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AQUALUNG

Jethro Tull

Prog Folk


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Jethro Tull Aqualung album cover
4.42 | 33 ratings | 1 reviews | 76% 5 stars

Essential: a masterpiece of
progressive rock music

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Singles/EPs/Fan Club/Promo, released in 1971

Songs / Tracks Listing

A. Aqualung
B. Hymn 43

Line-up / Musicians

- Ian Anderson / vocals, flute, acoustic guitar, electric guitar
- Martin Barre / electric guitar, descant recorder
- Clive Bunker / drums, percussion
- John Evan / piano, organ, mellotron
- Jeffrey Hammond-Hammond / bass, alto recorder, backing vocals


Releases information

Vinyl 7" Island Records ‎6014 048 Italy

Thanks to Per Köhler for the addition
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JETHRO TULL Aqualung ratings distribution


4.42
(33 ratings)
Essential: a masterpiece of progressive rock music(76%)
76%
Excellent addition to any prog rock music collection(18%)
18%
Good, but non-essential (3%)
3%
Collectors/fans only (3%)
3%
Poor. Only for completionists (0%)
0%

JETHRO TULL Aqualung reviews


Showing all collaborators reviews and last reviews preview | Show all reviews/ratings

Collaborators/Experts Reviews

Review by Matti
PROG REVIEWER
4 stars Aqualung, the breakthrough album of JETHRO TULL, hardly needs introduction; right now its ranking number in PA's "Top Prog Albums" is 30. I'm just going o to kill some time writing the first (!) review for this single. Knowing that the two songs taken from that album actually need no introduction either.

'Aqualung' is among my Top 5 of Tull songs, as it undoubtedly is for the majority of us. It wouldn't be if it didn't have that slower, emotional B-part (featuring vocal distortion) that comes in turns with the hard- rocking, riff-centred A-part. Together they form an extremely affective, perfect rock song. The lyrics are credited to Ian Anderson's wife Jennie. Maybe Ian is the real writer but at least Jennie's photography of misfortunate people on the street gave inspiration to this and several other songs on the album.

One interesting anecdote about this song deals with the word Aqualung itself: Anderson didn't know it was a registered trademark, not a general word for a diving equipment. You know, the sonic association of the tramp's noisy breath from his diseased lungs...

On the flipside there's 'Hymn 43', one of the album's religion-themed songs, beginning with the lines "Oh father high in heaven / Smile down upon your son / He was busy with his money games / His women and his gun / Oh Jesus save me!". Musically I don't find it very interesting. It's similarily based on a cocky guitar riff as 'Locomotive Breath' (which I also find a bit boring). John Evan's piano is nicely heard in it too.

If there had been a non-abum track of good or even decent level, this would definitely be a five-star release. Even the cover art is the same as on the album.

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