band as been identified with the ''flute'' for over 50 years now) acoustic guitar,sings and writes all the music and lyrics.
Man, did this bring back memories! I am 72 years old and saw Jethro when I was around 20 or so at the university I was attending in Kentucky. The whole crowd was stoned and/or tripping, including myself. I and my friends were all down front and Ian Anderson was right in front of us standing on one leg and playing that flute. He would play and then sing twitching his eyebrows and lost in the character he had created. Jethro Tull was performance art before there was performance art, at a very high level. I remember during one song, I think Aqualung, the group came out in bunny rabbit suits and the stage was set up as a park. Everyone went nuts because most everyone was in an altered space and was on their own trip with Jethro. It seems the music was non-stop. One song went into another and everyone was wild and innocent at the same time. What a wonderful time! (until it wasn't).
I am 72 also and saw them in Detroit in 1971! A totally unique experience🎶👍
True story: my ex-husband saw them in the early-mid 70's and Ian Anderson was jamming away on the flute, when suddenly he stops and says, "sorry, folks, I gotta take a *poop*!" (not what he really said, but you get the picture) He goes offstage, takes care of business while the band just stands around dumbfounded. He came back onstage, picked up where he left off, and killed it the rest of the show.
I am 77 and saw them at St. Lawrence University of Canton. NY back in the fall of 1970 (I believe), it was an outstanding concert.
I'm 73. I saw them in concert. Top 5 concerts I have ever seen.
Seems to me, The Flaming Lips(an OKC band) , was very heavily inspired by them!
The song starts out as a classical song, sounding kind of like Chopin. Then when the guitar comes in blended with the piano it drifts into a jazz sound.. Then it explodes into rock and roll. It's an awesome song.
Chopin. I never would have put that together, but yes. I've been listening to JT since the 1970's and you are right!
Seeing Jethro Tull live is like going to the Renaissance Fair. You're going to love it. I've put Tull in the "prog rock" category
July 28 1976 Tampa stadium live!! I was there he just released thick as a bbrick.
Saw them 4 times in the late 70's. Wound up filing their tax returns in the 90's. I saw Ian in the office once from a distance. He's short.
@@richardlicht7927 Was he sitting on a park bench? Sorry..... couldn't help myself
@@richardlicht7927 Had the opportunity to see them in Buffalo, NY for free. I can’t remember why I didn’t go now other than maybe lack of interested friends.
Definitely a huge regret though.
He does play on one leg a lot. Sometimes he sings and plays the flute at the same time. He’s a minstrel and a little comedic.
Actually a little nutz. lol. But great.
Jethro Tull, one of the greatest live bands of all time. Ian Anderson is one of the best band leaders ever
Got to see Ian Anderson a few years ago doing Thick as a Brick in it's entirety. Even though he didn't sing or play the flute through every song he was still mesmerizing to watch. With so many rock legends passing I feel lucky to have seen him.
Lmao😂😂😂. Jethro Tull won the first heavy metal Grammy .
Yes, it was lead singer playing the flute. Ian Anderson was self taught!
Jethro Tull Is named after a British agriculturist who Invented a farm implement. I believe Ian Anderson is Scottish and And started out with his band as a blues band in England.
I loved watching you twos surprise when you realized he wasn’t country. How cool for me to watch JT through young eyes. I’m telling you guys…my generation had the best music!! (60s/70s) 😉
Yes we did. I was born in 1956 and the '60's and '70's are still my favorite music. ❤
Absolutely.I saw them at Shea Stadium in the 70's. People were stamping their feet so hard I thought the whole stadium would come down. Love me some Jethro Tull love it all. I miss those days. ✌🌻🌻
Yours did
Saw Tull in Detroit 78
You twos, you from the Bronx ? Rock on
That was Ian Anderson, the group is Jethro Tull. The name "Jethro Tull" is an homage to the English inventor of the seed drill.
I LOVE watching you guys get hit with how awesomely great this band is. This is a theme album, this is just one great cut from an awesome whole.
Jethro Tull was definitely a rock and blues band, check out their several albums before Aqualung ("This Was", "Benefit", "Stand Up"). They have two awesome albums after -- "Thick as a Brick" and "Passion Play". I had the pleasure of seeing them live twice in the 1970s, and they were one of those acts whose live performances were WAY BETTER than their albums -- and their albums were great.
