That's my favorite from them too... heavy, proggy and with all the folky elements, it might be their most balanced album, with some of Martin's best guitar playing... Black Satin Dancer is definitely my favorite Jethro Tull song...
Hi Barry, I just watched your top 10 tull songs followed by Petes worst to best albums. What a great afternoon. "If you wear a warmer sporran, you can keep the foe at bay. You can pop those pills and visit some psychiatrist who'll say There's nothing I can do for you, everywhere's a danger zone. I'd love to help get rid of it, but I've got one of my own. Beastie. Only Ian could write these sublime lyrics". Andy H
That should make it easier, because some albums should hit the spot more than others, if they truly are diverse enough. This is exactly the case. Unless one uses another argument, that of "quality" and/or personality. Then I guess it becomes more even (understandable to a fan, but less relevant to any random listener).
I have not heard all their albums. Aqualung will always be my number one. Every song is great. Too old to rock and roll is the worst I've heard so far. Ian Anderson's lyrics were great, as most of his lyrics usually were, but the execution in this album was bad.
Great that Pete explains the Superbowl to those of us who are not American and wouldn't necessarily know what the hell it exactly is. Great channel Pete and peace from Glasgow 🏴 Scotland.
Saw this video when you released it a few years ago and I come back to it from time to time. I love Tull and I really appreciate this list. Actually fun to agree and disagree with the rankings to make me think where I might rank them and also it gets me to go "Hey, I missed that deep cut (Occasional Demons)" or "I forgot all about that song, I have to go back to it (Dark Ages)". Thanks man!
My top 5: 1. Thick as a Brick Such an amazing album, and my 2nd favourite album of all time. Everything flows together so well and it’s just an absolute masterpiece. 2. Songs From The Wood I absolutely love this album, and the genre is something I’ve never seen done anywhere else. This album cemented Jethro Tull as a band that is truly one of a kind. 3. Aqualung An absolute classic. Almost every song in this is a masterpiece and an absolute bop. The guitar work in this is amazing and Jethro Tull dominated the hard rock genre. 4. A Passion Play This felt like a jazzier twist on TAAB, and I absolutely loved it. It’ll obviously never compete with the masterpiece that is Thick as a Brick, but I still love it as both a piece of music, and as a concept. 5. Stand Up Jethro Tull can truly dominate any genre, and they totally dominated the blues genre. So many songs in this albums are absolute classics.
Pretty much agree with your top 5 but I'd put in Stormwatch at #5 and no Songs From The Wood and bump the other albums up a notch with TAAB still at #1.
You nailed it today!!! Benefit is one of the great albums of all time. That was the best cup of coffee I have ever had. The wonderful Martin Barre. Great job.
I put TAAB first but I find myself going back to listen to Benefit more often than any other Tull album. Right up there with Disraeli Gears and LZ 4 for greatest hard rock lp of all time
Hard to rank these records, but I agree when it comes to "Benefit". Great album with no weak spots in my opinion. My own top 5 would probably look like this : 1. Benefit 2. Aqualung 3. Thick as a brick 4. Minstrel 5. Stand up Well, at least these are the albums i keep going back to when i get an urge for Tull :)
Only ever heard Living in the Past Pete, but never listened to anything else. Now I've seen this I will have to check them out. Most definitely thanks Pete for the heads up much appreciated. Great Show, Great Channel 🎶🎶🎶👍👍👍🍻🍻🍻.
check out tull miming to 'the mouse police never sleeps' and a great live version of 'minstrel in the gallery'. Love their 'rural rock' songs from the wood / horses / stormwatch period the most.
BRAVO, sir! What a marvelous dissertation on the music of Jethro Tull. Whether you and I agree on our rankings is irrelevant; it is obvious you have great respect, admiration, passion, and love for the music. And - for me - you have put into words the emotions I have carried through my life for this music. For that alone I am deeply grateful.
True, I hate when people call Songs From The Wood a "folk" album, yeah the folk element is definitely there but you wouldn't hear songs like Velvet Green, Pibroch (Cap In Hand), Hunting Girl, The Whistler, or the title track on a true folk album. Only the two shortest tracks are purely folk, Jack-In-The-Green and Fire At Midnight. To me the album is progressive rock but with a heavy folk flavor to it (same thing for Heavy Horses).
@@Nemesis7475 good list. I think Heavy Horses is very underrated. Would be surprised if any Tull fan never had Songs From The Woods at least in the top five. I like the first half of Thick As A Brick much more than the second half. Minstrel In The Gallery and Benefit are also good. Tull never made many mediocre albums, not up to Stormwatch anyway. A was a bit so so as was Too Old To Rock N Roll.
Bonus points for the great mention of Dark Ages. One of my favourite Tull tracks from a personal favourite record. A criminally overlooked song. Nice video, enjoyed your views on this
I agree re: Dark Ages being a great song. The problem with some Tull albums is". The Mix. They could never decide whether to be heavier (and they SHOULD have)
Songs From The Wood has been my absolute favorite album of all time, since I first heard it in '77. Phenomenal songwriting, instrumentation, and some wicked vocal harmony. I'm norrnally a minor key guy, but this album stays in the major key from start to finish, and does it masterfully. I listen to this on special occasions only.
I was slightly disappointed with it when it was released because I thought it didn't have enough hard rock on it, Hunting Girl being the exception. Since then, I have changed my opinion about it. It is a great album with great songs and much underrated.
Well done sir! Just found your channel and enjoyed this a lot. Been rediscovering Tull ever since TAAB2, as I had become disenchanted with them (and busy with life) after Walk Into Light and Under Wraps (excepting, of course, their return to “commercial greatness” with Crest of a Knave). Saw TAAB 1 & 2, two nights apart (Vienna, VA, then Philly) and have ever since and again been proud of my love of Anderson/Tull music and admiration for Ian himself. What a great musical journey we’ve been taken on, courtesy of IA.
It has a special place in mine too. Great to see a lot of love for this record in the comments as it largely seems quite ignored in their catalog. It's such a transitional work coming off of Stand Up. IIRC Ian said something to the effect that because of some of the experimental sounds on the record, people thought of it as a "drug" record. And while he didn't do drugs, he did concede that Benefit could be considered a Lowenbrau record.
Pete you are amazing. Thanks for taking the time to dedicate an episode to one of the world's best and most under appreciated bands. They are unique in sound, look and stage performance (totally outrageous). Great job ranking the music. Thanks again.
So many styles explored by Ian and the boys over time. 1. Passion Play 2. Stand Up 3. Benefit 4. Songs From the Wood 5. Minstrel in the Gallery 6. Heavy Horses 7. Thick as a Brick 8. Aqualung 9. Living in the Past 10. Crest of a Knave
Growing up the the late 70s, I never really "got" Tull. It wasn't until I hit 50 years old that it dawned on me. Incredible music and they have at least 7 albums that are fantastic. Everything they produced from '69 to '79 in particular. Hard to pick a favorite.
Found your channel just recently and a big thumbs up from across the [pond in the U.K! I would have to say that for me personally Benefit is one of my favourites as it has a certain vibe to it that gives it real charm. Always an album I like to go back to every so often and enjoy listening to. As they say class always lasts!
Benefit was the first album that my sister bought. She was 5 years older than me, but didn't mind that I played it as well. It was on an old stereogram. It really shaped what I thought about music. Martins guitar on 'Teacher' was so dynamic, and the band was as one unit. Thanks Gina!
Great Taste in Music Pete. I admire and respect you. Jethro Tull is in My Top 10 Favorite Rock Acts of All Time !! ( nnio ) : - Jethro Tull - KISS - The Rolling Stones - RUSH - ZZ Top - Van Hagaroth - Lynryd Skynyrd - Billy Joel - JC Mellencamp - The Beatles
YES!!! Was waiting in suspense by #5 to see if Benefit was going to be your #1 pic.. Benefit I absolutely love it always been my #1 favorite Tull album What a massive discography this band has
Songs from the Wood is a masterpiece! It’s such an uplifting album and Barriemore Barlow kills it on this Tull classic. Aqualung and Minstrel in the Gallery are a close second favorite for me. Again the drumming is incredible! Clive and Barriemore are legends!!
I have been a 'Tull fan since the mid seventies. I would generally agree with your choice of favourites. If I had to pick a favourite individual song, it would probably be My God, which I have been lucky enough to have seen them perform live twice. What I really like about your video though, is that you make it plain that these are your personal favourites. I remember being absolutely flamed by Mr Rick Beato, after daring to suggest that he prefixed one of his 'Best Of' videos with IMHO. You have a new subscriber Sir.
Recently listened to the entirety of Thick As A Birck. Absolutely amazing album and it was a blast from start to finish. As for my favourite Jethro Tull album, mine is probably Songs From The Woods purely because it's a very nostalgic album for me as, it was not only the first Jethro Tull album I listened to, but it was my introduction to the progressive rock genre, so for that it has a very special place in my heart.
