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Score: 4

Aqualung (Mar 1971)

The band's most famous and most acclaimed album (and best cover). It stands up well. Well, certain tracks do, and the album as a whole is still quite listenable without being that compelling or engaging. Again there is a sense of Roy Harper (Flat Baroque And Berserk - 1970) in some of the tracks. Because the title character is mentioned in two songs it was assumed to be a concept album, though there is no evidence of that in the lyrics, and Anderson denied it then and to this day, recording Thick As A Brick in response. I see no connecting theme in the songs, but some people claim to see it as an album about religion. If people wish to see it as a concept album, they are free to do so, but they might benefit from listening to some early concept albums such as Woody Guthrie's Dust Bowl Ballads (1940), West Side Story (1961), Frank Sinatra's In the Wee Small Hours (1955), and Johnny Cash's Bitter Tears (Ballads of the American Indian) (1964). There's no struggle at all recognising the concept in these albums. And, for me, that is an essential key to a concept album.
Original bass player Cornick is replaced by Hammond, and John Evan "officially" joins on keyboards., making the band a five piece.

Lyrics

Released	19 March 1971
Recorded	April 1970 – February 1971^[1]
Studio	Island Studios, Morgan Studios
Genre	Folk rock, hard rock
Length	42:55
Label	Chrysalis/Island (Europe)
Producer	Ian Anderson, Terry Ellis

All songs written by Ian Anderson

Side one: Aqualung
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Aqualung" (Ian Anderson, Jennie Anderson)	6:34
2.	"Cross-Eyed Mary"	4:06
3.	"Cheap Day Return"	1:21
4.	"Mother Goose"	3:51
5.	"Wond'ring Aloud"	1:53
6.	"Up to Me"	3:15

Side two: My God
No.	Title	Length
1.	"My God"	7:08
2.	"Hymn 43"	3:14
3.	"Slipstream"	1:13
4.	"Locomotive Breath"	4:23
5.	"Wind-Up"	6:01

2016 40th anniversary adapted edition
CD 2: Associated recordings 1970–1971 - Steven Wilson remaster and remix of tracks 1–10
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Lick Your Fingers Clean"	2:49
2.	"Just Trying to Be"	1:38
3.	"My God" (Early Version)	9:43
4.	"Wond'ring Aloud" (13 December 1970, the second known version of this song)	1:52
5.	"Wind-Up" (Early Version)	5:22
6.	"Slipstream" (Take 2)	0:55
7.	"Up the 'Pool" (Early Version)	3:13
8.	"Wond'ring Aloud, Again" (21 June 1970) The first recording of this song, actually made up of two parts: a. Wond'ring Aloud (the first version of Wond'ring Aloud) b. Wond'ring Again (Part II of Wond'ring Alound, originally released on Living In The Past)	7:08
9.	"Life is a Long Song"	3:20
10.	"Up the 'Pool"	3:13
11.	"Life is a Long Song" (Original EP Flat Transfer)	3:21
12.	"Up the 'Pool" (Original EP Flat Transfer)	3:13
13.	"Dr. Bogenbroom" (Original EP Flat Transfer)	3:01
14.	"From Later" (Original EP Flat Transfer)	2:09
15.	"Nursie" (Original EP Flat Transfer)	1:38
16.	"Reprise Radio Advert"	0:53

Ian Anderson – lead vocals, acoustic guitar, flute, production
Martin Barre – electric guitar, descant recorder
John Evan – piano, organ, Mellotron
Jeffrey Hammond – bass guitar, alto recorder, odd voices, backing vocals on "Mother Goose"
Clive Bunker – drums and percussion

Tull website

AllMusic: 9

Score: 6 1/2

Thick As A Brick (Mar 1972)

This is Anderson's satirical response to critics calling Aqualung a concept album, and to the whole area of music now known as prog rock. It was done very tongue-in-cheek, very quickly composed on the spot, with the band seeing it as a spot of humour influenced by Monty Python. Yes, it's proggy. And, yes, it's actually quite good. There's a strong affinity with Roy Harper in the style of singing.

Original drummer Bunker is replaced by Barlow - Anderson is now the only member left of the original band.

Lyrics.

Released	3 March 1972^[1]
Recorded	December 1971
Studio	Morgan Studios, London
Genre	Progressive rock
Length	43:46
Label	Chrysalis (Europe)
Producer	Ian Anderson, Terry Ellis (ex.)

All songs written by Ian Anderson

Side one
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Thick as a Brick, Part I"	22:40

Side two
No.	Title	Length
2.	"Thick as a Brick, Part II"	21:06

Ian Anderson – vocals, acoustic guitar, flute, violin, trumpet, saxophone, accordion
Martin Barre – electric guitar, lute, flute
John Evan – piano, organ, harpsichord
Jeffrey Hammond – bass guitar, spoken word
Barriemore Barlow – drums, percussion, timpani

AllMusic: 9

Score: 5

Living In The Past (1972)

A collection of tracks, mostly previously unreleased on album, nearly half previously unreleased in any format; only four tracks taken from previous albums. It's not a collection that has held my attention. The well known songs, "Witch's Promise" and "Living In The Past" are good, but the rest feel more like filler than killer. Not an essential album - for Tull fans only.

