VIDEO'S OF THE WEEK - JETHRO TULL

[Niels (Mod)]

This week, VOTW is a Jethro Tull-special.

Jethro Tull is the classic 60's-70's-band that I've been a fan of the longest time. Since 1979.

Not everything, Tull has made, I'm a fan of. I especially like the early Tull from the start 70's, but up until 1978, most they did was great. My very favorite live-album of all time is "Bursting Out" from 1978. I still put it on once in a while, while it's very rare, that I put on any other live-album. Not even KISS Alive anymore.

In 1979, Ian Anderson fired most of the band, except for Martin Barre (lead-guitar), and that was a fatal mistake, if you ask me. The band from the 70's with the great drummer Barrymore Barlow are a BAND. After 1979, Tull became Anderson's backing-band for his solo-albums. (This is not from wiki, so I might have gotten it wrong, but that's what my memory tells me).

JETHRO TULL - SONG FOR JEFFREY

(again not from wiki) Song for Jeffrey appeared on both their debut-album, but also on my favorite Tull-album "Stand Up" from 1969. This "video" is from The Rolling Stones Rock'N'Roll Cirkus" from that year, and what's so special about that performance, is that Tony Iommi is on lead-guitar. I think, that this is the only footage of Iommi in the band. Good thing, that he left and formed Sabbath, and made way for the excellent Martin Barre, a great fit for Tull.

JETHRO TULL - MINSTREL IN THE GALLERY

This is my favorite Tull-song. A little personal story: I watched a TV-documnetary in 12 episodes back in 1978 about the history of music. In episode 11, KISS played "Come On And Love Me" and this was when I was a MAJOR KISS-fan. But in the same episode, this exact video was played, and I thought they sounded great and kind of looked cool, but I didn't catch the name of either band or song. In 1979 the same documnetary was shown again, and this time I was prepared, and got the name of the band. I went to the record-store, and bought "Bursting Out", and hoped for this song to be on that live-album. I had to wait until the end of side 3, but then I heard the intro to the song, and I never forget that moment. A special "music"-feeling that stick so many years after.

JETHRO TULL - SKATING AWAY ON THE THIN ICE OF A NEW DAY

This is my second favorite Tull-track. The members of the band are playing other instruments, than "their own". I can spot The lead-guitarist on Keyboard, the Keyboard-player on drums in the end, and Barlow on "Glockenspiel". One of the members of the band (David Palmer) actually had a sex-change operation and is Mrs. Palmer these days (I don't think he's featured in any of these video's, or she). Most of my favorite tracks are accoustic, and if you listen to my top 10 of Tull-tracks, one might think, that most they play are accoustic (some might say "dull") songs, but that's far from the truth. I like a good melody, and Tull's accoustic ones, are very fine melodies. Tull is considered a Prog-band, mostly because of the concept-albums "Thick As A Brick" and "A Passion Play". I consider them to be one of the great english classic rock-bands from around the time, when The Beatles made room for other bands, to be taking over. Defintitely a band among my top 10 of favorite bands of all time. Probably in the middle.

[RJhog (Admin)]

Song For Me - The song itself was just okay.  The performance video was wild.  And by wild I mean watching Anderson's leg was really freaky.  I don't believe I've ever watched a single performance by JT until now.  It's kind of exhausting.  Anyway, I didn't even notice that was Iommi.  So thanks for that bit of info.  Thumbs up on the video, sideways on the song.

Minstrel - Obviously, another performance video.  I can see why you would have liked what you saw back then, they are quite animated.  I have to say that in both of the first two videos I keep imagining Anderson as Lt. Dan in Forrest Gump. Good thing he wasn't, he would have been truly devastated to lose his legs in Vietnam.  The song is kind of the same old same old as the first one.  Could be one long song if you ask me.  Thumbs up on the video, sideways on the song.

Skating - I think Anderson has a cool voice.  Always have thought that.  And I do like this song better than the first two. I didn't have any idea that he could play guitar, so that's cool.  Does the band ever do any backing vocals.  I'm thinking lack of backing vocals can make a song a bit boring.  But I do like the acoustic nature of this song,  Yet another animated live performance video.  I'm guessing they weren't shooting too many concept videos back then.  I'll give this one a thumbs up on both the video and the song.

And finally, I finally got around to purchasing Aqualung last night.  Should be here Tuesday, but I was able to Autorip it to my computer.  I've always liked the occasional song by Tull, but I've never been good at listening to a full album of their material.  But I'm giving it a new try.  Aqualung has been on my wish list for quite a while, and I bought the two disc version along with 9 other early 70's albums last night.

[Niels (Mod)]

No, they don't do that Many backing vocals. I think even then, Anderson was very much in control, and didn't need other voices on his songs. I agree, that he had a great voice back then, it changed a bit in the mid-eighties.

Anderson was a cool character on stage back then, with his wildman-looks and playing the flute on one leg.

Robert Plant didn't like Anderson/Tull much, when Tull opened for Zeppelin in the start 70's. He Said, that he used the same stuff/jokes night after night on the tour, and didn't care for the kind of music they played. If you listen to Plant today and the albums he releases, he might have changed his mind Big time.

Auqualung is certainly one of Tull's highlights. My favorite album is as I wrote, Stand Up from 1969. But Songs From The Wood from 1977 is also a very, very good album.

[Scott]

Wiki does help keep things factual now doesn't it!

Our history of Tull on this site is well documented, you may be aware that prolonged listening to JT will induce moments of dozing off. And that these moments usually happen around the 2nd or 3rd third songs.  So, just sayin' it could happen...

SONG FOR RJ ...  Seems like it just ended abruptly like the person who was editing the video fell asleep and hit their head on the console abruptly ending the tune.  Could've happened!  Whats the deal with that leg lift thing he does?  Tune isnt bad though.  My older bro was a casual fan, mostly of Aqualung and I think that's about it, so not much exposure to them for me as an impressionable young man.

MINSTREL IN THE GALLERY ... I LOVE LOVE LOVE the bass guitarist matching bass and outfit!  First time I've ever seen anything like that!  So much more creative than the 80's aerobic leotard the singer is wearing!  Thankfully he hadn't the added the dangly balls to the outfit yet.  But I must say, the riff is very cool and I'm not feeling sleepy at all!

SKATING AWAY ON THE THIN ICE OF A NEW DAY ...  This is the first "Glockenspiel" song ever posted here, I'm quite sure of it!  But not the first band posted with a Transgendered member.  I think that distinction went to Unruly Child lead singer whatever his name was, or her name is now.  You know what I mean!

Anyway, nice post, I made it through 3 Tull songs and i didn't eve bat an eye.  Not once did napping or sleep enter my mind!  Not even when the Glockenspiel zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz....

[Niels (Mod)]

I have yet to see a comment from you, Scott, about Jethro Tull without a use of several z's

But you're on the right path. Just like I did in '78, you've now noticed the very cool riff from Minstrel, and the bass guitarist's performance, so you'll be a fan within a year or two. Just wait and see.

I will try and stay away from Wiki as much as I can on VOTW, and this week was a 100% "stay away". I don't mind Wiki, though. I just have more fun the other way.

[Scott]

You're certainly welcome!  I must say that if such a day comes that I should like Tull enough to procure them, it will remain as a moral imperative that I continue the very creative and humorous use of several "z's" in said postings...

[Niels (Mod)]

I found a much better version of "Minstrel", from the exact same concert, feat. the whole song and with a much better sound/picture. I only saw a fragment of this back in '78/'79 but this is classic, classic Tull from 1975. Sleep tight, Scott.