Jethro Tull's "A": Damn it, I like it!
Printed From: Progarchives.com
Category: Progressive Music Lounges
Forum Name: Prog Recommendations/Featured albums
Forum Description: Make or seek recommendations and discuss specific prog albums
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=112804
Printed Date: July 19 2025 at 13:39
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Jethro Tull's "A": Damn it, I like it!
Posted By: SteveG
Subject: Jethro Tull's "A": Damn it, I like it!
Date Posted: January 31 2018 at 14:28
|
Jethro's Tull's "A" is the first album I play after "Songs From the Wood". Not "Heavy Horses, not "Stormwatch". Just straight to"A". Damn it, I like it! ------------- This message was brought to you by a proud supporter of the Deep State. |
Replies:
Posted By: Barbu
Date Posted: January 31 2018 at 15:46
 Flyingdale Flyer, Back Sunday, Protect and Survive, And Further On... Solid Tull, always enjoyed that one. ------------- |
Posted By: verslibre
Date Posted: January 31 2018 at 15:57
|
A is killer. I like everything Tull did in those days. The songs mentioned above, plus "Crossfire," "Pine Marten's Jig" and "Black Sunday" are all super. ------------- https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_ipg=50&_sop=1&_rdc=1&_ssn=musicosm" rel="nofollow - eBay |
Posted By: The Bearded Bard
Date Posted: January 31 2018 at 16:02
|
I'm not too famliar with this album (I don't own it) but the first two tracks you mention there, Barbu; FF and BS, could both fit nicely on different '70's Tull albums, IMO; War Child and Minstrel in the Gallery or Stormwatch respectively. -------------  
|
Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: January 31 2018 at 20:01
| Yep. A. Friggin’ great album, loved it from the very first listen. |
Posted By: dr wu23
Date Posted: January 31 2018 at 20:36
|
A decent Tull album but not one of my favorites......some good tracks but it misses the mark often. ------------- One does nothing yet nothing is left undone. Haquin |
Posted By: Mortte
Date Posted: January 31 2018 at 22:34
| Like some other in that bad choise-thread I was really disappointed when hearing A first time, I even like more Broadsword because when it´s also quite modern comparing those seventies albums, it has also something old Tull. But I have listened A during years and started to like it although it never will be into my 10best Tull albums. |
Posted By: Squonk19
Date Posted: February 01 2018 at 00:12
|
After the so called 'folk rock' trilogy, I was slightly disappointed by 'A'. It has many good moments, and I'm not averse to its more futuristic feel, but overall the line-up changes and Eddie Jobson's instrumentation didn't sit as well, for me. If Ian Anderson had been allowed to release it as a solo album, I think it would have been accepted more by Tull fans at the time. The video 'Slipstream' was released at the time and including some 'A'' era studio and tour footage, but again, the white boiler suit image wasn't quite right for me. I thought 'Broadsword' was a partial return to form thereafter. However, despite the above, if you sit down and listen to it with fresh ears 37 or so years later, as I have done, it does stand up (hmm...) well and have its charm - so it's definitely one to dig out again. There are less impressive Tull/Anderson albums out there. ------------- “Living in their pools, they soon forget about the sea.” |
Posted By: Mortte
Date Posted: February 01 2018 at 00:29
|
Squonk19 wrote:Posted By: Frenetic Zetetic
Date Posted: February 01 2018 at 01:58
|
I definitely haven't listened to this one enough to form a solid opinion. I know what my homework today is!  ------------- "I am so prog, I listen to concept albums on shuffle." -KMac2021 |
Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: February 01 2018 at 02:12
| Eddie Jobson !! Great addition to the Tull sound 1980. Great find in Mark Craney too. |
Posted By: dr prog
Date Posted: February 01 2018 at 02:20
|
Uniform, Fylingdale, Further on and Pine Marten are great stuff ------------- All I like is prog related bands beginning late 60's/early 70's. Their music from 1968 - 83 has the composition and sound which will never be beaten. Perfect blend of jazz, classical, folk and rock. |
Posted By: BarryGlibb
Date Posted: February 01 2018 at 02:46
|
As most know, I've been a Tull follower since the early 70s and I put A in my top 6 Tull albums. IMHO there is not a duff track on it...Working John, Working Joe is the only one close to being just OK. Side 2 is brilliant. I was totally folked out by Stormwatch; and when A surfaced it was a complete left turn .....recording something as new and exciting as A made me get back into Tull again. Then I was completely underwhelmed 2 years later with Broadsword and The Beast i.e. backtracking over old ground. Commercial, overproduced ...well I won't say "rubbish"" but I really hated Broadsword ATB. |
Posted By: Squonk19
Date Posted: February 01 2018 at 10:53
