First listen to Jethro Tull - Thick as a Brick part 1 & 2 (REACTION)
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- Опубліковано 8 сер 2020
- Entire album review, reaction, and dissection. This may be my new favorite progressive piece.
Original Videos
Part 1: • Thick as a Brick (Part...
Part 2: • Thick as a Brick (Part...
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Am I going to commit myself to listening to this entire record right now? Yes, I think I am.
This album came out when I was 21 yrs. Old, I'm 69 now, I had this on an 8 track tape in my car playing constantly, such a great work of genius, perfect cruising music, probably one of my all time favorite albums, never gets old,probably listened to it a hundred times easily !
You took the words out of my mouth I’m 69 too ..peace Philip.
That was a great review and reaction. There was no doubt that you were completely engrossed in the music (as well as having fun working through the lyrics). I see more Jethro Tull in your future. Once the Pied Piper (Ian) gets into your head, it's hard to say no. So many great tunes await you. Enjoy!
"Thick as a Brick" was split into two parts simply due to the LP format having two sides (original release date, March 1972). Had it been released in the days of CDs, it would've run straight through, just as it did when CDs surfaced and "TaaB" was available in that format.
Released attendant to the "street" issue of "TaaB" in '72, Warner Bros./Reprise Records provided a banded promotional version of the album to radio programmers (an understandable abomination to Tull/"Thick" purists!). This split the work into about 10 radio-friendly lengths for easier digestion for, yes, FM, but also for adventurous AM stations eager to see if they could find a hit therein!
It's hard to believe here in 2021, that this fantastic album was Billboard #1 in 1972.
@@finylvinyl66 True dat! Don't underestimate the importance of that banding of the album for radio. Say what you will about "artistic integrity" (and that's worth preserving and fighting for), but without that helpful, user-friendly aid and encouragement for (even) FM radio to help them dive into the album (and have listeners help determine fave parts), I don't think the "Brick" elevates to anywhere NEAR that lofty perch!
Hats off to the Warner Bros. promo/A&R depts. They really had their Mo (Ostin) Joe (Smith) workin'!
I was about to say this, but decided to search for the comments first. :D
I couldn't be happier than to see you listening to this today. You could listen to this a hundred times and still get pleasure from it, at least I have. You've really been expanding your listening horizons and that's great. So many young people don't know what they're missing. And the great Martin Barre adds so much to Tull's music. I always felt he should have gotten song writing credit.
Forget the songwriting credit - I'd be happy to see Martin Barre get ANY kind of credit - he's perhaps the most tragically underappreciated guitarist ever to strap on a Les Paul and stride onto a stage.
@@thatoneguyagain2252 Don't worry fellas, us in the know how great he is, and did squeak a couple of song writing credits along the way, Minstrel in the Gallery and a couple on Under Wraps.
And I thought John Evan didn't get as much credit as he should. He was such a gifted pianist, and had a goofy kind of humor that fit in so appropriately with Tull's carnival atmosphere.
Another Tull album that is one song like "Thick as a Brick" is "Passion Play." A VERY under rated album.
I like this better
You're right, Pat! Super underrated!
It's a rated album.
Wow! The whole album. Look at you, really listening. I love it! You are well on your way to a great musical journey! Happy Listening!
I'm about 36 minutes into this vid, and I'm convinced this young man is at least 400 years old.
Nah, 359 years young last friday...
@@DiconDissectionalReactions Ah...so... you're younger beyond your years. lol Nice work, man. Keep it going.
I love your analysis of the lyrics!
Welcome to the life-long obsession that is Tull.
In the early 70s my friend Paul and I knew every word of this song and used to dance to it in our garage. We adored the weird cleverness of it.
Since this video is from 5 months back, you might not see this message. But in hopes you do, I am moved to say thank you for sharing your reactions to the music of my very favorite band. I was turned onto Jethro Tull by a college room mate back in 1973 and immediately knew I was listening to something very special. My room mate had the TAAB, Aqualung and Benefit albums ( LPs ). I was so turned on by those albums, I went onto purchase them for myself and then purchased This Was and Stand Up. Then purchased each of the upcoming albums and was fortunate enough to see them in concert during their War Child tour and saw then again just 2 years ago in The Netherlands. Anyway, your videos / comments are wonderful and the comments from other great Tull fans are icing on the cake. I have viewed many Tull videos on UA-cam and have always enjoyed reading the viewers comments, but must say you are eliciting more viewer commentary than I have ever seen and that is great for me and a sincere complement to you. I look forward to your continued videos on Tull. I am gaining even more appreciation of Tull with your videos. As you continue your Tull journey I think Passion Play will be one of many special treats along the way. It will for me and many others. Thanks again.