Sir Ian now lives in comfortable retirement in Scotland. He is among the best of the great musicians of the rock and roll era.
Revolutionized agriculture!
@@joescullion5604 : Yes indeed.
Thick as a Brick is the best imo :)
Ian said he had no idea whom Jethro Tull was, thought it was a made up name, until after the first album was released, then he was like, well, shit, were stuck with the name now
He lives in Minety , England. Also the name Jethro Tull stuck as it was the first time they got a rebooking, as every other gig under whatever name they thought of wasn't asked back. Nothing to do with any homage
Especially check 1971 & 72! It was like the 70s telling the 60s we’re just getting started.
“Thick As A Brick”. A 45-minute, both sides of the album “song”. The band’s masterpiece. Mind-blowing 😀. Check it out. Keep up the honest first reactions.
This was a staple for me in architecture school. I listened to it again this week after having not listened in years and it is just as amazing.
This is a very early concept album that spans both sides of the album. I would love you to take an afternoon to react to that song. An early version of what Rush did when they made side 1 of 2112.
Saw a Tull show during the Thick as a Brick tour in 1974. Not 45 minutes, but 2 hours of Thick as a Brick and Cross-Eyed Mary for the encore. Still, by far, the best show I've seen.
Skating away, on the thin ice of a new day.
Still amazes all 45 minutes of the song are good. Not a bad spot in it and its got a number of funny parts too.
Check out Aqualung by Tull. I believe the band took the name from Jethro Tull, an English agriculturist and writer, also credited for inventing the seed drill. The incredible flautist and vocalist is Ian Anderson..
The way I've heard it was, back in the day when they were starting out, it had to do with the way getting booked in the clubs worked, etc. But they basically had a manager that would change the name of the band to something different every couple weeks, and they just randomly happened to be called "Jethro Tull" when they started developing an audience. But I also remember learning about the creator of the first mechanical drill in school, and assuming that connection, but at the time Ian Anderson probably wasn't even aware of that.
@@richiecabral3602 had to do with the way getting booked in the clubs worked?
Yeah, I forget exactly, but I heard Ian Anderson talk about it in an interview once. Like, you'd get a temporary residency at a club, but then couldn't get booked there again for weeks until they cycled through other bands, so you'd just try to get booked there again sooner under a different name, or you might play certain nights at one club, and then other nights at another club under a different name. Something like that.
When Amber shouted "It a Flute", i spit my coffee across the room. LOL!! Yes Amber, it is a flute and Ian Anderson introduced it to the rock world in the 70's and he was so good that everyone knew they couldn't top it.
That made me laugh
You're so right, only that in fact the flute was introduced a bit earlier to rock music e.g. by "The Moody Blues" (Night's in white Satin) but this makes his influence on rock not smaller. I love Tull since I heard "Thick as a Brick" for the first time in 1974.
@@henningkallerhoff3967 no it was introduced by Focus and Roland Kirk
@@DungeonBossTipsundTricks Thanks for the info. Therefore I said e.g. Moody Blues, because several Artists whre using it in my opinion quite simultaniously. But still Tull (Ian Anderson) has done a great job also :-) ...
@@henningkallerhoff3967 sry my english is bad what is e.g.?
Videos like this bring me joy watching young people discover the music we older people have loved since we were their age. I'm actually re-living my introduction to these songs thru the ears of the first-timer kids on TH-cam. My First time hearing these songs, hit like a tidal wave of inspiration to the world of musical art. Thank you for sharing ~
The song is basically about a guy whose life is falling apart. His wife is cheating on him with his best friend, his kids are leaving,etc. and he's reduced to crawling on his hands and knees while everything is falling apart. His life has become a runaway train and he can't stop it.
Actually it refers to overpopulation and environmental decay - some songs get more timely with age....
"We’re on this crazy train, we can’t get off it. Where is it going? Bearing in mind, of course, when I was born in 1947, the population of planet earth was slightly less than a third of what it is today, so it should be a sobering thought that in one man’s lifetime, our planetary population has more than tripled. You'd think population growth would have brought prosperity, happiness, food and a reasonable spread of wealth, but quite the opposite has happened. And is happening even more to this day. Without putting it into too much literal detail, that was what lay behind that song."
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Locomotive_Breath
@@Music--ng8cd No, that might be what Ian wants it to mean now, but he had a different take around the time he wrote the song. * "'Locomotive Breath' is another song about dying, but it's not so serious as 'Slipstream'. It's an analogy of the unending train journey of life; you can't stop, you've got to stagger on. But it's not that serious. All of the songs have an element of humour, and sometimes pure silliness".
