I’ve grinned as I read each response as I too am a five decade Ian superfan. \u00c2\u00a0But I had to write as no one yet has mentioned the single factor that vaults him into rarified air among my favorite artists….his ability to continue generating compelling art decades after his peers settle for milking the most from their glory years.<\/p>\n
Pull up track ten from 2012’s TAAB2, A Change of Horses released when Ian was in his mid sixties. \u00c2\u00a0Set your stereo to appropriate Tull levels, pull up the lyrics and see if this eight minute odyssey doesn’t speak to you like it does to me.<\/p>\n
Resolute, the optimist
\nI ride fresh horse and carry on
\nFour hundred thousand hours
\nHave come and gone.<\/p>\n
At 62, I spend my days meeting my insurance clients needs to meet the bills, but increasingly find I invest my remaining time in volunteer work as Treasurer for an underserved kid’s camp vs chasing new clients. Sometimes I feel a tinge of resignation that the “go get ’em” years are behind me, but I’m an optimist at heart so my inclination is to look forward rather than back. \u00c2\u00a0And decades after Ian’s art first spoke to me, he’s still speaking to me and putting a bounce in my step at 62 as I look forward!<\/p>\n
Long time reader who enjoys every post,<\/p>\n
Pete Reardon<\/p>\n
____________________________________<\/p>\n
Thanks to this band I had the best line of the night at a NARAS function years ago. \u00c2\u00a0We were going around the room introducing ourselves and indicating our area of expertise. \u00c2\u00a0I recited my name and mentioned that I was currently producing a gangsta rap tribute to the music of Ian Anderson, entitled “Death Row Tull.” \u00c2\u00a0Took a beat or two for people to realize I was kidding.<\/p>\n
Bob Paris<\/p>\n
____________________________________<\/p>\n
Stand Up was the first album I ordered by mail order as a teenager in NZ from the then new Virgin Records. Fabulous album, and of course a great cover. Many years later I interviewed Ian Anderson by phone when, for some reason, he was in the US \u00e2\u20ac\u201c a tour\/new album perhaps \u00e2\u20ac\u201c too long ago to recall. But I do remember him being very intelligent and courteous. A great body of work, shamefully underestimated and appreciated. Keep up the good work.<\/p>\n
David Porter
\nNew Zealand<\/p>\n
____________________________________<\/p>\n
When I was in college outside of Burlington, we drove over to Plattsburgh State to see Jethro Tull. At that point you had to drive north almost into Canada to get from Vermont into New York. ‘Thick as a Brick’ had just been released. John Evan had been hired to play keyboards. Anderson, Barre and Bunker along with Glenn Cornick rounded out the band. In your original article and all the subsequent responses, no mention was made of Mr. Cornick. His bass playing was so critical to Tull\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s sound, especially on \u00e2\u20ac\u2122Stand Up\u00e2\u20ac\u2122, my favorite. And how cool was that Gibson Explorer?<\/p>\n
Dan Daly<\/p>\n
____________________________________<\/p>\n
Tull was the music scene when I was in senior \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcstudy\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 hall on LI high school. Aqualung! I absorbed and later bought earlier stuff in their catalog. TAAB was as a symphony. Incredible. Why they are not appreciated these days is dead wrong! And BTW I love \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcOne White Duck\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 etc from that one!<\/p>\n
David Bodnar<\/p>\n
____________________________________<\/p>\n
Just to add to the memories of Jethro Tull.<\/p>\n
I first saw them at the Nottingham Albert Hall in October, 1970. It was the classic ‘Benefit’ line-up. They’d just returned from the Summer US Tour. They played ‘To Cry You A Song’, the re-tooled ‘Dharma for One’ and ‘A Song For Jeffrey, to name but a few. They were a fierce band and the Martin Barre\/Glen Cornick axis worked superbly well. \u00c2\u00a0John Evan was great too and so musical. He’d yet to develop his zany stage presence.<\/p>\n
I saw them again three years later at Wembley Empire Pool playing ‘A Passion Play’. What a contrast to what I had come before. It was a shock to the system. But I stuck with them.<\/p>\n
A year later, I was the music correspondent for the University Of Manchester student newspaper. I had tickets for Jethro Tull on the ‘Bungle On The Jungle’ UK tour. I got a tip off on the hotel Ian and the band were staying at. So being an intrepid reporter, I staked out the lobby together with a photographer and waited. Sure enough, Ian walked in and we intercepted him. He wasn’t very happy but said he’d do an interview. He connected us with the Chrysalis PR guy who was on the tour. I think his name was Chris. Chris kept us busy for the rest of the day and we hung out with him at his hotel (The Manchester Piccadilly). I really thought we’d get an interview. But alas, Chris was a Chrysalis decoy. Can’t blame him. He was just doing his job. I still have fond memories of that fleeting meet-up with Ian in the Manchester Central Hotel.<\/p>\n
Yes, Jethro Tull should be in the Hall Of Fame.<\/p>\n
andy jones<\/p>\n
____________________________________<\/p>\n
Damn you Bob!