First album that got my interest was Bursting Out. Seeing them live in '78 made me a fan ! It was the second concert I ever went to, & still remains in my top 10 shows I've ever been to. Just got introduced to this channel. Very good !!!
And a major THANK YOU for the heads up about Ian Anderson's Thick As A Brick 2. I did not know that it even existed and after watching your show, I immediately found it. On my third listen of the night already!! Thanks again Pete!!
Just a couple of friendly corrections: It was "A", not Under Wraps which was originally to be an Anderson solo album. TAAB2 is very definitely Anderson solo. Ian ended Tull in 2011 and performed under his own name until very recently. He now appears to be using the Tull name again.
That's right.. I wasn't watching this, only listening and I was assuming he was talking about "A" until he mentioned Under Wraps. I did hear the the "A" stood for Anderson as it was going to be a solo effort. As an aside; Crossfire from the A album was about the SAS storming the Iranian Embassy in London in 1980. Under Wraps isn't a bad album. I do like lots of the tracks on there, although performing it live did a lot of damage to Ian's voice at the time.
@Martin Hayward Ian is Jethro Tull just like fogery is CCR and mark Knopfler is dire straits and ELO is jeff lynne. Anyone who they hire makes up the rest of the band but without those guys you don't have those bands
Fall of 73 I was a sophomore, and in our school library/media center were private rooms with glass doors, the rooms used for listening to record albums with library provided record players and albums. One day I walked past a room with two guys in my class I didn't really know, listening to a Mozart classical album propped up against the wall. For whatever reason I stopped and took in the scene, thinking one day I would do what they were doing. Surprisingly, they smiled and waved me inside. "Hey, you like classical music, right?" one of them asked. "Yeah, it's fine, I suppose, depending on what it is," I probably said. The truth is that at that point in my life, classical would have been the LAST music I wanted to hear. The great sounds of all that incredible 60's and early 70's classic rock was my passion. It was everywhere, on radio, TV, juke boxes, car 8-track players. FM rock out of Cleveland was especially dynamic, and with me still a few months away from buying my first decent turntable and the beginnings of my record collecting, radio was all I listened to. My favorite bands at the time were Deep Purple and Grand Funk. "You gotta hear this incredible Mozart composition," one of them said. They handed me the headphones plugged into the record player, and dropped the tonearm at the start of the album. Instead of Mozart, I heard the opening riff to Aqualung! I hadn't heard it before, and my eyes went wide. They laughed, then opened up the Mozart album sleeve to reveal the Tull album hidden inside. They obviously planned that ruse, signing out a record player and an "approved" album as a cover to listen to their rock and prog albums. The three of us became fast friends from that day forward, our friendship based around music.
I learned to really appreciate B&B by just cranking it up in the car. Plus hearing all the outtakes and realizing all the work and writing that goes into making these albums. Broadsword turned into one of my faves.
Some great songs. Pussy Willow is very catchy and Beastie is good played loud. Always a favourite of mine. Maybe because it was the Broadsword tour when I first saw them.
@@mrgrey361 or for that matter, anything they did after A Passion Play for me. I saw them in 1970, 1972, 1973, and 1976. The first two were by far the best followed by 1976 and that horrid PP tour in 1973. The '76 show was better than '73. They actually played a lot of their older stuff cause Ian figured out that the audience didn't want to hear APP anymore. Good call Ian
I bet most of us came to know and love Tull just as the 70s started. We gave them our hearts as young people so the albums from those early years are what helped shape our musical appreciation. Thank goodness for Ian and all the JT members over 55 years.
As someone else mentioned, Tull had quite a few different line-ups but they were all great, with superb musicianship and top-notch players. The last "Tull" album, if you will, that I bought, was Ian's TAAB 2 album and while Martin Barre was disappointingly absent, it's a solid album overall and Ian's bandmembers delivered, even the guitarist's tone and playing were kinda in the Barre vein. Quite Tull-like album, as expected but perhaps a bit more "modern-sounding" imo. Underrated but surprisingly good
My top Tull list changes with my mood but Benefit, Aqualung, Thick, Stand Up, and Minstrel always are in the mix along with War Child and Living. What I always found interesting, and probably why I like them so much, are the sometimes weird and unusual time signatures Anderson uses. That and the fact that through all the line-up changes the musicianship has been incredible. My favorite Anderson story is that when his daughter took up the flute he realized he's been playing it 'wrong' all those years. He relearned how to play it 'properly'.
You have no idea what you did to me. I am now devouring all my Tull albums and I’m in Tull musical heaven! Great ranking as always. And about shout outs, Rainbow Blues from MU1 was one of my favorite one offs!
Tull is easily one of the best bands of all time, and Anderson is something of a genius, musically. He taught himself to play the flute and just one year later Tull release their first album! His guitar work isn't too shabby also, and plays some fairly complex acoustic work whilst singing. I've been playing the superb live album 'Bursting Out' a great deal of late - what a band and John Glascock's bass playing is top-notch! My favourite studio album is 'Songs From The Wood,' but there are so many great ones to choose from. I agree with Pete on 'Under Wraps, it's an execrable album! It's a shame Ian had such voice problems, he really struggles with the singing these days. It always amazes me how many superb bands have come out of such a small country like the UK; of course America has produced some equally stunning bands etc, but there's just something a bit special with Britain: Tull, Purple, Sabbath, Zeppelin, The Who, Uriah Heep, Lizzy, Queen, Floyd, The Stones, The Beatles, Maiden, Priest, Fleetwood Mac, Genesis, Cream, Rainbow, Bad Company, T.Rex, Whitesnake, UFO, Blind Faith, Mott The Hoople, ELP, Yes, Ten Years After, Small Faces, Quo, Wishbone Ash, and loads I've probably left off, incredible!
Yes , like it is The Wellspring , the very Fountainhead of the Mystic Vapors of the Creativity Muses and Gods of Rock , and flows outwards from there , diluting as it covers the earth . So there is some everywhere , but right there , in that beautiful land , must be it's purest , undistilled source ! Or something else . Yeah , PROBABLY something else that doesn't sound near as cool as this explanation .
This is the best video you have ever done Pete. I love videos dedicated to the best band of all time, Jethro tull. Well done. I am here to give you my ranking. It will probably be controversial, but we all have our own choices. Just remember everybody is entitled to their own opinion, commenters of SOT. Here it is: 1. Benefit (This was a toss up between Benefit and aqualung for #1, but I chose benefit because I think there is not a bad song on it) My favorite songs are nothing to say, son, to cry you a song, a time for everything, Inside, and play in time. 2. Aqualung (This might be #1 on other people’s lists, but I find benefit slightly better, this was a hard choice) My favorite songs are the title track. Cross eyed mary, Hymn 43, Up to me, My god, and Locomotive breath. 3. Stand up (Great album, there is a good mix of rock, blues, and folk on here) My favorite songs are A new day yesterday, Back to the family, Nothing is easy, Fat man, We used to know, and for a thousand mothers. 4. Stormwatch (Very underrated album, people need to listen to this if they haven't) My favorite songs are North sea oil, Dark ages, Somethings on the move, old ghosts, and flying dutchman. 5. Crest of a Knave (This album deserved the grammy over metallica, don't @ me) My favorite songs are Steel monkey, Farm on the freeway, Jump start, and Raising steam. 6. Rock island (I think this is a very underrated album, rockin' album) My favorite songs are Ears of tin, the title track, Heavy water, Whalers dues, and Big riff and mando. 7. J tull dot com (Pete ranked this low, but I love this album it's underrated) My favorite songs are Spiral, AWOL, Wicked windows, Hunt by numbers, Black Mamba, and El Nino. 8. Songs from the wood (Great medieval folk rock album) My favorite songs are the title track, Cup of wonder, Hunting girl, and Velvet green. 9. A ( This is an underrated album, very good tunes on here) My favorite songs are Crossfire, Fylingdale flyer, Black Sunday, Working john working joe, and 4.W.D. 10. Minstrel in the Gallery (The title track alone makes it a top ten album) My favorite songs are the title track, Cold wind to valhalla, Black satin dancer, and Baker st muse. 11. Heavy Horses ( At first I didn't really like it, but have grown to like it) My favorite songs are And the mouse police never sleeps, No lullaby, Rover, and the title track. 12. Thick as a brick (I prefer separate songs rather than 1 long song, but I like this album) 13. Broadsword and the beast (Like this album, interesting electronic style on it) My favorite songs are Beastie, Fallen on hard times, Pussy willow, and Seal driver. 14. Warchild (Fun album, I like it) My Favorite songs are the title track, Bungle in the jungle, and Skating away. 15. Too old to rock n roll too young to die (Mostly folky and acoustic stuff, not a big of it, but it has some good rock tunes on it) My favorite songs are Quizz kid, Taxi Grab, Big dipper, and the title track. 16. Under wraps (Some people would have this being the worst, but I don't think it's that bad) My favorite songs are Lap of Luxury, European Legacy, Saboteur, Heat, and Under wraps #1. 17. Catfish Rising (Still bluesy but I find it more catchier than the blues on This was) My favorite songs are this is not love, doctor to my disease, and still loving you tonight. 18. This Was (not a big blues fan, also the production isn't very good) My favorite songs are My sunday feeling and a song for jeffrey. 19. Christmas Album (Good for christmas time, don’t really listen to it any other time accept for christmas) My favorite songs on it are Greensleeves and A christmas song. 20. Roots to Branches (Never really liked the indian flavor on that album) The only song I like on it is the title track. 21. Passion Play (I know this is a well loved tull album but i'm sorry it's too eccentric for me. I have tried to get into it, I just can't)
I unapologetically agree!! It is a complete work of genius. I was disappointed to hear Ian Anderson himself discounts his own work in this case. He seems to think he "took it too far", but as far as I am concerned there is not one wasted note on it. I enjoy Mr. Pardo's description of it here!