* Ian Anderson in Disc and Music Echo, 20th March 1971
This interpretation makes a lot more sense.
I think both of you are right. He said the idea came to him about overpopulation but I think he grew the idea to be about losing control of your life
yes and the Gideons bible reference means he's lost his home and is in a hotel .
Great reaction. Been listening to Tull since late 60's. He is awesome to watch live.
One of the most original and compelling bands ever. And Anderson is a great showman on stage!
Please do Aqualung next by Tull. All time classic.
Do the live version to get the full effect of his theatrics.
The Madison Square Gardens performance of Thick and Brick is a classic of Ian Anderson's showmanship.
Or Cross eyed Mary
Only problem w/ Aqualung - NO flute...
Do another song for first live though. Aqualung has no flute.
The most entertaining and mesmerizing front man of all rock bands ever - you have to see his live performances!
Watching you two jamming out to Jethro Tull was the best. Ian Anderson is the lead vocalist/flutist. Fun Fact: Ian is Andrew Lincoln’s father-in-law.
Walking Dead Andrew Lincoln? That's awesome!
Their biggest hit was Aqualung. One of the best guitar solos
Aqualung is a great song and the album reached the top ten. But the song was never released as a single.
And the only Jethro Tull song without flute
See I would’ve thought Thick as a Brick would have been bigger!
@@charlieghostwolf6161 Well, that's a load of bull crap. I have every album, studio and live, ever released by Jethro Tull. I have seen them live eight times.
There are loads of Tull songs without the flute. What are you talking about?
If you want to see Jethro Tull live a would highly recommend "Thick As A Brick" Madison Square Garden 1978. It gives a perfect representation of Ian Anderson's (singer) showmanship.
Just have to say you guys are great. I look forward to watching your reactions every day.
Ian.
Kent, England
I agree 100% they should listen to that concert to “Thick as a Brick”. Have to see them perform live to really appreciate them.
That video is blocked in th USA for copyright.
Yes! 1000 times YES!👍
The Train is the symbol of his cruddy life flying by so fast.
It’s a riot to see them live, Anderson has more energy then a toddler. Laughed when u said he must be country. Thank you peace ✌️
This song was released 50 years ago. The music of the late 60's and 70's was the greatest ever. They wrote the music and lyrics, they played the instruments and they sang. There are many bands from back then that are amazing. Ian Anderson is the flute player - Jethro Tull is just the name of the band.
I agree.
Bang on Rob, the music of my youth. And watching these guys was an Experience in its Self.
As was seeing the 'Tull' live too many moons ago in Uk.
Think I was about 18yrs Old. (Maybe younger, its a Blur.!!)
Now 66 but still Enjoying such Magic..!
Great Comment..! 😎
Kim in Oz.
Hi Rob. I put it to you that 1973 was the greatest year for music ever. Just take a look at the albums released that year. There was definitely something in the water that year.
On this song, the piano is by John Evan, and ever since he left the band in the late 70s, all subsequent keyboard players have to be able to play that intro as part of their audition :)
Jethro is an amazing flautist, plays piano, and guitar, all self taught. An absolute musical genius.
Sorry,, Jethro Tull is the name of the band, and the genius lead man is called Ian Anderson.
Ohhhhh, man! When I saw the title for this I knew Jordan was going to love this! Piano AND flute in the same song??? Can't miss!!! Check out a live video and you'll be blown away watching him play - he DOES stand one one leg while he plays! The band is very progressive rock with a heavy touch of theatricality!
This entire album is a masterpiece, it's in my top ten of the century. Your first approach to prog-rock. This group is excellent live. Ian Anderson is the singer and flute player. He said he realized he was never going to be good on guitar, so he picked up the flute and taught himself to play it. This man's life is running away, he has lost control, he can't slow down or stop.
In an interview he talked about how he used to play guitar but saw Clapton in a small club and thought screw it and took up the flute.
Ian Anderson does play the flute-the one leg stand with the other folded with his other foot on the inner knee is a ‘minstrel pose’. I stood in line to buy this LP for 2 hours to get a copy-that would be 50 years ago this year! Oh, Tull rhymes with ‘dull’. It’s the name of a machine, serious, look it up
100 years from now they will still be listening to the 70’s 80’s 90’s music I guarantee it !!
