Jethro Tull is and has been my favorite band. Have seen them several times live, (fantastic!!) and had the luck to meet Ian and Martin, they were wonderfully sweet guys! Always the top of my list.
Ian signt one of my JT albums i Copenhagen , and didn"t dare to say anything to him because i see him as the greatest musician in the world and I ges his a bit introvert.
One of the greatest bands in rock history. Incredible songwriting, musicianship and showmanship. I've listened to them regularly for 50 years and it's fruitless to try to categorize them. They are their own genre: Jethro Tull.
One of the best acts i've ever seen live...3 times. The firsttime, they played in a normally lousey sounding large college basket ball arena and made it sound good. They must've had geat sound men too.
Lived Jethro Tull in this era. I believe the touring band, late 70s, with Barrymore Barlow and John Glascock, possibly the best prog band on stage I have ever seen. I’ve seen them all. Try Thick as a Brick, live at Madison Square Garden.
Nice reaction to a brilliant band I've seen twice. In 55yrs of listening to Tull nobody very called it rock. Checked out your catalogue and no Yes! So a song called Roundabout is a great introduction to the greatest prog band. 🙏🍁
You need to check out the whole Jethro Tull catalog and since you like Thick as a Brick check out the three best live performances on video-1976,1977, and 1978. You will be amazed!
3:08 "this is a sign as to far how we as a culture have fallen". Truer words about music and our lives have never been spoken. I'm 71 now and I grew up with Tull along with many other greats. Music was real, not something puked out by a machine.......
I love your intelligent and insightful analysis of one of our greatest composers, lyricists, and performers in modern times: Ian Anderson. He is truly among the greats like a progressive rock icon like a Beethoven or a Bach. He combines classical, folk, rock and blues in very unique and complex ways. I'd love to see you analyze Thick as a Brick; but that is daunting. Try Locomotive Breath, or Wind Up from this album. Also later works too. He and the band generated a hit album every year for a decade after Aqualung. The pinnacle by their own words seems to be with the Album Heavy Horses. That title song is so incredibly moving. There is no one song that captures Ian Anderson or Jethro Tull, as he has so many flavors and talents. He is like a modern day Shakespeare turned minstrel and prog rock icon. For the Gaelic influence try Acres Wild: th-cam.com/video/J5a3QlZt0Os/w-d-xo.html (Acres Wild (2003 Remaster)) I saw them live in early 1970's and Ian is quite the showman. he can be raunchy or delicate as in this love song: th-cam.com/video/G0vIEOw5flo/w-d-xo.html (Jethro Tull - Wond'ring Aloud Live At Capital Centre, Landover 1977) And then 45 years later he still has it: th-cam.com/video/C82ryR6TWD4/w-d-xo.html (Jethro Tull - Wondring Aloud with String Quartet) And this rendering of an early Tull tune with the string quartet: th-cam.com/video/7iggVU-__BM/w-d-xo.html (Jethro Tull - Life Is A Long Song)
John Evan was indeed their keyboard player through most of the 70s - every bit as wacky onstage as Ian Anderson, too. They were all showmen as well as amaing musicians.
Saw The Martin Barre band recently at Penns Peak performing Jethro Tull. Excellent show. Saw Jethro Tull circa 2006 at the Bethlehem Musicfest. Also excellent. One of the very first bands I loved, my dad had Aqualung on vinyl
I suggest the album Minstrel in the Gallery. It truly captures the essence... medieval rock/metal. Nobody ever came close. Ian Anderson is THE Minstrel
The entire second side of Aqualung, the My God side, is better than the first both lyrically and musically in my humble opinion. I've been a huge Tull fan since seeing them during the Thick as a Brick tour in June of 1972. There is nothing like a Tull concert, Ian's energy on stage and ability to mesmerize a bunch of young people with prolonged flute solo's was beyond amazing. I agree with you though about Thick as a Brick as being their best album.
it is one of my favorite albums of all time. I am a sucker for long format music and Thick as a brick being basically just one gigantic song is amazing, love how well crafted the movements of the piece are, the intricate use of the instruments and the incredible amount of memorable melodies... Just a great piece of Prog Rock!!!
