What the hell is your problem, pal?! Sure, I like 'Passion Play'--but it's in no wise better than the dozen or so albums you rank below it. It belongs somewhere just under 'Crest of a Knave'. It's certainly not Anderson's #1.
90% of this boils down to personal taste, so why the harsh reaction? Wanna have some fisticuffs over it? Sheesh! Surely you have a different list as do the umpteen other Tull fans of the world.
@@awrogers3013 That’s cool. Different tastes and opinions make life interesting. As the saying goes, “Variety is the spice of life”! What would you rank as their best? On any given day, and depending on mood, I’d probably switch order between at least 5 albums - maybe more.
This was a stellar review. I was initially a bit confused to see you rate some of these so low, but you said it yourself once you hit Minstrel: it's just a testimony to the awesomeness of the albums above it. When watching something like this, you really have to keep in mind how wonderful most Tull albums really are. They were a very experimental group, and each album has its own color and sound. My personal favorite is Heavy Horses, and I think you placed it fairly. Happy to see A Passion Play at number one. I feel that one often gets overshadowed by TAAB.
Thank you. I just turned 56 I got Passion Play after seeing Tull in 82. It is in a class of it self. For me it was a tough listen but it took awhile. Thank you.
@@edwarddehooge4469 I know what you mean. It’s my favorite, though. When I bought, not long before the tour arrived here, I love it musically but, yeah, it took a while to figure out the narrative starting with a death and a funeral, visits to a bland heaven and a much more interesting visit to hell before the protagonist ends up (maybe?) back in a railway station. Or something. That’s what I finally got after a couple hundred obsessive listens, lyrics in hand.
I have not seen a better overview of Jethro Tull. I am going to go back to their catalog and revisit their works. Thank you for journeying me back into their body of work. I think Thick As A Brick is their masterpiece, but there are some many gems that I had missed and now will revisit.
" Stand up " , "Benefit " , " Aqualung" and " Songs from the wood "are my favourite Tull albums . Saw them in '71 when l was 16 my first ever gig . Brought " Aqualung "the next day . The title track and guitar solo are incredible and l still get a buzz from it all these years on . What a great decade for Prog the ' 70's was .
Thank you! I like your list. I haven’t listened to A passion play for years. I’ll have to go back and revisit it and see what I think now. This is the first time that I have listened to a video from your channel. I’ll be back again.
What a Tour de Force of an analysis !!! I have always regarded myself as something of a Jethro Tull connoisseur - but I am completely humbled and blown away by the depth of your knowledge, and understanding of what under-pinned each album. Bravo! I would be rather older than yourself, and (bizzarely) remember the early days altogether more vividly than the more recent offerings. Like you, Tull would be one of my absolute favourite bands of all time, and have been since 1971. I would agree with almost all of the points you make, and virtually all the rankings you attribute to each album, with perhaps only a handful of qualifications, which (out of interest, but not dogmatic conviction) I would mention below ...... * I would inter-change Minstrel and Benefit, not because of any qualitative judgement, but because Minstrel played an inportant part in my youth, and I have enormously warm memories of it, whereas Benefit [to me] being sandwiched between two of the best albums of all time (of any band) seemed a little flat by comparison to them. I know Martin felt Benefit was a better platform for his contributions than Stand Up - but I definitively do not. One of the most modest 'great' musicians I have ever encountered, I think he still felt like a "green" novice on this first album - but he is possibly the only person I have ever encountered who thinks this (Ian Anderson included!). * Stand Up was for me the 3rd best Tull Album (on certain days perhaps the 2nd best, edging out Aqualung) and even now I still listen to many of the tracks every month. There is not one weak track amongst the 10 - and "We Used to Know" is one of my 3 favourite Tull songs ever. [Martin's short solo is absolutely magnificent!] I would therefore promote this ahead of the excellent Heavy Horses & Songs from the Wood - both of which I love as much as you do. * Passion Play was a monumental album, innovative, uplifting and incredibly important. But much though I loved it as a stand- alone piece, it did not move me to anything like the same extent as Thick as a Brick, or indeed the 3 albums which preceded it. But, that said, it is still solidly within "my" Top 10 * Crest of a Knave is for me a classic "70's" Tull offering, and - developmentally - should really have followed Stormwatch. Massively the best of the latter-day albums, Crest was another unblemished album with not a single weak track - and absolutely stacked with memorable classics (Steel Monkey, Farm on the Freeway, Budapest, Raising Steam.....) * So - by process of elimination - my No2 and No1 were (and still are) Aqualung - the best Album of perhaps the 2nd best year for Albums ever (1971) - and of course Thick As a Brick in pole position; over the years I have virtually worn through Side 1 [which is also the favourite "track" on my iPod] - and Side 2 is absolutely no slouch either! "The Poet & The Painter" is absolutely what recorded music is all about. So - for what it's worth - my Top Ten would be :- 10 Stormwatch 9 War Child 8 Passion Play 7 Minstrel in the Gallery 6 Heavy Horses 5= Crest of a Knave 5= Songs from the Wood 3 Stand Up 2 Aqualung 1 Thick As A Brick PS - I was at the same "Crest" gig at the NEC which you attended - what a fabulous evening, and what a triumphant return to form for the boys after a few quieter years! (As I remember, the balloons may have made a comeback that year too?) Thanks for a really interesting, informed and nostalgic round up! I know i was late in finding it - but it was a thoroughly enjoyable way to spend 40 minutes! Well done indeed.
This album has changed my life several times. And LOVE the title track and am sorry, J, that you cannot share this pleasure w/ me. But I could, under duress, jettison "It's Up to Me". It's darned good, but every thing else is pure gold, despite hyperbolic hatred of the Church of England (what hypocrisies would emerge from scrutiny of Ian's life or mine?). Join me in praying to all the gods that you can count for Ian's sadly and conveniently Buddhist soul.
i cannot believe i just watched a list where aqualung is number three and thick as a brick number TWO and PASSION PLAY NUMBER 1 so of course immediately subscribed. this after breathlessly watching tales from topographic oceans to the top of the Yes list. this man is is a genius. The list I have been waiting for since the 70s. passion, especially as redone by steven wilson is a fkn revelation. thank you for this.
Wow! What a tremendous and thoughtful breakdown of the Jethro Tull oeuvre. They were my favorite band during my teenage years in the 70’s. In fact very simply put, Benefit is the reason I found my love of music. From the opening chords of With You There to Help Me.. I was in love with music. Benefit demonstrated to me that music could be WAY more then just ear candy. So Benefit is my sentimental favorite but a VERY close second is Stand Up. Not articulate enough to say why, just love the vibe of it, stylish, intelligent, well...fun. As for your first place pick, here I would defer to you, the much more well versed in Tull lore. However I find it just a fanciful & indulgent excursion. Musically very well done but the whole conceptual idea kind of leaves me...meh. You (and other commentators) mention the denseness of the music on this one but it must be my own denseness that prevents me from appreciating it. As it happens I pretty much moved on from Jethro Tull in the late 70’s after I heard the likes of The Ramones, Patti Smith, Talking Heads (you get the idea) but I still come back to my old Jethro Tull vinyl once in a while and fall in love all over again. Oh... and I sure love me some This Was. Thanks for the work and thought you must have put into this video. Well done.
Of all of Ian’s many brilliant decisions, there is something about the way we are eased into Benefit with the quiet, building beauty of With You There To Help Me that I think is really cool.
@@classicalbum Yeah...actually, Riley's right; you *did* offer quite a few fine details in the run-through. So, I think I *will* subscribe/share. Anyhow... another little fun fact I can offer: On JT's defense, Crest of a Knave sounding like Dire Straits is arguably a bit of a backwards statement, considering that Mark Knopfler actually consulted Martin Barre about how to achieve his exact guitar tone (prior to any of Dire Straits' catalogue, if I understand correctly).