My all time favourite band thats been writing and performing since 1968, always evolving and changing their style
Ian Anderson is almost untouchable when in concert. Seeing him perform is almost hypnotic.
Another band of the era to look at, since you've done Procol Harum too, is the Moody Blues. Amber will love "Nights in White Satin"
absolutely!!!! Amber will melt over that song!!
He uses the flute in inventive ways. Plays classically, sings through it, gasps in tune and harmony with it, puts a color into the song that come from a primal-earthy-medieval-rock and roll-jazz-r & b, that no group has ever matched.
That is the beauty of being self-taught; nobody told him "you can't do that!".
The first live concert I ever saw, just after "Thick as a Brick" came out. Concert started with that song...45 minutes later, Ian Anderson says "For our second number..." What a show!
Was it Indianapolis ?
As a young man in the '70s I went to a lot of concerts. The two bands that stood out to me, as far as a live experience, were the Grateful Dead and Jethro Tull. Though for completely different reasons.
Seeing Tull live is like experiencing a medieval Renaissance Faire, if they had electric guitars back in the 12th century..
Take a watch/listen of Jethro Tull live performing "Thick as a Brick" (from the 70s) to see what I mean.
I don't know what I enjoyed more, remembering my teen age years listening to JT all the time or your reactions! I really loved how you both were so caught in the groove! You made me laugh and smile. But really I think with Jethro Tull its all about the story telling. If you really pay attention to the lyrics there's a lot being said that will make you think about perspective in life. Besides Ian Anderson's flute playing is absolutely amazing, especially as a front man lead singer. This man has it all!
I absolutely love that you both can appreciate and enjoy this music. Seeing your faces and excitement is fantastic. Thank you both.
They always give fun concerts. They have a song Skating Away with the lyric "You're a rabbit on the run" And the moment Ian sang that line a member of the stage crew dressed in a rabbit costume rides out of the wings onto the stage peddling away on a tricycle. They are all seriously good musicians but they have a good deal of fun interacting with the crowd. As for Ian playing a flute, he is self-taught. It's hilarious to hear classically trained flutists critique his method and style. But he gets the job done.
When doing "Johnathan Livingston's Seagull" someone would run around with a big rubber seagull on a stick.
You guys have made my day again - as a longtime Tull fan, it's awesome to see you give them a try. They're a unique beast musically speaking, most notably for Ian Anderson and his flute playing (self-taught!). This song is off an album that is more of a concept album, a condemnation of organized religion and the harsh realities of the modern world. The album title is actually a reference to a person, a homeless man who is very ill, so his lungs sound watery as he breathes, hence 'Aqualung' as a name.
BTW, Jethro Tull is the name of the band, which is led by Ian Anderson, lead singer, flutist and songwriter - Jethro Tull was a British farmer who lived in the 1600s who invented the seed drill and helped revolutionize farming.
Peace and love from Canada, and thanks for spreading the light!
Their music fits into several genres: progressive rock, progressive folk, folk rock, hard rock, blues rock, and jazz fusion
But they won a grammy for best Heavy Metal. That's just insane.
@@skygazer858 I'm sure Jethro Tull thought so too.
The genre for Jethro Tull is... "Jethro Tull". Over their long career the group took from just about all genres, mixed them up, merged them, made their own "thing" and that "thing" changed and morphed over the years.
The singer and flute player is Ian Anderson, the much under rated lead guitarist is Martin Barre.
@@skygazer858 True, although the category, which was new, was hard rock/Heavy metal. The others were James Addictio, AC/DC, and Iggy Pop. Although Tull's album had some hard rock songs, they were the least likely to win in everyone's mind, except for the Grammy voters. It was a train wreck and Jethro Tull unfairly got a lot of flack over it. It didn't help when Tull's record company took out an add in the newspaper that said flute is a heavy metal instrument.
@@richardb6260 as did Metallica :)
I love you guys. You are so authentic and open minded. Amber you are beautiful.
Like Rush, Another group to add to the list is Steely Dan. Incredible musicians (including horns).
the "chugga chugga" sound (highly technical term lol) is actually just strumming muted guitar strings. One of the coolest mind opening experiences I ever had with music was with this song. 8th grade music class, and I played guitar. The teacher was a floutist (Brian Flynn- coolest teacher ever) and he taught me the chords ( G D Em.. chugga chugga chugga.. G D Em) and I'd just do that, and he would absolutely rip with the flute like Ian Anderson does in this tune. For a young kid, it was like fireworks going off in your brain. So many great memories!
