All I know is Aqualung... and well I want to explore ... be gentle

I own Tribute, but it's not been spun since '96 or thereabouts. It's the only Tull record I could tolerate - and that's when I was smoking herb. I think Frostingspoon's the lone fan around these parts. Or maybe he likes Scotmen who play a mean skin flute. I forget.

SWARM! SWARM!!

To tell the truth Aqualung is the best by FAR.

Their album Crest of the Knave won a Grammy for best heavy metal album in the late eighties or early nineties it's pretty good.

Thick as Brick is Great.

And if you ever have a chance to see them do it.

this is just a tribute, you gotta believe me.....

i dunno much Tull, but i dig the track they play on the Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus album.

Thick as a Brick. It's a 43 minute long song, but it's a good 43 minute long song.

Also, Stand Up is reputed to be one of the greatest albums of all time by a lot of people, but that album was made when they were a much different band in 1968 or so.

Benefit is the only Tull I still own and play, and my favorite. I lost interest in anything they put out after Aqualung.

I really grew to loathe Tull in my teen years, mostly because, in '73, I wasted precious allowance money on A Passion Play, which is an abysmal joke of an album. I never forgave the band after that, and still firmly believe they owe me $3.99 (plus 32 years of interest). Incidentally, the same deal goes for Deep Purple and their stinking Burn album.

Grudgingly, I'll admit there are parts of Aqualung that are almost enjoyable. After that album, I'd go back to This Was, which is - I think - the only album Tull did with guitarist Mick Abrahams (who went on to found jazz rock band Bloodwyn Pig) and is more bluesy and rocks harder than any other Tull.

Frostin..er... Blue Lantern could probably steer you in the right direction, but it looks like he has left the building.

Can't go wrong with Aqualung, Thick As A Brick

Steve

My recommendation would be to shy completely away from their "classic rock fan" albums at first or you'll wind up with the same opinion of them so many others have.

Go with one of these first:

Songs From The Wood
Heavy Horses
The Broadsword & The Beast

Post-'82 albums tend toward semi-clunky Dire Straits-isms, though there's some good songs on the albums. Their earliest, jazz-inflected albums are consistently the only ones that super-cool people like, but whatever. Their early 70's concept albums are the ones that indie fans mock, for whatever reasons. But my favorites are late 70's-early 80's. There's an organic and pre-modern sentimentality to those that tempers the caustic wordplay and there's less need to sound rawk.

If you can't stand a a medieval folk tone to your classic rock, don't bother to pursue any inquest into Tull, but if you can, you'll find some songs that are pretty suprising if you've only heard four or five tunes on classic rock stations. Anderson's lyrics have a lot more depth to them than most would expect and there's an emotional honesty to many non-single ballads that you wouldn't know was there from just hearing classic rock radio.

Important things to keep in mind Tull-wise:

There are songs that aren't anything like "Aqualung"

They had a jazzy phase, a concept rock/classic rock phase, a medieval folk-rock phase, a fall-prey-to-80's-production phase, and a return-to-classic-sound recent phase.

They were only "rock" for a few years in the early to mid 70's. All the rest of the time they've been like Billy Connolly and Gordon Lightfoot fronting ZZ Top and The Pogues simultaneously.

Err...so download Songs From The Wood, I guess.

Of course, you could always go with Crest Of A Knave which won them a Grammy.

Except it's their second worst album, bar a couple of great tracks.

Hence the wink.

I am one of a very few who thinks Under Wraps is a great album. Don't get me wrong, I pretty much love everything they have ever done, but Under Wraps just seems so unique and enjoyable to me. I would recommend it if you like 80's sounds and songs about spies and technology.

See you in Attica, Dick.

Oh I can, in fact given my recent love affair with the Comus album, I have been led somehow to at least be curious about Tull again.. so yes, I will take the rest of your advice and seek out this of which you speak

I have come up with a sort of album by album synopsis at least from my point of view. I hope it helps and does not seem like a silly thing to do.

