Jethro Tull


Ian Anderson has been making music for over a quarter of a century. The band he went into the studio with was Jethro Tull but the personal was either different from album to album or something on a personal level was going on with bandmates from album to album that he had to take over their playing duties. Name your top 5 Jetro Tull albums.
1)Aqualung
2)Crest of a Knave
3)Benifit
4)Songs from the Woods
5)Stormwatch
I have been buying the 24 bit remasters which sound great but also the updated liner notes by Ian tell you what "Trauma" the band was going through with each recording.
qdrone

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My good mate Dave Pegg (Fairport Convention) played bass/mandolin on the Crest of a Knave as well as on all live/studio recordings from 1979 until 1996. Jethro Tull is definitely Ian's baby although it was interesting to view glimpses of the band at work in the studio on their 25th anniversary DVD. That video suggests that the recording process is much more of a democratic function. Reminds me that I will have to ask Peggy about that! I absolutely love The Jetho Tull Christmas Album which I consider an extention of Songs from the Wood. I also love A Little Light Music which I fell is the best live performance of the band (1991). Songs from the Wood is excellent and after these three it seems sort of hit and miss. Yes, Thick as a Brick and Passion Play were groudbreaking concept recordings to a certain extent, but seem very self indulgent and tired (thematically/musically)30 years later. I also enjoy Ian's recent solo recordings (Secret Language of Birds and Rupi's Dace, especially the latter).
Peter, I love the sound of the Jethro Tull Christmas Album insofar as studio recordings issued on CD. A Little Light Music is also my favorite live recording on CD although I am a little biased due to the excellent playing of Dave Pegg. Dave also appears on several tracks of the Christmas Album.