BTW Jethro Tull was an agriculturalist in England in the 1700s. The band is from England too. Thanks for doing this! Please check out Aqualung, or Cross Eyed Mary. This whole album is rad though.
What a great memory! Love that you shared it!
How cool is that
Ian Anderson actually played the electric rhythm guitar on this track.
Mark Farner does the same "chugga chugga" on Inside Looking Out. A less muted version was a trademark of the late Johnny Cash. If you want to see an acoustic guitar used as a complete band, check out Ted Talks videos and look for guitarist Tommy Emmanuel's "One Man Band" video. It can open up a lot of doors for a guitar player.
@@kathleenkarsten5739 thanks! Ever since then I've always tried to encourage people of all ages to grab an instrument and make it happen! Thanks for the kind response!
A lot of people seem to want to classify Jethro Tull as “progressive rock”, but they don’t really sound much like other iconic prog rock bands. I think the best way to classify Tull is as classical jazz blues medieval folk rock with lead flute. I’m sure you can think of a lot of other bands in that popular genre. :)
Prog rock; A sub-genre of rock music that emphasizes ambitious compositions - check, experimentation - check, concept-driven lyrics - check, and musical virtuosity - check!
The best was when they were classified as heavy metal one year at the Grammys and actually won,beating out Metallica amongst others, I want to say it was for the Lap of Luxury album,but that was a lot of bong hits ago,so I could be wrong. It was hilarious though.
Genre labels don’t really mean anything, but they do check all the boxes of an exceptional prog rock band.
"I’m sure you can think of a lot of other bands in that popular genre."
Naughty, pal, but not totally removed from the truth.
Mr Anderson was responsible for a large part of the sound track of my early years. And, when I listen to Jethro Tull songs I first heard 50 years ago, they still sounds fresh and interesting. It is a very deep reservoir.
@@rollotomassi6232 Ian Anderson hated being labelled prog.
This band is simply brilliant! I strongly suggest you explore Jethro Tull for the excellence of its prog rock sound. Ian Anderson plays the inimitable rock jazz flute and his vocal delivery is immediately recognizable. J., you have the right idea. Watch a video. He's a total trip!!
I listened to Jethro Tull in high school in mid-70s, then saw them in concert in St. Louis in '79 or '80. Ian Anderson did not disappoint live on the flute. Their albums Songs from the Wood and Heavy Horses got me through college freshman year. Nothing like them. Great reaction!
Jethro Tull has some of the most amazing stuff, a mix of rock and folk. Everything on 'Songs from the Wood' is a must-hear. Definitely watch a video showing the band next time - Ian Anderson is a blast to watch perform.
"It's a flute!" That's what everyone says when they hear Tull for the first time😁
Yes, Jethro played flute, magnificently!
First song I think of when I hear Jethro Tull is Aqualung.
Ian Anderson (lead singer) has one of those voices that sounds exactly the same live or in studio. tremendous Lead Singer and Performer. next video you gotta do needs to be live so you can see him work. the nusic comes out of every pore of his body. It is amazing! "Cross-Eyed Mary" "Aqualung" are a couple of goodies
My God Live would be a great place to kick off.
Jethro Tull is a band you have to learn about from the beginning. Music and lyrics are unique; timing and tempo changes are their signature.
Every time the guitar comes in during the piano open, I get chills.
That sound that you're having problems identifying identifying is actually a electric guitar. And by the way, Jethro Tull is the group's name the lead singer is Ian Anderson. Who is the very accomplished flute player in the band. Cross eyed Mary is another song off the same album that this one is on and you should definitely give it a listen.
the Aqualung album is what they called a concept album, Aqualung is another name for a drunk, wino, boozer, that has lost it all, locomotive breath is a song about the journey down to skid row, watching everything, and everyone in his life jump off the train like rats on a sinking ship, from start to finish, each song on the album interacts with the one before it, the whole album is one long story
Pretty sure Ian Anderson has consistently denied that Aqualung was any sort of concept album. In fact, he got so annoyed that the following album (in his words) was 'the concept album to end all concept albums', and then produced "Thick As A Brick"!
Aqualung is not another name for a "drunk, wino ,boozer. " I am pretty sure it refers to the main characters bad lungs.