 ------------- “Living in their pools, they soon forget about the sea.” |
Posted By: gr8dane
Date Posted: February 01 2018 at 11:08
|
Always liked it.Love that Jobson was on it.Actually saw that tour.Not that I remember a lot from it.:) ------------- Shake & bake. |
Posted By: grantman
Date Posted: February 01 2018 at 14:12
| the best 3 are thick as a brick,stand up,and aqualung the worst 3 are rock island under wraps and A |
Posted By: condor
Date Posted: February 01 2018 at 14:30
| Thanks for the recommend. I had trouble choosing. I've heard Heavy Horses, Aqualung, Passion Play, and Thick as a Brick. |
Posted By: HackettFan
Date Posted: February 02 2018 at 12:40
|
I didn't like A at all and just put it aside. Given this thread I should take it up for another listen. I don't remember much other than Flyingdale Flyer, which is not dreadful, but kind of a shoulder shrug to me. I was just thinking I only had it on record, but I think it's one of a package of Tull CDs I got for a steal. Truth is though, I haven't really warmed up to any album after Minstrel in the Gallery. Hey! Captcha evaded. I'm back. ------------- A curse upon the heads of those who seek their fortunes in a lie. The truth is always waiting when there's nothing left to try. - Colin Henson, Jade Warrior (Now) |
Posted By: dr wu23
Date Posted: February 02 2018 at 14:21
|
^Yeah....I bought that Tull cd package to play on the road in the car....it has A in it. I did relisten to A yesterday.....still doesn't grab my fancy but it has some moments. ------------- One does nothing yet nothing is left undone. Haquin |
Posted By: siLLy puPPy
Date Posted: February 02 2018 at 18:57
|
Yep, one of the most underrated JT albums. The first time i heard it, i couldn't believe that it wasn't deemed one of their best. I think this album totally proves the point that ratings mean absolutely nothing -------------  https://rateyourmusic.com/~siLLy_puPPy |
Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: February 02 2018 at 19:15
| It may be said, that listeners at the time, may have thought it’s so un-Tull that it was shocking. Those of us coming to the album after-the-fact, several years later, can appreciate the different sound and approach of Tull. |
Posted By: siLLy puPPy
Date Posted: February 02 2018 at 20:16
|
^ yeah, but it also showed that "progressive" listeners were only willing to "progress" so much and that if a "progressive" band like JT tried to "progress" even further that they weren't willing to go along for the ride. I think that they were totally onto something with this one and the bad reception made them freak out and go all weird on themselves with albums like "Under Wraps" emerging in the wake. I'm more surprised that this album hasn't been revisited and revered higher as the decades past. Personally, it's certainly their best 80s album and stands up with their classics IMHO ------------- https://rateyourmusic.com/~siLLy_puPPy |
Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: February 02 2018 at 20:49
| My hands were shaking when I picked this album up (around 1990) - Eddie Jobson. I loved U.K., obsessed over Curved Air’s Air Cut album, where young Jobson shined. And I was a bit worried - Dave Pegg (Fairport) where his work with that band was ‘regular’, of course, that’s all Fairport required. Well, his playing on A is sensational. |
Posted By: BarryGlibb
Date Posted: February 02 2018 at 23:34
I totally agree! |
Posted By: dr prog
Date Posted: February 03 2018 at 17:18
Same thing happened with Warchild. Silly Ian listened to the critics after APP so he went all pop on us. Would have been awesome if he used Good godmother, March the mad scientist, Glory row on this album instead of Bungle, Two fingers, Third hoorah etc
------------- All I like is prog related bands beginning late 60's/early 70's. Their music from 1968 - 83 has the composition and sound which will never be beaten. Perfect blend of jazz, classical, folk and rock. |
Posted By: siLLy puPPy
Date Posted: February 03 2018 at 17:59
Yep, Warchild and Too Old Young Rock whatever were pretty weak. Poor Ian should've not cared about the critics but i guess that's one of the traps of success especially a prog band in 70s that was an exception to the rule. ------------- https://rateyourmusic.com/~siLLy_puPPy |
Posted By: Lewian
Date Posted: February 03 2018 at 18:50
|
Hmmm. I didn't have a Tull history (or much of a history of anything) before A; Broadsword was the first Tull album that was released when I was already aware of the bamd. From the beginning I preferred Stormwatch to A, and Broadsword when it came out, and this hasn't changed. I think that there's good playing on it, but the melodies and compositions leave me cold. Inspired by this thread I've listened to it again after a long, long time, and really, it seemed all new to me, meaning that nothing had stuck with me before. This is different with Heavy Horses, Stormwatch, and even Broadsword and Under Wraps do better in that respect. Sure, this is quite subjective but A doesn't give me much, and the reason is certainly not that it's too progressive. |