Side one
No.	Title	Length
1.	"A Song for Jeffrey" (remix of album track from This Was)	3:18
2.	"Love Story" (stereo remix of 1968 UK single)	3:00
3.	"Christmas Song" (stereo remix of 1968 UK single)	2:56
4.	"Living in the Past" (stereo remix of 1969 UK single)	3:18
5.	"Driving Song" (stereo remix of 1969 UK single)	2:37
6.	"Bourée" (Bourrée in E minor by Bach arr. Jethro Tull) (from the album Stand Up)	3:40

Side two
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Sweet Dream" (stereo remix of 1969 UK single)	4:00
2.	"Singing All Day" (previously unreleased, recorded in 1969)	3:03
3.	"The Witch's Promise" (stereo remix of 1970 UK single)	3:48
4.	"Teacher" (remix of track from the US version of Benefit)	4:06
5.	"Inside" (from the album Benefit)	3:42
6.	"Just Trying to Be" (previously unreleased, recorded in 1970)	1:34

Side three – recorded live at Carnegie Hall in New York City, 4 November 1970
No.	Title	Length
1.	"By Kind Permission Of" (instrumental – John Evan, previously unreleased)	10:07
2.	"Dharma for One" (Anderson/Clive Bunker, previously unreleased)	9:55

Side four
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Wond'ring Again" (previously unreleased, recorded in 1970)	4:11
2.	"Locomotive Breath" (from the album Aqualung)	4:24
3.	"Life Is a Long Song" (from 1971 UK EP)	3:17
4.	"Up the 'Pool" (from 1971 'Life Is A Long Song' UK EP)	3:09
5.	"Dr. Bogenbroom" (from 1971 'Life Is A Long Song' UK EP)	2:58
6.	"From Later" (instrumental, from 1971 'Life Is A Long Song' UK EP)	2:06
7.	"Nursie" (from 1971 'Life Is A Long Song' UK EP)	1:35

AllMusic: 9

Score: 3 1/2

A Passion Play (July 1973)

After an accidental concept album and a spoof concept album, Anderson makes a proper serious concept album. Sadly it's the least interesting and least attractive album he's done so far. It's a little tedious and overblown. Ho hum. Looking at reviews, it was widely regarded as tedious and overblown at the time, and though critics have slightly softened toward it over time, few regard it as successful, though Bruce Elder of AllMusic is fairly effusive in its praise, oddly comparing it to The Waste Land, which perhaps suggests he's not actually read The Waste Land, but has read about it.

This is a very proggy album. And I mean that in a negative way.

Released	13 July 1973 (UK)
Recorded	March 1973
Studio	Morgan Studios, London
Genre	Progressive rock^[1]
Length	45:07
Label	Chrysalis
Producer	Ian Anderson, Terry Ellis

All songs written by Ian Anderson

Side one
No.	Title	Length
1.	"A Passion Play, part I I. "Act 1: Ronnie Pilgrim's funeral — a winter's morning in the cemetery" a. "Lifebeats" (instrumental) b. "Prelude" (instrumental) c. "The Silver Cord" d. "Re-Assuring Tune" (instrumental) II. "Act 2: The Memory Bank — a small theatre with a cinema-screen (the next morning)" a. "Memory Bank" b. "Best Friends" c. "Critique Oblique" d. "Forest Dance #1" (instrumental) III. "Interlude: The Story of the Hare Who Lost His Spectacles" a. "The Story of the Hare Who Lost His Spectacles" (Anderson, Hammond, Evan)	23:09

Side two
No.	Title	Length
2.	"A Passion Play, part II I. "Interlude: The Story of the Hare Who Lost His Spectacles" a. "The Story of the Hare Who Lost His Spectacles" (Anderson, Hammond, Evan) II. "Act 3: The business office of G. Oddie & Son (two days later)" a. "Forest Dance #2" (instrumental) b. "The Foot of Our Stairs" c. "Overseer Overture" III. "Act 4: Magus Perdé's drawing room at midnight" a. "Flight from Lucifer" b. "10:08 to Paddington" (instrumental) c. "Magus Perdé" d. "Epilogue"	21:58

Ian Anderson – lead vocals, flute, acoustic guitar, soprano and sopranino saxophone
Martin Barre – electric guitar
John Evan – backing vocals, piano, organ, synthesizer
Jeffrey Hammond – bass guitar, spoken word (on "The Story of the Hare")
Barriemore Barlow – drums, percussion, timpani, glockenspiel, marimba

AllMusic: 6

Score: 3

War Child (Oct 1974)

A series of rather ineffective folk rock songs. The most gripping is "Bungle In The Jungle", which was a chart single in the US. The album charted on pre-sales, and, though most were disappointed with the content, the band continued to be popular with the public, largely through their strong live performances, dominated by Anderson's personality.

Released	26 October 1974 (UK)
Recorded	7 December 1973 - 24 February 1974 at Morgan Studios, London Tracks 6 & 8: 15 September 1972, at the Château d'Hérouville, France
Genre	Progressive rock, hard rock
Length	39:21
Label	Chrysalis
Producer	Ian Anderson, Terry Ellis

All songs written by Ian Anderson

Side one
No.	Title	Length
1.	"War Child"	4:35
2.	"Queen and Country"	3:00
3.	"Ladies"	3:17
4.	"Back-Door Angels"	5:30
5.	"Sealion"	3:37

Side two
No.	Title	Length
6.	"Skating Away on the Thin Ice of the New Day"	4:09
7.	"Bungle in the Jungle"	3:35
8.	"Only Solitaire"	1:38
9.	"The Third Hoorah"	4:49
10.	"Two Fingers"	5:11

Ian Anderson – vocals, flute, acoustic guitar, saxophone
Martin Barre – electric guitar, Spanish guitar
John Evan – piano, organ, synthesizers, accordion
Jeffrey Hammond – lead vocals and spoken word (on "Sealion II"), bass guitar, string bass
Barriemore Barlow – drums, percussion

AllMusic: 5

Score: 3

Minstrel In The Gallery (Sept 1975)

Starts innocently as folky English folk rock then gets into rock and prog. As it settles, it is clear that this is a blues based rock album with elements of English folk/folk rock and elements of prog, but it is neither folk or prog. It is not hard or fast enough to be hard rock, and Anderson's voice is too English folky to be taken serious as rawk. Essentially it is what it is, and it reminds me more of Savoy Brown or Ten Years After or Family than of Yes, Genesis or Pink Floyd; or of The Stones, Alice Cooper, or Deep Purple. I like the overall sound of it, which is largely due to Anderson's attractive and slightly quirky voice. I'm not so keen on the orchestration, which gives the album a bloated and dated feel, but it does add some baroque texture, and is more acceptable today than it would have been in the late Seventies. I dislike the lead guitar, which doesn't drive the music, but interludes with it, and often simply holds it up.

