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JETHRO TULL

Prog Folk • United Kingdom


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Jethro Tull picture
Jethro Tull biography
Founded in Blackpool, UK in 1967 - Hiatus from 2012-2016


"I didn`t have to play it all the time, I just had to wave it around and look good" - Ian Anderson 2003.

Eccentric on stage yet rather thoughtful, reserved and even sombre at times when not in the limelight, the Jethro Tull image was the brainchild of flute wielding frontman Ian ANDERSON. Clad in scruffy vagabond apparel, and looking more like an anachronism out of a Charles Dickens tale, Anderson conveyed an old English aura during the band`s formative years in the late 60`s and early 70`s which would persist throughout the band's 40 year career both visually and musically.

Born on August 10, 1947 in Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland, Anderson was augmented by a revolving door of colourful musicians over the years which added to the flamboyance of the Jethro Tull phenomenon. Conceived as a psychedelic blues band in late 1967 the music of Jethro Tull has always been dauntingly intricate embracing many styles including blues, jazz, folk, medieval, classical, hard rock along with forays into electronic music, sometimes referred to as "space age prog". The lyrics were equally as sophisticated and sometimes reached new heights of grandiloquence commenting on depressing world events such as drug abuse, the oil crisis, modernisation, third world troubles and a deteriorating economy.. Other topics included fads, spy novels, environmental and social issues as well as metaphysical musings. With lyrics and music which ran deep Jethro Tull have often been over-analysed by both fans and critics alike and many of their albums have been erroneously interpreted as autobiographical due to the fact that many of their record covers featured artwork which seemed to depict Ian Anderson's likeness, something which he has vehemently denied in numerous interviews.

Jethro Tull can trace their origins back to 1963 when as a young art student in Blackpool, England Anderson formed a band called THE BLADES (after a club in a James Bond novel). By 1965 as a 7-piece they had changed their name to THE JOHN EVAN BAND and subsequently to THE JOHN EVAN SMASH (his mother supplied their tour van) Evan, whose real name was Evans, would eventually become the band's keyboard player for most of the seventies. The band relocated to London in`67, the centre of the British blues movement of the sixties in search of more lucrative gigs. However the band was gradually d...
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JETHRO TULL discography


Ordered by release date | Showing ratings (top albums) | Help Progarchives.com to complete the discography and add albums

JETHRO TULL top albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

3.31 | 927 ratings
This Was
1968
4.05 | 1388 ratings
Stand Up
1969
3.91 | 1170 ratings
Benefit
1970
4.36 | 2846 ratings
Aqualung
1971
4.64 | 3595 ratings
Thick as a Brick
1972
4.05 | 1590 ratings
A Passion Play
1973
3.35 | 916 ratings
War Child
1974
4.04 | 1349 ratings
Minstrel in the Gallery
1975
3.11 | 852 ratings
Too Old To Rock 'n' Roll: Too Young To Die!
1976
4.21 | 1569 ratings
Songs from the Wood
1977
4.04 | 1298 ratings
Heavy Horses
1978
3.49 | 840 ratings
Stormwatch
1979
3.24 | 697 ratings
A
1980
3.30 | 723 ratings
The Broadsword And The Beast
1982
2.23 | 573 ratings
Under Wraps
1984
3.02 | 176 ratings
A Classic Case
1985
3.23 | 647 ratings
Crest of a Knave
1987
2.70 | 507 ratings
Rock Island
1989
2.63 | 478 ratings
Catfish Rising
1991
3.60 | 568 ratings
Roots To Branches
1995
3.02 | 475 ratings
J-Tull Dot Com
1999
3.49 | 442 ratings
The Jethro Tull Christmas Album
2003
3.39 | 167 ratings
The Zealot Gene
2022
0.00 | 0 ratings
RökFlöte
2023

JETHRO TULL Live Albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

4.19 | 449 ratings
Live - Bursting Out
1978
2.93 | 57 ratings
Live At Hammersmith '84
1990
3.65 | 187 ratings
A Little Light Music
1992
3.07 | 52 ratings
In Concert
1995
3.67 | 130 ratings
Living With The Past
2002
4.19 | 171 ratings
Nothing Is Easy: Live At The Isle Of Wight 1970
2004
3.46 | 101 ratings
Aqualung Live
2005
3.49 | 92 ratings
Live At Montreux 2003
2007
4.44 | 18 ratings
Live at Madison Square Garden 1978
2009
4.45 | 33 ratings
Live At Carnegie Hall 1970
2015