Posted By: Mortte
Date Posted: February 03 2018 at 23:23
| Warchild is a million miles better than A. Too Old is quite the same level as A to me. Just my opinion. |
Posted By: Squonk19
Date Posted: February 04 2018 at 03:04
Very true. One disappointment on a first listen could affect someone's later enjoyment of an album....or even a band.....for a long time. In the days of vinyl and no downloads you tended to persist with an album and learn to like, or at least understand, it better. I do worry that a lot of new bands never get a chance to show their breadth and variety to new listeners, if the listener gives a track on Spotify etc a quick listen and then moves on to something else if it didn't immediately grab them. ------------- “Living in their pools, they soon forget about the sea.” |
Posted By: Mortte
Date Posted: February 04 2018 at 03:13
| I didn´t listen Tull in 1980 (I was then 7 years old). I think I heard Stormwatch in 1983, liked it really much, then I quess next was Thick as a Brick that hit me totally! And next I listened almost all sixties and seventies albums and some time after that one of my friend recorded me A and Broadsword to cassette. He warned me about the difference of A, but still I was really shocked. |
Posted By: Barbu
Date Posted: February 04 2018 at 19:25
|
Listening to a concert from the A tour (st.louis oct.80) right now. Pretty good sound, strong versions of 4 of the album tracks (crossfire, batteries, protect, uniform) and Tull classics. Messieurs Pegg, Barre, Craney, Jobson and Anderson in very fine form...must have been a great tour to attend indeed. ------------- |
Posted By: Walkscore
Date Posted: February 04 2018 at 21:31
| I really like Warchild. It is lighter for sure, but funny! And musically it is very strong. |
Posted By: Dellinger
Date Posted: February 04 2018 at 21:57
But, on the other hand, it's much easier to look for new bands and give them a chance. In the times of Vinyl one would most likely not have found many of the bands we can find now, or even if one saw the album, one wouldn't so easily have given them a chance for the difficulty or impossibility to hear them first and know if you liked them. Even more so, they would most likely not even have been able to record and release the album/songs. |
Posted By: Mortte
Date Posted: February 04 2018 at 22:04
Nowdays it´s just so easy to listen music I have just read about from spotify or youtube. And I still want to buy vinyls of the greatest music.
|
Posted By: verslibre
Date Posted: February 04 2018 at 23:53
If only Mark Craney had stayed on for Broadsword... ------------- https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_ipg=50&_sop=1&_rdc=1&_ssn=musicosm" rel="nofollow - eBay |
Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: February 05 2018 at 00:59
|
Posted By: Rednight
Date Posted: February 05 2018 at 11:08
|
Too jarring of a line-up change at the time for my tastes. I like it, but don't love it. I admire that Anderson acquired Jobson for the project, but much of what he did seemed phoned in. Kind of rudderless, IMHO. ------------- "It just has none of the qualities of your work that I find interesting. Abandon [?] it." - Eno |
Posted By: Squonk19
Date Posted: February 05 2018 at 11:16
|
^ The choice available to the listener is now huge and definitely more inclusive than when the major record companies ruled over what got released. I'd liken it to the choice of TV channels these days compared to BBC1, 2 and ITV when I was growing up. The reason some bands got so big commercially was the limited choice we had as vinyl buyers in the record shops. You would also persist with these bands despite the odd drop in quality or a gradual deterioration over time. I love the choice available to me as an individual, and I'm sure it must be good for new bands to know they have an outlet for their efforts outside of the traditional music business. What I feel sad about is that so many great bands I have found in the last decade or two since the growth of the Internet, will never receive the financial benefit their excellent music deserves. In an environment when a large choice exists, although sometimes at the expense of the quality control the old system forced on the chosen contracted bands, it remains too easy for quality music to slip through the fingers of many listeners, especially if they decide that one track sums up a band when in fact it just shows one of the multi-faceted aspects of them. It's all very much a double edged sword for these bands - and just hope luck and being in the right place at the right time gives them the benefits they need to continue for many years at least. PA at least helps that process in the forum threads and reviews, and long may it and other sites do so. ------------- “Living in their pools, they soon forget about the sea.” |