I didn't know that ... an interesting point. However, I don't think Tull were trying to sound like Dire Straits, I just think Anderson's voice was lower in key and sounded a bit like Knophler. The press just assumed they were trying to cash in on the success of Brothers in Arm.... but then what do they know
@@classicalbum Yeah, the press often assumes a lot. I'm just pointing this out because I personally think that it's just as valid (if not more valid) to say that DS can sometimes sound reminiscent of the old JT (at least guitar-wise).
Thanks! A is one of my favorite albums. My #2 Jethro Tull album (next to Heavy Horses). The first time I saw Jethro Tull live, 78?, I went to see the "warm up" band, UK!, (Jobson, Wetton, Bozzio), and it is still the best thing of any kind I ever saw. UK got three encores. Terry Bozzio set a standard for live drumming that I never saw again. A year later UK was done, Jobson was with Jethro Tull and "A", to me, was just awesome! Thanks; David.
Glad to hear you mention the Steven Wilson book sets. I love his surround mixes of early Tull. That's how I discovered Tull and they're becoming a favorite band. Nice channel.
What a great video. Thick As A Brick is #1 for me. I never got A Passion Play, but because you put it on the top of your list, I must give it another chance.
Jethro Tull is a deep well of which ive listened to about half of their work, and seen them live once i think in 2010. I am fascinated, surprised, annoyed, excited, intellectually stimulated, etc... my thoughts and feelings run the gamut on this band and i look forward to listening to albums like passion play which ive purposefully been saving for a rainy day when i can really spend some time listening with headphones. Surprised you did not mention "black satin dancer" which has dark and chunky ominous guitar riffs or pan dance which shows off ians enchanting flute. Bungle in the jungle i think was also left out of being mentioned which surprised me (unless im mistaken). Yes there are too many tull songs to mention but these would make my personal list as some of my favorites. Appreciate your hard work and effort. Much Love and peace to you and all Tull fans out there !
that really updated my journal . I saw a show...dont remember what it was, but the guy took out some records to target practice with, and one was Stand Up. I was horrified! As a drummer, I love Clive Bunker’s vigorous play! And the way the sound was produced, is interesting as well, but a person has to be able to hear that stuff to appreciate it.
Great video. My top 6 Jethro Tull albums have always been. Stand Up / Aqualung / Benefit / Songs From The Wood / Thick As A Brick / Crest Of A Knave. No particular order.
It all depends on when you first heard them. For me, I was a fan from the start. And to this day, I consider "THIS WAS" as one of their best albums -- as unlike the others as it may be. I can understand not preferring the jazzy British Blues slant, but ranking it 14th is just absurd. And for me, STAND UP is his masterpiece. Passion Play is certainly ambitious but it misses the mark in too many ways -- and I think Anderson would agree.
Dude thanks for introducing me to Jethro Tull! What a band! Only completely listened to Songs form the Wood entirely so far - and man, that one hit differently. What a rollercoaster. Amazing.
Huge Tull fan and I have to say your review of their albums is brilliant. My number 1 album is: Stand Up and favourite track of theirs is also from that album: We used to know. Glad you also appreciate it!
Excellent reviews and I have to agree with your number one. I have been a fervent Tull fan since 71 when my brother took me to buy my first album, Aqualung, when I was ten years old, but I always considered Passion Play to be their finest as musicians much like Yes's Relayer and Zepplin's Presence which do not get the praise that they deserve. I try to listen to PP in it's entirety at least twice a year at full volume while driving and at 59 happy I still remember every lyric.
My number one is Stand Up. There's something so fresh and wonderful about the album due in large part to its simplicity in terms of arrangement. Tull is playing without much studio trickery and the recording is beautiful. Serendipity at the core! Edit: bold move putting A Passion Play at number one! The only album where Ian plays sax I believe. I'd put it at number two.
Teacher ......glad you mentioned it. The lyrics and music is brilliant. Crossed eyed Mary. What a background story to Crossed Eyed Mary Clive Bunker still alive. Live brilliance
Fabulous video. Really excellent commentary on all the albums. I'm definitely a 70s Tull fan, so I'd place Minstrel higher. I've never like A Passion Play, but TAAB is overall my favourite. In their heyday they were a sensational live band, who I saw in '78, '80 and '82, and I get huge pleasure these days from seeking out old videos from back then.
A really great review! Interestingly my top 5 of Jethro Tull albums almost coincide with yours: I could never clarify for myself which ones are number one and two. So I give 1st/2nd places to Thick as a Brick and A Passion Play. 3rd is Aqualung, 4th - Songs from the Woods (the first JT LP that I bought) and my 5th is Heavy Horses.
I've got every album by Jethro Tull. A Passion Play is my least favourite. Admittedly, I've only listened to it all the way through twice but It comes across as amateurish and pretentious.
Nice work from a true fan. Your justifications for each selection are sound. Couple of things: Too Old to Rock N Roll may be thematically thin, but the songwriting and some of the melodies are superb ('Crazed Institution', 'Salamander'). 'Tall Thin Girl' has that Indian feel because it's very much a sequel - and named antithetically - to 'Fat Man'. I agree that Broadsword... is massively underrated and would even consider putting it higher due to the strong songwriting. 'Dark Ages' is not on Bursting out, unless there are some bonus tracks somewhere that I haven't heard. 'Reasons for Waiting' on Stand Up is one of the most beautiful acoustic songs ever. How it fits onto that album I'll never understand, but it does. To me, Passion Play was a great failure, especially after TAAB, but I've known others for whom, like you, it's their favourite album.
I have 14 of the older albums you have ranked, on lp, and after all those years they are there to prove that Tull, to me, were one of my first pre-NWOBHM-militancy classic rock bands. I learned so much from them, in the process of becoming a total metalhead but trying to keep a connection with the elders' musicianship. I guess it was also felt amongst the ranks of such nwobhm luminaries like Maiden, Dark Star, Blitzkrieg, Cloven Hoof and maybe Legend, from the Jersey islands. I absolutely appreciated, agreed with and also learned a lot from your analysis. Please keep up the excellent work. Cheers from Portugal.
Hi Barry, I'm a recent subscriber to your channel. I really appreciate your in depth analysis. However, I've a couple of additional points that I'd like to mention. Aside from all that you've noted, Songs From The Wood is a celebration of Winter & the Winter Solstice. Similarly, Heavy Horses is an homage to the Spring season. Incidentally, SFTW was my first live concert experience with Tull at Madison Square Garden in NYC.
Fascinating and informative as hell! Thanks very much for posting these! I only have maybe one album of theirs- stand up (which I think is fantastic!) so am a pretty casual fan.
I am so delighted to have listened to your extensive review. I have just finished watching it and I want to thank you very much for such a well informed and insightful review. I still feel very excited. I would put Stormwatch much higher in my list as I think it has just the correct atmosphere musically, lyrically and soundwise in conveying its subject matter. However, as you say, this is your list and I have thoroughly enjoyed it. It is always a pleasure to listen to or read comments from people who really understand and appreciate Tull and the genius of Ian Anderson, as well as of course the all important contribution from the band members. Thank you once again.Now I am off to watch your A Passion Play Review. Exciting.
Wonderful - you are the only one that I've hear of the loves "Passion Play". It has been my top LP from my first listening. I love the heartbeat running though it. Great work on your list. Cheers
I agree with a lot, disagree with a bunch but one thing for sure is that this gentleman really, really knows what he is talking about. Very impressive and detailed assessments.
Thank you for compiling this list! I agree with your rankings for the most part. One or two albums rank just one above or below what you've chosen. The music of Jethro Tull has been a solid landmark in my life - my parents played these albums repeatedly when I was young, to the point I must admit I've been a Tull fan since the womb! Funny story: while I was being born, my father had just picked up Stand Up and it was receiving some serious attention on the turntable. The songs from that album were stuck in his head during the entire delivery of his firstborn!
This is the first time I've watched one of your videos. I love the research you did on each album, and even better your commentary. Thoroughly enjoyed this from beginning to end!