I was fascinated by your analysis and think it is very valid (whether or not Ian Anderson would interpret it the same way). There are certainly other Tull albums worth listening to - Minstrel in the Gallery is another conceptual piece. But my favorite is Songs From the Wood which is a very medieval-sounding collection of more folk-y tunes. A final note, Barriemore Barlow is the drummer and he is oustanding.
"Thick As A Brick" is my favorite album of all-time. Always cool to see people experiencing it for the first time! Another one of my top 10 all-time favorite albums is "Tubular Bells" by Mike Oldfield. I think you'd really enjoy it!
There is nothing like the last ten minutes of Tubular Bells.
Wow, are you my son? Two of my favourite albums. Also love "War of the Worlds", and "Journey to the Center of the Earth", all "concept albums with a variety of music. Any one of them I would want if stranded on a desert island.
Congratulations on diving into this one. Don't beat yourself up on the meaning of the lyrics. It was sort of a satirical follow-up to the Aqualung album. There are a few lines that may have some deeper meaning, but overall, it's just fun.
I should add, the original album cover (I assume the CD booklet would be similar) is part of the concept. A fantasy newspaper covering the epic poem written by a schoolboy for a competition.
Gerald Bostock. In a St.Cleve Chronicle article/feature.
Keep in mind this entire album is to show to the unknowing press, that, this album is in reality, a true "concept"; progressive rock album as opposed to a standard , predominantly thematic subject matter, however, the songs are not related to each other beyond the similar named titles or subject matter; where in this, the entire musical concept has been carried through as one song.
Don't beat yourself up on it.
For live performances, the band has decided to incorporate their favorite to play portions that will create a "version" they can play but not forget it.
Each verse appears to be not only poetry, but little bits of wisdom, idiocies, constractations, similes and dissimilies, ironicies, kitchen prose & gutteral rhymes, etc... you will hurt your brain attempting to apply ANY manner of logic to them.
If you're really needing a great jam, check out the BURSTING OUT live album there is an awesomely well played very tight, consolidated version including Ian's very thorough flute solo/improvisation within the Thick as a Brick song. I most love the interplay between Ian's flute and Martin's guitar.
You should do the follow-up to this album, A Passion Play. Similar structure as Thick As A Brick with the 40 minute single song broken up into sections, but it's a gloomier and heavier record. More saxophone, synthesizers, and heavy guitar, less organ, flute and acoustic guitar. And a weirder concept. Thick As A Brick was written as a parody of a concept album, but A Passion Play was a dead-serious concept album.
TAAB is about life and earthly endeavors and circumstance but Passion Play is about a young man dying and not finding his place in either Heaven or Hell and wanting the life of a simple man and chooses reincarnation--- Hence the heart beat dying in the beginning of the Passion Play and then at the end the heart starts back up to begin the Passion Play again ---- Im being simplistic of course but Ian adds all the flourishes you would ever need for such a story --- Oh and dont forget the comic relief in the middle The Hare Who Lost His Spectacles ---- which I love --- everyone fussing and getting all up in his business and making things dramatic for absolutely nothing lol
@@kathleensmith3555 No disrespect but why the spoiler??? For Daniel, I mean. And who doesn"t love The Hare...???
@@handebarlas6248 I guess it was to peak his interest --- NOBODY does PP-- and its a shame---Daniel will find much more to love about PP --- sure hopes he gives it a try-- Oh yes I love The Hare but I was always alone with my pleasure for Tulls little tale--No one I know ever shared my enthusiasm -- Did get my hubby to go with me to see them a couple of years ago tho
@@kathleensmith3555 Thanks for your reply, Kathleen. I sure hope to hear Daniel on PP too. I think we all love to see Daniel's fresh reaction and surprise, enthusiasm, genuine interest in the songs he is reacting to. And that is a part of the charm, isn't it?_ Not knowing anthything at all about the song, just like how it was to us when we heard them for the first time all those years ago. Sorry to hear that you were alone about your feelings regarding to The Hare. Funnily enough, everybody I know who loves PP happen to love the story too. Well, we all have our differences. Best regards.
Oh yes, please do! My favourite album of all time-a truly avant- garde masterpiece! Mind blowing!
"Saying: "How's your Granny?" and good old Ernie
He coughed up a tenner on a premium bond win."
This refers to: ERNIE or Electronic Random Number Indicator Equipment, is part of a lottery-based bond system that exists in the UK. These bonds are purchased, accrue interest, and have a random chance to grant the buyer a cash prize of varying size.
Been listening to this since it’s release and never understood ERNIE so thanks!
Hi Yog. Shub Niggurath and Nyarlathotep have asked me to get you to give them a call. Regards from your old friend Cthulhu.