\nI thought I was on hiatus from buying any more remastered CDs. But now, with the Wilson remixes, here I go again.<\/p>\n
Loved your commentary on the band. I would not have even commented had the accolades stopped coming. But….<\/p>\n
I have been a fan of Tull since the 60’s. Saw them several times throughout the late 60′ and 70’s in Chicago. 2x for the THAB tour. That they could create the same ambiance live as the recording is still a mystery to me. One thing I can say, they were even more awesome in concert than they were on vinyl. Sign of the times, I guess.<\/p>\n
Loved their music then, still do now. Thanks for bringing focus back to such a seminal group! I’m listening to the MFSL version right now, and would not trade it for the world.<\/p>\n
Keep up your good work. We all appreciate it!
\nCheers,
\nTom<\/p>\n
____________________________________<\/p>\n
492 letters and no love for Broadsword and the Beast??
\n(Just kidding I didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t really count but damn)
\nFor a 14-yr-old into Tolkien and D&D, this was the perfect album.<\/p>\n
Jon Langston<\/p>\n
____________________________________<\/p>\n
“The second time was when they played Stony Brook University on Long Island on 4\/25\/71”<\/p>\n
was at that show too!<\/p>\n
Michael Fremer<\/p>\n
____________________________________<\/p>\n
I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll just say that, to me, that “Thick As A Brick” was when Tull jumped the shark. This Was, Stand Up, and Benefit were GREAT. Everything they attempted after that was \u00e2\u20ac\u0153meh\u00e2\u20ac\u009d – poor imitations of the aforementioned albums. – Mark Towns<\/p>\n
____________________________________<\/p>\n
Greatest album jacket of all time… STAND UP !!!<\/p>\n
Kenneth Frankel<\/p>\n
____________________________________<\/p>\n
My first concert was Tull at Cincinnati Gardens 1972. \u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0Fat Mattress opened. \u00c2\u00a0Tull played the whole TAB album including some dude hopping on stage in a bunny suit. \u00c2\u00a0My favorite band early on!<\/p>\n
Tim Pringle<\/p>\n
____________________________________<\/p>\n
+1 for \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Wond’ring Aloud\u00e2\u20ac\u009d.<\/p>\n
Daniel Schwartz<\/p>\n
____________________________________<\/p>\n
Wish you had included my favorite line from \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Inside\u00e2\u20ac\u009d after \u00e2\u20ac\u0153sitting on the corner feeling glad, got no money coming in but i can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t be sad\u00e2\u20ac\u009d, here it is:
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u0153that was the best cup of coffee I ever had\u00e2\u20ac\u009d.<\/p>\n
one of my favorite lyrics from any lyricist. \u00c2\u00a0it just really captures the essence of freedom and being young, or in my case, retired.<\/p>\n
cliff keller<\/p>\n
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No one mentioned so many brain cells destroyed by all that weed smoked to aqualung.<\/p>\n
Steve Tipp<\/p>\n
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Thought this might interest you.
\nI am friends with my brothers old art instructor, Burt Silverman.
