Legendary Bands - Jethro Tull Posters

Initially seen as standard bearers of the blues-rock mantle in the tradition of psychedelic supergroup Cream, Jethro Tull were really a more lyrical group than Messrs. Clapton, Baker and Bruce. Combining British Isles folk with ferocious jazz-like interplay and the antics of flautist-frontman Ian Anderson, Jethro Tull were a surprise success at the 1968 England Jazz & Blues Festival, leading to the worldwide acclaim delivered such albums as This Was, Stand Up, Benefit and the classic Aqualung.

With original band Clive Bunker (drums), Glenn Cornick (bass) and Mick Abrahams (guitar), Anderson pursued his tales of heartfelt themes and oddball characters. The albums leading to and including Aqualung were inventive and invigorating, coupling blues rock power with imaginative lyrics and incendiary musicianship. This Was, largely a bristling, yet pastoral blues workout, included the Cream sound alike "Cat's Squirrel," (which they also covered) and evocative compositions "A Song For Jeffrey," "Dharma For One" and "My Sunday Feeling."

Stand Up was more experimental (with new guitarist Martin Barre), with a jazz interpretation of a J.S. Bach piece, and a panoply of new songs influenced by the blues but resulting in something altogether new. Benefit became their second No. 1 in America, and while not as impressive as Stand Up, showed the band exposing more of their acoustic folk side.

With Anderson now the band's focal point, often wailing madly on his flute while up on one leg, Aqualung became a multi-million selling album, heard to this day on classic rock stations across the land. A powerful concept album dealing with the misadventures of a lecherous bum, the album revealed Anderson's distrust of organized religion with sarcastic bite and bile. Living In The Past followed, an uneven collection of live and previously unreleased material.

Thick As A Brick began Tull's slide towards critical dismemberment. The dull album consisted of one long track with no highlights. From there, Tull went from bad to worse, though Anderson continued to be prolific. Through the years a few gems have erupted from the Tull pen, including Songs From The Wood, which delved deeper into Anderson's English and Celtic folk influences. 1995's Roots To Branches was a return to form, confirming Jethro Tull's status as one of the most original and articulate of all progressive rock bands.

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