The first 7 LPs are the cream of the crop for me.. but I’m old and started listening to Tull on this was!! It should be in the top five!! Great job Pete
Benefit is my favorite as well. Nothing To Say is Tull at their most psychedelic. Passion Play is definitely close to the top for me. The last 10 minutes is incredibly powerful and has brought me to tears.
Great reviews! JT have been my favorite group my entire life, and I appreciate your balanced and reasonable approach. Quite often critics tear the albums they dislike to shreds while praising their favorites, but you offer a fair and balanced viewpoint throughout. I love Stormwatch, Roots to Branches, Songs From the Wood...etc. so it was great to hear your opinion on those. Fantastic job!
"My God" is a electrified, progged up version of "God Bless The Child" By Blood Sweat & Tears (originally by Billie Holliday). Listen and you'll hear the clear connection
Have loved Tull for years. My top cd for many of those was Broadsword & The Beast ... mainly because that was the one that introduced me to the band. That said, my top 10 now are: 1. Songs From The Wood 2. Broadsword 3. Stormwatch 4. Heavy Horses 5. Passion Play 6. Thick As A Brick 7. Catfish Rising 8. Under Wraps 9. Benefit 10. Walk Into Light ... I know, it's an Ian solo record but I really love it.
Awesome video, Pete, can't wait to dive in on the others in this series. As for my favorite Tull albums, Aqualung as TAAB will always sit atop, but Minstrel and the trio of Songs From The Wood, Heavy Horses and Stormwatch are close by. From the early stuff, Benefit is the best and it rocks! I have to give 'A' a try. I like some early 80's new wave stuff synth-y like Peter Gabriel, King Crimson, etc.
Pete. How the hell are ya, I love ya baby. Right out of the gate I'm receiving some education lol I had no idea Jethro Tull had an enormous discography or they recorded a Christmas album lol You are so real and honest and you are quite a teacher. Love the channel! Take care man
One of your best videos, Pete! Tull has long been my favorite band and I have every album of theirs (plus all of Ian's and Martin's solo work) so I consider myself a bit of a Tull expert. I can't argue with your thoughtful list as it's very sound. For me, the "folk" trilogy of SFTW, HH, and SW make my top 3. I agree with you on SW--that album is an absolute underrated gem in the discography. I always saw SFTW as the autumn album, SW as the winter album, and HH as the spring album. All 3 albums are must-haves. At #4 is TAAB. #5 is Minstrel. #6 is Stand Up. #7 is Aqualung. #8 is A Passion Play. #9 is Benefit. And #10 is Broadsword and the Beast (narrowly edging out Crest). Also great to see love for Nightcap and the Christmas Album...fantastic albums! Under Wraps has some great melodies on it but they're overshadowed by the dated 80's production. If that record were re-released without the drum machine and synths, many of us Tull fans would discover it's actually pretty good. You are also correct that Roots to Branches is a very fine late career gem. Finally, although the album is not one of their best, the SONG "Rock Island" is terrific. Long live the Tull!
My first Rock-Concert in my life was during the "Heavy Horses-Tour". I love this album and until this very day I am very, very impressed of Barrymore Barlows Drum Solo! Regard "Bursting out - J.T. live" - "Conundrum"! Milestone!
Thank you for doing this!!!!…. Been a Tull fan a looooong time good to know there's more still out there! Never missed a tour since 77....Songs from the wood at MSG was amazing!! Respect your list choices so easy to flip/flop many of these so great job....Stand Up, Songs From the Wood, Aqualung, PP, TAAB my top 5....Yeah Under Wraps is at the bottom for me too....I'd have Crest a little higher too...
Does anyone know where Tull got the album cover for War Child. It looks like a night city shot of Sydney Australia. There is a neon Coles sign which I think is only a Sydney store?
Pete Thanks for this great ranked list of one of my favorite bands. At first I agreed with you about putting Aqualung in 2nd place. (My favorite has always been Stand Up). HOWEVER, just re-listened to Aqualung and having Locomotive Breath almost at the end, but then closing the album with Wind-Up reminded me what a masterpiece Aqualung is, not only musically, but also the social commentary....wow!
Funny how everyone develops special bonds with different albums. I got Under Wraps in early 1986 and it was the “current” Jethro Tull album at the time. I felt really proud of its modern sound and listened to it constantly! Still one of my favorites.
Great ranking. It's so close to mine! You really know what talking about. But mine have Dot Com in top ten. I love this album. I can't believe you put it in position 21.
My top three: "Songs from the wood", "Heavy horses" and "Stormwatch" from their 77-79 period. Love these trilogy , also the band lineup. There are so many great Tull albums, no "mistake" is possible. ☺
Hi Pete, One of my all time faves and am enjoying their reissues immensely. Great list. My list: 19 - This Was.. good.... never get to it but has some fine moments. 18 - A Passion Play.... really hard time grasping it.... 17 - Catfish Rising... good... not much play 16 - Rock Island... same as above. 15 - A.... Love it when I listen to it. 14- Broadsword and the Beast.. .enjoy this 13- Crest of a Knave... good album deserved an award... not metal though 12 - Roots to Branches... great.. 11- Too Old to Rock n Roll too young to die.. Like it. 10 - Stand Up 9 - Christmas Album 8 - Benefit 7 - Stormwatch 6 - Warchild 5- Thick as a Brick 4- Songs from the Wood 3 - Heavy Horses 2 - Minstrel in the Gallery 1- Aqualung Great video... great band and exquisite discography. God bless Tino
Great segment! I was looking forward to seeing this! My top 5: 1- Songs From The Wood 2- Warchild 3- Aqualung 4- Heavy Horses 5- Minstrel in the Gallery Hemmed and hawed over top 5: Storm Watch Benefit Passion Play
Great review and ranking! I would have changed up the top five a bit. My ranking is as follows: #1 - Thick. I have it on vinyl and just love the heavy John Evan Hammond Oregon and keyboards played through much of the album. There are very few "lite" tracks as the intensity is cranked up on this album. Martin Barre's guitar licks are fantastic on this track. The story goes that this record was in response to a critique that the previous album, Aqualung, was a concept album. No mistake, TAAB IS a concept album and a damn good one too. #2 - Aqualung. You can't deny the killer tracks on this record. The title track, "Cross-Eyed Mary","Hymn 43", and "Locomotive Breath" are classic rock staples. Killer guitar licks and classic licks especially the title track. Outstanding piano intro on Locomotive thanks to Mr. Evan along with Mr. Barre's reverbing guitar. As Pete mentions, the track "My God" starts out very acoustic I believe Ian Anderson is playing guitar and Evan playing piano then all hell breaks loose when Mr. Barre hits the strings on the electric guitar. Just a freaking awesome track that very rarely gets any airplay. A phenomenal song on a fantastic record. #3 - Benefit. "Teacher" was the big hit off this record. Another solid guitar riff courtesy of Mr. Barre. A great song and excellent flute work by Mr. Anderson. "To Cry You A Song" has another wonderful guitar riff thanks to Mr. Barre's very fine fretwork. It's got a killer bluesy riff with solid bass and drums provided by Glenn McCormick and Clive Bunker who would eventually depart from the band with Jeffrey Hammond coming on as the bassist on the next record and Barriemore Barlow taking over the drum kit on the Thick album. #4 Songs From The Wood. This album begins to sound called the folk era of Tull with the trifecta of this record, Heavy Horses and Stormwatch. SFTW is the most "English Folklore" record in the vein of medieval England. The title starts out uptempo and acoustic but quickly jumps into a rocker. John Evan's keyboards are the star here with a lot of synth and piano. As the track gets heavier, Ian's flute starts to take over. Really a great song. "Jack In The Green" captures the English Folk sound quite well. with the flute and acoustic guitar lute and mandolin. Out of the three "folk period" records, this one is the best. #5 - Stand Up. This record sums up the end of the Tull's blues period and is easily better than their first release. "A New Day Yesterday" is a killer blues track. It's a heavy blues track. Martin Barre joined the band on this record and definitely made his mark on New Day. That blues riff gets in your head and hangs out there for a while. "Bouree" is easily the Tull's best-known instrumental with Ian Anderson showing off his skills as a flutist. His command of the flute is truly inspiring! As you listen to inflections as he plays with his almost skat-like injections as he plays the flute is really fantastic. If I added a # 6 it would be the live album "Busting Out". This album was released in 1978 as a double record/CD. At this time, the classic lineup of the band was primarily intact with the addition of John Glascock on bass and the addition of Dee Palmer on keyboards along with John Evan on keyboards, Martine Barre on guitar, Ian on vocals, flute, acoustic guitar, and Barriemore Barlow on drums. The tracks were taken from various shows between May and June of 1978. There are RUclips videos of songs from the tour. The song, "Skating Away" John Evan actually leaves the Hammond Orgon and plays drums while Barriemore Barlow plays glockenspiel. On "Songs From The Woods" Ian Anderson jokes that the blokes in the band get to sing in unison which they do fantastically. Again, this is a live recording and the fellas pull off the almost acapella part really well. A good portion of the hits are on this record and the live recording is exquisite.