I always thought it was about a single instance of flatulence! I thought it was "wind", not "win".
As a musician yourself, you would probably love the album "songs from the wood" by Jethro tull. It's superb. Every single track is fire. There are some crazy time signatures and great transitions and it just has this vibe which will make you want to strip away all of the nonsense of modern life and appreciate nature.
Jonathan Bell My favorite Tull of so many tha I love. Hunting Girl may be the best they ever did!
@@joelliebler5690 in my opinion "velvet green" is the best. They take a very crass subject and turn it in to something poetic and romantic. Pure genius.
Songs from the wood is so uplifting ..whenever I need to get back into my life with mojo..this song does it ..I never get tired of it ..(50yeats)so classic.!_
Thanks Daniel.
I really enjoyed your analysis of Thick As A Brick 1 & 2.
I particularly liked to see your reaction as you were listening to the album, with all its musical twists and turns, changes on tempo and everything else that goes into a Tull song.
We early Tull fans have almost 50 years of listening to TAAB, which is quite a staggering thought.
Who would have imagined that it would be exciting new music lovers in the way it did for us, all those years ago. This is especially true when one considers how much music has been created in the intervening period and is so much more accessible today.
And yet, Jethro Tull and Ian Anderson remain so distinctive and unique.
I won't be here to see it, but I like to imagine that in another 50 year's time, a younger musician like yourself will discover Tull /Anderson and be similarly enthusiastic.
As you will discover, if you haven't already done so, the variety of genres, coupled with the ever-changing time signatures and the musicianship of all the players who"ve worn the Tull jersey, reveal even more delights to the initiated.
You will stumble over a few quaintly English references, but then that makes it better, right?
Best wishes.
Bravo for taking on the whole of THAB. I saw them do this twice on the original tour and they played it note for note, with a few frills and add ins, front to back. Absolutely amazing shows. The trunkated live versions are a travisty to this song.
The "incredible" drummer is Barrie "Barriemore" Barlow. One of the least talked about and most underrated drummers of all time, in my opinion. John Bonham called Barrie "the greatest rock drummer England ever produced." As a drummer myself, I would agree. You need to listen to his live performances with Tull and his drum solos are just phenomenal!! A technical foray of wonderful embellishment and flamboyance! It's one thing to pull of technical parts in the studio, but it's a whole other level when you pull that off live!
The late great Louis Bellson saw one of their live shows and afterwards told Barrie that he's got really fast feet!! That's saying something coming from the one who really brought the double bass drum to drumming. Barrie was really one of the forerunners to double bass drumming into rock and really make it an art form in rock drumming.
Yes! And his various percussion added so much to the sonic picture. His small xylophone is a delight and so unusual and unexpected. Barry played drums in a way that gave his instrument a real voice, not just a metronomic rhythm.
I love Terry Bozio too
Not to take away from Clive
Also as a Brit and a drummer I will also add that Tull lost it's "bounce" when Barry Barlow left. I hate IA for how he treated the best members of the line-ups in the past!
Keep in mind when listening to these fabulous English artist that they were all born during the German bombings of London and many other cities during WWII. They grew up in the aftermath of those horrors. It shaped their attitudes and outlook on life and it showed in their music.
We had bomb sites as playgrounds.
War Child is a good insight into this aspect of JT's music.
I was born in 1954 and we still had bomb site craters to play in in my bohood days too. We baby boomers were forged in rationing of food and a sort of black kind of humour but nevertheless happy times where we had very little in material goods, no fridge ( we had a larder) and our world was full of comic books where we projected our boyhood fantasies on soldiers, adventure, war stories and sport stars of the day.
@@johnlamb6434 When you said Larder reminded me of how we kept milk cool with terracotta pot soaked in water.
@@lynette. Exactly like that yes. I delivered milk as a boy aged 12 hanging off the back of an electrically driven milk float. No pocket money in those days as we had to earn it.
More info: "Biggles" was a British kids novel hero popular in the early/mid 20th century.
sort of like 'The Hardy Boys', etc.
Thank you, I had always assumed he was a celebrity athlete.
Kudos for doing this.
Love it! Was entertained the WHOLE way through. An hour and a half well spend! As I've said before I listen at work.....so imo long is not bad....on a side note love when bands tell me a story with their music and this song here has got to be one of the best examples of that. This song is epic! Thanks for investing your time in this piece!
"like a family fighting" Yes, this is the age old story of son growing up and having to deal with father, light vs dark, doer and thinker, poet and soldier. All time favorite music. Thanks! brings me back to 1971 to see you.