I like "One White Duck" - it reminds me, again, of Roy Harper. Indeed, there is much of Harper's spirit and sound in this album, as it is also in Tull's early albums, including Aqualung, with which this must be compared. It many ways, this is a better album, more assured, better sounding, better produced, but it lacks some of Aqualung's good songs, and - of course - Aqualung's strong reputation, which always lifts an album. Overall, I think I may like this more than Aqualung, though if asked which album I would recommend, I would point to Aqualung.

Released	5 September 1975 (UK)
Recorded	15 May 1975 – 7 June 1975
Studio	Maison Rouge Mobile Studio, Monte Carlo, Monaco
Genre	Progressive rock^[1]^[2] hard rock^[1] folk rock^[3]
Length	45:02
Label	Chrysalis
Producer	Ian Anderson

All tracks are written by Ian Anderson, except as noted. Arrangements for string quintet were written by Dee Palmer.

Side one
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Minstrel in the Gallery"	Anderson, Martin Barre	8:13
2.	"Cold Wind to Valhalla"		4:19
3.	"Black Satin Dancer"		6:52
4.	"Requiem"		3:45

Side two
No.	Title	Length
1.	"One White Duck / 0¹⁰ = Nothing at All"	4:37
2.	"Baker St. Muse" a) "Pig-Me and the Whore" b) "Nice Little Tune" c) "Crash-Barrier Waltzer" d) "Mother England Reverie"	16:39
3.	"Grace"	0:37
Total length:		45:02

Ian Anderson – vocals, flute, acoustic guitar
Martin Barre – electric guitar
John Evan – piano, organ
Jeffrey Hammond – bass guitar, string bass
Barriemore Barlow – drums, percussion

Score: 5 1/2

M.U. The Best of Jethro Tull (Jan 1976)

Reissued as The Essential, with the same track list, and then Essential with five additional tracks and a new play order (which is the one that Spotify have). A very useful and attractive summary of Tull's best/most popular tracks. I like this album.

Side one

"Teacher" () – 4:07 (alternative mix)
"Aqualung" () – 6:34
"Thick as a Brick Edit #1" () – 3:01 (The first three minutes of "Thick as a Brick, Part One")
"Bungle in the Jungle" () – 3:34
"Locomotive Breath" () – 4:23 (alternate mix)

Side two

"Fat Man" () – 2:50
"Living in the Past" () – 3:18
"A Passion Play Edit #8" () – 3:28 ("Overseer Overture", which occurs about 11 minutes into "A Passion Play, Part Two")
"Skating Away on the Thin Ice of the New Day" () – 4:02
"Rainbow Blues" () – 3:37
"Nothing is Easy" () – 4:23

Essential tracklist

1. Living In The Past
2. * A New Day Yesterday
3. * Bouree
4. Nothing Is Easy
5. Fat Man
6. * Sweet Dream

7. * The Witch's Promise

8. Teacher

9. Aqualung
10. Locomotive Breath

11. * Life Is A Long Song
12. Thick As A Brick Edit #1

13. A Passion Play Edit #8

14. Skating Away on the Thin Ice of the New Day

15. Bungle In The Jungle

16. Rainbow Blues

Wikipedia

Score: 5

Too Old to Rock 'n' Roll: Too Young to Die!
(April 1976)

Another "concept" album. Ho hum. Apparently Anderson's last attempt at doing such a thing. I hope so. The title song works as a modest pop-rock song. The usually quirky mix of folk, blues and pop-rock with prog leanings. I'm not sold on the notion that Tull are/were a prog rock band in terms of symphonic prog rock, which is the form most readily identified with prog rock; however, there is an "art rock" attitude at play in which blues, folk, and pop-rock musical aspects are blended, and there is a conscious "artistic" approach with the lyrics. Anyway, this is a listenable and attractive album.

Released	23 April 1976 (UK)
Recorded	19 Nov 1975 - 27 Jan 1976
Studio	Radio Monte Carlo by the Maison Rouge Mobile Studio, except tracks 8 and 10, recorded at Morgan Studios, in Brussels
Genre	Progressive rock, folk rock, hard rock, blues rock
Length	42:26
Label	Chrysalis
Producer	Ian Anderson

All songs written by Ian Anderson

Side one
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Quizz Kid"	5:09
2.	"Crazed Institution"	4:48
3.	"Salamander"	2:51
4.	"Taxi Grab"	3:54
5.	"From a Dead Beat to an Old Greaser"	4:09

Side two
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Bad-Eyed and Loveless"	2:12
2.	"Big Dipper"	3:35
3.	"Too Old to Rock 'n' Roll: Too Young to Die"	5:44
4.	"Pied Piper"	4:32
5.	"The Chequered Flag (Dead or Alive)"	5:32

Ian Anderson – lead vocals, acoustic guitar, flute, harmonica, additional electric guitar and percussion
Martin Barre – electric guitar
John Evan – piano, keyboards
John Glascock – backing vocals, bass guitar
Barriemore Barlow – drums, percussion

AllMusic: 6

Score: 4

Songs From The Wood (Feb 1977)

Solidly British folk rock, though out of time and place. This sounds like 1970 rather than 1977, the year of punk. Gee. I note that some sources are calling this prog-rock. I don't think Tull were ever prog, they started out blues-rock with an ear to British folk rock, and then gradually moved more firmly into British folk rock, Anderson played around with the notion of concept albums, and found that critics would lambast him when he did, but the public loved the idea. But concept albums do not equal prog rock. Concept albums have been around since 1940, and have been released by a range of artists, long before prog rock was ever thought of. Frankly I see little difference between the tracks on this folk rock album and the tracks on Aqualung. But don't let reality get in the way of a good prog fanatic.