For me, I might sound weird with this ranking, and it's really hard for me to choose between Tull's albums between 1968 and 1977, but for now it's: 20- Under Wraps 19- Rock Island 18- Jethro-Tull Dot Com 17- A 16- Catfish Rising 15- Stormwatch 14- The Broadsword And the Beast 13- Roots To Branches 12- Crest Of Knave 11- Too Old To Rock N' Roll; Too Young To Die 10- A Passion Play 09- This Was 08- Heavy Horses 07- Stand Up 06- Benefit 05- Minstrel In the Gallery 04- War Child 03- Aqualung 02- Songs From the Wood 01- This As A Brick
Really enjoyed this video! Tull are a band I’ve loved since I first listened to my older brother’s copy of Stand Up. Tull’s strength was that they were always seeking a new style or approach for each album. As disappointing as Under Wraps was, at least they tried something different. It’s almost impossible to rank over 20 albums, so I often do a ‘favourite from each decade top five’: 60’s - Stand Up 70’s - Heavy Horses 80’s - Crest of a Knave 90’s - Roots to Branches 00’s - Christmas Album
1. A 2. Thick As a Brick 3. Songs from the Wood 4. Under Wraps 5. Heavy Horses 6. War Child 7. Stand Up 8. A Passion Play 9. Benefit 10. Aqualung 11. Stormwatch 12. Broadsword and the Beast No particular order after that.
Under Wraps is not crap...when you ever saw Tull LIVE is when you jumped in and followed that album. Uneducated trolls criticize the albums and wish that Catfish Rising was their favorite album. Why is 'A' your favorite???? [I love 'A' but it's not my fav]
There is no such thing as a bad Jethro Tull album (there . . . . . . I said it!), which makes them extremely difficult to rank. Half are excellent to some degree, and the other half are very good to some degree. Unlike many folks, I love Under Wraps . . . . . . but it would go in that second half rather than the first. To me it's just a measure of how great Tull is.
Just went through the whole catalog. Thanks for turning me on to some of these albums. Note: A is actually Ian Anderson's solo album turned Tull album. The tapes were labeled "A" for Anderson. Not Under Wraps. FYI. Rock on Pete!!!!
Doing this list before watching the video. 1) Benefit. My first Tull Album. Not a single weak moment on this album. 2) Broadsword and the Beast. I'm a Scot and this is a Scottish album. Broadsword, The Clasp and Beastie. Watching you, Watching me is so much fun. I saw them in Montpellier, France when they toured this. 3) Every other album they ever made. Ian Anderson is from the same town as me as are Nazareth (I lived opposite Pete Agnew) and the Skids/Big Country. Proud to be Scottish and proud to be european!
That's pretty awesome. Nazareth was another favorite band of mine during the 70's, from Razamanaz and onwards, killer albums. My Tull adventure began with Stand Up, they sounded like no one else. Brilliant album, i became a instant fan
I was going to list my favorite albums, but after hearing your list, I can't really disagree, like you said, I might have switched a few of them around a couple of spots, but overall I pretty much agree with you on the rankings you gave them. I saw almost every tour Jethro Tull did in fact I saw them 44 times. They're my favorite band of all time. the songs you mentioned were all great songs. Your music taste is very much like mine keep up the good work. I enjoy all your videos
Thanks for this vid, really enjoyed kicking back to think about your observations. There are some gems on their 25th anniversary CD set - you've probably come across 'part of the machine', 'jack-a-lynn', 'broadford bazaar' (a great folk song). Off topic . . if you do your fave Journey LPs, please consider separating their first 3 from the Perry-era stuff. Both great, but almost two different bands. Best wishes from London \m/
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Call me crazy but " Minstrel In The Gallery " is my favorite Jethro Tull album. Very prog heavy and dark.Cheers!
you're not crazy,Minstrel is a masterpiece and one of my top five JT albums.
That's my favorite from them too... heavy, proggy and with all the folky elements, it might be their most balanced album, with some of Martin's best guitar playing... Black Satin Dancer is definitely my favorite Jethro Tull song...
Baker St Muse is probably my favorite Tull song. Minstrel is my second favorite behind Passion Play
Not crazy, but it’s not my favorite.
Absolutely agreed!
Passion Play gets my vote for #1. That's the one I can listen to forever and never get tired of it.
Absolutely. You nailed it.
Tull are such a diverse band it is tricky trying to rank the albums
Hi Barry,
I just watched your top 10 tull songs followed by Petes worst to best albums. What a great afternoon.
"If you wear a warmer sporran, you can keep the foe at bay.
You can pop those pills and visit some psychiatrist who'll say
There's nothing I can do for you, everywhere's a danger zone.
I'd love to help get rid of it, but I've got one of my own. Beastie. Only Ian could write these sublime lyrics".
Andy H
That should make it easier, because some albums should hit the spot more than others, if they truly are diverse enough. This is exactly the case. Unless one uses another argument, that of "quality" and/or personality. Then I guess it becomes more even (understandable to a fan, but less relevant to any random listener).
I have not heard all their albums. Aqualung will always be my number one. Every song is great. Too old to rock and roll is the worst I've heard so far. Ian Anderson's lyrics were great, as most of his lyrics usually were, but the execution in this album was bad.
Awesome discography and great video thank you.
Great that Pete explains the Superbowl to those of us who are not American and wouldn't necessarily know what the hell it exactly is. Great channel Pete and peace from Glasgow 🏴 Scotland.
Thank you for the video Pete! Tull is one of those bands that never clicked for me back in the day. Gonna give it another shot!
Saw this video when you released it a few years ago and I come back to it from time to time. I love Tull and I really appreciate this list. Actually fun to agree and disagree with the rankings to make me think where I might rank them and also it gets me to go "Hey, I missed that deep cut (Occasional Demons)" or "I forgot all about that song, I have to go back to it (Dark Ages)". Thanks man!
My top 5:
1. Thick as a Brick
Such an amazing album, and my 2nd favourite album of all time. Everything flows together so well and it’s just an absolute masterpiece.
2. Songs From The Wood
I absolutely love this album, and the genre is something I’ve never seen done anywhere else. This album cemented Jethro Tull as a band that is truly one of a kind.
3. Aqualung
An absolute classic. Almost every song in this is a masterpiece and an absolute bop. The guitar work in this is amazing and Jethro Tull dominated the hard rock genre.
4. A Passion Play
This felt like a jazzier twist on TAAB, and I absolutely loved it. It’ll obviously never compete with the masterpiece that is Thick as a Brick, but I still love it as both a piece of music, and as a concept.
5. Stand Up
Jethro Tull can truly dominate any genre, and they totally dominated the blues genre. So many songs in this albums are absolute classics.
Pretty much agree with your top 5 but I'd put in Stormwatch at #5 and no Songs From The Wood and bump the other albums up a notch with TAAB still at #1.
Couldn't agree more. 🎯
You nailed it today!!! Benefit is one of the great albums of all time. That was the best cup of coffee I have ever had. The wonderful Martin Barre. Great job.
I put TAAB first but I find myself going back to listen to Benefit more often than any other Tull album. Right up there with Disraeli Gears and LZ 4 for greatest hard rock lp of all time
I agree...Stormwatch is a great album that doesnt get the appreciation it deserves. I play it for people and they love it. Should be known more.
Hard to rank these records, but I agree when it comes to "Benefit". Great album with no weak spots in my opinion. My own top 5 would probably look like this :
1. Benefit
2. Aqualung
3. Thick as a brick
4. Minstrel
5. Stand up
Well, at least these are the albums i keep going back to when i get an urge for Tull :)
I love Benefit. Sossity, To Cry You a Song are treasures.