Roots to Branches is a fantastic album that suffers a little because it's just a little too long- should have been two separate albums. The opening tracks have a middle eastern flavor and really show of the fluidity of the band. Secret Language of Birds is my favorite IA solo album.
You're right! Funny, in my opinion, Roots to Branches is the last good record they put out (aside from the semi-novelty Christmas album) and yet I never noticed how long the running time is! As for The Secret Language of Birds, I also agree, and just happened to stumble onto another reactor checking it out for the first time this week. I certainly was never expecting to see that. It came out of nowhere.
Keltic(?) influenced music before Jethro Tull? Since Ian Anderson is born in Scotland it is rather scotish gaelic influrnces. I guess? _Before_ Jethro Tull? I think you mean before 1969-1970? I think it is not until Martin Barre joins the group with "Stand up" they can be viewed as a progressic rock band. Before that it was rather a blues band. Clouds was a Scotish band - check them! Does the group "Family" fulfill your criteria? But they are all from England (except Grech from France). Another group that may be of interest is Nice (with Keith Emerson. Maybe Mike Batt may be of interest. And speaking of unknown groups: check the group the Churchill's aka Jericho Jones aka Jericho (from Israel)! From 1972 and on they are really interesting!
It is with trepidation that I want to pick you up on something. You mentioned the recording engineer changing the dynamic range? Mt point is that the dynamic range is set by the parameters of the playback system. Highest output level minus the noise floor. I am unaware of anything that can change that. Maybe I am missing the point of what you said though. cheers
Jethro Tull recorded this album in the same church that Led Zeppelin was recording #4 album. Tull got the the larger room. Ian Anderson said it was the worst of the 2 spaces to record in. You can compare it to their later albums.
Music is so subjective, and Ian Anderson ( Jethro Tull creative leader ) has constantly changed his direction , style and genre. Most Tull fans love the later music I hate...... for me, it was their second and third albums I love. Their first album was an okay first album, but an ordinary BLUES album...... and it was supposed to be a Blues album. Then came Stand Up, one of my all time favourite albums....... 1st track is a classic rock number, an all time classic, but not appreciated by rock fans because it is too thoughtful and too bluesy. lol The album is very eclectic and mostly Euro / Middle Eastern folk and jazz..... but contains some brilliant rock of a possible progressive nature. 3rd was Benefit........a heavy rock album that was very progressive, starting with a flute solo that was recorded normally but played backwards in the recordings . The lyrics are more folk than rock and the album ends with a folksy “love” ballad in a genre I can not verbalise ..... is it soft rock with blues and heavy rock chords or heavy folk or god knows what....... back then it was pure Ian Anderson..... Deep lyrics with an accoustic folksy vibe played as light rock with a medieval attitude. As with Pink Floyd, most of Tulls great music is their own genre and Ian’s own musical direction...... can’t be pidgeon holed into any specific genre . It is simply Ian’s music as interpreted by the band.
You have some good and important points in your analysis, I gave the video a like. But someone has to say it: Funny that in decades of listening to them you didn't pick up the pronunciation of the band name - "Iiethrotool" doesn't even come close. ;-) You can make the correct sounds in other words, so that's strange. The "J" is pronounced like the "g" in "genre", the "u" like in "discuss", there is a pause between Jethro and Tull, and the stressed syllables are the first and the third one, now just put that together - or just listen to any Ian Anderson interview where he drops the band name to pick it up, finally. ;-) And you marvel about the piano player but couldn' figure out John Evan? That's one glimpse at Wikipedia, man.
Jethro Tull is and has been my favorite band. Have seen them several times live, (fantastic!!) and had the luck to meet Ian and Martin, they were wonderfully sweet guys! Always the top of my list.
Ian signt one of my JT albums i Copenhagen , and didn"t dare to say anything to him because i see him as the greatest musician in the world and I ges his a bit introvert.
One of the greatest bands in rock history. Incredible songwriting, musicianship and showmanship. I've listened to them regularly for 50 years and it's fruitless to try to categorize them. They are their own genre: Jethro Tull.
One of the best acts i've ever seen live...3 times. The firsttime, they played in a normally lousey sounding large college basket ball arena and made it sound good. They must've had geat sound men too.
In 1971 there was no digital sound quality. Higher frequency ranges died on the tape. Notice the cymbal sound compared to the bass.
