JohnK's Tull Favourites

Each of us, the fans of Jethro Tull, who have been following the band for lo these many years have favourites from among the songs recorded by the band, and from among the many albums that the band has recorded. What follows is a list of my top five favourite Tull albums/CDs, and a further list of my favourite ten Tull songs. Naturally, each of these choices is quite subjective on my part, and I invite comments, thoughts, and observations about these choices from Tull fans. You can send me e-mail about the thoughts on this page (and any other of my Tull pages). In some cases, comments and thoughts about the song or album in question are included below.

Favourite Tull Albums/CDs

1. A Passion Play
Probably one of the finest albums ever recorded, A Passion Play is also one of the most maligned albums in the band's history. While not the concept album that Thick As A Brick was, APP is composed of music and ideas that still have powerful resonances in the musical community, and is perhaps the best album that Tull ever recorded. The only thing that mars this album in my opinion is the silly piece about "The Hare Who Lost His Spectacles."

2. Thick As A Brick
One of the earliest of the concept albums in the history of rock 'n roll, Thick As A Brick was an album that sparked some controversy among the critics of the band (although not to the extent of A Passion Play). Lyrically and musically, Thick As A Brick is a masterfully executed bit of music, and has something on it for everyone. While there are no "tracks" on this album per sé, this album has a good deal going for it. But get TAAB on CD so that you don't have to flip the cassette or the vinyl record. And read all the nifty pieces in the St. Cleve Chronicle that accompanies the album.

3. Minstrel in the Gallery
Over the time that Jethro Tull has recorded albums, there hasn't been one that has rivalled the sheer vitality and lyrical nature of MinstrelInTheGallery. Despite the album being produced as almost a "solo project" on the part of the band, Minstrel has a fresh approach that redefined Tull for the mid-70's. From the epic "Baker Street Muse" to "Black Satin Dancer" and "One White Duck/0¹⁰ = Nothing at All," this album has a quality of its own that will stand for a long, long time.

4. Stand Up
Only the second album that Tull recorded, Stand Up is an album that features the early Tull making its way from its blues roots to a progressive rock mode. Ian Anderson's songwriting and lyrical abilities came to the fore with this album, and produced some good material. While the Tull sound may only still be in the rough back then, as this was Martin Barre's first album as guitarist with the band, the songs such as "Back to the Family," "Fat Man," "We Used to Know," and "Reasons for Waiting" make this a terrific album. Stand Up is a transitional album that gives a good idea of the greatness that is to come.

5. The Secret Language of Birds
Not really a Jethro Tull album, of course, The Secret Language of Birds is the album that fans were hoping Ian Anderson would record for fifteen long years. This album has a bit of everything on it, although in all fairness, it can be said that the album's music and themes are perhaps an indication of Ian Anderson's current interests and hobbies influencing the music somewhat. From the lovely "The Little Flower Girl" to "Sanctuary" (my favourite track on the album), from "The Habanero Reel" to "Boris Dancing," SLOB (as it is affectionately known) has some terrific acoustic music and lyrics on it, and makes this album a definite "must-have" in any Tull fan's collection.

Favourite Tull Songs

1. A Passion Play
Not really a single song, this track comes from the album of the same name. Over the years, this album/song has remained my favourite piece of Tull music, simply because I find something new, something fresh to ponder, every time I give this one a listen. Musically, the song is one of the most complex pieces that Tull has ever written, rivalled only by Thick As A Brick, and provides a bit of something for everyone. APP is not a piece to be listened to merely once, it is track that should be heard more than once, with new nuances and shadings come out of it every time one listens to it.

2. Moths
One of the tracks off the somewhat popular Heavy Horses album. A gentle, lilting, yet somehow energetic and highly romantic song, "Moths" is a true testament to Ian Anderson's ability to write songs that hit one with the force of a ton of bricks.

3. Beggar's Farm
A terrific song off of the This Was album. I don't really know what the appeal of this song has been to me over the years, but my mind always comes back to this one, and the melody makes its way through my head at times. One of my favourite "stand alone" tracks by the band, from the earliest days of Tull.

4. Living in the Past
To me, one of the best songs of the very early Tull, taken off the Living in the Past album. The song is one that stands out to my mind, has a nice, simple beat to it, and is one of the Tull songs whose meaning and message is very clear. I can't say I was overly fond of the later version of this song that the band has performed live, but the studio version of this track is possibly my most fondly recalled one of all.

5. Baker Street Muse
The epic, absolutely wonderful piece of music, taken off the Minstrel in the Gallery album. Evocative of the band's heydays when they had recorded the brilliant Thick As A Brick, "Baker Street Muse" is almost a lyrical poem divided up into several parts with a different meter and rhyme.

6. Wicked Windows
One of the tracks taken off the latest Jethro Tull album, j-tull Dot Com, "Wicked Windows" doesn't have any complicated messages associated with it, being based on a pair of sunglasses that Ian Anderson had purchased and some inspiration from Charles Dickens. The melody is nice and somewhat catchy, and the song lyrics aren't opaque and yet still have a somewhat mystical quality to them. Tull for the 90's and the new millenium, to be sure.

7. Reasons for Waiting
Another one of those songs like "Beggar's Farm," this one is taken off the Stand Up album. "Reasons for Waiting" again has one of those melodies that just seems to catch up with me from time to time. Evokes fond memories of good loving, I guess.

8. Black Satin Dancer
A terrific song off the Minstrel in the Gallery album. While not exactly a song about romance per sé, "Black Satin Dancer" is distinguished by the gentleness that Ian Anderson is known to give to his love songs, coupled with some searing riffs on the guitar by Martin Barre. The lyrics are pretty good, too.

9. Beside Myself
This one is a track taken off the Roots to Branches album. It's a track that I took a liking to the first time I heard it, and have to admit that it struck both sad and glad notes in me. While there are two or three other tracks on the album that are lovely as well, this one is the best, in my highly subjective opinion. Every time I hear this song, I can find a small nuance or something that I didn't see (hear?) the last time around.

10. Rainbow Blues
This track is taken off the M.U. - The Best of Jethro Tull album, although it was recorded during the Too Old to Rock 'n' Roll: Too Young to Die! sessions and later included on the first single based on that album. The song has some superb guitar work by Martin Barre, isn't all that flute intensive, and has a good melody and words that don't really beat around the bush. Good song to listen too, even if it can't be found all that easily, other than on M.U..