If you liked the drums, their next album, A Passion Play (also one song splited in two) is where the finest drumming work of mr. Barlow took place. Minstrel in the Gallery (their 1975 album) is another gem in this regard, by the way.
You are totally correct Mr Augusta! 😊
Cut in two because a vinyl record has two sides. Had they made it into a double album, it would have had four sides.
Btw, the entire “Thick As A Brick” album was conceived as a parody of “concept albums” which were very much in vogue around the time that the Tull album came out. For a good comment on “Brick” I can’t recommend more strongly that you listen to Tull’s “A Passion Play.”
(As you attempt to dig meaning out of this particular Tull album, do keep in mind that the album IS a parody and that extends to the lyrics so, don’t take anything that you hear too seriously. Ian could just be messing with your head. 😊)
As the fellow Finn suggests, A Passion Play is a must after this. Its not as coherent, but absolutely lovely whimsical album.
Exactly. Well said.
@@RedPillMode It's the longest song about a man's soul's journey through the afterlife, with a moralistic story regarding the virtue of minding one's own business thrown in the middle.
As said in other comments that the Biggles character was a WW1 biplane fighter pilot who always ‘saved the day’ in typical children’s literature hero fashion. Cornwall is the pointy bit in the bottom left hand corner of the UK and is known for being laid back and a favourite retreat for holidays and retirement. All craggy coasts fishing villages and lobster pots. Kind of like Maine or Nova Scotia
Great analisys overall. Thick is a Brick is one of their best works for sure but they made a ton of great music. From the mainstream Aqualung, passing through the early Stand Up, the dark A Passion Play and Minstrel in the Gallery, the folk rock Songs From the Wood, Heavy Horses and Stormwatch and even more! You have quite a journey in front of you.
Love the album Stormwatch, calms me down and is one of the only ones that can get me ready to sleep with outstanding music. One other album that can do the same is The James Gang-Bang. I am not one to sleep easily either!
I saw Tull in March 1972 a few days after the release of thick as a brick . The majority of the concert consisted of them playing the new album . The audience obviously expecting aqualung etc was bemused , the concert started late and ran long , there were catcalls about people needing to catch buses home , so Anderson finished the song with that falling cadence " you're all as thick as a f***ing brick , now catch you're buses " and then of course the band broke into a medley of songs including locomotive breath etc . I for one didn't leave and immediately bought the new album which I still have to this day .
You'll have probably gathered by now that this band had a terrific sense of humour which is certainly present in the lyrics, but accompanied by extraordinarily good music and top of the league musicianship.
The live performance you reacted to was a show, a shortened theatrical presentation of what this song is, and I'm glad that was enough to get you interested in hearing and dissecting this, the longer original album version. Your reaction to this is great. Thanks.
I'm spending my afternoon enjoying this with you and am extremely moved by the drum performance by Barriemore Barlow. No less a luminary than the late John Bonham of Led Zeppelin famously called him "the greatest rock drummer England ever produced." Fitting high praise indeed. That section shortly into the beginning of part two still makes my head spin. Timeless! P.S. Great insights along the way about hypocrisy. The sons are all growing into the fathers they hated. Society is an endless sausage factory? Shiver!
Side 2 is a gem too.
Another great prog epic, Tull was my second concert (first was Free) back in 1972, and they played the whole of this brilliant record. They did the same with the follow up, A Passion Play, which I saw them perform two years later. Superb musicians, all, and a great showman in Ian Anderson. You are now in the rabbit hole, young man...
Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath was in this Band for like 2 weeks, then went back to Sabbath, he said that while he did not care much for the type of music Tull played he did learn a lot about what it means to be in a Band in his short time as a member, he also learned what Practice was ALL about
You are wiser and mature beyond your years. Yours is one of the better reactions I’ve seen to this incredible work of art. You were stumped by the reference to “Biggles”! Let me try to help out. Biggles is a character from a series of adventure novels from back in the 60s. He is one of the “heroes” alluded to in the lyrics. Biggles, Battler Britain, cricketers and footballers (sports heroes); stuff you would expect to feature prominently in a poem written by an 8 year old in 60s England. Cornwall is a coastal area in the southwest of England. So much of the lyrics are evocative of England in the 60s. Which is not surprising because Jethro Tull is an English band from the 60s. BTW, you should check out Thick as a brick 2, or TAAB 2 as it’s known. It’s Ian Anderson visualizing how Gerald Bostock might have turned out, 50 years later!
NIhal M
Just one thing: Biggles is the hero of a series of adventure novels written in the 1930s by W E Johns, not 60s at all. And as such is a much more likely candidate to be a childhood memory of one Ian Anderson rather than of his fictional creation Gerald. But I agree that Anderson's lyrics are steeped in British cultural references which are perplexing to a young US listener, and in fairness, such references are now becoming lost to younger generations of Brits, too.