\nHis painted was used for the cover of “Aqualung”.<\/p>\n
I thought you might enjoy reading this story.<\/p>\n
The painter behind Jethro Tull’s Aqualung cover is still haunted by its success: https:\/\/theoutline.com\/post\/4490\/jethro-tull-aqualung-cover-artist-burton-silverman?zd=3&zi=gxkb6h42<\/a><\/p>\n Steve Isaacson<\/p>\n ____________________________________<\/p>\n I was fortunate enough to work for WEA in the 70s in Chicago and you knew that regardless of the FM rock format, the stations played Jethro Tull. No exceptions. And while Ian could be bit prickly at times, you knew that his focus was the music. Why Tull isn’t in the Hall is a travesty.<\/p>\n David Hersrud<\/p>\n ____________________________________<\/p>\n I receiived the 8 Track ‘A Passion Play’ for Christmas A quick listen, and I thought it was rubbish…<\/p>\n In all fairness, I was only 12 at the time.<\/p>\n I have not listened to that recording since, but still I should give a listen. Of course spotify would be a touch Cheers<\/p>\n Mitch Nixon<\/p>\n ____________________________________<\/p>\n I was not surprised to see the number of comments to your post about Jethro Tull. \u00c2\u00a0Even 50 years later Ian Anderson’s last concert in Forest Hills, which I attended, \u00c2\u00a0was sold out.<\/p>\n I hope you’ll allow me to add one more to the pile:<\/p>\n In 1974 I attended sleepaway camp in upstate New Yrok. \u00c2\u00a0For the annual talent show, I recruited my bunk mate to accompany me on \u00c2\u00a0acoustic guitar while I \u00c2\u00a0belted out \u00c2\u00a0a rendition of \u00c2\u00a0“Locomotive Breath” onstage in front of the whole camp. (I remember I had to slur the words “got him by the balls” lest I offend the camp administration) \u00c2\u00a0It was the first time I had ever sung anything on stage in front of an audience. \u00c2\u00a0Happily it was a big hit and I got a rousing ovation. \u00c2\u00a0I also heard that as a result of my performance the prettiest girl in camp now wanted to date me, which I proceeded to do for the rest of the summer. It was the first and only time I got to feel what it’s like to be a rock star. \u00c2\u00a0Thank you Jethro Tull.<\/p>\n David Ehrlich<\/p>\n ____________________________________<\/p>\n I was a fan at 14 since Aqualung and of course then I bought Benefit, Stand Up and This Was which are three very different recordings. Andy Richmond<\/p>\n ____________________________________<\/p>\n I went through at least 2 vinyl copies of TAAB and Passion Play. I was a huge fan. The creativity has remained with our generation as what music should be. My university students once told me about that time, “We don’t have bands like that today.”<\/p>\n But, like many of your readers, I immediately remembered the shows of those albums. BTW, the roadies put on the trench coats one by one. So the crowd slowly noticed. I saw the Passion Play tour before hearing the album, thankfully. Seeing it live first was great.<\/p>\n About 10 minutes before the show, house lights up and the crowd talking, we noticed that “something” was different…a sound. We stopped and listened, but couldn’t discern anything over the room noises. A few minutes later, definitely something now. Later, sounds like a heartbeat? Yes. It got louder, oh so slowly and disturbingly, as more people noticed. Up until the lights suddenly came down and the cover photo appeared on a large screen above the band, heart loudly pounding. This eventually started to move and dance. Very bizzare. Can’t remember the rest of the soundtrack but the whole experience was fantastic in itself. Then the band hit, played the entire album and more. I think their greatest live song was probably “Cross-Eyed Mary.” They killed it each time I saw them.<\/p>\n Exciting times!<\/p>\n Robert Bond<\/p>\n ____________________________________<\/p>\n Tull’s first states date was in the middle slot of a three act night at the Fillmore East in late January, 1969. Blood, Sweat and Tears was the headliner. I Don’t remember what act had originally been booked to open, but they were a late scratch and Bill got the Gay Despardo Steel Band to do the honors and he had them stream in down the aisles, steel drums pounding, to take the stage.<\/p>\n Even though most were there that night for BS&T, WNEW had created a bit of a buzz for this completely original and unique sounding band with a lanky, scraggly, flute playing front man, so there was a decent contingent there that just had to see witness this band live.