THIS WAS

JETHRO TULL's debut was not really helpful to flair the band's style in years to come. Album is witnessing the fact that Ian Anderson didn't took the control in the band, he was sharing it with guitarist Mick Abrahams. Abrahams' fascination with blues is obvious.

Everything would be alright if this was only one more blues-oriented proto-prog album, but the problem lays in the fact that this album is reminding a listener of "Fresh Cream" (CREAM's debut), that we can use the term "plagiarism" without hesitation. Indeed, every tune from "This Was" is got it's competitor on "Fresh Cream" - "Someday The Sun Won't Shine For You" is leaning on "Rollin' & Tumblin'", "Move On Alone" is comparable with blues easy listening ballads like "Wrapping Paper" or "Four Until Late". "It's Breaking Me Up" is the shameless copy of "Sleepy Time Time".

Drum solo "Toad" is reincarnated in "Dharma For One", and this is the only case where copying effort is better than it's exemplar.

The only track that is standing out of the crowd is "A Song For Jeffrey", the only one that survived the test of time.

Needless to say, blues standard "Cat's Cradle" is almost a carbon-copy of the CREAM's interpretation, lost in Abrahams' unnecessary guitar bravurosities to whom the only remaining value is the historical one.

Do not give this album a try unless you are a blues fan, blues-based-proto-prog fan (ugh!) or Jethro Tull fan. Actually, this album contains of one component above the mere completionists' value: it's an introduction to Tull's roots and it's showing the evolution line of the band's creativity, meriting half a star on that account.

But to be very honest with you, I'd rather like the JOHN EVAN BAND's material seeing the light of the day. This one should be left for the fans of the BLODWYN PIG, COLOSSEUM, John Mayall and the like.