JETHRO TULL Videos (DVD, Blu-ray, VHS etc)

3.86 | 55 ratings
Slipstream (DVD)
1981
3.77 | 44 ratings
20 Years of Jethro Tull (VHS)
1988
3.48 | 87 ratings
Living With the Past
2002
3.03 | 53 ratings
A New Day Yesterday - The 25th Anniversary Collection
2003
3.87 | 96 ratings
Nothing Is Easy: Live At The Isle Of Wight 1970
2005
2.97 | 69 ratings
Live At Montreux 2003
2007
4.00 | 23 ratings
Slipstream (9 song version)
2007
4.32 | 28 ratings
Classic Artists Series: Jethro Tull
2008
3.35 | 34 ratings
Jack In The Green - Live In Germany
2008
3.63 | 24 ratings
Songs From Bethlehem
2008
4.37 | 106 ratings
Live At Madison Square Garden 1978 (DVD + CD)
2009
3.77 | 35 ratings
Live at AVO Session Basel 2008
2009
4.58 | 38 ratings
Around the World Live (4DVD)
2013

JETHRO TULL Boxset & Compilations (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

3.09 | 3 ratings
Jethro Tull
1970
3.09 | 3 ratings
Sunday Best
1971
4.12 | 345 ratings
Living In The Past
1972
3.03 | 86 ratings
M.U. - The Best of Jethro Tull
1976
2.97 | 57 ratings
Repeat - The Best Of Jethro Tull - Vol. II
1977
2.00 | 4 ratings
The Best Of Jethro Tull Vol. III
1981
3.17 | 83 ratings
Original Masters
1985
2.05 | 2 ratings
Masters of Rock
1986
3.64 | 87 ratings
20 Years Of Jethro Tull Box
1988
4.46 | 91 ratings
20 Years Of Jethro Tull (The Definitive Collection)
1988
3.75 | 56 ratings
20 Years Of Jethro Tull (USA release)
1989
3.66 | 173 ratings
Nightcap
1993
3.80 | 55 ratings
The Best Of Jethro Tull: The Anniversary Collection
1993
4.43 | 82 ratings
25th Anniversary Box Set
1993
2.58 | 27 ratings
A Jethro Tull Collection
1997
1.55 | 33 ratings
Through The Years
1997
3.00 | 78 ratings
The Very Best Of Jethro Tull
2001
2.26 | 16 ratings
Essential Jethro Tull
2007
3.45 | 54 ratings
The Best Of Acoustic Jethro Tull
2007
3.81 | 49 ratings
The Jethro Tull Christmas Album / Live - Christmas At St Bride's 2008
2009
4.66 | 56 ratings
Aqualung - 40th Anniversary Collector's Edition
2011
2.09 | 3 ratings
Essential
2011
4.83 | 91 ratings
Thick as a Brick - 40th Anniversary Special Edition
2012
4.88 | 82 ratings
A Passion Play: An Extended Perfomance
2014
4.70 | 54 ratings
War Child - The 40th Anniversary Theatre Edition
2014
4.64 | 61 ratings
Minstrel In The Gallery - 40th Anniversary: La Grande Edition
2015
4.65 | 34 ratings
Too Old To Rock'n'Roll: Too Young To Die - The TV Special Edition
2015
4.78 | 27 ratings
Stand Up - The Elevated Edition
2016
4.91 | 24 ratings
Aqualung - 40th Anniversary Adapted Edition
2016
2.00 | 2 ratings
An Introduction to Jethro Tull
2017
4.92 | 46 ratings
Songs From The Wood - 40th Anniversary Edition - The Country Set
2017
4.58 | 36 ratings
Heavy Horses (New Shoes Edition)
2018
4.50 | 24 ratings
This Was (50 Anniversary Edition)
2018
3.04 | 7 ratings
50 for 50
2018
2.00 | 4 ratings
50th Anniversary Collection
2018
4.50 | 32 ratings
Stormwatch (The 40th Anniversary Force 10 Edition)
2019
4.33 | 33 ratings
A (La Mode) - The 40th Anniversary Edition
2021
4.41 | 25 ratings
Benefit - 50th Anniversary Enhanced Edition
2021

