Could there be a better band than Jethro Tull? Are there any lyricists besides Ian Anderson who can so succinctly and effortlessly take you on journeys through such diverse locales as a jungle, the London slums, or a simple park bench?
Of course there are.
Ah, but is there any better flautist in the rock world, or perhaps in the general world, as great as Mr. Anderson? Any sane person here must answer “no.”
Jethro Tull is a band that has been largely forgotten since their heyday in the early-to-mid 1970s, when they were unquestionably one of rock’s premier bands and one of its finest innovators. Coming to prominence in that legendary era of unprecedented experimentation and freedom amongst recording artists, the late ’60s, they managed to forge a sound that was both unique and massively popular. They made the successful transition from blues rock to straight rock to prog rock in just six years and six albums, all the while anchored by that single element that put them a cut above the rest: the flute.
It was in 1972, or thereabouts, that Tull peaked. Unfortunately for their commercial and critical standing, this was only six albums into a quantitatively prolific career that has seen eighteen studio albums since. This could be the reason they have been largely forgotten by all but a few diehards, and a few freaks (in whose ranks I proudly place myself). It’s a shame, too, because they were a phenomenal and, it bears repeating, unique band for all of those six albums, and hints of that greatness can be felt in varying degrees in every album that followed their glory days.
So in the interests of bringing Jethro Tull to a new generation of music lovers, any of whom with genuine taste should appreciate them, I present what I consider their ten best songs. Starting with any of these (except the last and best) should give the uninitiated a sound introduction to just what Ian Anderson and his band are all about.
10. “The Whistler,” Songs from the Wood, 1977.
This song encapsulates all the best of “late early” Tull. Surprisingly there’s very little flute in this song, but it’s more than made up for by the rich, multilayered arrangement. After this song and this album, you have to listen very closely to their subsequent recordings for a really good Jethro Tull song.
9. “A Song for Jeffrey,” This Was, 1968.
This was the song that introduced Tull to the world when they performed it on the Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus. Its simple lyrics are the best I’ve heard about the uncertainty of being a young person and finding your way through life (even if you may have to give it a few listens, because Anderson sings it a little strangely). It’s also the first Tull song I learned to play on the flute, so I had to include it.
8. “Hymn 43,” Aqualung, 1971.
The entire second side of this album (or the last six songs, for those of you unfamiliar with vinyl) has to do with the whole “God vs. religion” question, and with this song, Anderson firmly allies himself with the former. This song, as well as its companion on the album, “My God,” is probably the best written about the hypocrisy of organized faith and its detrimental effect on those who truly wish to find God. Not critical of God, just of those who do some really bizarre and violent deeds in his name…
7. “My Sunday Feeling,” This Was, 1968.
It’s the only song I know of about suffering a hangover; if not, I bet it’s the first, and it’s certainly the best. After hearing Ian’s lyrics about forgetting where he slept last night and his plaintive cry of “Oh, I don’t feel so good/Need someone to help me to my bed,” you’ll always refer to your future Sunday feelings this way. A perfect example of early Tull, when they were a flute-driven blues rock band. If they’d stayed with this sound, I’m sure they’d still be popular today. But then, of course, we’d miss out on the six songs still to come…
6. “To Cry You a Song,” Benefit, 1970.
This is the best song from the band’s “pure rock” period, which encapsulated this album and the one before it (see below). The lyrics, full of wonderful urban imagery, depict (as far as I can tell) a cautious return by a wayward traveler to his old home and love. Whenever I’m coming back from a long trip I make a point to listen to this song to “get in the mood,” so to speak. And with lyrics like “Closing my dream inside its paper bag,” what’s not to love about it?
5. “Skating Away on the Thin Ice of a New Day,” Warchild, 1974.