On the whole a pleasant, easy listening folk rock album with the individual characteristics that Anderson brings to the game. It's an album I can listen to with no problem, but nothing really stands out (other than perhaps "Ring Out, Solstice Bells"), and it's not an album I'd reach for. Though, if I were stuck on a desert island with this album I wouldn't complain, and would likely end up loving it.

Released	11 February 1977
Recorded	14 September – 16 November 1976
Studio	Morgan Studios, London
Genre	Folk rock, progressive folk, progressive rock, hard rock
Length	41:17
Label	Chrysalis
Producer	Ian Anderson

All songs written by Ian Anderson

Side one
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Songs from the Wood"	4:52
2.	"Jack-in-the-Green"	2:27
3.	"Cup of Wonder"	4:30
4.	"Hunting Girl"	5:11
5.	"Ring Out, Solstice Bells"	3:43

Side two
No.	Title	Length
6.	"Velvet Green"	6:03
7.	"The Whistler"	3:30
8.	"Pibroch (Cap in Hand)"	8:35
9.	"Fire at Midnight"	2:26

Ian Anderson – lead vocals, flute, acoustic guitar
Martin Barre – electric guitar, lute
John Evan – keyboards
Dee Palmer – keyboards
John Glascock – bass guitar, backing vocals
Barriemore Barlow – drums, percussion

Score: 5

Heavy Horses (Apr 1978)

Steady, accomplished, but unimaginative and plodding British folk rock. Similar to Songs From The Wood, but slightly less attractive.

Released	21 April 1978 (UK)
Recorded	May 1977 - January 1978
Studio	Maison Rouge Studio, Fulham, London^[1]
Genre	Folk rock, progressive rock, hard rock
Length	42:25 (original release) 43:11 (2018 remix)
Label	Chrysalis
Producer	Ian Anderson

All songs written by Ian Anderson

Side one
No.	Title	Length
1.	"...And the Mouse Police Never Sleeps"	3:11
2.	"Acres Wild"	3:22
3.	"No Lullaby"	7:55
4.	"Moths"	3:24
5.	"Journeyman"	3:55

Side two
No.	Title	Length
6.	"Rover"	4:17
7.	"One Brown Mouse"	3:21
8.	"Heavy Horses"	8:58
9.	"Weathercock"	4:02

Ian Anderson – lead vocals, flute, acoustic guitar, additional electric guitar, mandolin
Martin Barre – electric guitar
John Glascock – backing vocals, bass guitar
John Evan – piano, organ
Dee Palmer – keyboards, portative pipe organ, orchestral arrangements
Barriemore Barlow – drums, percussion

Score: 3

Bursting Out (1978)

Recorded just after Tull's creative period had ended, but while the band still commanded respect and excitement from live audiences clinging to the past who had not yet embraced New Wave and Punk. It's a long album, and would have benefitted from being released as a single disc rather than a double. It's the band's first official live album - shame it came too late to catch the band at their height rather than at the start of their decline.

Released	22 September 1978
Recorded	May-June 1978
Genre	Progressive rock
Length	93:31^[1]
Label	Chrysalis
Producer	Ian Anderson

All tracks are written by Ian Anderson, except where noted

Disc one
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Introduction by Claude Nobs"	Claude Nobs	0:50
2.	"No Lullaby" (from Heavy Horses)		4:48
3.	"Sweet Dream" (single)		6:30
4.	"Skating Away on the Thin Ice of the New Day" (from War Child)		4:30
5.	"Jack in the Green" (from Songs from the Wood)		3:13
6.	"One Brown Mouse" (from Heavy Horses)		3:53
7.	"A New Day Yesterday" (from Stand Up)		2:27
8.	"Flute Solo Improvisation / God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen / Bourée [medley]" (Instrumental; from Stand Up)	Anderson / Traditional, arr. Anderson / Johann Sebastian Bach, arr. Anderson	6:08
9.	"Songs from the Wood" (from Songs from the Wood)		2:40
10.	"Thick as a Brick" (from Thick as a Brick)	Anderson, Gerald Bostock	12:27

Disc two
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
11.	"Introduction by Ian Anderson"		0:43
12.	"Hunting Girl" (from Songs from the Wood)		5:45
13.	"Too Old to Rock 'n' Roll: Too Young to Die" (from Too Old to Rock 'n' Roll: Too Young to Die!)		3:57
14.	"Conundrum" (Instrumental)	Martin Barre, Barriemore Barlow	6:57
15.	"Minstrel in the Gallery" (from Minstrel in the Gallery)		5:41
16.	"Cross-Eyed Mary" (from Aqualung)		3:58
17.	"Quatrain" (Instrumental)	Barre	1:33
18.	"Aqualung" (from Aqualung)	Anderson, Jennie Franks	8:38
19.	"Locomotive Breath" (from Aqualung)		5:33
20.	"The Dambusters March" (Instrumental)	Eric Coates	3:26

Ian Anderson – vocals, flute, acoustic guitar
Martin Barre – electric guitar, mandolin, marimba
John Glascock – bass guitar, additional electric guitar
John Evan – piano, organ, synthesizers, accordion
Dee Palmer – portative organ, synthesizers
Barriemore Barlow – drums, percussion, glockenspiel.

Wikipedia
AllMusic: 6
Score: 4

I've looked at reviews and opinion of the rest of Tull's career, and it seems largely that what is to come is less respected than what I have already listened to, and best of compilations almost exclusively draw from the early albums, so I'm unlikely to go much further with this.

Well, actually I might....

Stormwatch (1979)

A pleasant pop-rock album. Lacks songs that stand out, but it's a professionally made and listenable album with typical Tull elements. Considered by fans to be the last in trilogy of folk-rock albums that began with Songs From The Wood. I'm seeing less folk in this album than is usual for Tull, and this album does not match the overt folk feel of the previous two - I find this album quite rocky.