YOU WENT ALLLLLLLL OUT ON THIS DANIEL, THAT'S FOR SURE! LOL :) 45 MINS. OF INSANITY AND 45 MINS. OF BREAKDOWN, BAMMMMMMMM 90 MINUTES! IAN'S OTHERRR CONCEPT ALBUM FOLLOWED THIS AND IT'S CALLED ( A PASSION PLAY ) UHHHHH, GR888 JOB :)
Hey, new to your channel. It is great to see someone young listen to music that defined my youth. From what I have heard from interviews from Ian Anderson and former band mates is that this album was kind a spoof on a concept album. Critics said that the album Aqualung was a concept album so Ian basically said you want a concept album well I'll give you a concept album. That was paraphrased of course. It was also the only time that his band mates said that Ian Anderson had an idea came in the studio and it was done from the beginning to end. To me the album is kind a spoof on the British social system that a man has to act a certain way and Jethro Tull is saying oh no he doesn't. Just my take. Hope you enjoyed the song and my two cents worth.
Split into its 8 parts:
1. "Really Don't Mind" / "See There a Son Is Born" - 5:00
2. "The Poet and the Painter" - 5:29
3. "What Do You Do When the Old Man's Gone?" / "From the Upper Class" - 5:25
4. "You Curl Your Toes in Fun" / "Childhood Heroes" / "Stabs Instrumental" - 6:48
5. "See There a Man Is Born" / "Clear White Circles" - 5:58
6 "Legends and Believe in the Day" - 6:34
7. "Tales of Your Life" - 5:24
8. "Childhood Heroes Reprise" - 2:56
These eight parts only exist to fit the modern download model of music distribution. (Where you get the songs on an album al la carte so they can glean more profit than selling by the album.)
@@CorwinAlexander yep!
I know this is long, but I really appreciated it. His analysis is "not bad" for a first time listen. This is in my top 3 songs of all-time (yes, it's a "single" song) & the LP which is simply comprised of this 1 song and is tied for my favorite LP of 1972 (the other LP is "Close to the Edge" by Yes...of which, the title track took up the whole first side). Both LP's are almost definitely in my top 5 all-time for any year.
They had already written this as a bunch of different songs when they decided to mock the critics by making the ultimate concept album. They created connecting segments to link all the songs together into one piece. Then they came up with a back story of a young school boy, nicknamed "Little Milton", who wrote an epic poem for a class. The poem was considered profane and subversive which got Little Milton into a lot of public trouble. They made the album cover into a mock newspaper, "The St Cleves Times," with a page one story about Little Milton. The album opened and folded down into a broadsheet newspaper of about 12 pages.
The newspaper has several stories throughout, crossword puzzle and even a fictions critics review of the new album by Jethro Tull, called Thick as a Brick. If I recall, the review pans the album as being overly ambitious and pretentious.
They really had a lot of fun with this project!
did you ever try to do the cross word
The first time I saw Jethro Tull live was March 1972 and they played the whole TAAB album plus a best of set. The best £1.20 I've ever spent.
How absolutely wonderful! I didn’t see them until August 1974 in New Zealand-early Warchild tour-absolutely incredible! ❤️❤️❤️
Your analysis is spot on lyrically. I've been listening to this for literally years, but never stopped to closely see how dark these lyrics really are. The moral malaise indeed.
It's currently my second favorite song, I've listened to the album quite a few times after this reaction was uploaded and it's an incredible piece of art. Thanks for watching my friend, we are now going through Aqualung song by song in order:)
@@DiconDissectionalReactions Wow - response in ten minutes! thank you. Will be here with you thru Aqualung. New Subscriber. Songs from the Wood is my favorite.
@@edwardthorne9875 I plan to do as many of the albums as possible, Jethro Tull (along with Rush) have become some of my favorite music groups, and I would never have heard their stuff if it hadn't been for those like you who got me into it:)
I read every comment, and appreciate engagement, so thank you for commenting! We are nearly finished with Aqualung (side a) and moving into the Religious territory of side b.
Moral melee
Very good analysis for a first listen. Glad you enjoyed it as much as we Tull fans do. FYI - the line “Where the hell was Biggles…” refers to a boys’ comic book hero in the UK, so it’s building on the comic paper-comic book-Superman-Robin theme.
Biggles = a fictional Air Ace of WW1 who becomes an international detective then an Ace again for WW2 Heroic books for boys to create Empire Loyalists, akin to Tin Tin.
Got to love the flutes at 44:03 !