Lived Jethro Tull in this era. I believe the touring band, late 70s, with Barrymore Barlow and John Glascock, possibly the best prog band on stage I have ever seen. I’ve seen them all. Try Thick as a Brick, live at Madison Square Garden.
Exactly back in the 70s it was totally normal for long instrumental introductions or interludes which now appears to be a thing of the past.
One carecteristic that is typical for Jetro, Tull are these turnaronds /breaks that gives there music a new and refreshing caracter !
Nice reaction to a brilliant band I've seen twice. In 55yrs of listening to Tull nobody very called it rock. Checked out your catalogue and no Yes! So a song called Roundabout is a great introduction to the greatest prog band. 🙏🍁
Tull is great
You need to check out the whole Jethro Tull catalog and since you like Thick as a Brick check out the three best live performances on video-1976,1977, and 1978. You will be amazed!
3:08 "this is a sign as to far how we as a culture have fallen". Truer words about music and our lives have never been spoken. I'm 71 now and I grew up with Tull along with many other greats. Music was real, not something puked out by a machine.......
John Evan...great keyboard man and fun performer
Unusual and unique way to analyse - I like it; wonder how it compares to their latest album (Rokflute)?
I liked the piano part in Locomotive Breath, I think. It's been a long time since I heard it.
Nice analysis, something to learn here.
I love your intelligent and insightful analysis of one of our greatest composers, lyricists, and performers in modern times: Ian Anderson. He is truly among the greats like a progressive rock icon like a Beethoven or a Bach. He combines classical, folk, rock and blues in very unique and complex ways. I'd love to see you analyze Thick as a Brick; but that is daunting. Try Locomotive Breath, or Wind Up from this album. Also later works too. He and the band generated a hit album every year for a decade after Aqualung. The pinnacle by their own words seems to be with the Album Heavy Horses. That title song is so incredibly moving. There is no one song that captures Ian Anderson or Jethro Tull, as he has so many flavors and talents. He is like a modern day Shakespeare turned minstrel and prog rock icon.
For the Gaelic influence try Acres Wild:
th-cam.com/video/J5a3QlZt0Os/w-d-xo.html (Acres Wild (2003 Remaster))
I saw them live in early 1970's and Ian is quite the showman. he can be raunchy or delicate as in this love song:
th-cam.com/video/G0vIEOw5flo/w-d-xo.html (Jethro Tull - Wond'ring Aloud Live At Capital Centre, Landover 1977)
And then 45 years later he still has it:
th-cam.com/video/C82ryR6TWD4/w-d-xo.html (Jethro Tull - Wondring Aloud with String Quartet)
And this rendering of an early Tull tune with the string quartet:
th-cam.com/video/7iggVU-__BM/w-d-xo.html (Jethro Tull - Life Is A Long Song)
Enjoyed your thoughts!
John Evan
John Evan was indeed their keyboard player through most of the 70s - every bit as wacky onstage as Ian Anderson, too. They were all showmen as well as amaing musicians.
Piano player was John Evan all through the 70s.
Saw The Martin Barre band recently at Penns Peak performing Jethro Tull. Excellent show. Saw Jethro Tull circa 2006 at the Bethlehem Musicfest. Also excellent. One of the very first bands I loved, my dad had Aqualung on vinyl
Needs more cow bell
You’re not even funny
☮️💙💙💙
Jeffery Hammond is killer on this track, too.
i think you need to hear YES. classic YES like "Heart of the Sun Rise" or "Roundabout" the fathers of Prog Rock.
Close to the edge
I suggest the album Minstrel in the Gallery. It truly captures the essence... medieval rock/metal. Nobody ever came close. Ian Anderson is THE Minstrel
how is anything rock music post 2000?
The entire second side of Aqualung, the My God side, is better than the first both lyrically and musically in my humble opinion. I've been a huge Tull fan since seeing them during the Thick as a Brick tour in June of 1972. There is nothing like a Tull concert, Ian's energy on stage and ability to mesmerize a bunch of young people with prolonged flute solo's was beyond amazing. I agree with you though about Thick as a Brick as being their best album.
What is your take on the album "Thick as a Brick"?
it is one of my favorite albums of all time. I am a sucker for long format music and Thick as a brick being basically just one gigantic song is amazing, love how well crafted the movements of the piece are, the intricate use of the instruments and the incredible amount of memorable melodies... Just a great piece of Prog Rock!!!