Released	14 September 1979
Recorded	Aug 1978, Feb 1979-July 1979
Studio	Various
Genre	Folk rock progressive rock hard rock
Length	44:58 (original release) 46:00 (2019 Remix)
Label	Chrysalis
Producer	Ian Anderson Robin Black

All tracks are written by Ian Anderson except where noted

Side one
No.	Title	Length
1.	"North Sea Oil"	3:08
2.	"Orion"	3:55
3.	"Home"	2:44
4.	"Dark Ages"	9:07
5.	"Warm Sporran" (Instrumental)	3:31

Side two
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
6.	"Something's on the Move"		4:24
7.	"Old Ghosts"		4:20
8.	"Dun Ringill"		2:37
9.	"Flying Dutchman"		7:42
10.	"Elegy" (Instrumental)	Dee Palmer	3:30
Total length:			44:58

2004 Bonus tracks

The remastered CD added bonus tracks that were on the *20 Years of Jethro Tull* boxed set and extensive liner notes:
No.	Title	Length
11.	"A Stitch in Time"	3:40
12.	"Crossword"	3:38
13.	"Kelpie"	3:37
14.	"King Henry's Madrigal" (instrumental, King Henry VIII)	3:01

Ian Anderson – vocals, flute, acoustic guitar, bass guitar (on tracks 1, 3-8 & 11)
Martin Barre – electric guitar, classical guitar, mandolin
John Glascock – bass guitar (on tracks 2, 9, 10, 12 & 13)
John Evan – piano, organ
Dee Palmer – synthesizers, portable organ and orchestral arrangements (credited as "David Palmer")
Barrie "Barriemore" Barlow – drums, percussion

AllMusic: 4

Score: 4 1/2

A (1980)

Intended as a solo Anderson album, it was released under the Tull name, though with a radical personnel change, only Martin Barre remaining. Dave Pegg from Fairport Convention joins on bass. I find this a little pedestrian and plodding, with little of the charm and energy of previous Tull albums. Most of the folk element has gone, and some electronic elements, synthesisers, are brought to the fore.

Released	29 August 1980
Recorded	16 May – 6 June 1980
Studio	Maison Rouge Studios, Fulham, London Maison Rogue Mobile, Radnage
Genre	Electronic rock progressive rock
Length	42:30
Label	Chrysalis
Producer	Ian Anderson Robin Black

All tracks are written by Ian Anderson with additional music material from Eddie Jobson; arranged by Jethro Tull

Side one
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Crossfire"	3:55
2.	"Fylingdale Flyer"	4:35
3.	"Working John, Working Joe"	5:04
4.	"Black Sunday"	6:35

Side two
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Protect and Survive"	3:36
2.	"Batteries Not Included"	3:52
3.	"Uniform"	3:34
4.	"4.W.D. (Low Ratio)"	3:42
5.	"The Pine Marten's Jig" (instrumental)	3:28
6.	"And Further On"	4:21

Ian Anderson – vocals, flute
Martin Barre – guitar
Dave Pegg – bass guitar, mandolin
Mark Craney – drums

Guest personnel

Eddie Jobson – keyboards, synthesizer,

AllMusic: 6

Score: 3

The Broadsword and the Beast (1982)

Standard Tull blues-rock album. Lacks the ambition and ideas of the key Tull albums, but is competent and professional. Listenable, but also trivial and forgettable. Peter-John Vettese joins on keyboards, also assisting with the song-writing. I think he drags Tull in a more modern, but less interesting direction.

Released	10 April 1982 ^[1]
Recorded	24 March 1981 – 5 February 1982
Studio	Maison Rouge Studios, Fulham, London
Genre	Progressive rock hard rock art rock folk rock electronic rock
Length	38:49
Label	Chrysalis
Producer	Paul Samwell-Smith

All tracks are written by Ian Anderson with additional material by Peter-John Vettese

Side one – Beastie
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Beastie"	3:58
2.	"Clasp"	4:18
3.	"Fallen On Hard Times"	3:13
4.	"Flying Colours"	4:39
5.	"Slow Marching Band"	3:40

Side two - Broadsword
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Broadsword"	5:03
2.	"Pussy Willow"	3:55
3.	"Watching Me, Watching You"	3:41
4.	"Seal Driver"	5:10
5.	"Cheerio"	1:09

Ian Anderson – lead vocals, flute, acoustic guitar, Fairlight CMI
Martin Barre – acoustic guitar, electric guitar
Dave Pegg – backing vocals, bass guitar, mandolin
Peter-John Vettese – backing vocals, keyboards, piano, synthesizer
Gerry Conway – drums, percussion

AllMusic: 3

Score: 4

Under Wraps (1984)

Tedious album lacking ideas and feel. This is more synthpop than Tull pop. 80s production makes it worse - even the cover is an unattractive 80s style cover. There are not many classic artists whose output in the 80s was good, though there are few who made something as poor as this.

Released	7 September 1984
Recorded	1984
Studio	Ian Anderson's home studio
Genre	Synth-pop
Length	43:13 (Vinyl) 58:39 (CD)
Label	Chrysalis
Producer	Ian Anderson

All tracks are written by Ian Anderson and Peter-John Vettese except where indicated

Side one
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Lap of Luxury"	Anderson	3:35
2.	"Under Wraps #1"	Anderson	3:59
3.	"European Legacy"	Anderson	3:23
4.	"Later, That Same Evening"		3:51
5.	"Saboteur"		3:31
6.	"Radio Free Moscow"		3:40

Side two
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Nobody's Car"	Anderson, Martin Barre, Vettese	4:08
2.	"Heat"		5:37
3.	"Under Wraps #2"	Anderson	2:14
4.	"Paparazzi"	Anderson, Barre, Vettese	3:47
5.	"Apogee"		5:28

Ian Anderson – vocals, flute, acoustic guitar, drum programming, Fairlight CMI
Martin Barre – electric guitar
Dave Pegg – bass guitar, double bass
Peter-John Vettese – keyboards, electronic programming

AllMusic: 2

Score: 3

A Classic Case (1985)

This is simply rather cheesy orchestrated versions of Jethro Tull songs - there's no new songs and no evidence of collaboration. Indeed, it's not clear exactly how much involvement the band had with the recording, though it's possible they turned up and played some kind of instrument on a track or two. It's pap.