<\/p>\n Ian and the band’s set that night was riveting. Encores weren’t routine those days – especially for non-headliners , but the level of pandemonium when Tull’s last note sounded was too strong to deny them one. Ditto the second encore, and there would have been a third, but the band begged off, saying someone wasn’t well enough to do another – an excuse that might have been a courtesy to David Clayton Thomas who had made a point of getting them back on the bill after Ian had been unable to perform due to illness at a previously booked date with BS&T at the venue.<\/p>\n Unfathomable that neither group is in the Rock Hall Of Fame.<\/p>\n Tom Starr<\/p>\n ____________________________________<\/p>\n One more note on Ian. I was at the Byron Bay Bluesfest in 2017 with my management client Jake Shimabukuro and we had dressing rooms in the same area as Ian and the Tull band. He walked outside near the small pond and i figured i would at least try to say hi to see if he would respond as i have heard he is not easy to approach. I said hello and told him i enjoyed the tour at the Ryman he had done showing videos at times during the show that he had recorded at his home and the stories he told. He said he appreciated that I enjoyed that tour as many of his fans did not. He mentioned most fans want the same show they had seen before. He thanked me for my comments, kind of smiled and wished us well. I have to say i was relieved that he did not tell me to f off which i had expected. Then he proceeded to play one hell of a Jethro Tull set! I often go to Apple Music, hit shuffle on Tull and pass the hours away still in awe of the music. Thanks Bob<\/p>\n Van Fletcher<\/p>\n ____________________________________<\/p>\n Our Ian Anderson Story\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6<\/p>\n My band from Canada called The Tea Party found ourselves in the UK for the first time in 1994. \u00c2\u00a0We decided a tour before our debut record was released was a good idea but alas we were a bit ambitious and we were unfortunately off of everyone\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s radar. \u00c2\u00a0The tour weaved it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s way through the English countryside stopping at all the small pubs on the touring circuit including the small Princess Charlotte in Leicester, which was made famous by hosting Radiohead, Oasis and Coldplay on their first tours. We finished soundcheck and tour manager said someone wanted to say hello in the back room. \u00c2\u00a0We entered the small room and we were announced formally, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153The Tea Party please meet Ian Anderson\u00e2\u20ac\u009d It turned out that Ian had signed a deal with Chrysalis and had got his hands and ears on our debut and wanted to hook up. It was a fruitful exchange of pleasantries. \u00c2\u00a0He loved our informed take on retro rock and we gushed over his contributions to the canon of the aforementioned genre. \u00c2\u00a0We made plans to record together but nothing came of it. \u00c2\u00a0We\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d try to hook up on the 8 or 9 subsequent tours but the schedules never aligned.<\/p>\n Cut to twenty years later when we are recording the title track to our Ocean at the End record. \u00c2\u00a0Jeff Martin our guitarist and producer suggested I hop on the old mellotron and lay down a sympathetic flute line. \u00c2\u00a0After a minute of doodling around I had an epiphany and it struck me that this song was perfect for Ian to join us on. \u00c2\u00a0It had been so long since we spoke but we hooked it up and he laid done two incredible tracks for us to include on the song. We were in headphone bliss once we tacked on a bit of reverb and delay. \u00c2\u00a0The studio in Toronto, Revolution Studios, had an egg chair with speakers retro fitted into it. \u00c2\u00a0It was an ideal place to trip out to the rough mixes. \u00c2\u00a0We were blessed to be able to work with him and we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll never forget his kindness. \u00c2\u00a0Looking forward to Ian and the rest of Jethro Tull\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s eventual induction into the RRHOF.