JETHRO TULL Official Singles, EPs, Fan Club & Promo (CD, EP/LP, MC, Digital Media Download)

3.79 | 19 ratings
Love Story
1968
4.00 | 26 ratings
A Song For Jeffrey
1968
2.72 | 22 ratings
Sunshine Day
1968
4.05 | 33 ratings
Sweet Dream / 17
1969
4.00 | 24 ratings
The Witch's Promise
1969
4.50 | 34 ratings
Living In The Past
1969
3.85 | 20 ratings
Inside
1970
4.38 | 44 ratings
Life Is a Long Song
1971
4.14 | 22 ratings
Hymn 43
1971
4.40 | 31 ratings
Aqualung
1971
4.00 | 8 ratings
Locomotive Breath
1971
4.12 | 33 ratings
Living In The Past
1972
3.48 | 27 ratings
Bungle In The Jungle
1974
4.29 | 7 ratings
Skating Away on the Thin Ice of the New Day
1974
4.00 | 7 ratings
Minstrel in the Gallery / Summerday Sands
1975
3.25 | 33 ratings
Ring Out, Solstice Bells
1976
3.11 | 9 ratings
Too Old To Rock 'N' Roll; Too Young To Die
1976
3.66 | 31 ratings
The Whistler
1977
3.73 | 11 ratings
A Stitch In Time
1978
4.04 | 29 ratings
Moths
1978
3.89 | 10 ratings
Warm Sporran
1979
2.83 | 22 ratings
North Sea Oil
1979
4.36 | 22 ratings
Home E.P.
1979
3.23 | 24 ratings
Working John, Working Joe
1980
3.31 | 26 ratings
Fallen On Hard Times
1982
3.44 | 25 ratings
Broadsword
1982
2.92 | 24 ratings
Lap Of Luxury
1984
3.17 | 6 ratings
Bourrée
1985
3.88 | 17 ratings
Coronach
1986
3.63 | 16 ratings
Said She Was A Dancer 12''
1987
3.58 | 19 ratings
Steel Monkey 12''
1987
4.00 | 8 ratings
Part Of The Machine
1988
3.70 | 21 ratings
Another Christmas Song
1989
3.46 | 19 ratings
This Is Not Love
1991
3.75 | 19 ratings
Rocks On The Road
1991
2.96 | 15 ratings
Living in the (Slightly More Recent) Past / Living in the Past
1993
2.81 | 22 ratings
Rare And Precious Chain
1995
3.35 | 20 ratings
Bends Like A Willow
1999
3.17 | 12 ratings
The Christmas EP
2004
3.40 | 5 ratings
Living in the Past
2013
4.33 | 3 ratings
The Navigators
2023

JETHRO TULL Reviews


Showing last 10 reviews only
 Under Wraps by JETHRO TULL album cover Studio Album, 1984
2.23 | 573 ratings

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Under Wraps
Jethro Tull Prog Folk

Review by BBKron

1 stars This is the only Tull album that I would consider to be genuinely bad. This is mainly due to the horrendous production and arrangements. Ian made a terrible decision to use programmed drum machines throughout (no drummer at all), presumably to seem hip and modern, then compounded that error by featuring that awful drum machine prominently above everything else in the mix. Also used programmed synths and cut and paste arrangements throughout that just sound terrible. Should have been considered an Anderson solo album, as sounds like Ian just playing with his new electronic toys and digital software. The music was assembled, not really played here, and the '80's technology used just doesn't cut it. It's too bad, as some of the songs could have been pretty good with the programmed nonsense removed and real instruments and arrangements used, as exemplified with the two different versions of the song 'Under Wraps', one with all the electronic nonsense, the other stripped down. The production and arrangements here deserve only 1 star, but the songs themselves deserve higher, so I arrive at 1.5 for the album. No really good tracks (but the one song with a stripped down version, Under Wraps #2, gives an idea of what the album could have been like with decent production). Rating: 1.5 stars
 Rock Island by JETHRO TULL album cover Studio Album, 1989
2.70 | 507 ratings