Posted By: verslibre
Date Posted: February 05 2018 at 13:39
Gerry Conway played on BATB. Craney was simply much more accomplished, he was versatile in many styles. He went from Ponty to Vanelli to Tull to Tower of Power. Dude was awesome. Was reading his biography/timeline on his tribute site. Very sad. It was great that virtually every L.A. drummer, whether they played metal, jazz or new wave, was there for him. Great to see people sticking together. ------------- https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_ipg=50&_sop=1&_rdc=1&_ssn=musicosm" rel="nofollow - eBay |
Posted By: The.Crimson.King
Date Posted: February 05 2018 at 15:08
^ this. I was never a big Fairport Convention fan and when they brought in Dave Pegg for the Stormwatch tour I was disappointed in both his playing style and stage presence. Then dumping the Barlow/Evan/Palmer trio was a big warning sign as well. I bought the album when it came out anyway because I like Jobson's work with UK/Roxy, but returned it in a couple days. Didn't buy another Tull album or see another tour until Crest of a Knave  ------------- https://wytchcrypt.wixsite.com/mutiny-in-jonestown" rel="nofollow - Mutiny in Jonestown : Progressive Rock Since 1987 |
Posted By: Barbu
Date Posted: February 06 2018 at 11:38
 ------------- |
Posted By: Squonk19
Date Posted: February 06 2018 at 12:36
|
......and the fashion police never sleeps! Might have turned the other way that year though! ------------- “Living in their pools, they soon forget about the sea.” |
Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: February 06 2018 at 22:01
| ^^ Excellent pic !! Never seen that one. I think it was a great one-off line-up that produced a really ‘different’ sounding Tull album, kind of reminds me of the jump from Tormato and Drama, by you-know-who ! |
Posted By: Mortte
Date Posted: February 06 2018 at 22:58
|
Posted By: SteveG
Date Posted: February 07 2018 at 04:03
------------- This message was brought to you by a proud supporter of the Deep State. |
Posted By: SteveG
Date Posted: February 07 2018 at 04:06
------------- This message was brought to you by a proud supporter of the Deep State. |
Posted By: Mortte
Date Posted: February 07 2018 at 04:38
|
Posted By: SteveG
Date Posted: February 07 2018 at 04:54
------------- This message was brought to you by a proud supporter of the Deep State. |
Posted By: Mortte
Date Posted: February 07 2018 at 05:02
| ^Well, to me there is no song I don´t like. Third Hoorah is the weakest, but I think even it´s better than the most of too old to. And I really loved Warchild immediately I heard it first time. |
Posted By: SteveG
Date Posted: February 07 2018 at 05:09
|
I suppose that someone has to like it. ;) But seriously, even PA reviewers seemed to either like it or lump it. Strange. ------------- This message was brought to you by a proud supporter of the Deep State. |
Posted By: Mortte
Date Posted: February 07 2018 at 06:14
| Well, I believe there are many albums in pop/rock music that divides opinions. Also there are many fans of A and those who doesn´t like it at all. With A I am on the middle line, not bad, but not really my favourite. About the reviews I think sometimes somebodies just pick some album for the reason they want to bark something. |
Posted By: dr wu23
Date Posted: February 07 2018 at 10:06
|
I'd also take Warchild over A.....it has that Tull sound to me....whatever that means and I think Skating and Bungle are two of Andersons good songs in that period.
btw....739 ratings gives War a 3.39 and 552 ratings give A a 3.21...just saying. ;) as a matter of fact the only lp with higher ratings other than Stormwatch is Roots many years later....
------------- One does nothing yet nothing is left undone. Haquin |
Posted By: SteveG
Date Posted: February 07 2018 at 10:19
3.39 to 3.21 Doc?  Anyhow, both albums are not on the top of the Tull list of albums to have. I'll take "Too Old To Rock.." over both of them which probably has lower rating than both albums combined!
------------- This message was brought to you by a proud supporter of the Deep State. |
Posted By: SteveG
Date Posted: February 07 2018 at 10:21
------------- This message was brought to you by a proud supporter of the Deep State. |
Posted By: Barbu
Date Posted: February 07 2018 at 10:44
|
^ lol Warchild is a real fun listen, much more than A for me but the material on A is probably stronger, though. Too old for me is definitely the one where the listening enjoyment is at its lowest...some nice tracks but never really warmed-up to it...yeah, probably too nice for Tull.   ------------- |
Posted By: SteveG
Date Posted: February 07 2018 at 11:01
|
^ I only liked "Too Old To Rock And Roll..." before seeing these great pics. From this moment on, "A" will always be my favorite second string Tull album! Music and art go together, and these colors are just too much! I wish I had them as wall posters!