@@jaded2424
Indeed, aqualung is a reference to the wheezy breathing sound made by someone with a lung infection (e.g tuberculosis), and in the song Aqualung one of the verses describes him dying from it (“and you snatch your rattling last breaths, with deep-sea diver sounds”).
Locomotive Breath is about the population explosion. Nothing to do with Skid Row.
@@kardy12 That's right - the aqualung being a breathing device for divers.
The song is about a man who's life is falling apart. His wife is having an affair, [his woman and his best friend in bed and having fun] his kids are growing distant, [jumping off one by one] even his co-worker is out performing, [has got him by the balls]. He's tried religion and philosophy, but there is no stopping the inevitability of his downfall. [the train just won't stop rolling, no way to slow down]
Ian Anderson is the flute player and lead singer. This album was released in the 1970's.
The "chucka-chucka" sound is produced by muting the guitar strings with one hand and strumming the pick across the pickup.
There's no other way to describe it..once that ball starts rolling. There's no stopping it..or as J.T. puts it no stopping that run away train.. it's how we come out on the other side..
“It’s a flute!” 🤣👏 We all knew it was coming and, Amber, you did not disappoint. There is no Jethro Tull. LOL
I saw Jethro Tull in 1976. Ian was all over that stage singing and playing his flute. Great concert.
I think you'd both get a real kick out of "Bungle in the Jungle", a song they recorded much later.
I saw Jethro Tull once ( with my parents) when I was 4. I took my parents and my younger bro to see them 3 years ago. They were as amazing as I remember and I remember Tull so vividly from the first concert! I’m going again once it’s safe and hopefully they’ll tour with CCR again!!
Tull with CCR? That had to be awesome!
I’m old af, I love seeing a younger generation discover these artists from back in the old days. They were pretty amazing, weren’t they? Best wishes, take care. 💙
Historically Jethro Tull was an English farmer, wrote a book called "Of Housing and Husbandry" wherein -- I can't swear by this, but I think -- the whole notion/technology of crop rotation was first discussed. Why this band chose his name, well... it feels right, but I can't exactly how! They do have some seriously rural-English vibe about them (particularly a bit later, on their record "Songs from the Wood" -- which is brilliant -- but pretty much on everything after their first record).
And Ian Anderson had a side gig owning and running a salmon farm.
IIRC Jethro Tull invented the seed drill.
@@paulschirf9259 Awesome detail.
@@jimk2099 I heard that, too! Though I think that was somewhat later (?)
@@wagstaff6135 Later than what? It is later than this album, but he sold the salmon business years ago. He is still playing.
Ian Anderson is the lead singer and flute player. This band is a trip if you want to keep exploring. About the fartherest thing from country you could imagine though. This was pure progressive rock.
'Life's A Long Song' by Jethro Tull is on the gentler side and extremely uplifting. Great song to start your day. It showcases Ian's guitar prowess.
Sorry, the guitarist isn't Ian, it's Martin Barre who was in Tull from day one until he retired in 2018
@@stevebagnall7621 OK. Have you never heard Ian Anderson's guitar work?
I well know that Martin Barre is Jethro Tull's guitarist. This however is Ian playing the acoustic guitar. So when attempting to correct someone please know what you are talking about.
Be well.
That can wake up the tired but inspired.👍🙏❤️God bless you both.
One of the things I appreciate most about what you’re doing is simply modeling for others what it’s like to just have an open mind
You really need to watch the live version of Jethro Tull. You will love it even more.
_I'm a long-time Jethro Tull fan, but the first time I saw his band was at the Monsters of Rock Golden Summernight in Nürnberg Germany his band played with Neil Young, April Wine, King Crimson, and two or three more bands, I forgot their names. I had a blast it was like no other concert I have ever been to; back then!_
Gotta say, I was mostly waiting for yall's reaction to Anderson's flute!! Thanks for playing so much of the music I grew up listening to.
I grew up playing the flute and loved that Jethro Tull had a flute player. Definitely listen to more.