Roots to Branches is a fantastic album that suffers a little because it's just a little too long- should have been two separate albums. The opening tracks have a middle eastern flavor and really show of the fluidity of the band. Secret Language of Birds is my favorite IA solo album.
You're right! Funny, in my opinion, Roots to Branches is the last good record they put out (aside from the semi-novelty Christmas album) and yet I never noticed how long the running time is! As for The Secret Language of Birds, I also agree, and just happened to stumble onto another reactor checking it out for the first time this week. I certainly was never expecting to see that. It came out of nowhere.
Keltic(?) influenced music before Jethro Tull? Since Ian Anderson is born in Scotland it is rather scotish gaelic influrnces. I guess? _Before_ Jethro Tull? I think you mean before 1969-1970? I think it is not until Martin Barre joins the group with "Stand up" they can be viewed as a progressic rock band. Before that it was rather a blues band. Clouds was a Scotish band - check them! Does the group "Family" fulfill your criteria? But they are all from England (except Grech from France). Another group that may be of interest is Nice (with Keith Emerson. Maybe Mike Batt may be of interest. And speaking of unknown groups: check the group the Churchill's aka Jericho Jones aka Jericho (from Israel)! From 1972 and on they are really interesting!
It is with trepidation that I want to pick you up on something. You mentioned the recording engineer changing the dynamic range? Mt point is that the dynamic range is set by the parameters of the playback system. Highest output level minus the noise floor. I am unaware of anything that can change that. Maybe I am missing the point of what you said though. cheers
We're you from .my friend
Jethro Tull recorded this album in the same church that Led Zeppelin was recording #4 album. Tull got the the larger room.
Ian Anderson said it was the worst of the 2 spaces to record in. You can compare it to their later albums.
Music is so subjective, and Ian Anderson ( Jethro Tull creative leader ) has constantly changed his direction , style and genre.
Most Tull fans love the later music I hate...... for me, it was their second and third albums I love.
Their first album was an okay first album, but an ordinary BLUES album...... and it was supposed to be a Blues album.
Then came Stand Up, one of my all time favourite albums....... 1st track is a classic rock number, an all time classic, but not appreciated by rock fans because it is too thoughtful and too bluesy. lol
The album is very eclectic and mostly Euro / Middle Eastern folk and jazz..... but contains some brilliant rock of a possible progressive nature.
3rd was Benefit........a heavy rock album that was very progressive, starting with a flute solo that was recorded normally but played backwards in the recordings .
The lyrics are more folk than rock and the album ends with a folksy “love” ballad in a genre I can not verbalise ..... is it soft rock with blues and heavy rock chords or heavy folk or god knows what....... back then it was pure Ian Anderson..... Deep lyrics with an accoustic folksy vibe played as light rock with a medieval attitude.
As with Pink Floyd, most of Tulls great music is their own genre and Ian’s own musical direction...... can’t be pidgeon holed into any specific genre .
It is simply Ian’s music as interpreted by the band.
Super groovy ? But of course. It's jethro tull !!! 😁
You have some good and important points in your analysis, I gave the video a like. But someone has to say it:
Funny that in decades of listening to them you didn't pick up the pronunciation of the band name - "Iiethrotool" doesn't even come close. ;-) You can make the correct sounds in other words, so that's strange. The "J" is pronounced like the "g" in "genre", the "u" like in "discuss", there is a pause between Jethro and Tull, and the stressed syllables are the first and the third one, now just put that together - or just listen to any Ian Anderson interview where he drops the band name to pick it up, finally. ;-)
And you marvel about the piano player but couldn' figure out John Evan? That's one glimpse at Wikipedia, man.
They made fun of prog rock
While making prog rock albums.
@@jonathanvaughan453 They were parodies of them. Ian Anderson had a sense of humour
Ok , get to,the point. A bit too much talking. I didn’t think you were taking us to school. Jethro Tull is great we know
Stop reacting to music that you heard.
Fun fact is that Aqualung wasn't eyeing the little girl with bad intent but was rather eyeing the girl who HAS bad intent
Yeah, it's possibile.😂😂😂