This Was - Blues-based and very different from what was to come. This was how they were playing then. Favs: My Sunday Feeling, Beggar's Farm, Cat's Squirrel

Stand Up - Still a few traces of blues but still rocking pretty hard. Favs: A New Day Yesterday, Back To The Family, Fat Man

Benefit - The one I listen to the least. I do cherish quite a few songs on this but it doesn't seem to hold well as a whole album. Favs: With You There To Help Me, For Michael Collins Jeffrey And Me, Son

Aqualung - The one most people identify with. No real explanation neccessary. Favs: My God, Hymn 43

Thick As A Brick - One 43 minute song. The packaging is based on a newspaper. Has a progressive sound to it.

A Passion Play - Similar to Thick As A Brick in that it is one song but it is more progressive with many different styles. The lyrics are dark but humourous at times.

War Child - Some songs on this are from leftout ideas for A Passion Play. There is quite a bit of saxophone on the songs. Favs: War Child, Sealion

Minstrel In The Gallery - Mostly acoustic and a softer sound. Favs: One White Duck/0^10=Nothing At All, Summerday Sands(only on remaster)

Too Old To Rock 'N Roll: Too Young To Die! - A mix of acoustic and general classic rock. There is sort of a story in the songs. Favs: Quizz Kid, Taxi Grab, Big Dipper

Songs From The Wood - Very folk-y with the subject matter being mostly on woodlandesque themes. A good mood album. Favs: Cup Of Wonder, Velvet Green

Heavy Horses - Still folk-y but more of a pastoral countryside feel to it. Ian's voice is pretty raspy on this one. Favs: And The Mouse Police Never Sleeps, Moths, One Brown Mouse

Stormwatch - A dark album with some progressiveness to it. My favourite Tull album. Favs: North Sea Oil, Something's On The Move, Flying Dutchman

A - Was supposed to be an Ian Anderson solo album. Feels a bit 80's in some parts. Favs: Uniform, 4WD (Low Ratio)

Broadsword And The Beast - An overall mystical sounding album. A little more 80's sounding than A but very strong overall. The remaster adds many great tracks. Favs: Beastie, Overhang(only on remaster), Down At The End Of Your Road(only on remaster)

Under Wraps - So 80's that it does not have a human drummer. Most fans dislike this one although I am very fond of it. Favs: Astronomy, Automotive Engineering, Saboteur

Crest Of A Knave - Getting away from 80's sounds mostly. Rocks hard in some parts. Favs: Farm On The Freeway, Dogs In The Midwinter

Rock Island - Fitting title and artwork. Feels like being out at sea. Favs: Kissing Willie, Heavy Water

Catfish Rising - Back to some blues sounds. Pretty acoustic. Favs: Occasional Demons, Sparrow On The Schoolyard Wall

Roots To Branches - A Middle Eastern feel. Not much else I can say. Favs: Valley, At Last Forever, Another Harry's Bar

J-Tull Dot Com - Feels like a band like Jethro Tull should sound like in 1999 which is when it was released. Favs: Hunt By Numbers, Bends Like A Willow


There you have it. You might also be interested in Ian Anderson's solo albums, Divinities, The Secret Language Of Birds and Rupi's Dance if you like Roots To Branches and Walk Into Light if you like Under Wraps.

I kind of lost track of them after Under Wraps -- by many accounts their worst work.

I would say get Thick as a Brick next. And then the Minstrel in the Gallery/Songs from the Wood/Heavy Horses trilogy. (Yes, kind of ignoring Warchild and Too Old To Rock'n'Roll: Too Young To Use Colons Correctly!.)

I don't dislike any of the albums, though the good lyrics on A are damaged by the cheesy music and the production on Under Wraps and Crest Of A Knave is pretty irritating at times.

Favorites:

1. Stormwatch
2. Heavy Horses
3. Songs From The Wood
4. Broadsword & The Beast
5. Minstrel In The Gallery


favorite songs: "One White Duck/ 0/10 = Nothing At All" , "Dun Ringhill", "Flying Colours," "Said She Was A Dancer, "Rare & Precious Chain," "Slow Marching Band." "Sparrow On The Schoolyard Wall," "Heavy Horses," "North Sea Oil," "Home," "A Christmas Song."

wow the extended musical content and replies other than "this sucks" brings tears to my eyes, thanks ... I will be using my newly found knowledge soon

That is because Jethro Tull does not suck! Haha! Although as of late, it seems all the band does is tour. There was supposed to be a new album out this year but it has been put off due to TOURING!

I used to love Tull and still consider Aqualung one of my favorite albums of all time. Other than that one though, I don't listen much anymore.