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Rock Island
Jethro Tull Prog Folk

Review by BBKron

2 stars Probably their heaviest album overall, with more rock-heavy and harder rock songs, with very little acoustic work. This may have been in response to the backlash they received after winning the Grammy Award for best hard rock/heavy metal album in the previous year for an album (Crest of a Knave) that was considered neither hard rock nor metal. So they came back with a more rock-heavy album To solidify their hard rock credentials. Unfortunately, the result is one of their least enjoyable albums, without much to recommend it. I really could not pick out the best and worst songs here, as all are just OK. Nothing really bad, but also just not that good either. Contains many familiar elements of Tull songs, but the songs just don't gel into anything substantial. Somewhat generic songs, mostly not very memorable. Rating: 2.5
 J-Tull Dot Com by JETHRO TULL album cover Studio Album, 1999
3.02 | 475 ratings

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J-Tull Dot Com
Jethro Tull Prog Folk

Review by BBKron

3 stars Better than expected after all the dismal things I heard about this one, actually somewhat enjoyable. Ian and the band trying many different things here, so there is a variety of styles, which is interesting, but also what seem like some odd choices for the band. Not at all bad, there are several good tracks here, and some are quite fun, including a strong finish to the album, but also some very questionable tracks. Runs the gamut from harder rock songs like Spiral to a lightweight acoustic caribbean-themed ditty (Hot Mango Flush) that is unlike any other Tull song. Thus, overall, a pretty good, but somewhat uneven album. Does contain quite a lot of great guitar and flute work throughout. Best tracks: Dot Com, Hunt By Numbers, Far Alaska, The Dog Ear Years, A Gift of Roses. Weaker tracks: El Nino, Black Mamba. Rating: 3ó
 Crest of a Knave by JETHRO TULL album cover Studio Album, 1987
3.23 | 647 ratings

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Crest of a Knave
Jethro Tull Prog Folk

Review by BBKron

3 stars Somewhat of a comeback album for the band, following the dismal Under Wraps. Brought back a harder rock edge on a few tracks, and received substantial radio play and acclaim. Notoriously won the Grammy for best hard rock/heavy metal album (beating Metallica), which was roundly criticized as it is not really considered a hard rock album, and certainly not metal. Overall, it is somewhat varied in style and substance, ranging from acoustic, pop and rock tracks. This album also marked the start of their 'Dire Straits period', in that multiple songs on this album, and at least one on most of the subsequent albums, bore a strong resemblance to Dire Straits, not only in the talk-singing vocal of Ian by this time, but also in the overall style and structure of the songs. Not sure if this was a conscious decision to emulate the band, but some of these songs sound like they could actually be Dire Straits songs (not that there's anything wrong with that). Overall, a nice direction for the band in the 80's. Good, but still not one of their stronger albums. Best tracks: Jump Start, Budapest, Part of the Machine, Farm on the Freeway. Weaker tracks: Steel Monkey, Mountain Men. Dire Straits-sounding songs: She Said She Was a Dancer, Waking Edge, Raising Steam. Rating: 3 stars
 Catfish Rising by JETHRO TULL album cover Studio Album, 1991
2.63 | 478 ratings

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Catfish Rising
Jethro Tull Prog Folk

Review by BBKron

3 stars Surprisingly good album for this time period, one of their stronger later albums. Starts off with a couple somewhat generic rockers, but then gets much more interesting. More acoustic than expected (lots of mandolin), and more diverse. Very Bluesy, from bluesy acoustic numbers to slow blues to blues-rock. Probably their most blues-heavy album since Benefit, and overall, it works very well, as they change-up the various blues styles throughout the album. Best tracks: Roll Your Own, Rocks on the Road, Gold-Tipped Boots Black Jacket and Tie, When Jesus Came to Play. Weaker tracks: This is Not Love, Occasional Demons, White Innocence. Rating 3 stars
 Roots To Branches by JETHRO TULL album cover Studio Album, 1995
3.60 | 568 ratings

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Roots To Branches
Jethro Tull Prog Folk

