TOO OLD TO ROCK 'N' ROLL: TOO YOUNG TO DIE!

In mid 70's Ian Anderson wanted to do a movie. First attempt was Warchild (failed) and the second was Too Old To Rock and Roll Too Young To Die (and failed again). Too Old To Rock And Roll turned into a musical that was shown on TV and it was performance based on this album. I don't get why some people dislike this release. Maybe the production isn't so good but songs are not bad really. Too Old To Rock And Roll is a concept album but this time only lyrics play that role. Putting this short, it's a story about old rocker who is living in the past and one day he decides to kill himself riding his bike. But he survives being in coma for some time then awakes and it seems like 'old fashioned' times are back. Musically this album has many flavours. Quizz Kid is good hard rock song. Really strong kick in ass. Crazed Institution a bit lighter but still rock. I think Ian had still many good ideas to write an album that was different from his previous releases. But of course it's still Jethro Tull style. Just put in some loose way. Taxi Grab is blues rock song. Let me see the first blues since Aqualung album? I really like this one but it's not the only one blues songs on this release. Bad Eyed and Loveless is bluesy as well. From A Dead Beat To An Old Greaser is kind of ballad with saxophone part and it's pretty good. Big Dipper is a little hard rock tune (yeah!) and Pied Piper is filled with that typical Tull's folk magic. It's not far from what band did on the next album. That's why I think people who dislike this release in fact dislike this story. Cos musically it's still Jethro Tull. I love this Pied Piper tune. Pure folk. Too Old To Rock And Roll To Young To Die... mighty rock song with orchestral arrangement. It's beautiful, a bit sad and bombastic. "The old Rocker wore his hair too long, wore his trouser cuffs too tight. Unfashionable to the end drank his ale too light". This fragment also opened whole album (first verses of Quizz Kid) so it's familiar and we know we listen to concept album even though you won't link musically parts like Salamander and Taxi Grab. It's something completely different. The Chequered Flag closes this album. Good song for the end. A little monumental and subtle. I really like this release. Maybe not the best JT album but still good enough for 4 stars.