It’s astonishing that this entire album was composed and rehearsed by Anderson and the band in just 10 days, and recorded and mixed in just another 10. All this by a bunch of guys in their mid 20s with no formal musical training. Mind blowing!
Kind of hard to put into words how amazing this work of art is. That they could re-create it live really speaks of the genius of this band as a whole.
Funny that you comment to this, I'm listening to TaaB right now as I type:) Where the hell was Biggles...
Dicon Dissectional Reactions wanna go deep with Tull? Check out Baker Street Muse off the album Minstrel In The Gallery.
@@rubicon-oh9km We did Aqualung song by song, and then moved to the start. We are doing This Was full album, but it got blocked on youtube so it went on Patreon.
Hello ..great moments of the.past with jethro tull...Indeed .! Kiss from France..!
Great job analyzing this - I gave up trying to make of this when the album came out years ago in my youth - love hearing it again with your comments - thank you!
The Allmans Brothers live at the Filmore East will blow your mind
Daniel, your reactions are outstanding!! Really enjoy your prog rock reactions, also the jazz/ rock/ fusion stylings of Steely Dan. Keep up the great work!!
You nailed it. Mocking their 'Thick as a Brick' critics for labeling 'Aqualung' a concept album. As you're finding out, Tull has a large and amazing body of work. No weak link in Tull, they're all talented musicians and brought it every night. Wait until you get to "My God".
The original vinyl album (I still have mine) came with a “newspaper “ insert. The newspaper was filled with silly stories with the sort of British humor Monty Python brought to America. There were two parts only because you had to flip a vinyl album over to listen to the other side.
This is one of my “goto” albums for long drives.
I really enjoy your considered and thoughtful analysis, good work sir, you have a subscriber in me!
this is one of tull's best albums. You put on your headphones, lay back and listen to it all the way through. So many tempo and style changes. It's a master piece. I have been listening to this great music my entire life. Bands like JETHRO TULL & PINK FLOYD only come around once in a life time. I consider myself lucky to have discovered this music when i was young.
Well done young man.
Fantastic! Loved your reactions and comments, it took me back to 72 when I bought this album and saw them live playing it, so thank you young man, you are brilliant!
Yes you're right. Back in the day (before CDs) one side of an album could only hold around 20 minutes or so. Since the song is over 40 minutes long, it had to be split into 2 parts, though it is really one song.
Actually if you compress the music you can get an hour onto a record, remember the K-tell records of the 70's ? and I had a few classical records that were over an hour but the sound quality suffers.
@@hifijohn Exactly. If you wanted decent sound quality, the limit was just around 43, maybe 45 minutes.
I have always loved how the end of side one leads into the beginning of side two-a brilliant transition so that you know it’s all one continuous composition. From a girl (64 years young, lol!) who well remembers having to turn the record over! 😄
Thought I'd add to what I already added: Even though I'm a crossword guy, I was never tempted to deface the puzzle (as I have seen others do over the decades) contained within the inside pages of the newspaper.
Great assessment. Listening to Tull since the albums first came out. Seen them live over 3 times. Wasn't sure where you were going to go on this. So nice to see that detailed interpretation, both musically and lyrically is not dead. Great job.
Biggles was a UK comic book character of around the time of Ian Anderson's youth, sort of like Beano that they also had over there. Huge news there, did not register in the USA. As you become more familiar with Tull music you will understand the need to become familiar with various terms that the Brits use that are near totally foreign to us. Doubtless you are aware that it can be very much like two different languages. In any case getting a real kick out of seeing a young guy not so much older than I was, re 15, when I first heard this album in 72 and saw the tour in May and November in Chicago which I would not have room to begin to explain here. The show literally began with their stage crew and was filled with all sorts of humor and tricks and absolute precision. I remember the last two acts of their stagehands were one of the crew polishing or dusting Barrie's cymbals for the coming assault and then the final act of bringing out the talisman that is Ian Anderson's flute, and that mere act got the first of a few standing ovations that night. I do mean that crowd was amped, Tull were huge, just about as big as anybody at that moment in time. All these years later I have seen Tull or in more recent years the Ian Anderson band something on the order of 75 times I am guessing. Yes. Something of a committed fan. Oh and Hipgrave was apparently some guy they knew in school if I remember right. And alot of those bits at the beginning of side 2 are spoken by the bass player Jeffrey Hammond who was sort of Ian's alter ego and school buddy. His name in Tull was Jeffrey Hammond Hammond, a wordplay of Ian Anderson's based in fact as Jeffrey's Mother's maiden name had also been Hammond.
The Biggles books by Captain W E Johns were books written for children by a World War 1 fighter pilot Biggles and his pals Algie and Ginger started out as pilots but in later books moved on to just be international adventurers and aviators fighting dastardly foes who often happened to be the same Germans they had fought during the war. I loved these books when I was a kid. What was I thinking?