“This has gotta be country” oh no Jordan oh no 😀
A while ago you said rock records don’t have flutes. Hate to correct you but……..😜
The sound you hear is guitar with finger bridging all strings on the fret to dampen the sound to a scraping tone
I love they called it "country music" - absolutely true, just the wrong country.🤣
@@harlechmaker
Wrong country and wrong continent 😂😂😂😂
What’s great about Jordan and Amber is how open they are to embrace and learn new music. Their musical knowledge just gets wider everyday. Lovely couple
Exactly! I’ve been playing the guitar for years and I would always watch or go to concerts growing up people like the group Jethro Tull, Led Zeppelin, Santana (who besides the late Jimi Hendrix) and of course the lead guitarist for Led Zeppelin are to be the best for guitar
This, "Bungle in the Jungle", and "Too Old to Rock and Roll" are my favorite Tull songs.
live is the best way to see the intensity he brings to the stage
Again, didn't my generation have the BEST music? This was out while I was in high school and today is my 66th birthday!!!! (omg)
I'll be 67 in October. It's nothing like I imagined it would be...
th-cam.com/video/bxguidIvTcQ/w-d-xo.html. A very happy birthday to you
@@t.j.payeur5331 In what way?
@@anononnl I figured that I'd be my parents..middle class house in suburbia, some grandkids, vacation cruise once in a while..instead I made a million dollars that my ex squandered and now I'm a mad poet woodcarver living in an artists community of similar lunatics in a huge old factory beside a coastal river in Maine with a room full of musical instruments surrounded by stained glass windows, oil paintings, and wood and granite sculptures, 19th century industrial steam powered machinery is part of the decor. Not what I expected but I really like it...
So many great Jethro Tull songs to listen to. How they're not in the Hall of Fame yet is beyond me. Some of their other songs are "Bungle in the Jungle" and "Aqualung". My personal favorite is "Thick as a Brick", which really highlights the flute playing. It almost sounds medieval! (There's also great guitar and even some violins.... it's an orchestragasm!) FYI - Their name comes from an 18th-century agriculutrist, which they adopted in their early years, and the name just stuck.
Yes, yes, yes and yes!!
Regarding lyrical context, from the song's Wiki page - "Lyrically, "Locomotive Breath" was inspired by Anderson's concern regarding overpopulation. He explained, "It was my first song that was perhaps on a topic that would be a little more appropriate to today's world. It was about the runaway train of population growth and capitalism, it was based on those sorts of unstoppable ideas. We’re on this crazy train, we can’t get off it. Where is it going? Bearing in mind, of course, when I was born in 1947, the population of planet earth was slightly less than a third of what it is today, so it should be a sobering thought that in one man’s lifetime, our planetary population has more than tripled. You'd think population growth would have brought prosperity, happiness, food and a reasonable spread of wealth, but quite the opposite has happened. And is happening even more to this day. Without putting it into too much literal detail, that was what lay behind that song."
The song additionally features a train motif that Anderson has employed on many songs. Anderson later said, "Train songs have been with us ever since the blues began, and I have written my fair share of these. I keep being drawn back to the subject, because public transport is part of my life. I don’t drive, so rely on buses, trains and the like."
Yes, Jethro Tull were at the height of their powers on this album. And you DEFINITELY should listen to the whole thing when you get the chance. From the title cut (Aqualung), "Cross Eyed Mary" to my personal favorite "My God"; Aqualung is an album that is DESERVINGLY called a CLASSIC..
Hey guys I’m 70 and just flip out when “young people “ discover the music I grew up with and truly appreciate it ;Ok Ian Anderson is the lead singer and flautist you must watch the Aqualung performance form the Miami concert your minds will never be the same. That sound is called a scratch. It is made on six string electric guitar by placing the index finger (muting)across all six strings at the 5th or 12th fret these are harmonic positions on the fret board and scratching the pick across the strings.
Live version of "Thick as a Brick" from 1978 is very worthwhile. The first five minutes is basically 5 totally different 1 minute songs one right after another. The whole thing is genius. Such a versatile band.
Thick as a Brick, or A Passion Play, are DEEP dives! Bursting Out is quite a wonderful snapshot.
Seeing you two enjoy the music I’ve been listening to my whole life brings a smile to my face. Keep up the great work, you’re a joy to watch.
Yes, Ian Anderson was known to play the flute in a "flamingo" stance. Jethro Tull also had an album cover with Ian in that pose. It's also the logo on Ian Anderson's personal website. Jethro Tull was a one of a kind band. However you imagine them to be, disregard the image because you will be way off base. Locomotive Breath would have been a great Live performance to watch, next should be "Thick As A Brick (live in London 1977)"
Incredible band back then. Never gets old just so much better. Another kick-a..... British band.