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Locomotive Breath"	4:16
2.	"Thick as a Brick"	4:24
3.	"Elegy"	3:41
4.	"Bourée"	3:10
5.	"Fly by Night"	4:12
6.	"Aqualung"	6:22
7.	"Too Old to Rock 'n' Roll: Too Young to Die"	3:27
8.	"Teacher / Bungle in the Jungle / Rainbow Blues / Locomotive Breath"	3:58
9.	"Living in the Past"	3:29
10.	"War Child"	4:56

AllMusic: 4

Score: 2 1/2

Crest of a Knave (1987)

Rather dull. There's a feel of Dire Straits about some of this. I like Dire Straits so that's not a negative comment in itself, just that Anderson has not taken the interesting parts of Dire Straits - the lyrics, song structures, and guitar, just the quiet, mannered, middle of the road rock sound. This is the album that stunned and dismayed the rock world when it won the Grammy Best Hard Rock / Heavy Metal Award over AC/DC, Jane's Addiction, Iggy Pop, and favourites Metallica.

Released	11 September 1987
Recorded	Early 1987
Genre	Rock
Length	39:30 (vinyl) 48:50 (CD)
Label	Chrysalis
Producer	Jethro Tull

All tracks are written by Ian Anderson

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Steel Monkey"	3:39
2.	"Farm on the Freeway"	6:31
3.	"Jump Start"	4:55
4.	"She Said She Was a Dancer"	3:43
5.	"Dogs in the Midwinter"	4:37
6.	"Budapest"	10:05
7.	"Mountain Men"	6:20
8.	"The Waking Edge"	4:49
9.	"Raising Steam"	4:05

10.	"Part of the Machine"	6:54

Ian Anderson – vocals, flute, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, keyboards, Synclavier, drum prog (tracks 1, 5 & 9)
Martin Barre – acoustic guitar, electric guitar
Dave Pegg – bass guitar, acoustic bass (track 4)

Additional musicians

Doane Perry – drums, percussion (tracks 2 & 7)
Gerry Conway – drums, percussion (tracks 3, 4, 6 & 8)
Ric Sanders – violin (tracks 6 & 8)

AllMusic: 5

Score: 3 1/2

Rock Island (1989)

Closer to Tull rock than other 80s albums by the band. This shows the heavy rock side of the band. Competent and while not exciting or engaging is listenable. Though there's little here to attract repeat listens, it is quite acceptable while it's on the player. And some of this stuff could have been acceptable filler on some of the classic albums.

Released	21 August 1989
Recorded	Early 1989
Genre	Rock
Length	50:21
Label	Chrysalis
Producer	Jethro Tull

All tracks are written by Ian Anderson

Side one
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Kissing Willie"	3:32
2.	"The Rattlesnake Trail"	4:02
3.	"Ears of Tin"	4:55
4.	"Undressed to Kill"	5:25
5.	"Rock Island"	6:54

Side two
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Heavy Water"	4:12
2.	"Another Christmas Song"	3:32
3.	"The Whaler's Dues"	7:53
4.	"Big Riff and Mando"	5:58
5.	"Strange Avenues"	4:10

2006 remaster bonus tracks
No.	Title	Length
11.	"Christmas Song" (Live)	3:06
12.	"Cheap Day Return/Mother Goose" (Live)	3:10
13.	"Locomotive Breath" (Live)	3:38

Ian Anderson – vocals, flute, acoustic guitar, keyboards, Synclavier, mandolin, drums, percussion (on tracks 2 & 7)
Martin Barre – acoustic guitar, electric guitar
David Pegg – bass guitar, acoustic bass, mandolin
Doane Perry – drums, percussion

Additional personnel

Maartin Allcock – keyboards (on tracks 1 & 10)
Peter-John Vettese – additional keyboards (on tracks 3-6)

AllMusic: 7

Score: 4 1/2

Catfish Rising (1991)

Pleasant enough, but fairly trivial wallpaper music. It's clear that Anderson is able to write and deliver songs professionally with a Tull sound, but whatever it was that marked out his songs and delivery in the Seventies has escaped him for a while. But people continue to buy his albums and go to concerts; albeit in fewer numbers, sufficient to keep Chrysalis interested (well, for three more albums anyway).

Released	10 September 1991
Recorded	Early 1991
Genre	Rock
Length	42:49/60:01 (Vinyl/with bonus 12") 60:01 (CD)
Label	Chrysalis
Producer	Jethro Tull

All tracks are written by Ian Anderson

No.	Title	Length
1.	"This Is Not Love"	3:56
2.	"Occasional Demons"	3:48
3.	"Roll Yer Own"	4:25
4.	"Rocks on the Road"	5:30
5.	"Sparrow on the Schoolyard Wall"	5:21
6.	"Thinking Round Corners"	3:31
7.	"Still Loving You Tonight"	4:30
8.	"Doctor to My Disease"	4:34
9.	"Like a Tall Thin Girl"	3:36
10.	"White Innocence"	7:43
11.	"Sleeping with the Dog"	4:25
12.	"Gold-Tipped Boots, Black Jacket and Tie"	3:38
13.	"When Jesus Came to Play"	5:04

2006 remaster bonus tracks
No.	Title	Length
14.	"Night in the Wilderness"	4:06
15.	"Jump Start" (live; recorded at the Tower Theatre, Philadelphia, 25 November 1987)	7:49

Ian Anderson – vocals, guitars and mandolins, flute, keyboards, drums, percussion
Martin Barre – electric guitar
Dave Pegg – acoustic bass guitar, electric bass guitar
Doane Perry – drums, percussion

AllMusic: 6

Score: 4

A Little Light Music (1992)

A live recording from scattered locations on a mostly acoustic European tour. The band was half Tull and half Fairport. It makes for a solid and pleasant listen, though is not an essential recording. It is, as it says, a little light.