<\/p>\n All the best, Link to our 8m30s song featuring Ian Anderson of flute, The Ocean at the End (about 1\/3 of the length as Thick as a Brick (Pt.1)! Spotify: ____________________________________<\/p>\n Back in the \u00e2\u20ac\u02dc70s and \u00e2\u20ac\u02dc80s, Jethro Tull was the best live band on the road. \u00c2\u00a0We\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d go see them every time they came through Los Angeles. \u00c2\u00a0We saw pretty much all the classic rock bands through the years, and nobody put on a better live show. \u00c2\u00a0Between Ian Anderson\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s songwriting and showmanship and Martin Barre\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s guitar work, there just wasn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t a rock and roll band that did it better. \u00c2\u00a0Many times we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d see another concert the same week that we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d see Tull play, and there was never a comparison. \u00c2\u00a0As soon as they started, we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d look at each other and just say, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153now that\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s how it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s supposed to be done!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d \u00c2\u00a0You could, see, hear, and even feel the difference.<\/p>\n We\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve never worried about whether our friends liked Jethro Tull as a band or whether their music appealed to them. \u00c2\u00a0Their sound was unique and everyone has their own taste in music. \u00c2\u00a0For us, their music is certainly one of those we go to whenever nothing else seems to hit just right. We doubt Ian Anderson cares whether the politically skewed \u00e2\u20ac\u0153R&RHoF\u00e2\u20ac\u009d inducts them or not. They have certainly inducted a handful of bands that don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t belong, devaluing the whole institution, while ignoring a number of quality artists who belong. \u00c2\u00a0It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s all politics, not rock and roll.<\/p>\n Jethro Tull\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Songs From The Wood\u00e2\u20ac\u009d is probably THE \u00e2\u20ac\u0153comfort\u00e2\u20ac\u009d album for us\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6 one of the dozen or so albums we go back to that just brings back a special time and feel and that we can listen to all the way through any time, any day. \u00c2\u00a0Definitely a top album and right up there with \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Stand Up,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Aqualung,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d and \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Thick As A Brick\u00e2\u20ac\u009d. \u00c2\u00a0And we do think that \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Heavy Horses,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d \u00e2\u20ac\u0153The Broadsword and the Beast,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d and \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Rock Island\u00e2\u20ac\u009d are under-appreciated\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6 and probably always will be.<\/p>\n It was great reading your TAAB review, and equally great reading everyone\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s comments about one of our favorite bands.<\/p>\n As always, thank you!<\/p>\n
\nfrom my cousins.<\/p>\n
\nhave the 8 Track around some where and a working
\n8 Track Player.<\/p>\n
\nmore convenient.<\/p>\n
\nThick as a Brick changed my life as much as Close to the Edge and Tarkus did at the time and I was a huge fan. Passion Play was a downer as was Topographic for Yes but I loved Warchild, Songs from the Wood, Minstrel, Heavy Horses, Stormwatch. Broadsword was and is an absolute masterclass.
\nI met Ian outside the stage door at Manchester Free Trade Hall in the mid 70’s. I forget which tour as I’ve seen them so many times but he was drinking a bottle of Lowenbrau. We spoke briefly and this was when he still had the rich thick northern English accent. I asked him for a beer and he gave me the bottle he was drinking. I had met my hero.
\nFast forward to the mid 90’s and several unremarkable JT albums later I was General Manager at Zomba Records in the UK and was invited by John Taylor at Virgin Retail (who knew I was a fan) to attend the party for the opening of their new store in Richmond where Ian would be playing a short acoustic set. John took me meet him after the show. The northern accent was gone, he was sublimely arrogant and talked about fucking gravadlax. I’ll never forget the disappointment but I still love and play the music. A hero – not a nice one – but a hero nonetheless.<\/p>\n
\nStuart Chatwood
\nThe Tea Party\/composer<\/p>\n
\nYoutube:
\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=wPhAxKBmZz8<\/a><\/p>\n
\nhttps:\/\/open.spotify.com\/track\/0YsOBNMmUKB1nTdlqUUcY4?si=yJK4MA4_S4KuPXzYRYL5SA<\/a><\/p>\n