Jethro Tulls warchild

Edited by Andrea Cortese - October 05 2006 at 12:45

To be honest, the first time I heard it, I thought it was terrible. It actually took me far less time to get APP than War Child, funnily enough. Now it has definitely grown on me, but I agree with what Paco Fox said, that's it's neither at the bottom nor at the top of my list. I don't really see what the big deal with "Skating Away" is. It's a good song, sure, but it isn't one of the best things Tull has ever done by a long stretch, and the intro is just plain stupid. But then again, I'm one of those rare cases that thinks that "Wish You Were Here" is not only not Pink Floyd's best song, but it isn't even the best song on that album (the two "Crazy Diamonds" both being far more beautiful and inspiring imo).

I too would give "War Child" no more than a 3.5.

Been a fan since I first heard TAAB in 1972. Thought it couldn't be eclipsed, but PP did it for me. Those two are Tull's finest albums - PP being my all-time personal favorite album, period. Loved it then, love it now. Warchild was the follow-up to PP. I was dissapointed at first, (perhaps I was expecting the impossible) but I soon loved Warchild as my 3rd fave Tull after PP & TAAB. Then Minstrel became probaby my 4th fave. The 5th slot is harder to peg - they have so many wonderful albums, but aside from the classics Aqualung & Benefit, I love Broadsward (expanded) and another much maligned one - Under Wraps.  Roots to Branches was quite wonderful and most of "A" is great, and of course Songs from the Wood, and ... oh well I digress....

Anyway, my top 4 Tull albums has not changed over the years. I feel that PP, TAAB, WC & MITG all have that sort of personal, poignant beauty (as does Benefit, and much of Stand Up & Aqualung) but also combined with elements that we all recognize as "prog", so therefore they are my personal favorite Tull albums.

My fave tracks on Warchild - The title track itself is the best for me - simply lovely melodies in both verse and chorus - (well arranged for orchestra on David Palmer's Classic Case album of Tull orchestrations) and weird transitions and off-kilter ensemble arrangements. Love it. Other fave tracks include Back-Door Angels, Sealion, Skating Away, and Third Hoorah. Though I was overjoyed to hear Bungle played on the radio at the time (yes, it was a HIT song in 1974-75!), it is actually my least favorite, and a rather embarrassingly silly song. However, it makes more sense when re-associated with the songs on their abandoned post-TAAB/pre-PP album (from whence it came - later released on "Nightcap") which had additional songs featuring lyrics with animal metaphors.

After 4 or 5 excellent albums in a row, it was a step down.  Not a bad record by any means but it could have been better.  I think "Queen and Country" & "Back Door Angels" along with "Bungle" & "Skating" are classic Tull.

 

I find it somewhat strange, but I like it (I think it's much more consistent than Minstrel, for instance).
In particular SeaLion is a standout track, but also King and Country, Back Door Angels and The Third Hooray stand among my favourites!

Odd how everyone here mentions "skating away" and the mediocre "bungle in the jungle" as their favourites from this album! I think the reason it's underrated, or at least not talked of much is because it doesn't really gel as an album. It's very much "a collection of songs", some of which work and som do not. My favourites would undoubtedly be "Backdoor Angels" (so now you've found someone Paco!), "Sealion" and (if bonus tracks are allowed) "Paradise Steakhouse".

How strange tastes (musical and others) can change in a lifetime!

I discovered Jethro Tull back in 1969 with the "Stand-up" album, at a time "progressive" was far to have the meaning we usually give it today. JT was more of a British Blues band with some "not yet called progressive" elements in both the composition and the choice of instruments.

While I went into pure prog by the end of 1970 with KC's Lizard and VDGG H to He (Yes, I had skipped ITCOTCK! Nobody's perfect, and at that time, Yes had only released their first ,which I did not know about, and "Time and a Word" which I do not like), I kept listening to more straightforward rock including all next JT releases until Thick as a Brick and, of course, I noticed the evolution towards prog rock, away from blues.

I must confess that the first time I was played Thick as a Brick in my favourite record shop, I did not immediately identified it as being Jethro Tull! But I immediately enjoyed it and purchased the record eventually. Logically, I next purchased "A Passion Play" the day it was released without even pre-listening to it (A new JT could only be good, could'n it?)

Believe it or not, I was terribly disappointed. That was not the group I liked anymore. Instead, some bizarre dissonant structureless long piece, quite boring. That was 1973. I was then addicted to Genesis, KC, Yes, Earth and Fire, to name a few. From JT, I expected something different, more rock oriented. Consequently I did welcome "War Child" as a kind of return to the roots.

Today there is no doubt for me: I was wrong in the past! "A Passion Play" is a masterpiece that reveals its gems over a long passion-playing time while "War Child" is a very weak album.

How strange tastes (musical and other) can change in a lifetime!

PS: IMHO the weakest Tull album is not War Child. It is "Too old to..."

I really love this album!!But then again i love almost everything they did!

I think it's a pretty weak album. The only songs I really like on it are Bungle in the Jungle and Skating Away.

Paco Fox wrote: Mmm... the think is that there are many songs in this album that fail to please many people. For example, I like 'Bungle in the Jungle', and it's a fairly well known song, but I've read many people who dislike it. I've never found anyone who really liked much (and that doesn't mean necessarilly disliked) 'Backdoor Angles' and 'Ladies' or even 'The Third Hoorah'. And many people seem to prefer 'Lick your fingers clean' more than the version here 'Two Fingers'. So I thing that the problem is that, while all the songs are ok and there are certenlly great tracks (Sealion, Skating Away...), this album can't be up there with the top Tull record, nor at the bottom of any fan's list. Which is what I usually see and hear when talking about it. By the way, I agree that there are some very good bonus tracks from this session, specially 'Rainbow Blues' and 'Quartet'. I feel that here, like in 'The Broadsword and The Beast' the selection for the actual LP was not the best.

I prefer Two Fingers than its embryonic state Lick Your Fingers Clean!