I’m sure most rock fans have at least one Jethro Tull album in their collection, and it’s usually Aqualung. This album was released in ’69 and was two albums before Aqualung.
It’s very much a blues based album, and opening track A New Day Yesterday has been covered by a few people – most notably Joe Bonamassa. It’s amazing how the introduction of one instrument (namely the flute in this case) can transform the band’s sound. The vibe automatically takes on a folky tone almost instantly with tracks like Jeffrey Goes To Leicester Square, and Bouree – they could almost be by a different band.
Back To The Family is a more familiar sounding piece that they would expand on more with Aqualung. Fat Man is the most interesting track on the album, with the use of acoustic instruments and an eastern sound mixed with folk rhythms – they are pushing boundaries. There is no other band that sound like Jethro Tull, they have an instantly recognizable sound and makes them unique. This is the 2016 Steven Wilson remix and sounds amazing.
8/10 from The Grooveman.