Released	14 September 1992 (UK) 22 September 1992 (US)
Recorded	2–23 May 1992
Genre	Rock
Length	77:20
Label	Chrysalis
Producer	Ian Anderson

"Someday the Sun Won't Shine for You" (Athens, 13/14 May 1992) – 3:59
"Living in the Past" , instrumental (London, 2 May 1992) – 5:06
"Life Is a Long Song" (Frankfurt, 12 May 1992) – 3:36
"Rocks on the Road" (Caesarea, 23 May 1992) – 7:03
"Under Wraps" , (Instrumental) (Zurich, 6/7 May 1992) – 2:29
"Nursie" (Mannheim, 5 May 1992) – 2:27
"Too Old to Rock 'n' Roll: Too Young to Die" (Ankara, 16 May 1992) – 4:43
"One White Duck" (Prague, 10 May 1992) – 3:15
"A New Day Yesterday" (Graz, 9 May 1992) – 7:33
"John Barleycorn" (Athens, 13/14 May 1992) – 6:34
"Look into the Sun" , instrumental (Caesarea, 23 May 1992) – 3:45
"A Christmas Song" (Caesarea, 23 May 1992) – 3:45
"From a Dead Beat to an Old Greaser" (Munich, 7 May 1992) – 3:49
"This Is Not Love" (Caesarea, 23 May 1992) – 3:52
"Bourée" , instrumental (Berlin, 11 May 1992) – 6:04
"Pussy Willow" , instrumental (Dortmund, 4 May 1992) – 3:30
"Locomotive Breath" (Jerusalem, 21 May 1992) – 5:50

Ian Anderson – flute, mandolin, harmonica, acoustic guitar, percussion, vocals
Martin Barre – electric guitar, acoustic guitar
Dave Pegg – bass, mandolin
Dave Mattacks – drums, cymbal, glockenspiel, percussion, keyboard

AllMusic: 4

Score: 4

Roots to Branches (1995)

Indian music influenced British folk rock. Professionally done, but rather ordinary. There's a lack of creativity here. Just a band going through the paces.

Released	4 September 1995 (UK) 12 September 1995 (US)
Recorded	December 1994 until June 1995
Genre	Progressive rock folk rock
Length	60:00
Label	Chrysalis
Producer	Ian Anderson

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Roots to Branches"	5:11
2.	"Rare and Precious Chain"	3:35
3.	"Out of the Noise"	3:25
4.	"This Free Will"	4:05
5.	"Valley"	6:07
6.	"Dangerous Veils"	5:35
7.	"Beside Myself"	5:50
8.	"Wounded, Old and Treacherous"	7:50
9.	"At Last, Forever"	7:55
10.	"Stuck in the August Rain"	4:06
11.	"Another Harry's Bar"	6:21

Ian Anderson – vocals, flute, acoustic guitar
Martin Barre – electric guitar
Dave Pegg – bass guitar (on tracks 3, 5 & 11)
Andrew Giddings – keyboards
Doane Perry – drums, percussion

AllMusic: 5

Score: 4

J-Tull Dot Com (1999)

The usual stuff. The usual sound. Professionally done, with a general Tull sound, but nothing stands out. As is typical for later Tull albums, I quite like the first song.

Released	23 August 1999 (UK)
Genre	Rock
Length	54:20
Label	Papillon/Varèse Sarabande
Producer	Ian Anderson

All tracks are written by Ian Anderson, except where noted

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Spiral"		3:50
2.	"Dot Com"		4:25
3.	"AWOL"		5:19
4.	"Nothing @ All" (Instrumental)	Andrew Giddings	0:56
5.	"Wicked Windows"		4:40
6.	"Hunt by Numbers"		4:00
7.	"Hot Mango Flush"	Martin Barre, Anderson	3:49
8.	"El Niño"		4:40
9.	"Black Mamba"		5:00
10.	"Mango Surprise"		1:14
11.	"Bends Like a Willow"		4:53
12.	"Far Alaska"		4:06
13.	"The Dog-Ear Years"		3:34
14.	"A Gift of Roses"		3:54

Ian Anderson – vocals, flute, acoustic guitar, bouzouki
Martin Barre – acoustic guitar, electric guitar
Jonathan Noyce – bass guitar
Andrew Giddings – piano, keyboards, Hammond organ, accordion
Doane Perry – drums, percussion

AllMusic: 4

Score: 4

The Very Best Of (May 2001)

An attractive compilation, though songs from the post-Seventies albums add nothing, and the album would be better without them.

No.	Title	Original Album	Length
1.	"Living in the Past"	Non-album single, 1969	3:39
2.	"Aqualung" (Anderson, Jennie Anderson)	Aqualung, 1971	6:35
3.	"Sweet Dream"	Non-album single, 1969	4:02
4.	"The Whistler"	Songs from the Wood, 1977	3:28
5.	"Bungle in the Jungle"	War Child, 1974	3:35
6.	"The Witch's Promise"	Non-album single, 1970	3:49
7.	"Locomotive Breath"	Aqualung	4:24
8.	"Steel Monkey"	Crest of a Knave, 1987	3:36
9.	"Thick as a Brick (Edit #1)"	Thick as a Brick, 1972	3:00
10.	"Bourée" (Anderson, Johann Sebastian Bach; instrumental)	Stand Up, 1969	3:44
11.	"Too Old to Rock 'n' Roll: Too Young to Die" (single edit)	Too Old to Rock 'n' Roll: Too Young to Die!, 1976	3:54
12.	"Life Is a Long Song"	Life Is a Long Song, 1971 (EP)	3:16
13.	"Songs from the Wood"	Songs from the Wood	4:51
14.	"A New Day Yesterday"	Stand Up	4:08
15.	"Heavy Horses" (edit)	Heavy Horses, 1978	3:19
16.	"Broadsword"	The Broadsword and the Beast, 1982	4:59
17.	"Roots to Branches"	Roots to Branches, 1995	5:11
18.	"A Song for Jeffrey"	This Was, 1968	3:17
19.	"Minstrel in the Gallery" (single edit; Anderson, Martin Barre)	Minstrel in the Gallery, 1975	3:49
20.	"Cheerio"	The Broadsword and the Beast	1:10