Excellent video! I don't count myself enough of a Tull fan to properly agree or disagree with your rankings, but at the very least you've given me good reasons to revisit some albums that I didn't entirely connect with on first listen. First album I remember hearing as a kid was Heavy Horses as part of the parents' collection, while Crest of a Knave was "my" first actual Tull, and among my first CD purchases. (One of my early really expensive music purchases? The 20 Years box.) The record I go back to the most, though, is Broadsword, particularly the "with all the extra bits" release. There's just SO MUCH good stuff on that one.
great analysis! i generally agree but have a different take on a few. i do love Thick and Passion but i generally prefer traditional song collections to concept albums and medleys. even as you rightly describe Benefit as transitional, i find it flawless and it might even be my favorite. hard to choose! i really appreciate how much thought you’ve put into this. going back to my library for another listen!
My favorite album is "Benefit".Although I didn't buy it until I had purchased " Aqualung", (it wasn't available in the States until after Aqualung was released Number 2 is Aqualung, number 3 is "Thick as a Brick", and 4 is "Living in the Past". 5 is Stand Up.
One of my very favorite acts of all time. It’s hard for me to grade the excellence of Aqualung, Thick as a Brick, and A Passion Play in any particular order. I love them all and consider them to be at the top of the work. Songs from the Wood comes very close for me. I also really like War Child. Minstrel in the Gallery comes nowhere close for me and I’m really surprised to see Heavy Horses mentioned many times in the comments. I did not like it at all. And it was actually the last one that I bought back in the day. Whilst there are other fantastic songs such as Teacher and Living in the Past, the core of Tull’s heyday is for me: Aqualung, Thick as a Brick, A Passion Play, Songs from the Wood, and War Child. Admittedly I’m unfamiliar with the post-Heavy Horses work! Your commentary is brilliant.Thanks!
A respectable list. You're clearly very knowledgeable. Your #1 pick was a surprise, though. I was seeing it as a 3-way race between Aqualung, Thick as a Brick, and Songs from the Wood.
Well I am pleasantly surprised by how much my tastes chime with yours and I enjoyed your eloquent summaries. Very brave to put Passion Play at the top of the pile as it was not just the most derided of Tull's albums but possibly the most critically derided album of all time. Yet when I play it the memories of my 18 year old self come flooding back as though it was yesterday. If only it was.
An excellent review of one of my favorite bands , I think you grasped and captured the essence of why Jethro Tull is so well loved by both its fans and prog fans in general . Your arrangement of the albums from your least to best probably mirrors my taste as well. The only area we tend to differ is that Thick as a brick and Passion play to a greater extent have not penetrated my listening as well as I would have liked or thought. Thanks for the thoughtful and concise review
Yes I think you got it just right, no one will ever agree, we all identify personally. I think the band started off trying to find a groove. Ian took a lead, then they built and combined to Passion Play. You have remember the time, their were other great bands right in their backyard. What a great time musically. To my mind really was, just that Tull was; intelligent, witty, and the the band members were outstanding, and allot of their work still stands up to day. A lot of great songs mentioned here, thanks for the memories.
I doff my hat to you for your knowledge and insight into JT, a terrific review of their music. Forget the subjectivity of music appreciation, I personally am struggling with your #1 choice. I so wanted to really like A Passion Play but find it difficult to listen to without drifting away. It’s not their worst but not in my top 15. (Footnote, I was 15 when I heard my first Tull album (Benefit) and feel lucky to have lived through that era of anticipating the next release. Cheers from Tasmania!
Excellent walkthrough the albums of Jethro Tull with a surprise to me at #1. It's clear that you're a big fan and very knowledgeable. You explain your opinions very clearly.
Very recently subscribed to your channel and looking through your past posts thought I would comment on this one as Jethro Tull have been a band I have listened to and followed for many years, of course some albums are more important to me than others but I have always wanted to hear what Ian Anderson is up to! Also, Passion Play as your number one is a great choice, its always divided opinion but I have always thought it’s such a great record. Anyway, many thanks, look forward to your future posts. All the best, Mick
Hello! Just wish to repeat what others have said about the quality and value of this list. So entertainingly informative, in-depth and eloquent. Jethro Tull were for me a band that I always enjoyed but never got around to diving deeply into as a youngster. Wasn't until my final day of Air Force boot camp in 1985 when, rather than walk about San Antonio, I took to the rec center where a listening room was set up, with desks and headphones, and a volunteer DJ would cue up reel-to-reel, and I selected Thick as a Brick and was blown away. Subscribing now, and all that jazz, and looking forward to more edifying content. Thanks so much
I don't know how I missed it, but I never got the meaning and 'plot' of the Passion Play until about a year ago when I read some about it after I picked it up again. I'm looking at it with new eyes. I liked the music, but didn't get the 'story'.
@@martinknill That would be because "Living in the Past" is not a studio album as such. It's more like a compilation of singles, outtakes, alternative versions and live rarities.
Yes - you're right - and I did realise my stupid mistake that after I posted my previous comment (doh!). Because it's my go-to album for older material, I overlooked this.
Brilliant video as always, Barry. I only have heard Aqualung & Thick As A Brick. I found the content you give about the albums very interesting. I must purchase more Tull CD’s. Love those tour programs from the concerts you attended.👍
I have long vehemently proclaimed the classic trio of albums; Songs From The Wood, Heavy Horses, and Storm Watch as pure genius. Masterpieces. Another great analysis review.including Broadsword and The Beast. Their last true masterpiece.
Me too. Maybe because it was my first and it was so different from everything else I was hearing at the time. 2nd best was the quite different Songs From the Woods.
Really enjoying this channel. Tull to me will always be the first 4 albums with Stand Up and Benefit as numbers 1 and 2. Saw the Aqualung tour in 1971 just before HS graduation. But after watching this presentation I will certainly be re-listening to albums mentioned that I am not real familiar with. Like to see you do this with the Kinks, my favorite ever.
Thanks for sharing your knowledge in this thoughtful review. I'm going to take a fresh look at: Catfish Rising, Stormwatch, Crest of a Knave, and A Passion Play as a result. A Passion Play at the top is a tough one for me to grasp but I'll listen with an open mind and see if I can get it. Certainly there are parts of A Passion Play that have always grabbed my emotions in a way that the other Tull albums do not. My Top 5 are #1 Benefit, #2 Stand Up, Songs from the Wood, Aqualung, and Thick as a Brick. I've always had a great affinity for Warchild, Minstrel in the Gallery, and Heavy Horses (wow, your #5!) that lifts them higher in my ranking than some critics. I remember riding my bicycle to the record store on the days that Songs from the Wood and Heavy Horses came out and not really knowing what to make of them. After all, think of what came before them in comparison. They were very different. Those two albums get better with every play and they are among the true gems. Down towards the bottom of your list, the assessment of 'A' is fair. It really was a solo album. Eddie Jobson is amazing and there are some interesting things going on there. That concert tour was enjoyable. I'd add that "Roots to Branches" is the "best of the worst albums" for lack of a better term. I was pleasantly surprised when I first heard it. I think it has some interesting themes and musical influences. ...thanks again.
After many years of digesting Tull, my top 5 are: 1. A Passion play 2. Stand Up 3. Minstrel in the Gallery 4. Stormwatch 5. Songs From The Wood Guarantee the next 5 aren't too shabby either.
Thank you for this well thought- out analysis, very helpful for one who has only ever had Aqualung which completely enthralled me in 1973 and has happily never let go
Oh I think it's there worst I think it's worse then j tull.com and under wraps it has no memorable tracks and the writing is lazy mixed with the complete lack of musical talent and the worst album cover of all time and u have there worst album
An by the way thank you SO MUCH for explaining the reason of how Ian Anderson's voice sounds in Heavy Horses album. I always wondered why it sounded like that
Great. Warchild would be in my top 10 too. It's too often overlooked. Excellent choice for no.1. I've loved Passion Play since the first day I heard it sometime in the later 70s. Cheers.
I loved this, mainly because I don't particularly agree with many of the rankings! I thoroughly enjoyed your insightful and thoughtful commentary on this amazing band's discography.
I generally don't like ranking albums or artists, but I do tend to agree with a lot of your argument here. Anderson might be amused by your take on Passion Play, as I think he tends to downplay that one. I saw them perform that one in concert--very impressive.