I think Jeffrey is quoting lines from the St Cleve Chronicle newspaper, all very silly.
Ok, meaning of the song...
Overall, I would describe it as a satire of the human struggle for power and place. The rising and falling tides of wealth, strength, influence, war and peace, etc., are all portrayed in the story of the metaphorical family in the song. But from the perspective of the "fool," who is "thick as a brick," it's all a pointless comedy. People building sand castles, fighting over them, and watching them wash away, just to build more. I think that's the point of the idea of the song supposedly being written by a child -- only the fool can see the absurdity of it all. "Your wise men don't know how it feels to be thick as a brick."
Someone probably already answered this but 'part' 1 & 2 were, in the days of vinyl, side 1 & 2.
I find it strange that people do not know that LPs had two sides. Still listening to this album never tire of it.
There's a video of Tull live in London from 1977. It is amazing how good they are live. They do a condensed Thick as a Brick.
1976 I was 13 years old. My older brother and friends were going to see JT at the kiel auditorium in St. Louis. One of their friends couldnt go and they needed to sell his ticket. I had $20, so I went. I will never forget it. It was great.
11:09-- "Glad they decided to make this ...joke.."
Pretty much
I envy you - you're listening to this exceptional music from the 70's for the very first time - you lucky lucky person!
I copied it and couldn't do it
I know! Remember being back there-incredible to hear it through fresh ears! ❤️❤️❤️
He's talking about music critics that don't know what they're talking about. They kept saying his (their) Aqualung album was a "concept" album and he (Ian Anderson) said no it wasn't. So he's basically talking to music critics who don't know what the hell they're talking about when they write or talk about music. When you look at the lyrics that way, like him talking to music "experts", it makes sense.
Thanks for doing it the right way, as an album! I saw them on this tour and they're always on my top 10 list!
Love Tull. They're unique & brilliant ❤
Just listened again. Does not get old. Clearly remember the first time hearing this and promptly starting it over again after 20 minutes of gushing and review of lyrics with my friends who along with me were having a buddy of our open our eyes to this gem...
Ps large package still in route should be there soon...
Congrats on your first, possibly slightly accidental, full album reaction! Ian Anderson's solo Thick as a Brick 2 from 2012 is a worthy follow-up as well.
Yes indeed, I was under the impression I was reacting to a song (albeit a really long song) and it turned out to be the entire album:) I freaking loved it, one of my favorite songs of all time now.
@@DiconDissectionalReactions Come now, I told you it covered both sides of an album in my first message to you.
Barriemore Barlow. One of the best drummers in England.
Easily one of the greatest rock albums of all-time. I have probably listened to it 300 times in my life and it never gets old. I sometimes play it when I need to go to sleep at night, as I know it so well, it's rather comforting! People usually consider "Aqualung" to be Tull's best. I think this is just so monumental that a "mere" album of songs can't come close to "Brick." The sound at the end of side one mimicked the sound of the needle on a record player. The first Tull album I bought was "Stand Up," with the cardboard figures that stand up. I still have it. If you'd like it, I'd be happy to send it to you. It's a fabulous collection of songs, and really signaled the "arrival" of Tull, as their previous album was an outlier. It's probably my second-favorite of their LPs, simply because I grew up with it first.
Nice! To my knowledge you are the first one brave enough to react to the whole studio album! I did listen it through! I love this album, especially part 2.
The one part you were lost was about war, I think.
"light the sun" could be referring to nuclear weapons...
I was at the concert in Boston Garden when they were promoting this album and have been listening to it ever since , and I still don't completely understand it. So good luck in your journey . I hope you listen to the rest of their music , it is all awesome .
This was the vid that got me to finally subscribe (i'm an inherently reluctant subscriber! 😆) Thrilled to see Thick as a Brick had such an impact on you too.
Welcome aboard! Yes, Thick as a Brick has remained a huge favorite of mine:)
Jou're Nice..Realy! I Love to see that this Musik going in a new Century! Nice Job at You!👍...Greetings from 🇩🇪..Love it!
OMG! Thank you sooo much. My alltime favorit band and also my favorit album 👍👏🥰❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Thanks for sharing your review. I’m kind of an old chap, but it’s very cool that some younger people like 1970’s progressive rock like Jethro Tull. I’ve been a longtime fan but for years I liked the music but didn’t really analyze the lyrics too much. I hope you send smart people like you can figure out what the hell is good and bad in our society and make life better. A lot of us older people seem to complain a lot about things but don’t really make enough changes. Keep rocking guy-this Thick as a Brick is an epic masterpiece. Music like this can be made today by others too. Just put your mind and heart into it. I bet their is a young Ian Anderson prodigy out there somewhere.