------------- This message was brought to you by a proud supporter of the Deep State. |
Posted By: dr wu23
Date Posted: February 07 2018 at 11:06
|
^^^ heh...every decimal counts when rating an lp.....;) I find it interesting that no one mentions Bungle In The Jungle which to me is classic Tull all the way....could be off a much earlier album and is Ian at his best with witty lyrics as in Skating. ------------- One does nothing yet nothing is left undone. Haquin |
Posted By: Rednight
Date Posted: February 07 2018 at 11:20
------------- "It just has none of the qualities of your work that I find interesting. Abandon [?] it." - Eno |
Posted By: SteveG
Date Posted: February 07 2018 at 11:50
But as the bloke from Finlandia said, to each his own. ------------- This message was brought to you by a proud supporter of the Deep State. |
Posted By: Squonk19
Date Posted: February 07 2018 at 12:50
Stop it, Barbu........I'll have a seizure, if I laugh any more! Ian Anderson looks like David Brent in the UK version of 'The Office' ------------- “Living in their pools, they soon forget about the sea.” |
Posted By: dr prog
Date Posted: February 07 2018 at 12:58
|
Warchild and Too Old could have been good if they weren’t soundtracks. A lot of the outtakes kick ass ------------- All I like is prog related bands beginning late 60's/early 70's. Their music from 1968 - 83 has the composition and sound which will never be beaten. Perfect blend of jazz, classical, folk and rock. |
Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: February 07 2018 at 13:36
|
Craney looks so serious in those pics. About time to dig out the ol’ A record. Jobson’s Violin in The Pine Marten’s Jig is a highlight. I’d love to see some live footage from this line-up. |
Posted By: dr wu23
Date Posted: February 07 2018 at 14:01
|
Here ya go plenty on you tube...a number of videos from that period https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNsZf9PcEr4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fxh-40RdS3w
------------- One does nothing yet nothing is left undone. Haquin |
Posted By: verslibre
Date Posted: February 07 2018 at 14:17
Just his features. He was a really easy-going guy based on everything I've read. ------------- https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_ipg=50&_sop=1&_rdc=1&_ssn=musicosm" rel="nofollow - eBay |
Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: February 07 2018 at 15:30
Just watched Black Sunday. OUT F-UCKING STANDING !! Thanks Wu !! |
Posted By: dr prog
Date Posted: February 07 2018 at 18:41
|
Would be awesome if the remix has some extra material. Trio, Peggy's pub were played live at the time. ------------- All I like is prog related bands beginning late 60's/early 70's. Their music from 1968 - 83 has the composition and sound which will never be beaten. Perfect blend of jazz, classical, folk and rock. |
Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: February 07 2018 at 19:53
|
Just spinning A now. The keyboards toward the end of Flyingdale Flyer remind me of early 80’s Eloy. Forgotten how complex and challenging some of these songs are. Hot damn !! Craney’s drum fills at the end of Uniform. Double kick, china-fest, great outburst right there. |
Posted By: Mortte
Date Posted: February 07 2018 at 22:26
Really great!
|
Posted By: Mortte
Date Posted: February 07 2018 at 22:29
| Why that robot attack me all the time? Some security attacks here? I really "missed" also those silly pictures I have to choose (have been quite a while they`ve not asked them to me). Sometimes those pictures are so unclear, it really hard to say is there a bridge or not. Do they make those in India? |
Posted By: KingCrInuYasha
Date Posted: February 07 2018 at 22:53
|
Good lord, those outfits... At least the record itself is nice. I kind of see it as a transitional period between the apocalyptic visions of Stormwatch and the increasing synth sounds of Broadsword. ------------- He looks at this world and wants it all... so he strikes, like Thunderball! |
Posted By: BarryGlibb
Date Posted: February 08 2018 at 03:42
|
I am really glad that there are numerous posts regarding "A"...might end up one of those sleeper albums in the future i.e. when all of JT are no longer with us....which isn't that far into the future BTW! Someone said it was too jarring of an album. I needed to be jarred in 1980!!!! |
Posted By: SteveG
Date Posted: February 08 2018 at 04:00
|
^ I caught the "A" bug right away, but in retrospect, I think it will come to be appreciated more when contrasted with later albums like "Broadsword", "Underwraps", "Rock Island", and "Catfish Rising". At least I hope so!
------------- This message was brought to you by a proud supporter of the Deep State. |
Posted By: SteveG
Date Posted: February 08 2018 at 04:05
------------- This message was brought to you by a proud supporter of the Deep State. |