I've loved JT for years, but surprisingly have heard little of their material. I'm starting to collect their LP's and this helps to decide which to get next which will probably be either Passion Play or Songs From The Wood.
This is an interesting and well-reasoned list, and has inspired me to investigate some of the holes in my Tull collection. Pertaining to Too Old to Rock n' Roll, I've read that it was originally intended to be an album written by Anderson for Adam Faith, who promptly rejected it. The band decided to go ahead and record it themselves. This may explain the stylistic departure apparent in this album. I still like it very much, though.
A very heartfelt, deep meaning review of Tull's albums. I might have switched Aqualung holding the top spot with A Passion Play relegated to number 2 and also bring War Child to #5. Otherwise an EXCELLENT and well thought out ranking of Tull's album rankings.
I personally wouldn't put A Passion Play in the top spot, but I enjoyed your presentation. You weave a compelling argument for your list order, and your love for Anderson and company is totally apparent. I knew much of their story, but I definitely learned a thing or two. Good show.
Couldn't agree more with Passion Play as #1, though I didn't appreciate it for many years. The medley of "Memory Bank", "Best Friends" and "Critique Oblique" forms one of the greatest musical movements in rock, showcasing Tull at their best. Power combined with subtlety, brilliantly executed. I hope Martin brings it back on his tour. I seriously doubt that Ian will ever perform any of it again. So many great songs and albums. It is indeed a matter of personal taste to rank them. Thanks for a great summary and run down.
This is a great list from a true fan of Jetrho Tull. This is only my 2nd listening of reviews from the Classic Album Review Channel, with my 1st listening the review of A Passion Play, #1 on this list (spolier alert). And, APP as #1 tells you a lot about this reviewer and his interest in JT. It got me listening again to APP and I recently actually used "The Story of the Hare Who Lost His Spectacles" juxtaposed with Aesops The Story of the Tortoise and the Hare to make a larger point (America does not need to find its spare pare, but it needs new vision with a new prescription, the tortoise is China), so thanks again, I would not have revisited Anderson's fable without your review showing up in my YT feed. I consider myself a big JT fan, 1st becoming aware of them in 1972, and my first live concert was their 3rd live playing of APP ever in 1973, Richmond VA. My last Tull album I bought was Songs From the Wood (#4) until I bought one not included here (none of the compilation albums were included, understandably), in 2003, The Jethro Tull Chirstmas Album, which I still play quite a bit. Living In the Past being the other favorite compilation album I really liked, along with the title hit, and its 5/4 time signature to 4/4 (just like Cream's White Room another from that period). As someone who was mostly familiar with the work of #s 15, 9, 7, 6, 4, 3, 2, 1, I feel that I must have some common taste in JT fandom with this reviewer. I was familiar with some of the songs from the other albums, their being played on progressive radio over the years, but hearing this compilation review really gives a great, broad overview of the career of Ian Anderson and Jethro Tull. And, JT did win their only Grammy with #8. I use that turn of phrase because perhaps, like Bruce Springsteen in the USA, had Ian named his band that way from the beginning, as "Ian Anderson and the Jetrho Tull band" (like BS and the E Street Band), he might, might have made it into the R&R HOF. I agree with the reviewer that JT is inherently a British band with old English, and British influences, along with Jazz, Indian, barouque/classical and that is both why I like them and likely, perhaps, why they have been excluded from the R&R HOF. Other British bands that made it there - Rolling Stones, Beatles, Clapton/Cream, Led Zeplin, many others all had American musical influences and that really was not Ian's influence at all after #15, This Was. A line from one of the Benefit Album songs notes this when Ian says "Blues used to be my favorite colour" (or close to that, help me with the song there JT fans). Anyway, great work again, I guess I will have to listen to some more reviews.
What the hell is your problem, pal?! Sure, I like 'Passion Play'--but it's in no wise better than the dozen or so albums you rank below it. It belongs somewhere just under 'Crest of a Knave'. It's certainly not Anderson's #1.
In your opinion.
90% of this boils down to personal taste, so why the harsh reaction? Wanna have some fisticuffs over it? Sheesh!
Surely you have a different list as do the umpteen other Tull fans of the world.
How did part of my text get strike-through effect???
Don’t agree with you mr c
@@awrogers3013 That’s cool. Different tastes and opinions make life interesting. As the saying goes, “Variety is the spice of life”!
What would you rank as their best? On any given day, and depending on mood, I’d probably switch order between at least 5 albums - maybe more.
It's a well-known fact that Tull admirers come to look like Ian with time!
As a Tull fan, it's frustrating how accurate this is.
@@WhiteOwlet Haha. I thought the same thing.
Never noticed but now you've drawn my attention to it ...
☺
Hope that doesn't apply to us female fans....lol
This was a stellar review. I was initially a bit confused to see you rate some of these so low, but you said it yourself once you hit Minstrel: it's just a testimony to the awesomeness of the albums above it. When watching something like this, you really have to keep in mind how wonderful most Tull albums really are. They were a very experimental group, and each album has its own color and sound. My personal favorite is Heavy Horses, and I think you placed it fairly. Happy to see A Passion Play at number one. I feel that one often gets overshadowed by TAAB.
I was fascinated by A Passion Play when I bought it at 14 years of age, shortly after its release. And now at 61 I still love it!! A true work of art.
Passion Play is the only album I’ve ever bought on every type of media; I still have the 8-track around here somewhere
@@kurthenke2248 It's out on 5.1 also.
It's terrific
Thank you. I just turned 56
I got Passion Play after seeing Tull in 82. It is in a class of it self. For me it was a tough listen but it took awhile. Thank you.
@@edwarddehooge4469 I know what you mean. It’s my favorite, though. When I bought, not long before the tour arrived here, I love it musically but, yeah, it took a while to figure out the narrative starting with a death and a funeral, visits to a bland heaven and a much more interesting visit to hell before the protagonist ends up (maybe?) back in a railway station. Or something. That’s what I finally got after a couple hundred obsessive listens, lyrics in hand.
I have not seen a better overview of Jethro Tull. I am going to go back to their catalog and revisit their works. Thank you for journeying me back into their body of work. I think Thick As A Brick is their masterpiece, but there are some many gems that I had missed and now will revisit.
" Stand up " , "Benefit " , " Aqualung" and " Songs from the wood "are my favourite Tull albums . Saw them in '71 when l was 16 my first ever gig . Brought " Aqualung "the next day . The title track and guitar solo are incredible and l still get a buzz from it all these years on . What a great decade for Prog the ' 70's was .
Thank you! I like your list. I haven’t listened to A passion play for years. I’ll have to go back and revisit it and see what I think now. This is the first time that I have listened to a video from your channel. I’ll be back again.
I hope so... thank you for dropping by
What a Tour de Force of an analysis !!!
I have always regarded myself as something of a Jethro Tull connoisseur - but I am completely humbled and blown away by the depth of your knowledge, and understanding of what under-pinned each album. Bravo!
I would be rather older than yourself, and (bizzarely) remember the early days altogether more vividly than the more recent offerings. Like you, Tull would be one of my absolute favourite bands of all time, and have been since 1971.
I would agree with almost all of the points you make, and virtually all the rankings you attribute to each album, with perhaps only a handful of qualifications, which (out of interest, but not dogmatic conviction) I would mention below ......
* I would inter-change Minstrel and Benefit, not because of any qualitative judgement, but because Minstrel played an inportant part in my youth, and I have enormously warm memories of it, whereas Benefit [to me] being sandwiched between two of the best albums of all time (of any band) seemed a little flat by comparison to them.
I know Martin felt Benefit was a better platform for his contributions than Stand Up - but I definitively do not. One of the most modest 'great' musicians I have ever encountered, I think he still felt like a "green" novice on this first album - but he is possibly the only person I have ever encountered who thinks this (Ian Anderson included!).