One of my favourites, as well! Side note: In 2012, Ian Anderson released Thick as a Brick 2, as a 40th Anniversary solo studio project. When I heard it was forthcoming, I awaited with eager anticipation. I was not disappointed. Although different stylistically, and in presentation (distinct songs, as opposed to a flowing musical single song in two parts), it has some great stuff on it. And you asked why the original was split into two parts: Heh, I sometimes forget you younguns 😆 aren't all that familiar with vinyl albums. After Side 1 (or A) had played, you had to get up, walk over to the stereo, physically flip the album, and carefully set the stylus at the end of the tonearm down at the beginning of Side 2 (or B), being careful not to scratch the vinyl. Thought I'd add: Possibly the greatest tragedy of my life ... for over 40 years I had the original release of this album, in the original full newspaper (literally) album cover. A few years back my entire vinyl record collection (not huge, but almost 200 albums) was destroyed in a horrible mistake. I still grieve. 😔
I still have my original
😂😂😂 My original copy, bought back in the day when it was a newly released album, was one without the newspaper insert. Somewhere along the line I picked up another copy, probably at a thrift store, and it DID have the newspaper insert. However, I only discovered that fact last month. A happy discovery!!
ian lived in Blackpool England. beach town. sandcastles are literal on the beach.
Excellent synopsis. Your understanding is encouraging to this 69 year old. Enjoy your channel very much.
Amazing melody. So much clearer than yesterday's part one. He stands on one leg. When I think of "your wise men don't know how it feels to be thick as a brick" I see Bill Nye the Science guy. The dumbing down of the generations, began in 1977. It was decided that in order to control the population, all you had to do was get them high and shout "Squirrel!... First of all you convince them that truth is relative. if (Right + Good) = True. I hide true and place behind right and good what I want. so now we have "if it looks 'Good' or feels 'Right' it must be true. I posit, that if it is not true it is neither good or right.
"a splendor that dazed the mind and dumbed the tongue" You must see it as an introspective, not outside yourself the words are you. You are the poet, you are the painter. and the soldier. If you look it objectively the words make no sense. He is speaking directly to you. Just a thought. in other words, are you also thick as a brick?
Well, we can disagree on that equation. I would say (True + Good) = Right.
Brain Salad Surgery anyone?
@@Revelwoodie I suppose it would depend on the situation at hand....
@@MrBallisticbob Or how you define the terms, right? I mean, philosophers have argued for thousands of year over what those words mean. A lot of how we write that "equation" is based on the decisions we've come to about what those words mean.
@@Revelwoodie Correct, that is what I was referring to, truth is a fact. Right and good are subjective.
The white noise signals the end of part 1 (the first side of the vinyl) and the beginning of part 2 (second side of the vinyl).
Ian has from time to time been dubbed a 'jester/sage'. I think it is very apt.
"get up steam" is from the days of steam railways - before the locomotive will move, a certain steam pressure level must be reached. This is called "getting up steam"
Thick as a Brick in my favourite Jethro Tull album. "A Passion Play" is my second favourite.
Thank you for this reaction, even though I realized a year late that you've done this. :D
Very enlightening and entertaining
Thanks for explanations of the lyrics. i have 62 years old and fan of Jethro Tull for 50 years and try to translate in french correctly, you help me very much.
I've been listening to this for 45 years - it's fun to see it through Daniel's eyes.
I got into jethro tull 1,5 years ago , i recommend you keep listening to aqualung songs , then listen to some from Stand up and Benefit before getting into Passion Play , Minstrel in the gallery and all the other newer albums
Jethro Tull is brilliant. Quite a few years ago I, and four other people, spent almost an hour talking with Ian Anderson and he was so amazing!
We had it all figured out on mushrooms once but then forgot if it was this album or not.
I found a vinyl copy of this album in a small Indiana town
Thanks for tackling that "on the fly".
Never had the dedication to look at it "as a whole".
Always have a problem with lyrics (and poetry) over the specifics of some words an phrases.
To quote Lou Reed over a line from one of his songs when asked "why?" ... his answer "it rhymed!".
Amazing reaction and analysis! I think you absolutely nailed a lot of the concepts being hit on in the album.
I'd highly recommend listening to Aqualung (full album) next. It's an amazing experience.
Also, If you like concept albums, I would recommend A Passion Play, though it could be argued that that album is even more dense lyrically and musically than TAAB.
We're doing Aqualung now, song by song in order:)
The album art took longer to make than the music. It's not an expensive record, grab it if you can! It's amazing!
Absolutely! You need the album cover/newspaper to fully grok this.