Review by BBKron

3 stars With this album the band adds a more of an International-World music style, with the first few tracks having a somewhat middle eastern vibe. The Rest of the album features many strong tracks that make this one of their best from the later years, and strongest album from the nineties, with a variety of styles, strong songwriting, and excellent musicianship throughout. Also includes another in their Dire Straits-like series from this period: Another Harry's Bar. Best tracks: Valley, Beside Myself, Dangerous Veils, At last Forever, Out of the Noise, Stuck in the August Rain. Weaker tracks: Rare and Precious Chain, This Free Will. Rating: 3 stars
 This Was by JETHRO TULL album cover Studio Album, 1968
3.31 | 927 ratings

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This Was
Jethro Tull Prog Folk

Review by BBKron

3 stars Strong debut album. At this early stage the band had a very different lineup, with blues guitarist Mick Abrahams, Glenn Cornick (bass), and Clive Bunker (drums), and was primarily a straight blues-rock band, with jazz influences. The album is filled with excellent jazz-blues guitar, bass, and drums work, supplemented with Anderson's flute and vocals, but good UK blues-rock bands were plentiful at that time, and this is fairly straight-forward blues-rock. Although a good start, the band had not yet developed their own unique style, and compared to what the band would later become, this ranks as good, but not great. Best tracks: Beggar's Farm, A Song For Jeffrey. Weaker tracks: Moved On Alone, It's Breaking Me Up. Rating: 3 stars
 Benefit by JETHRO TULL album cover Studio Album, 1970
3.91 | 1170 ratings

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Benefit
Jethro Tull Prog Folk

Review by BBKron

3 stars I know a lot of people love this album, but for me, it is somewhat of a step backward from the more unique and progressive Stand Up (1969), as the band has fallen back to a much more standard UK Blues-rock here, without the more innovative approaches and advances made on the previous album. Yes, they are very good at the blues-rock sound and style, but this does not best show their unique style and strengths that would make them a standout rock band. Also, some of the best songs from these sessions were not even included on the album, such as 'Teacher' (which was released as a standalone single) and 'Witch's Promise'. Thus, a very good album overall, but one that did not advance their sound and unique style beyond the blues-rock played by other bands. However, they would make tremendous leap into progressive rock with their next album. Best tracks: Nothing to Say, Alive and Well and Living In, Inside, Sossity You're a Woman. Weaker tracks: Son, A Time For Everything. Rating: 3.5 stars
 The Broadsword And The Beast by JETHRO TULL album cover Studio Album, 1982
3.30 | 723 ratings

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The Broadsword And The Beast
Jethro Tull Prog Folk

Review by BBKron

3 stars More personnel changes, with Peter John-Vettese brought in on keyboards and synths and Gerry Conway on drums, along with Dave Pegg on bass. The band returns to more folk-style songs and themes here, and acoustic instrumentation, after the big changes in personnel and style for the previous album, A, but now also incorporating more synths and electronics as well. Thus, more synths and less acoustic guitar, but the songs and arrangements are quite good overall, although ends a bit weakly compared to rest of album. A fine album, certainly worth checking out and revisiting, but not at the level of their '70's output. Best tracks: Clasp, Fallen on Hard Times, Flying Colors, Slow Marching Band, Pussy Willow. Weaker tracks: Seal Driver, Cheerio. Rating 3.5
 Too Old To Rock 'n' Roll: Too Young To Die! by JETHRO TULL album cover Studio Album, 1976
3.11 | 852 ratings

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Too Old To Rock 'n' Roll: Too Young To Die!
Jethro Tull Prog Folk

Review by BBKron

3 stars I remember being quite disappointed with this album upon its original release, as it seemed quite a step down from the thrills and invigorating highs of their previous albums. Not really bad, but somewhat lackluster in comparison. However, going back to it many years later I find it to be a very good album (especially compared to some of the later albums) with lots to recommend it. It still has that warm 1970's production, some great songs, and an overall comfortable feeling. The album starts off great, with a wonderful first half, with strong tracks such as Quiz Kids, Crazed Institution, and Salamander, but then sags quite a bit in the second half. Still very good, but overall the weakest of their great 1970's output. Best tracks: Salamander, Quiz Kids, Crazed Institution, Pied Piper. Weaker tracks: Bad-eyed and Loveless, The Checquered Flag. Rating: 3.5
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