* Stand Up was for me the 3rd best Tull Album (on certain days perhaps the 2nd best, edging out Aqualung) and even now I still listen to many of the tracks every month. There is not one weak track amongst the 10 - and "We Used to Know" is one of my 3 favourite Tull songs ever. [Martin's short solo is absolutely magnificent!]
I would therefore promote this ahead of the excellent Heavy Horses & Songs from the Wood - both of which I love as much as you do.
* Passion Play was a monumental album, innovative, uplifting and incredibly important. But much though I loved it as a stand- alone piece, it did not move me to anything like the same extent as Thick as a Brick, or indeed the 3 albums which preceded it. But, that said, it is still solidly within "my" Top 10
* Crest of a Knave is for me a classic "70's" Tull offering, and - developmentally - should really have followed Stormwatch. Massively the best of the latter-day albums, Crest was another unblemished album with not a single weak track - and absolutely stacked with memorable classics (Steel Monkey, Farm on the Freeway, Budapest, Raising Steam.....)
* So - by process of elimination - my No2 and No1 were (and still are) Aqualung - the best Album of perhaps the 2nd best year for Albums ever (1971) - and of course Thick As a Brick in pole position; over the years I have virtually worn through Side 1 [which is also the favourite "track" on my iPod] - and Side 2 is absolutely no slouch either! "The Poet & The Painter" is absolutely what recorded music is all about.
So - for what it's worth - my Top Ten would be :-
10 Stormwatch
9 War Child
8 Passion Play
7 Minstrel in the Gallery
6 Heavy Horses
5= Crest of a Knave
5= Songs from the Wood
3 Stand Up
2 Aqualung
1 Thick As A Brick
PS - I was at the same "Crest" gig at the NEC which you attended - what a fabulous evening, and what a triumphant return to form for the boys after a few quieter years! (As I remember, the balloons may have made a comeback that year too?)
Thanks for a really interesting, informed and nostalgic round up! I know i was late in finding it - but it was a thoroughly enjoyable way to spend 40 minutes! Well done indeed.
Thank you. Do check out my other Tull videos
Best discussion of Tull albums EVER! I'm going to listen again in case I missed something.
Thank you for watching...
Must add that Thick as a Brick is a masterpiece. Amazing lp indeed.
Yes, indeed.
Thick as a brick is a work of genius.
Greatest prog album and greatest prog song (the part 1) of all time
For me....... 1. Aqualung. 2. Thick as a brick. 3. Heavy Horses. Aqualung is one of the greatest albums of all time to me.
I concur. No fillers on Aqualung!
I agree but I really never liked the song Aqualung. All the rest are terrific.
This album has changed my life several times. And LOVE the title track and am sorry, J, that you cannot share this pleasure w/ me. But I could, under duress, jettison "It's Up to Me". It's darned good, but every thing else is pure gold, despite hyperbolic hatred of the Church of England (what hypocrisies would emerge from scrutiny of Ian's life or mine?). Join me in praying to all the gods that you can count for Ian's sadly and conveniently Buddhist soul.
@@chasea.johnson4437 WOW, I am curious how it changed your life? And I kind of like "Up to Me" especially the line "And leave you in a Wimpy Bar."
Ouh i think benefit and stand up are much better passion play and minstrel in gallery are also great
i cannot believe i just watched a list where aqualung is number three and thick as a brick number TWO and PASSION PLAY NUMBER 1
so of course immediately subscribed. this after breathlessly watching tales from topographic oceans to the top of the Yes list. this man is is a genius. The list I have been waiting for since the 70s. passion, especially as redone by steven wilson is a fkn revelation. thank you for this.
Thank you so much for watching.
"Stand Up" should be Number ONE
I would agree with these choices. It's tough but Passion Play is sincerely underrated. And they are all great albums.
@@marcusbah exactly with stormwach being second
Wow! What a tremendous and thoughtful breakdown of the Jethro Tull oeuvre. They were my favorite band during my teenage years in the 70’s. In fact very simply put, Benefit is the reason I found my love of music. From the opening chords of With You There to Help Me.. I was in love with music. Benefit demonstrated to me that music could be WAY more then just ear candy. So Benefit is my sentimental favorite but a VERY close second is Stand Up. Not articulate enough to say why, just love the vibe of it, stylish, intelligent, well...fun. As for your first place pick, here I would defer to you, the much more well versed in Tull lore. However I find it just a fanciful & indulgent excursion. Musically very well done but the whole conceptual idea kind of leaves me...meh. You (and other commentators) mention the denseness of the music on this one but it must be my own denseness that prevents me from appreciating it.
As it happens I pretty much moved on from Jethro Tull in the late 70’s after I heard the likes of The Ramones, Patti Smith, Talking Heads (you get the idea) but I still come back to my old Jethro Tull vinyl once in a while and fall in love all over again. Oh... and I sure love me some This Was.
Thanks for the work and thought you must have put into this video. Well done.
Thanks.. do check out my other videos.
Of all of Ian’s many brilliant decisions, there is something about the way we are eased into Benefit with the quiet, building beauty of With You There To Help Me that I think is really cool.
This video is incredible! What an amazing, well researched run-through.
Thank you for you kind comments. Please subscribe and share this video.
@@classicalbum Yeah...actually, Riley's right; you *did* offer quite a few fine details in the run-through. So, I think I *will* subscribe/share. Anyhow... another little fun fact I can offer: On JT's defense, Crest of a Knave sounding like Dire Straits is arguably a bit of a backwards statement, considering that Mark Knopfler actually consulted Martin Barre about how to achieve his exact guitar tone (prior to any of Dire Straits' catalogue, if I understand correctly).
I didn't know that ... an interesting point. However, I don't think Tull were trying to sound like Dire Straits, I just think Anderson's voice was lower in key and sounded a bit like Knophler. The press just assumed they were trying to cash in on the success of Brothers in Arm.... but then what do they know
@@classicalbum Yeah, the press often assumes a lot. I'm just pointing this out because I personally think that it's just as valid (if not more valid) to say that DS can sometimes sound reminiscent of the old JT (at least guitar-wise).
Well-informed review. Better than the average 'I like X and Y and I'll limit myself to reading a few song titles as evidence' approach.
25:35 Well done for pronouncing Bert's name properly. I've seldom heard anyone else do so.
In my opinion, This Was should be higher up. It rocks pretty hard. It's a top 10 Tull record for me.
Thanks!
A is one of my favorite albums. My #2 Jethro Tull album (next to Heavy Horses). The first time I saw Jethro Tull live, 78?, I went to see the "warm up" band, UK!, (Jobson, Wetton, Bozzio), and it is still the best thing of any kind I ever saw. UK got three encores. Terry Bozzio set a standard for live drumming that I never saw again. A year later UK was done, Jobson was with Jethro Tull and "A", to me, was just awesome! Thanks; David.
Glad to hear you mention the Steven Wilson book sets. I love his surround mixes of early Tull. That's how I discovered Tull and they're becoming a favorite band. Nice channel.
Awesome review! You forget to mention Barrie Barlows drumming on Passion Play, unbelievably creative! Thanks for taking the time to put this together
Thank you for taking the time to watch and comment
What a great video. Thick As A Brick is #1 for me. I never got A Passion Play, but because you put it on the top of your list, I must give it another chance.
Save your money
@@jonhoward180 LOL! So why do you think it sold so well?
I love Tull, and if I could only have one of their albums, it would be “Benefit.” Rest In Peace Glenn.👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Jethro Tull is a deep well of which ive listened to about half of their work, and seen them live once i think in 2010.
I am fascinated, surprised, annoyed, excited, intellectually stimulated, etc... my thoughts and feelings run the gamut on this band and i look forward to listening to albums like passion play which ive purposefully been saving for a rainy day when i can really spend some time listening with headphones.
Surprised you did not mention "black satin dancer" which has dark and chunky ominous guitar riffs or pan dance which shows off ians enchanting flute. Bungle in the jungle i think was also left out of being mentioned which surprised me (unless im mistaken). Yes there are too many tull songs to mention but these would make my personal list as some of my favorites. Appreciate your hard work and effort. Much Love and peace to you and all Tull fans out there !