With You There to Help Me
To Michael Collins, Jeffrey and Me was played a lot in my house last summer.
@@jameschristiansson3137 the whole album is. Not a bad song on it.
Red X I have to agree 100%.
Love the accolades he gave to Stormwatch. One of my favorites.
Last Jethro Tull LP I ever bought !!
One of the best bands in the history of the world and so fun to see Tull live. Pure energy!
I can’t believe Ian Anderson is still touring.
Only ever heard Living in the Past Pete, but never listened to anything else. Now I've seen this I will have to check them out. Most definitely thanks Pete for the heads up much appreciated. Great Show, Great Channel 🎶🎶🎶👍👍👍🍻🍻🍻.
Jethro Tull is a band I largely ignored during their prime. As I've aged, I've come to really enjoy and appreciate their catalog. Aging isn't all bad.
check out tull miming to 'the mouse police never sleeps' and a great live version of 'minstrel in the gallery'. Love their 'rural rock' songs from the wood / horses / stormwatch period the most.
@@coolrocknroll Thanks! Will do.
How can you say that? Aqualung, A Passion Play, Heavy Horses, Songs from the Wood were massive at my time.
you are nuts,,,,rthey were HUGE!,,since then they perhaps have been but not in 1971 72..
@@joebloggs4754 I was seven. Learn to read and take a chill pill.
BRAVO, sir! What a marvelous dissertation on the music of Jethro Tull. Whether you and I agree on our rankings is irrelevant; it is obvious you have great respect, admiration, passion, and love for the music. And - for me - you have put into words the emotions I have carried through my life for this music. For that alone I am deeply grateful.
‘Songs From The Wood’, tops my list. Very prog and melodic.
True, I hate when people call Songs From The Wood a "folk" album, yeah the folk element is definitely there but you wouldn't hear songs like Velvet Green, Pibroch (Cap In Hand), Hunting Girl, The Whistler, or the title track on a true folk album. Only the two shortest tracks are purely folk, Jack-In-The-Green and Fire At Midnight. To me the album is progressive rock but with a heavy folk flavor to it (same thing for Heavy Horses).
My favorite description of SFTW came from the original Rolling Stone Record Guide, where the reviewer called it "pure unadulterated Elizabeth boogie"
It is my clear favourite too
I’d say these are my Top 5.
5. Songs From The Wood
4. Aqualung
3. Stormwatch
2. Heavy Horses
1. Thick as a Brick
@@Nemesis7475 good list. I think Heavy Horses is very underrated. Would be surprised if any Tull fan never had Songs From The Woods at least in the top five. I like the first half of Thick As A Brick much more than the second half. Minstrel In The Gallery and Benefit are also good. Tull never made many mediocre albums, not up to Stormwatch anyway. A was a bit so so as was Too Old To Rock N Roll.
Bonus points for the great mention of Dark Ages. One of my favourite Tull tracks from a personal favourite record. A criminally overlooked song. Nice video, enjoyed your views on this
I agree re: Dark Ages being a great song. The problem with some Tull albums is". The Mix. They could never decide whether to be heavier (and they SHOULD have)
Songs From The Wood has been my absolute favorite album of all time, since I first heard it in '77. Phenomenal songwriting, instrumentation, and some wicked vocal harmony. I'm norrnally a minor key guy, but this album stays in the major key from start to finish, and does it masterfully. I listen to this on special occasions only.
I was slightly disappointed with it when it was released because I thought it didn't have enough hard rock on it, Hunting Girl being the exception. Since then, I have changed my opinion about it. It is a great album with great songs and much underrated.
Well done sir! Just found your channel and enjoyed this a lot.
Been rediscovering Tull ever since TAAB2, as I had become disenchanted with them (and busy with life) after Walk Into Light and Under Wraps (excepting, of course, their return to “commercial greatness” with Crest of a Knave). Saw TAAB 1 & 2, two nights apart (Vienna, VA, then Philly) and have ever since and again been proud of my love of Anderson/Tull music and admiration for Ian himself. What a great musical journey we’ve been taken on, courtesy of IA.
Tull's "Benefit" album has a special place in my heart.
Great stuff..love cry you a song
It has a special place in mine too. Great to see a lot of love for this record in the comments as it largely seems quite ignored in their catalog. It's such a transitional work coming off of Stand Up. IIRC Ian said something to the effect that because of some of the experimental sounds on the record, people thought of it as a "drug" record. And while he didn't do drugs, he did concede that Benefit could be considered a Lowenbrau record.
There's a beer that was everywhere back in the day but now it's nowhere...
It's #2 on my list. I still listen to it today. Played the crap out of it this last summer starting around mid-July😉
Thats my fav album
Pete you are amazing. Thanks for taking the time to dedicate an episode to one of the world's best and most under appreciated bands. They are unique in sound, look and stage performance (totally outrageous). Great job ranking the music. Thanks again.
So many styles explored by Ian and the boys over time.
1. Passion Play
2. Stand Up
3. Benefit
4. Songs From the Wood
5. Minstrel in the Gallery
6. Heavy Horses
7. Thick as a Brick
8. Aqualung
9. Living in the Past
10. Crest of a Knave
I could not agree with you more! This is amazing! Loved your picks! Great job, great band. Really enjoyed this!
1 - Stand Up 2- Thick As a Brick 3- Aqualung 4 - Minstrel In The Gallery
Good order
Yes!! I'd put Benefit and songs from the wood next on my list.
Yess! Thanks for doing my request Pete!! My favourite band ❤️ I've always loved the folk trilogy and War Child the most!
Growing up the the late 70s, I never really "got" Tull. It wasn't until I hit 50 years old that it dawned on me. Incredible music and they have at least 7 albums that are fantastic. Everything they produced from '69 to '79 in particular. Hard to pick a favorite.
For me ...grew up in the 80's...and when I hit the 40's I started listening seriously and grow up rapidly.....
Found your channel just recently and a big thumbs up from across the [pond in the U.K! I would have to say that for me personally Benefit is one of my favourites as it has a certain vibe to it that gives it real charm. Always an album I like to go back to every so often and enjoy listening to. As they say class always lasts!
I torture my family with Jethro Tull Christmas every year lol, love that album!
Only recently discovered your vids and channel Pete, but what can i say other than brilliant, love them. Keep up the good work.
Two albums that I continually come back to are Stand Up and Heavy Horses. Also is there a better album cover than Broadsword and the Beast?
You are brilliant Pete. Love your insights and passion for music
Benefit was the first album that my sister bought. She was 5 years older than me, but didn't mind that I played it as well. It was on an old stereogram. It really shaped what I thought about music.
Martins guitar on 'Teacher' was so dynamic, and the band was as one unit.
Thanks Gina!
Excellent listing, one of the best I have seen on these channels.
I love Tull.
A Passion Play has always been my favorite.
Mine as well. Judt a great band all around.
Indeed. Good album
Long time fan of the band, but Passion Play I just don't get.
Love A Passion Play. Best Tull song is The Hare who lost his spectacles!!!
@@ParadoxapocalypSatan Totally agree...so much wasted space...and no great songs
Great Taste in Music Pete.
I admire and respect you.
Jethro Tull is in My Top 10 Favorite Rock Acts of All Time !! ( nnio ) :
- Jethro Tull
- KISS
- The Rolling Stones
- RUSH
- ZZ Top
- Van Hagaroth
- Lynryd Skynyrd
- Billy Joel
- JC Mellencamp
- The Beatles
Benefit is a hidden gem of Folk Rock and To cry You A Song has one of the catchiest riffs ever.
"Thick as a brick" is so powerful, adrenaline-inducing and complex that it makes it one of the best progressive albums.
YES!!! Was waiting in suspense by #5 to see if Benefit was going to be your #1 pic.. Benefit I absolutely love it always been my #1 favorite Tull album What a massive discography this band has
Songs from the Wood is a masterpiece!
It’s such an uplifting album and Barriemore Barlow kills it on this Tull classic. Aqualung and Minstrel in the Gallery are a close second favorite for me. Again the drumming is incredible! Clive and Barriemore are legends!!
Hunting Girl - One of the coolest/tastiest intros to a song... Ever?
Mmm I bet she was tasty, haha
In My TOP 10 Singles...EASY
Sexy as fuck. Same with Velvet Green.
Sexy as fuck. Same with Velvet Green.
Sexy as fuck. Same with Velvet Green.
I have been a 'Tull fan since the mid seventies.
I would generally agree with your choice of favourites. If I had to pick a favourite individual song, it would probably be My God, which I have been lucky enough to have seen them perform live twice.
What I really like about your video though, is that you make it plain that these are your personal favourites.
I remember being absolutely flamed by Mr Rick Beato, after daring to suggest that he prefixed one of his 'Best Of' videos with IMHO.
You have a new subscriber Sir.
Recently listened to the entirety of Thick As A Birck. Absolutely amazing album and it was a blast from start to finish.