Wikipedia

AllMusic: 6

Score: 4

The Jethro Tull Christmas Album (2003)

It does what it says on the tin. And Anderson makes a real attempt at making a serious Christmas album. But it comes across as dull, trivial, and somewhat exploitive, lacking in ideas other than copying other Christmas records in what appears to be an attempt to catch a commercial Christmas audience. However, Dave Sleger of AllMusic found it an exciting and satisfying recording - feeling it was the best Tull album for 25 years, matching the creativity, energy, and spirit of Tull's early 70s classics. Listen and make up your own mind.

Released	30 September 2003 (US)
Genre	Folk rock
Length	62:31 126:29 (with Christmas at St Bride's 2008)
Label	Fuel 2000, RandM
Producer	Ian Anderson

"Birthday Card at Christmas" (Ian Anderson) – 3:37
"Holly Herald" ("The Holly and the Ivy" (Trad.) / "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" (F. Mendelssohn); instrumental medley arranged by Anderson) – 4:16
"A Christmas Song" (Anderson) – 2:47
"Another Christmas Song" (Anderson) – 3:31
"God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen" (Trad. instrumental arranged by Anderson) – 4:35
"Jack Frost and the Hooded Crow" (Anderson) – 3:37
"Last Man at the Party" (Anderson) – 4:48
"Weathercock" (Anderson) – 4:17
"Pavane" (Instrumental, Gabriel Fauré, arranged by Anderson) – 4:19
"First Snow on Brooklyn" (Anderson) – 4:57
"Greensleeved" (Trad. instrumental based on "Greensleeves". Arranged by Anderson) – 2:39
"Fire at Midnight" (Anderson) – 2:26
"We Five Kings" (Instrumental "We Three Kings", Rev. J. Hopkins, arranged by Anderson) – 3:16
"Ring Out Solstice Bells" (Anderson) – 4:04
"Bourée" (Instrumental J. S. Bach, arranged by Anderson) – 4:25
"A Winter Snowscape" (Instrumental, Martin Barre) – 4:57

Ian Anderson – vocals, flute, acoustic guitar, mandolin, piccolo, percussion
Martin Barre – acoustic guitar, electric guitar
Jonathan Noyce – bass guitar
Andrew Giddings – keyboards, accordion
Doane Perry – drums, percussion

Score: 3

The Zealot Gene (2022)

Using the same musicians who recorded for Anderson's solo albums and performances, this is a Jethro Tull album in name only, yet it sold better than Anderson's solo albums, and - presumably because of the interest in the first "new" Tull album for roughly two decades - it was the best selling Tull album since Thick As A Brick. It's listenable in varying proportions. It's all done in a competent manner with the expected Tull sounds - a bit of hard rock, a touch of blues rock, a smidgen of jazz, a healthy dose of folk here and there, some flute trilling. Job done. The songs are sometimes quite acceptable. But there's nothing compelling here, as there's been nothing compelling about Tull since the Seventies. And Anderson's voice and vocal energy is weak. Credit for producing a pleasant and mostly listenable album, but there's nothing here that's really worth getting out of bed for. And it's a plain ugly cover.

Released	28 January 2022
Recorded	March 2017–July 2021
Studio	Modern World Studios, Tetbury, Gloucestershire
Genre	Heavy folk rock
Length	46:45
Label	InsideOut
Producer	Ian Anderson

All music and lyrics by Ian Anderson.

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Mrs. Tibbets"	5:53
2.	"Jacob's Tales"	2:12
3.	"Mine Is the Mountain"	5:40
4.	"The Zealot Gene"	3:54
5.	"Shoshana Sleeping"	3:40
6.	"Sad City Sisters"	3:41
7.	"Barren Beth, Wild Desert John"	3:38
8.	"The Betrayal of Joshua Kynde"	4:05
9.	"Where Did Saturday Go?"	3:52
10.	"Three Loves, Three"	3:29
11.	"In Brief Visitation"	3:01
12.	"The Fisherman of Ephesus"	3:40
Total length:		46:45

Ian Anderson – vocals, flute, acoustic guitar, mandolin, whistle, harmonica
Florian Opahle – electric guitar
David Goodier – bass guitar
John O'Hara – piano, keyboards, accordion, organ
Scott Hammond – drums

AllMusic: -

Score: 4

RökFlöte (2023)

I like the name and the album cover. I like the concept.

Released	21 April 2023
Genre	Folk rock
Length	44:47
Label	Inside Out Music
Producer	Ian Anderson

All music and lyrics by Ian Anderson.

*RökFlöte* track listing
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Voluspo"	3:43
2.	"Ginnungagap"	3:49
3.	"Allfather"	2:46
4.	"The Feathered Consort"	3:40
5.	"Hammer on Hammer"	3:09
6.	"Wolf Unchained"	4:58
7.	"The Perfect One"	3:51
8.	"Trickster (And the Mistletoe)"	3:01
9.	"Cornucopia"	3:53
10.	"The Navigators"	4:27
11.	"Guardian's Watch"	3:30
12.	"Ithavoll"	4:00
Total length:		44:47

Ian Anderson – vocals, concert flutes, alto flutes, flute d'amour, Irish whistle, production, mixing, engineering
Joe Parrish-James – electric guitars, acoustic guitars, mandolin^[14]
David Goodier – bass guitar
John O'Hara – piano, keyboards, Hammond organ
Scott Hammond – drums