Benefit and Stand Up are to this day my favorite for the period in my life.
Stand Up is my favorite as well. Criminally underrated.
Those are my two favorites as well
Duke Sweden Aqualung is like the Abby Road of Jethro Tull. Its good, but thats where the really classic stuff starts to vear off.
Agree..That Was ..Stand Up..Benefit..Aqualung..4 albums were Jethro Tull..the Ian Anderson Band after..
that really updated my journal . I saw a show...dont remember what it was, but the guy took out some records to target practice with, and one was Stand Up. I was horrified! As a drummer, I love Clive Bunker’s vigorous play! And the way the sound was produced, is interesting as well, but a person has to be able to hear that stuff to appreciate it.
Great video. My top 6 Jethro Tull albums have always been. Stand Up / Aqualung / Benefit / Songs From The Wood / Thick As A Brick / Crest Of A Knave. No particular order.
It all depends on when you first heard them. For me, I was a fan from the start. And to this day, I consider "THIS WAS" as one of their best albums -- as unlike the others as it may be. I can understand not preferring the jazzy British Blues slant, but ranking it 14th is just absurd. And for me, STAND UP is his masterpiece. Passion Play is certainly ambitious but it misses the mark in too many ways -- and I think Anderson would agree.
Dude thanks for introducing me to Jethro Tull! What a band! Only completely listened to Songs form the Wood entirely so far - and man, that one hit differently. What a rollercoaster. Amazing.
Welcome aboard! Tull are an incredible band
Huge Tull fan and I have to say your review of their albums is brilliant. My number 1 album is: Stand Up and favourite track of theirs is also from that album: We used to know. Glad you also appreciate it!
Love your ranking and reviews, I'm with you Passion Play is my #1, saw it live in Quebec city in 1973 what a show !!!!
Excellent reviews and I have to agree with your number one. I have been a fervent Tull fan since 71 when my brother took me to buy my first album, Aqualung, when I was ten years old, but I always considered Passion Play to be their finest as musicians much like Yes's Relayer and Zepplin's Presence which do not get the praise that they deserve.
I try to listen to PP in it's entirety at least twice a year at full volume while driving and at 59 happy I still remember every lyric.
My number one is Stand Up. There's something so fresh and wonderful about the album due in large part to its simplicity in terms of arrangement. Tull is playing without much studio trickery and the recording is beautiful. Serendipity at the core!
Edit: bold move putting A Passion Play at number one! The only album where Ian plays sax I believe. I'd put it at number two.
Teacher ......glad you mentioned it. The lyrics and music is brilliant.
Crossed eyed Mary.
What a background story to Crossed Eyed Mary
Clive Bunker still alive.
Live brilliance
Fabulous video. Really excellent commentary on all the albums. I'm definitely a 70s Tull fan, so I'd place Minstrel higher. I've never like A Passion Play, but TAAB is overall my favourite. In their heyday they were a sensational live band, who I saw in '78, '80 and '82, and I get huge pleasure these days from seeking out old videos from back then.
Glad you enjoyed it! Do remember to subscribe...
A really great review! Interestingly my top 5 of Jethro Tull albums almost coincide with yours: I could never clarify for myself which ones are number one and two.
So I give 1st/2nd places to Thick as a Brick and A Passion Play. 3rd is Aqualung, 4th - Songs from the Woods (the first JT LP that I bought) and my 5th is Heavy Horses.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Passion Play is an incredible album and one that i never get bored of....there is no other album on the planet like it.
Hi Norman, I am agree with you, try Allusa Falax from Italy "Intorno alla mia cativa educazione". Regards
One of my all-time favourites too
A Passion Play is to the Tull catalog what Tull is to the rest of music.
This album requires the listener to do.some heavy lifting...not for the casual listener....I dig it
I've got every album by Jethro Tull. A Passion Play is my least favourite. Admittedly, I've only listened to it all the way through twice but It comes across as amateurish and pretentious.
Heavy Horse’s does it for me personally. Every song brings back memories, both good and bad. Keep up the good work.
Nice work from a true fan. Your justifications for each selection are sound. Couple of things: Too Old to Rock N Roll may be thematically thin, but the songwriting and some of the melodies are superb ('Crazed Institution', 'Salamander'). 'Tall Thin Girl' has that Indian feel because it's very much a sequel - and named antithetically - to 'Fat Man'. I agree that Broadsword... is massively underrated and would even consider putting it higher due to the strong songwriting. 'Dark Ages' is not on Bursting out, unless there are some bonus tracks somewhere that I haven't heard. 'Reasons for Waiting' on Stand Up is one of the most beautiful acoustic songs ever. How it fits onto that album I'll never understand, but it does. To me, Passion Play was a great failure, especially after TAAB, but I've known others for whom, like you, it's their favourite album.
Hi.. you're right about Dark Ages not being on Bursting Out... that was just my mistake. I was thinking on No Lullaby
I think I was confusing it with a bootleg I owned from 1979 or 1980 that starts with Dark Ages.
It’s always been one of my faves
I have 14 of the older albums you have ranked, on lp, and after all those years they are there to prove that Tull, to me, were one of my first pre-NWOBHM-militancy classic rock bands. I learned so much from them, in the process of becoming a total metalhead but trying to keep a connection with the elders' musicianship. I guess it was also felt amongst the ranks of such nwobhm luminaries like Maiden, Dark Star, Blitzkrieg, Cloven Hoof and maybe Legend, from the Jersey islands. I absolutely appreciated, agreed with and also learned a lot from your analysis. Please keep up the excellent work. Cheers from Portugal.
Agreed with Passion Play and your list and reasons was excellent
Hi Barry, I'm a recent subscriber to your channel. I really appreciate your in depth analysis. However, I've a couple of additional points that I'd like to mention. Aside from all that you've noted, Songs From The Wood is a celebration of Winter & the Winter Solstice. Similarly, Heavy Horses is an homage to the Spring season. Incidentally, SFTW was my first live concert experience with Tull at Madison Square Garden in NYC.
From one fan to another, thanks man. What a fascinating, well informed review.
Fascinating and informative as hell! Thanks very much for posting these! I only have maybe one album of theirs- stand up (which I think is fantastic!) so am a pretty casual fan.
Glad you enjoyed it
I am so delighted to have listened to your extensive review. I have just finished watching it and I want to thank you very much for such a well informed and insightful review. I still feel very excited. I would put Stormwatch much higher in my list as I think it has just the correct atmosphere musically, lyrically and soundwise in conveying its subject matter. However, as you say, this is your list and I have thoroughly enjoyed it. It is always a pleasure to listen to or read comments from people who really understand and appreciate Tull and the genius of Ian Anderson, as well as of course the all important contribution from the band members. Thank you once again.Now I am off to watch your A Passion Play Review. Exciting.
Thank you for your kind words. I do hope you will subscribe for more content.
@@classicalbum I already have.
Great mention of the legend Tommy Vance! RIP Tommy.
Good review man. I love Songs from the Wood, Too Old to Rock'n'roll, Aqualung, Heavy Horses and Stormwatch
Wonderful - you are the only one that I've hear of the loves "Passion Play". It has been my top LP from my first listening. I love the heartbeat running though it. Great work on your list. Cheers
It's so good!
Retained his tickets and programs, knows the albums back and forth. A Fan, with a capital-F. Thank you, really enjoyed this overview.
thank you for watching.
Love these ranking videos ... The depth and insight of which you go into each album is top notch. Cheers !
I agree with a lot, disagree with a bunch but one thing for sure is that this gentleman really, really knows what he is talking about. Very impressive and detailed assessments.
Except when he mentions The Secret Life of Birds. 🙄
Thank you for compiling this list! I agree with your rankings for the most part. One or two albums rank just one above or below what you've chosen. The music of Jethro Tull has been a solid landmark in my life - my parents played these albums repeatedly when I was young, to the point I must admit I've been a Tull fan since the womb!
Funny story: while I was being born, my father had just picked up Stand Up and it was receiving some serious attention on the turntable. The songs from that album were stuck in his head during the entire delivery of his firstborn!