As for my favourite Jethro Tull album, mine is probably Songs From The Woods purely because it's a very nostalgic album for me as, it was not only the first Jethro Tull album I listened to, but it was my introduction to the progressive rock genre, so for that it has a very special place in my heart.
Brilliant stuff, a superb look through the tull catalogue 👍
First album that got my interest was Bursting Out. Seeing them live in '78 made me a fan ! It was the second concert I ever went to, & still remains in my top 10 shows I've ever been to. Just got introduced to this channel. Very good !!!
And a major THANK YOU for the heads up about Ian Anderson's Thick As A Brick 2. I did not know that it even existed and after watching your show, I immediately found it. On my third listen of the night already!! Thanks again Pete!!
Just a couple of friendly corrections: It was "A", not Under Wraps which was originally to be an Anderson solo album. TAAB2 is very definitely Anderson solo. Ian ended Tull in 2011 and performed under his own name until very recently. He now appears to be using the Tull name again.
qdaveq yes sir correct. I loved Mark Craney
That's right.. I wasn't watching this, only listening and I was assuming he was talking about "A" until he mentioned Under Wraps.
I did hear the the "A" stood for Anderson as it was going to be a solo effort.
As an aside; Crossfire from the A album was about the SAS storming the Iranian Embassy in London in 1980.
Under Wraps isn't a bad album. I do like lots of the tracks on there, although performing it live did a lot of damage to Ian's voice at the time.
I was gonna say the same
More marketable using the Jethro Tull name again, although it is certainly not JT anymore.
@Martin Hayward Ian is Jethro Tull just like fogery is CCR and mark Knopfler is dire straits and ELO is jeff lynne. Anyone who they hire makes up the rest of the band but without those guys you don't have those bands
Fall of 73 I was a sophomore, and in our school library/media center were private rooms with glass doors, the rooms used for listening to record albums with library provided record players and albums. One day I walked past a room with two guys in my class I didn't really know, listening to a Mozart classical album propped up against the wall. For whatever reason I stopped and took in the scene, thinking one day I would do what they were doing. Surprisingly, they smiled and waved me inside. "Hey, you like classical music, right?" one of them asked. "Yeah, it's fine, I suppose, depending on what it is," I probably said. The truth is that at that point in my life, classical would have been the LAST music I wanted to hear. The great sounds of all that incredible 60's and early 70's classic rock was my passion. It was everywhere, on radio, TV, juke boxes, car 8-track players. FM rock out of Cleveland was especially dynamic, and with me still a few months away from buying my first decent turntable and the beginnings of my record collecting, radio was all I listened to. My favorite bands at the time were Deep Purple and Grand Funk.
"You gotta hear this incredible Mozart composition," one of them said. They handed me the headphones plugged into the record player, and dropped the tonearm at the start of the album. Instead of Mozart, I heard the opening riff to Aqualung! I hadn't heard it before, and my eyes went wide. They laughed, then opened up the Mozart album sleeve to reveal the Tull album hidden inside. They obviously planned that ruse, signing out a record player and an "approved" album as a cover to listen to their rock and prog albums. The three of us became fast friends from that day forward, our friendship based around music.
Maybe not everyone's favorite, but I loved Broadsword & The Beast. Especially "Flying Colors"
Agree, it has a great 'energy' like
'Minstrel', and in a way, Tull at their best.
I learned to really appreciate B&B by just cranking it up in the car. Plus hearing all the outtakes and realizing all the work and writing that goes into making these albums. Broadsword turned into one of my faves.
Some great songs. Pussy Willow is very catchy and Beastie is good played loud.
Always a favourite of mine. Maybe because it was the Broadsword tour when I first saw them.
@@Shadowking-oz5tb Never warmed to the "80s synth-rock" version of Tull.
@@mrgrey361 or for that matter, anything they did after A Passion Play for me. I saw them in 1970, 1972, 1973, and 1976. The first two were by far the best followed by 1976 and that horrid PP tour in 1973. The '76 show was better than '73. They actually played a lot of their older stuff cause Ian figured out that the audience didn't want to hear APP anymore. Good call Ian
I bet most of us came to know and love Tull just as the 70s started. We gave them our hearts as young people so the albums from those early years are what helped shape our musical appreciation. Thank goodness for Ian and all the JT members over 55 years.
As someone else mentioned, Tull had quite a few different line-ups but they were all great, with superb musicianship and top-notch players. The last "Tull" album, if you will, that I bought, was Ian's TAAB 2 album and while Martin Barre was disappointingly absent, it's a solid album overall and Ian's bandmembers delivered, even the guitarist's tone and playing were kinda in the Barre vein. Quite Tull-like album, as expected but perhaps a bit more "modern-sounding" imo. Underrated but surprisingly good
My top Tull list changes with my mood but Benefit, Aqualung, Thick, Stand Up, and Minstrel always are in the mix along with War Child and Living. What I always found interesting, and probably why I like them so much, are the sometimes weird and unusual time signatures Anderson uses. That and the fact that through all the line-up changes the musicianship has been incredible. My favorite Anderson story is that when his daughter took up the flute he realized he's been playing it 'wrong' all those years. He relearned how to play it 'properly'.
You have no idea what you did to me. I am now devouring all my Tull albums and I’m in Tull musical heaven! Great ranking as always. And about shout outs, Rainbow Blues from MU1 was one of my favorite one offs!
Passion play ....masterpiece of all albums
Fact
The fact that they reproduced it so faithfully live is mind boggling.
Good work !!!! Benifit was my favorite too for a long time , but stand up is #1 for me now ...great show !!!! 👍
Don’t have any Tull depth of knowledge outside of the usual players, this is a good jump off point for me to do some exploring
Tull is easily one of the best bands of all time, and Anderson is something of a genius, musically. He taught himself to play the flute and just one year later Tull release their first album! His guitar work isn't too shabby also, and plays some fairly complex acoustic work whilst singing. I've been playing the superb live album 'Bursting Out' a great deal of late - what a band and John Glascock's bass playing is top-notch! My favourite studio album is 'Songs From The Wood,' but there are so many great ones to choose from. I agree with Pete on 'Under Wraps, it's an execrable album! It's a shame Ian had such voice problems, he really struggles with the singing these days. It always amazes me how many superb bands have come out of such a small country like the UK; of course America has produced some equally stunning bands etc, but there's just something a bit special with Britain: Tull, Purple, Sabbath, Zeppelin, The Who, Uriah Heep, Lizzy, Queen, Floyd, The Stones, The Beatles, Maiden, Priest, Fleetwood Mac, Genesis, Cream, Rainbow, Bad Company, T.Rex, Whitesnake, UFO, Blind Faith, Mott The Hoople, ELP, Yes, Ten Years After, Small Faces, Quo, Wishbone Ash, and loads I've probably left off, incredible!
Yes , like it is The Wellspring , the very Fountainhead of the Mystic Vapors of the Creativity Muses and Gods of Rock , and flows outwards from there , diluting as it covers the earth . So there is some everywhere , but right there , in that beautiful land , must be it's purest , undistilled source !
Or something else .
Yeah , PROBABLY something else that doesn't sound near as cool as this explanation .
The Kinks.
Roxy Music has to be in there--"understandable" omission I suppose but give them a listen...they belong in the top 5 bands of your list!!!
This is the best video you have ever done Pete. I love videos dedicated to the best band of all time, Jethro tull. Well done. I am here to give you my ranking. It will probably be controversial, but we all have our own choices. Just remember everybody is entitled to their own opinion, commenters of SOT. Here it is:
1. Benefit (This was a toss up between Benefit and aqualung for #1, but I chose benefit because I think there is not a bad song on it) My favorite songs are nothing to say, son, to cry you a song, a time for everything, Inside, and play in time.
2. Aqualung (This might be #1 on other people’s lists, but I find benefit slightly better, this was a hard choice) My favorite songs are the title track. Cross eyed mary, Hymn 43, Up to me, My god, and Locomotive breath.
3. Stand up (Great album, there is a good mix of rock, blues, and folk on here) My favorite songs are A new day yesterday, Back to the family, Nothing is easy, Fat man, We used to know, and for a thousand mothers.
4. Stormwatch (Very underrated album, people need to listen to this if they haven't) My favorite songs are North sea oil, Dark ages, Somethings on the move, old ghosts, and flying dutchman.
5. Crest of a Knave (This album deserved the grammy over metallica, don't @ me) My favorite songs are Steel monkey, Farm on the freeway, Jump start, and Raising steam.
6. Rock island (I think this is a very underrated album, rockin' album) My favorite songs are Ears of tin, the title track, Heavy water, Whalers dues, and Big riff and mando.
7. J tull dot com (Pete ranked this low, but I love this album it's underrated) My favorite songs are Spiral, AWOL, Wicked windows, Hunt by numbers, Black Mamba, and El Nino.