I would say this is one of the best existentialist songs in rock. The title sums it up like no explanation of mine ever could…it’s pretty much an anthem, a rallying cry for everyone sitting (or standing, I don’t mind) around uncertain where their life is taking them, or even if it’s taking them anywhere at all. It seems to be, but who hasn’t wondered at times if it’s all just a meaningless pool that you could fall into and drown at any moment? I haven’t, thank God, but some have…
4. “Wond’ring Aloud,” Aqualung, 1971.
Who would have thought that Jethro Tull was capable of producing one of the top five most romantic songs in lyric music? Well, no one, until they listen to this succinct, perfect expression of adoration. Nothing lofty, nothing pretentious, just a nice little reflection on what it’s like to wake up with someone you love. It’s very short, and thus very easy to remember for serenading purposes.
3. “Nothing is Easy,” Stand Up, 1969.
If you’ve sensed a pattern developing in the lyrics of the songs on this list, in that they tend to deal with life and the struggle to live it, you’re right. Ian Anderson’s main inspiration in the band’s formative years was always just that, and remnants of it always pervaded his work from then on.
This song, the bridge between the blues of This Was and the rock and roll of Benefit, deals with just that theme. In this case, it’s the unnatural fixation on material wealth that drives people to desperation and depression. And it doesn’t need the lyrics to be a great song, because it’s so damned catchy and rocking that you could turn the vocals off and still enjoy it (but I wouldn’t).
2. “Rainbow Blues,” Warchild, 1974.
Actually, this song only made the Warchild album when it was rereleased with bonus tracks in 2002…before that, it was a very hard-to-find (and harder-to-hear) single. I like it primarily because of the bridge (“The rain wasn’t made of water/And the snow didn’t have a place in the sun/So we slipped behind a rainbow/And lay back until we had done”), but the main lyrics are great, too. Now that I think about it, it’s mostly Ian Anderson’s great, image-laden lyrics that are Jethro Tull’s main attraction (at least in the pre-1975 days…after that, his “good vs. shit” filter started to falter a bit). The combination of thoughtful, intelligent lyrics with a crazy front man with a flute couldn’t help but yield phenomenal results.
1. “Thick as a Brick,” Thick as a Brick, 1972.
If you try to listen to “Thick as a Brick” before the rest of the songs on this list, you may not be able to take it. Then again, this was my introduction to Jethro Tull (aside from the radio hits not included here), so perhaps this song is just the initiation you need.
This song is not just the title track of the album…it is the album. If only one groundbreaking achievement is attributed to Jethro Tull (though there are many more), it would be the absolutely unprecedented release of an album composed of just one rich, multilayered, lyrically deep, massive 43-minute epic song about the trials of growing up in our modern world. True to prog rock form, the lyrics are dense, conceptually varied, and full of allegory.
But what really sets this incredible albumsong (yes, one word) above the rest is its amazing musical diversity, all tied together in true rock opera fashion with recurring themes and unexpected changes in tempo, timbre and meter. The variation is so strong that at first glance it’s tempting to think how wonderful it would be broken up into individual songs…but repeat listening convinces one that the whole is greater than the sum of the parts (and what great parts), and this is truly one song that deserves to be heard all the way through.
Ian tried this approach again the next year with another album-length song in A Passion Play, a decidedly less interesting endeavor. That is an album for the truly weird, the seriously Tull-obsessed (like me)…but Thick as a Brick is one that everyone can appreciate and enjoy, and one you should seek out soon. I know I am unusual, so perhaps cutting your teeth on this album is not the best way to start out with Jethro Tull. But once you’ve heard it and loved it, there’s no going back.
FIN
And there you have it. You’re now armed with enough theoretical knowledge to go to your local Borders and pick up some Tull albums. It’s an investment for your ears that you won’t regret. Fair warning: once you’re into Jethro Tull, you must be prepared for some serious teasing and downright mean-spirited mockery by those who know them only by “Bungle in the Jungle.” It’s no use arguing with such cretins, so stand by your convictions and continue to quietly promote them to people whose music tastes you truly respect…and they will rise again. Trust me.