I love their live album from 1978.."Bursting Out" I thought that might get a mention..superb playing on that..especially from Barriemore Barlow..
maybe the best live album of all time
This is the first time I've watched one of your videos. I love the research you did on each album, and even better your commentary. Thoroughly enjoyed this from beginning to end!
Impressive list! Great detail and knowledge of the albums. My only beef is seeing Minstrel so low! Great job.
Excellent video! I don't count myself enough of a Tull fan to properly agree or disagree with your rankings, but at the very least you've given me good reasons to revisit some albums that I didn't entirely connect with on first listen. First album I remember hearing as a kid was Heavy Horses as part of the parents' collection, while Crest of a Knave was "my" first actual Tull, and among my first CD purchases. (One of my early really expensive music purchases? The 20 Years box.) The record I go back to the most, though, is Broadsword, particularly the "with all the extra bits" release. There's just SO MUCH good stuff on that one.
great analysis! i generally agree but have a different take on a few. i do love Thick and Passion but i generally prefer traditional song collections to concept albums and medleys. even as you rightly describe Benefit as transitional, i find it flawless and it might even be my favorite. hard to choose! i really appreciate how much thought you’ve put into this. going back to my library for another listen!
Thank you for watching. Do check out my other Tull videos
My favorite album is "Benefit".Although I didn't buy it until I had purchased " Aqualung", (it wasn't available in the States until after Aqualung was released Number 2 is Aqualung, number 3 is "Thick as a Brick", and 4 is "Living in the Past".
5 is Stand Up.
The great amount of positives for the album Benefit and Heavy Horses is quite enlightening - magnificent all time classics.
One of my very favorite acts of all time. It’s hard for me to grade the excellence of Aqualung, Thick as a Brick, and A Passion Play in any particular order. I love them all and consider them to be at the top of the work. Songs from the Wood comes very close for me. I also really like War Child. Minstrel in the Gallery comes nowhere close for me and I’m really surprised to see Heavy Horses mentioned many times in the comments. I did not like it at all. And it was actually the last one that I bought back in the day. Whilst there are other fantastic songs such as Teacher and Living in the Past, the core of Tull’s heyday is for me: Aqualung, Thick as a Brick, A Passion Play, Songs from the Wood, and War Child. Admittedly I’m unfamiliar with the post-Heavy Horses work! Your commentary is brilliant.Thanks!
1. A Passion Play
2. Aqualang
3. Stand Up
4. Minstrel Gallery
5. Storm Watch / Heavy Horses
Impressive knowledge and very well-spoken. Cheers.
Thanks for posting and sharing your knowledge & opinions. I hope tis video will encourage people to explore & appreciate the great Jethro Tull
Thanks for the video - really interesting and well reasoned. "Baker Street Muse" is my favourite Tull song.
Great in depth reviews. Tops for me Passion Play & Stand Up. Cellar door, Dot Com & Rock Island.
A respectable list. You're clearly very knowledgeable. Your #1 pick was a surprise, though. I was seeing it as a 3-way race between Aqualung, Thick as a Brick, and Songs from the Wood.
Well I am pleasantly surprised by how much my tastes chime with yours and I enjoyed your eloquent summaries. Very brave to put Passion Play at the top of the pile as it was not just the most derided of Tull's albums but possibly the most critically derided album of all time. Yet when I play it the memories of my 18 year old self come flooding back as though it was yesterday. If only it was.
A very difficult exercise but I am astonished at how low Minstrel In The Gallery is rated. Number 4 for mine after Stand Up, TAAB and Aqualung
It's a great album--- maybe I should have ranked it higher.... Happy new year to you... Thanks for watching
An excellent review of one of my favorite bands , I think you grasped and captured the essence of why Jethro Tull is so well loved by both its fans and prog fans in general . Your arrangement of the albums from your least to best probably mirrors my taste as well. The only area we tend to differ is that Thick as a brick and Passion play to a greater extent have not penetrated my listening as well as I would have liked or thought. Thanks for the thoughtful and concise review
Yes I think you got it just right, no one will ever agree, we all identify personally. I think the band started off trying to find a groove. Ian took a lead, then they built and combined to Passion Play. You have remember the time, their were other great bands right in their backyard. What a great time musically. To my mind really was, just that Tull was; intelligent, witty, and the the band members were outstanding, and allot of their work still stands up to day. A lot of great songs mentioned here, thanks for the memories.
I doff my hat to you for your knowledge and insight into JT, a terrific review of their music. Forget the subjectivity of music appreciation, I personally am struggling with your #1 choice. I so wanted to really like A Passion Play but find it difficult to listen to without drifting away. It’s not their worst but not in my top 15. (Footnote, I was 15 when I heard my first Tull album (Benefit) and feel lucky to have lived through that era of anticipating the next release. Cheers from Tasmania!
I love a passion play, just listened to it a couple days ago straight through- the only way. Nice vid, Thank you
Excellent walkthrough the albums of Jethro Tull with a surprise to me at #1.
It's clear that you're a big fan and very knowledgeable. You explain your opinions very clearly.
I really enjoyed this video, thanks. Appreciate your opinions and memories.
Very recently subscribed to your channel and looking through your past posts thought I would comment on this one as Jethro Tull have been a band I have listened to and followed for many years, of course some albums are more important to me than others but I have always wanted to hear what Ian Anderson is up to! Also, Passion Play as your number one is a great choice, its always divided opinion but I have always thought it’s such a great record. Anyway, many thanks, look forward to your future posts. All the best, Mick
Excellent overview, thank you. I discovered JT fairly late and Passion Play has remained my favourite (your review of that album is also excellent).
Thank you, please subscribe and share..
Hello! Just wish to repeat what others have said about the quality and value of this list. So entertainingly informative, in-depth and eloquent. Jethro Tull were for me a band that I always enjoyed but never got around to diving deeply into as a youngster. Wasn't until my final day of Air Force boot camp in 1985 when, rather than walk about San Antonio, I took to the rec center where a listening room was set up, with desks and headphones, and a volunteer DJ would cue up reel-to-reel, and I selected Thick as a Brick and was blown away.
Subscribing now, and all that jazz, and looking forward to more edifying content. Thanks so much
There are loads of videos for you to watch.
Excellent video, glad that A Passion Play was number 1 :)
I don't know how I missed it, but I never got the meaning and 'plot' of the Passion Play until about a year ago when I read some about it after I picked it up again. I'm looking at it with new eyes. I liked the music, but didn't get the 'story'.
Likewise - "Passion Play" I also my favorite. However, disappointed that "Living in the Past" didn't appear in the list at all :(
@@martinknill That would be because "Living in the Past" is not a studio album as such. It's more like a compilation of singles, outtakes, alternative versions and live rarities.
Yes - you're right - and I did realise my stupid mistake that after I posted my previous comment (doh!). Because it's my go-to album for older material, I overlooked this.
Brilliant video as always, Barry. I only have heard Aqualung & Thick As A Brick. I found the content you give about the albums very interesting. I must purchase more Tull CD’s. Love those tour programs from the concerts you attended.👍
Check out the trilogy....
Classic Album Review Yes will do definitely. Thanks Barry.
Songs From the Wood. Has anyone ever made a better album?
My favorite as well.
Perfect album from start to finish
Jethro Tull.
Depends on your tastes really. Rainbow-Rising was amazing, Black Sabbath-Heaven and Hell, King Crimson-Red, Rush-2112, all great
irishguy13 None better
I have long vehemently proclaimed the classic trio of albums; Songs From The Wood, Heavy Horses, and Storm Watch as pure genius. Masterpieces.
Another great analysis review.including Broadsword and The Beast. Their last true masterpiece.
Benefit is the number one for me 👍
Me too. Maybe because it was my first and it was so different from everything else I was hearing at the time. 2nd best was the quite different Songs From the Woods.
I agree, followed by Aqualung then Benefit.
Heavy Horses and the adjacent two for me...