8. Songs from the wood (Great medieval folk rock album) My favorite songs are the title track, Cup of wonder, Hunting girl, and Velvet green.
9. A ( This is an underrated album, very good tunes on here) My favorite songs are Crossfire, Fylingdale flyer, Black Sunday, Working john working joe, and 4.W.D.
10. Minstrel in the Gallery (The title track alone makes it a top ten album) My favorite songs are the title track, Cold wind to valhalla, Black satin dancer, and Baker st muse.
11. Heavy Horses ( At first I didn't really like it, but have grown to like it) My favorite songs are And the mouse police never sleeps, No lullaby, Rover, and the title track.
12. Thick as a brick (I prefer separate songs rather than 1 long song, but I like this album)
13. Broadsword and the beast (Like this album, interesting electronic style on it) My favorite songs are Beastie, Fallen on hard times, Pussy willow, and Seal driver.
14. Warchild (Fun album, I like it) My Favorite songs are the title track, Bungle in the jungle, and Skating away.
15. Too old to rock n roll too young to die (Mostly folky and acoustic stuff, not a big of it, but it has some good rock tunes on it) My favorite songs are Quizz kid, Taxi Grab, Big dipper, and the title track.
16. Under wraps (Some people would have this being the worst, but I don't think it's that bad) My favorite songs are Lap of Luxury, European Legacy, Saboteur, Heat, and Under wraps #1.
17. Catfish Rising (Still bluesy but I find it more catchier than the blues on This was) My favorite songs are this is not love, doctor to my disease, and still loving you tonight.
18. This Was (not a big blues fan, also the production isn't very good) My favorite songs are My sunday feeling and a song for jeffrey.
19. Christmas Album (Good for christmas time, don’t really listen to it any other time accept for christmas) My favorite songs on it are Greensleeves and A christmas song.
20. Roots to Branches (Never really liked the indian flavor on that album) The only song I like on it is the title track.
21. Passion Play (I know this is a well loved tull album but i'm sorry it's too eccentric for me. I have tried to get into it, I just can't)
Lisa favors the underdog! An Outstanding ear! I'd be there delivering a slow clap. Praise Rock Island!!!
Congrats on 20k subs Pete. Can see you hitting 50 by the summer at this rate 👏
Songs From the Wood is in my all time Top 5
Thank you! Very informative, as usual.
Benefit has always been at the top for me, too.... vastly underrated album.
Totally WITH you on Stormwatch -- I love it! What a cool album cover, too. One of my favorites!
With no apology, A Passion Play is my fav Tull album. Saw the tour when it rolled through LA; show was so spectacular I went back the next night!
I unapologetically agree!! It is a complete work of genius. I was disappointed to hear Ian Anderson himself discounts his own work in this case. He seems to think he "took it too far", but as far as I am concerned there is not one wasted note on it. I enjoy Mr. Pardo's description of it here!
The first 7 LPs are the cream of the crop for me.. but I’m old and started listening to Tull on this was!! It should be in the top five!! Great job Pete
Benefit is my favorite as well. Nothing To Say is Tull at their most psychedelic.
Passion Play is definitely close to the top for me. The last 10 minutes is incredibly powerful and has brought me to tears.
I agree. Benefit consistently sifts to the top of my list. Could be persuaded to agree to Thick as a Brick. All others are also-rans.
Great reviews! JT have been my favorite group my entire life, and I appreciate your balanced and reasonable approach. Quite often critics tear the albums they dislike to shreds while praising their favorites, but you offer a fair and balanced viewpoint throughout. I love Stormwatch, Roots to Branches, Songs From the Wood...etc. so it was great to hear your opinion on those. Fantastic job!
I can tell you my number one album would be"Benefit"and "'My God" will always remain my favorite Tull song off of any album.
Yeah, great album, one of my favs would be "Inside"
Benefit is their best album. Finally. Kindred.
"My God" is a electrified, progged up version of "God Bless The Child" By Blood Sweat & Tears (originally by Billie Holliday). Listen and you'll hear the clear connection
@@nastyhardcore7641 I can hear a bit of that in the riff, yeah. Hadn't made the connection. Both songs are great.
Thanks for doing the Tull Ranking Pete
Took me a few years to get to it, But I did.
Most times I agree with your rankings especially Uriah Heep!
For me (1) Songs From the Wood, (2) Broadsword and the Beast, (3) Stormwatch and (4) 'A' . These are all great albums IMO
Sensational Pete. I have never heard heavy horses or storm watch - now I am going out to get them, thanks mate
Have loved Tull for years. My top cd for many of those was Broadsword & The Beast ... mainly because that was the one that introduced me to the band. That said, my top 10 now are:
1. Songs From The Wood
2. Broadsword
3. Stormwatch
4. Heavy Horses
5. Passion Play
6. Thick As A Brick
7. Catfish Rising
8. Under Wraps
9. Benefit
10. Walk Into Light ... I know, it's an Ian solo record but I really love it.
Awesome video, Pete, can't wait to dive in on the others in this series. As for my favorite Tull albums, Aqualung as TAAB will always sit atop, but Minstrel and the trio of Songs From The Wood, Heavy Horses and Stormwatch are close by. From the early stuff, Benefit is the best and it rocks!
I have to give 'A' a try. I like some early 80's new wave stuff synth-y like Peter Gabriel, King Crimson, etc.
fantastic ranking - thanks - my top 10: passion play - 9:too old - 8: minstrel - 7: benefit - 6: horses - 5: stand up - 4: songs wood - 3 - broadsword - 2: aqualung - 1: brick
Pete. How the hell are ya, I love ya baby. Right out of the gate I'm receiving some education lol I had no idea Jethro Tull had an enormous discography or they recorded a Christmas album lol You are so real and honest and you are quite a teacher. Love the channel! Take care man
Benefit is my fave too - and I also love Stormwatch which I agree is really underrated
Big up for stormwatch comment.
Amazing dark album.very underrated.
@@peggs1 in my top 5
One of your best videos, Pete! Tull has long been my favorite band and I have every album of theirs (plus all of Ian's and Martin's solo work) so I consider myself a bit of a Tull expert. I can't argue with your thoughtful list as it's very sound. For me, the "folk" trilogy of SFTW, HH, and SW make my top 3. I agree with you on SW--that album is an absolute underrated gem in the discography. I always saw SFTW as the autumn album, SW as the winter album, and HH as the spring album. All 3 albums are must-haves.
At #4 is TAAB. #5 is Minstrel. #6 is Stand Up. #7 is Aqualung. #8 is A Passion Play. #9 is Benefit. And #10 is Broadsword and the Beast (narrowly edging out Crest). Also great to see love for Nightcap and the Christmas Album...fantastic albums! Under Wraps has some great melodies on it but they're overshadowed by the dated 80's production. If that record were re-released without the drum machine and synths, many of us Tull fans would discover it's actually pretty good. You are also correct that Roots to Branches is a very fine late career gem.
Finally, although the album is not one of their best, the SONG "Rock Island" is terrific.
Long live the Tull!
My first Rock-Concert in my life was during the "Heavy Horses-Tour". I love this album and until this very day I am very, very impressed of Barrymore Barlows Drum Solo! Regard "Bursting out - J.T. live" - "Conundrum"! Milestone!
John Bonham agreed and called BB the best drummer
Thank you for doing this!!!!…. Been a Tull fan a looooong time good to know there's more still out there! Never missed a tour since 77....Songs from the wood at MSG was amazing!! Respect your list choices so easy to flip/flop many of these so great job....Stand Up, Songs From the Wood, Aqualung, PP, TAAB my top 5....Yeah Under Wraps is at the bottom for me too....I'd have Crest a little higher too...
"I have no time for Time Magazine...or Rolling Stone...."
Does anyone know where Tull got the album cover for War Child. It looks like a night city shot of Sydney Australia. There is a neon Coles sign which I think is only a Sydney store?
"Benefit" people,the best Tull album ever!Period!
Yes! You could play that album 10 times in a row while playing poker.
Pete
Thanks for this great ranked list of one of my favorite bands. At first I agreed with you about putting Aqualung in 2nd place. (My favorite has always been Stand Up). HOWEVER, just re-listened to Aqualung and having Locomotive Breath almost at the end, but then closing the album with Wind-Up reminded me what a masterpiece Aqualung is, not only musically, but also the social commentary....wow!
Funny how everyone develops special bonds with different albums. I got Under Wraps in early 1986 and it was the “current” Jethro Tull album at the time. I felt really proud of its modern sound and listened to it constantly! Still one of my favorites.
Great ranking. It's so close to mine! You really know what talking about.
But mine have Dot Com in top ten. I love this album. I can't believe you put it in position 21.
My top three: "Songs from the wood", "Heavy horses" and "Stormwatch" from their 77-79 period. Love these trilogy , also the band lineup. There are so many great Tull albums, no "mistake" is possible. ☺
My favourite too!
Thanks for doing this!
Best band ever !!
1 Benefit
2 Warchild
3 Too Old To Rock n' Roll: Too Young to Die !
Hi Pete,
One of my all time faves and am enjoying their reissues immensely. Great list.
My list:
19 - This Was.. good.... never get to it but has some fine moments.
18 - A Passion Play.... really hard time grasping it....
17 - Catfish Rising... good... not much play
16 - Rock Island... same as above.
15 - A.... Love it when I listen to it.
14- Broadsword and the Beast.. .enjoy this
13- Crest of a Knave... good album deserved an award... not metal though
12 - Roots to Branches... great..
11- Too Old to Rock n Roll too young to die.. Like it.
10 - Stand Up
9 - Christmas Album
8 - Benefit
7 - Stormwatch
6 - Warchild
5- Thick as a Brick
4- Songs from the Wood
3 - Heavy Horses
2 - Minstrel in the Gallery
1- Aqualung
Great video... great band and exquisite discography.
God bless
Tino
EXCELLENT LIST
@@Larimar270 Thank you for your approval. Just adore this band and their exquisite and diverse catalog
Great segment! I was looking forward to seeing this!
My top 5:
1- Songs From The Wood
2- Warchild
3- Aqualung
4- Heavy Horses
5- Minstrel in the Gallery
Hemmed and hawed over top 5:
Storm Watch
Benefit
Passion Play
Great review and ranking! I would have changed up the top five a bit. My ranking is as follows:
#1 - Thick. I have it on vinyl and just love the heavy John Evan Hammond Oregon and keyboards played through much of the album. There are very few "lite" tracks as the intensity is cranked up on this album. Martin Barre's guitar licks are fantastic on this track. The story goes that this record was in response to a critique that the previous album, Aqualung, was a concept album. No mistake, TAAB IS a concept album and a damn good one too.
#2 - Aqualung. You can't deny the killer tracks on this record. The title track, "Cross-Eyed Mary","Hymn 43", and "Locomotive Breath" are classic rock staples. Killer guitar licks and classic licks especially the title track. Outstanding piano intro on Locomotive thanks to Mr. Evan along with Mr. Barre's reverbing guitar. As Pete mentions, the track "My God" starts out very acoustic I believe Ian Anderson is playing guitar and Evan playing piano then all hell breaks loose when Mr. Barre hits the strings on the electric guitar. Just a freaking awesome track that very rarely gets any airplay. A phenomenal song on a fantastic record.
#3 - Benefit. "Teacher" was the big hit off this record. Another solid guitar riff courtesy of Mr. Barre. A great song and excellent flute work by Mr. Anderson. "To Cry You A Song" has another wonderful guitar riff thanks to Mr. Barre's very fine fretwork. It's got a killer bluesy riff with solid bass and drums provided by Glenn McCormick and Clive Bunker who would eventually depart from the band with Jeffrey Hammond coming on as the bassist on the next record and Barriemore Barlow taking over the drum kit on the Thick album.
#4 Songs From The Wood. This album begins to sound called the folk era of Tull with the trifecta of this record, Heavy Horses and Stormwatch. SFTW is the most "English Folklore" record in the vein of medieval England. The title starts out uptempo and acoustic but quickly jumps into a rocker. John Evan's keyboards are the star here with a lot of synth and piano. As the track gets heavier, Ian's flute starts to take over. Really a great song. "Jack In The Green" captures the English Folk sound quite well. with the flute and acoustic guitar lute and mandolin. Out of the three "folk period" records, this one is the best.
#5 - Stand Up. This record sums up the end of the Tull's blues period and is easily better than their first release. "A New Day Yesterday" is a killer blues track. It's a heavy blues track. Martin Barre joined the band on this record and definitely made his mark on New Day. That blues riff gets in your head and hangs out there for a while. "Bouree" is easily the Tull's best-known instrumental with Ian Anderson showing off his skills as a flutist. His command of the flute is truly inspiring! As you listen to inflections as he plays with his almost skat-like injections as he plays the flute is really fantastic.
If I added a # 6 it would be the live album "Busting Out". This album was released in 1978 as a double record/CD. At this time, the classic lineup of the band was primarily intact with the addition of John Glascock on bass and the addition of Dee Palmer on keyboards along with John Evan on keyboards, Martine Barre on guitar, Ian on vocals, flute, acoustic guitar, and Barriemore Barlow on drums. The tracks were taken from various shows between May and June of 1978. There are RUclips videos of songs from the tour. The song, "Skating Away" John Evan actually leaves the Hammond Orgon and plays drums while Barriemore Barlow plays glockenspiel. On "Songs From The Woods" Ian Anderson jokes that the blokes in the band get to sing in unison which they do fantastically. Again, this is a live recording and the fellas pull off the almost acapella part really well. A good portion of the hits are on this record and the live recording is exquisite.
For me, I might sound weird with this ranking, and it's really hard for me to choose between Tull's albums between 1968 and 1977, but for now it's:
20- Under Wraps
19- Rock Island
18- Jethro-Tull Dot Com
17- A
16- Catfish Rising
15- Stormwatch
14- The Broadsword And the Beast
13- Roots To Branches
12- Crest Of Knave
11- Too Old To Rock N' Roll; Too Young To Die
10- A Passion Play
09- This Was
08- Heavy Horses
07- Stand Up
06- Benefit
05- Minstrel In the Gallery
04- War Child
03- Aqualung
02- Songs From the Wood
01- This As A Brick
Really enjoyed this video!
Tull are a band I’ve loved since I first listened to my older brother’s copy of Stand Up.
Tull’s strength was that they were always seeking a new style or approach for each album.
As disappointing as Under Wraps was, at least they tried something different.
It’s almost impossible to rank over 20 albums, so I often do a ‘favourite from each decade top five’:
60’s - Stand Up
70’s - Heavy Horses
80’s - Crest of a Knave
90’s - Roots to Branches
00’s - Christmas Album
1. A
2. Thick As a Brick
3. Songs from the Wood
4. Under Wraps
5. Heavy Horses
6. War Child
7. Stand Up
8. A Passion Play
9. Benefit
10. Aqualung
11. Stormwatch
12. Broadsword and the Beast
No particular order after that.
A rocks. I think of it as classic Tull with a healthy injection of Ultravox.
@@painevenice5030 That was the album that really got me into them.
Under Wraps is the biggest crap ever , even by 80ties standards.
@@scotchgod8478 Tull's classic style and syntax upgraded for the Fairlight age. It requires a trained set of ears to fully appreciate its complexity.
Under Wraps is not crap...when you ever saw Tull LIVE is when you jumped in and followed that album. Uneducated trolls criticize the albums and wish that Catfish Rising was their favorite album. Why is 'A' your favorite???? [I love 'A' but it's not my fav]
You nailed it! Spot on ranking!!
There is no such thing as a bad Jethro Tull album (there . . . . . . I said it!), which makes them extremely difficult to rank. Half are excellent to some degree, and the other half are very good to some degree. Unlike many folks, I love Under Wraps . . . . . . but it would go in that second half rather than the first. To me it's just a measure of how great Tull is.
Just went through the whole catalog. Thanks for turning me on to some of these albums. Note: A is actually Ian Anderson's solo album turned Tull album. The tapes were labeled "A" for Anderson. Not Under Wraps. FYI. Rock on Pete!!!!
Doing this list before watching the video.
1) Benefit. My first Tull Album. Not a single weak moment on this album.
2) Broadsword and the Beast. I'm a Scot and this is a Scottish album. Broadsword, The Clasp and Beastie. Watching you, Watching me is so much fun. I saw them in Montpellier, France when they toured this.
3) Every other album they ever made.
Ian Anderson is from the same town as me as are Nazareth (I lived opposite Pete Agnew) and the Skids/Big Country. Proud to be Scottish and proud to be european!
GREAT STORY!!
That's pretty awesome. Nazareth was another favorite band of mine during the 70's, from Razamanaz and onwards, killer albums. My Tull adventure began with Stand Up, they sounded like no one else. Brilliant album, i became a instant fan
I was going to list my favorite albums, but after hearing your list, I can't really disagree, like you said, I might have switched a few of them around a couple of spots, but overall I pretty much agree with you on the rankings you gave them. I saw almost every tour Jethro Tull did in fact I saw them 44 times. They're my favorite band of all time. the songs you mentioned were all great songs. Your music taste is very much like mine keep up the good work. I enjoy all your videos
44, wow. I am at 7 or 8
Benefit has always been my favorite.
Thanks for this vid, really enjoyed kicking back to think about your observations. There are some gems on their 25th anniversary CD set - you've probably come across 'part of the machine', 'jack-a-lynn', 'broadford bazaar' (a great folk song). Off topic . . if you do your fave Journey LPs, please consider separating their first 3 from the Perry-era stuff. Both great, but almost two different bands. Best wishes from London \m/