Ditto
Benefit is superb with Michael Collins, Jeffrey and Me one of his finest ever
Really enjoying this channel. Tull to me will always be the first 4 albums with Stand Up and Benefit as numbers 1 and 2. Saw the Aqualung tour in 1971 just before HS graduation. But after watching this presentation I will certainly be re-listening to albums mentioned that I am not real familiar with. Like to see you do this with the Kinks, my favorite ever.
Just picked up Broadsword remastered. Going to blast it on my upcoming road trip!
Excellent
Beastie!!
@@Twotontessie I like to help get rid of it but I've got one of my own !
Thanks for sharing your knowledge in this thoughtful review. I'm going to take a fresh look at: Catfish Rising, Stormwatch, Crest of a Knave, and A Passion Play as a result. A Passion Play at the top is a tough one for me to grasp but I'll listen with an open mind and see if I can get it. Certainly there are parts of A Passion Play that have always grabbed my emotions in a way that the other Tull albums do not. My Top 5 are #1 Benefit, #2 Stand Up, Songs from the Wood, Aqualung, and Thick as a Brick. I've always had a great affinity for Warchild, Minstrel in the Gallery, and Heavy Horses (wow, your #5!) that lifts them higher in my ranking than some critics. I remember riding my bicycle to the record store on the days that Songs from the Wood and Heavy Horses came out and not really knowing what to make of them. After all, think of what came before them in comparison. They were very different. Those two albums get better with every play and they are among the true gems. Down towards the bottom of your list, the assessment of 'A' is fair. It really was a solo album. Eddie Jobson is amazing and there are some interesting things going on there. That concert tour was enjoyable. I'd add that "Roots to Branches" is the "best of the worst albums" for lack of a better term. I was pleasantly surprised when I first heard it. I think it has some interesting themes and musical influences. ...thanks again.
After many years of digesting Tull, my top 5 are:
1. A Passion play
2. Stand Up
3. Minstrel in the Gallery
4. Stormwatch
5. Songs From The Wood
Guarantee the next 5 aren't too shabby either.
Stand Up is a real gem.
1. A Passion Play
2. Aqualang
3. Stand Up
4. Minstrel Gallery
5. Storm Watch / Heavy Horses
Thank you for this well thought- out analysis, very helpful for one who has only ever had Aqualung which completely enthralled me in 1973 and has happily never let go
Thank you for this; Passion Play is my favorite album, period. I feel vindicated😻😻😻
No problem!!
Very nice video .. I need to go back into my archives .. I very much like Budapest.. Great works .. thanks.
Album "Heavy Horses" is The Best One for me!
Absolutely, the best of the best.
Absolutely! Change the places between A Passion Play and Heavy Horses, which _is_ the quintessential Jethro Tull album - the must have!
Lol, just saw everyone else used the same word: "absolutely". But it's just because it's so evident.
Oh I think it's there worst I think it's worse then j tull.com and under wraps it has no memorable tracks and the writing is lazy mixed with the complete lack of musical talent and the worst album cover of all time and u have there worst album
@A F how
An by the way thank you SO MUCH for explaining the reason of how Ian Anderson's voice sounds in Heavy Horses album. I always wondered why it sounded like that
Great. Warchild would be in my top 10 too. It's too often overlooked. Excellent choice for no.1. I've loved Passion Play since the first day I heard it sometime in the later 70s. Cheers.
I loved this, mainly because I don't particularly agree with many of the rankings! I thoroughly enjoyed your insightful and thoughtful commentary on this amazing band's discography.
Excellent video. Passion Play is my all-time favorite as well. That album is entrenched in my psyche since I've been listening to it since pre-school.
I generally don't like ranking albums or artists, but I do tend to agree with a lot of your argument here. Anderson might be amused by your take on Passion Play, as I think he tends to downplay that one. I saw them perform that one in concert--very impressive.
I've loved JT for years, but surprisingly have heard little of their material. I'm starting to collect their LP's and this helps to decide which to get next which will probably be either Passion Play or Songs From The Wood.
I always watch instantly when you post a Worst to Best. I learn about so many hidden song gems.
I hope you like Tull
@@classicalbum Always have. Besides being a bit jaded by the Metal Grammy because I love Metallica.
This is an interesting and well-reasoned list, and has inspired me to investigate some of the holes in my Tull collection. Pertaining to Too Old to Rock n' Roll, I've read that it was originally intended to be an album written by Anderson for Adam Faith, who promptly rejected it. The band decided to go ahead and record it themselves. This may explain the stylistic departure apparent in this album. I still like it very much, though.
A very heartfelt, deep meaning review of Tull's albums. I might have switched Aqualung holding the top spot with A Passion Play relegated to number 2 and also bring War Child to #5. Otherwise an EXCELLENT and well thought out ranking of Tull's album rankings.
Thank you for watching..
A fair and well reasoned list! Of course us fans of Tull will quibble with relative placement this vs that,
but really well done.
Thank you... please subscribe.
I personally wouldn't put A Passion Play in the top spot, but I enjoyed your presentation. You weave a compelling argument for your list order, and your love for Anderson and company is totally apparent. I knew much of their story, but I definitely learned a thing or two. Good show.
Couldn't agree more with Passion Play as #1, though I didn't appreciate it for many years. The medley of "Memory Bank",
"Best Friends" and "Critique Oblique" forms one of the greatest musical movements in rock, showcasing Tull at their best. Power combined with subtlety, brilliantly executed. I hope Martin brings it back on his tour. I seriously doubt that Ian will ever perform any of it again.
So many great songs and albums. It is indeed a matter of personal taste to rank them. Thanks for a great summary and run down.
This is a great list from a true fan of Jetrho Tull. This is only my 2nd listening of reviews from the Classic Album Review Channel, with my 1st listening the review of A Passion Play, #1 on this list (spolier alert). And, APP as #1 tells you a lot about this reviewer and his interest in JT. It got me listening again to APP and I recently actually used "The Story of the Hare Who Lost His Spectacles" juxtaposed with Aesops The Story of the Tortoise and the Hare to make a larger point (America does not need to find its spare pare, but it needs new vision with a new prescription, the tortoise is China), so thanks again, I would not have revisited Anderson's fable without your review showing up in my YT feed.
I consider myself a big JT fan, 1st becoming aware of them in 1972, and my first live concert was their 3rd live playing of APP ever in 1973, Richmond VA. My last Tull album I bought was Songs From the Wood (#4) until I bought one not included here (none of the compilation albums were included, understandably), in 2003, The Jethro Tull Chirstmas Album, which I still play quite a bit. Living In the Past being the other favorite compilation album I really liked, along with the title hit, and its 5/4 time signature to 4/4 (just like Cream's White Room another from that period).
As someone who was mostly familiar with the work of #s 15, 9, 7, 6, 4, 3, 2, 1, I feel that I must have some common taste in JT fandom with this reviewer. I was familiar with some of the songs from the other albums, their being played on progressive radio over the years, but hearing this compilation review really gives a great, broad overview of the career of Ian Anderson and Jethro Tull.
And, JT did win their only Grammy with #8.
I use that turn of phrase because perhaps, like Bruce Springsteen in the USA, had Ian named his band that way from the beginning, as "Ian Anderson and the Jetrho Tull band" (like BS and the E Street Band), he might, might have made it into the R&R HOF. I agree with the reviewer that JT is inherently a British band with old English, and British influences, along with Jazz, Indian, barouque/classical and that is both why I like them and likely, perhaps, why they have been excluded from the R&R HOF. Other British bands that made it there - Rolling Stones, Beatles, Clapton/Cream, Led Zeplin, many others all had American musical influences and that really was not Ian's influence at all after #15, This Was. A line from one of the Benefit Album songs notes this when Ian says "Blues used to be my favorite colour" (or close to that, help me with the song there JT fans).
Anyway, great work again, I guess I will have to listen to some more reviews.
Yes, please do and thank you for your comments
Man, you really master your subject. I certainly respect your insight. On top of that you have a very Jethro Tullish look.
I listen to too much Tull - I'm morphing into Ian Anderson