Jethro Tull (Official Thread)

LG

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Re: Jethro Tull

Hard to believe he is 63 years old...is he still married Jeffrey? I lost track of his personal life after Heavy Horses but I think he split with his wife somewhere during that time...boy that is a long way back.:heheh:

Next up, "Under Wraps" released in 1984 and it was similar to "Broadsword..." in the synthesizer heavy sound and the band was pretty much the same, but there are no quintessential folk style songs on this one at all. I have played it 4 times over the last week to get a better feel for it and it is a decent record. This was the last Tull album I bought on vinyl, and the last one I bought for many years as I went into a musical hiatus for quite a while. I love Ian a lot, but I find myself thinking I would rather play "Broadsword..." than this one, it just seems to lack that spark that I am so used to in his albums, or more pointedly the little fiddly bits that made them so different from other bands.(I really found myself missing Barrimore Barlow's drumming on this one too, more than the previous two albums) Not a bad record by any means, but not one of the "Belters" that I would recommend as an essential addition to anyone's JT library.

The title track, Under Wraps.




o6k4co.jpg

2d8ltw3.jpg
 

Sox

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Re: Jethro Tull

^^ I think this album gets a bit of stick even from some Tull die hards.



Maybe Mr Anderson was just stretching out into the 80's vibe, not my favourite but still a good album. :cheers2
 

LG

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Re: Jethro Tull

I can't find it in myself to not like Tull Sox, but the Drum Machine Ian programmed on this one just stood out for me, and I would have liked Clive or Barrimore pounding the skins, I think that would have made a big difference. The concept of this one was good too, all about covert espionage going on in the Spy vs Spy universe, it apparently did alright in Europe but slipped out of sight in a hurry over here.
 

jeffrey

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Re: Jethro Tull

Don't normally like delving into the personal lives of our rock idols but this is from wikipedia and is in common domain, so to speak:

From 1970 to 1974, Anderson was married to Jennie Franks, a photographer who is credited with writing most of the lyrics to the song Aqualung. Anderson married Shona Learoyd in 1976, described by Rolling Stone magazine as a "beautiful convent-educated daughter of a wealthy wool manufacturer"[3]. She had studied ballet for 10 years, though Anderson met her when she was working as a press officer at Jethro Tull's then record-label Chrysalis Records. She later became involved with the band's on-stage special effects.

The couple have lived in a 16th-century redbrick farmhouse on the 500-acre Pophleys estate in Buckinghamshire, England, and on the Isle of Skye in Scotland. They currently live in Wiltshire, England. They have two children: James Duncan Anderson, also a musician; and Gael, who works in the film industry and is married to the actor Andrew Lincoln.


When I get some more PC time, I'll have a look for some items from Under Wraps. All I will comment on, regarding the dreaded drum machine, is that it was an avenue that Ian Anderson chose, I think, because it was new and needed exploring. I have read that he programmed the drum machine himself so I suppose he classed it as another instrument to learn and master and at the time was all the rage. In hindsight it could be classed "uneven" but then all great musicians and composers probably feel they have a duty to utilise the technology prevelent at the time. It's still a cracking album imo and well worthy of the Tull catalogue but does need some extended listening to fully appreciate the themes contained in the songs.
 
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LG

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Re: Jethro Tull

^^Yeah that is my understanding as well Jeffrey, Ian was experimenting and keeping up with the times. But I am and have always been a fan of real honest to goodness Live drummers whether it's in concert or on albums, the difference is...unmeasurable for me between what Barrimore could have done on Under Wraps compared to the end result of Ian's tinkering with the technology.

Thanks for the info about his wife and family, I remembered her name "Shona" but that was about all.
 

jeffrey

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Re: Jethro Tull

I suppose LG that there is a very good case for a remix of Under Wraps with a real drummer - a double cd issue with the original version and a remixed version - when the anniversary of the album is due :grinthumb

A few bits'n'pieces

underwraps4.jpg
UK single release x2 with Lap Of Luxury,Astronomy, Automotive Engineering and Tundra

underwraps3.jpg
Promo photo

underwraps2.jpg
Tour programme

underwraps1.jpg
Overseas cassette with re-arranged track listing, possibly from Saudi Arabia, which I don't think is absolutely legit :rolleyes:
 

Kino

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Re: Jethro Tull

I'm looking to get some Jethro Tull. Anyone have any good advice on some great songs by him?
 

Hepcat

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Re: Jethro Tull

Favourite Studio Album: Aqualung

Favourite Tracks:

Aqualung

Cross-Eyed Mary/Cheap Day Return

Living in the Past

Mother Goose

Reasons for Waiting

Slipstram/Locomotive Breath

A Song for Jeffrey

To Cry You a Song

Too Old to Rock 'n Roll

We Used to Know

Wondering Aloud

:****:
 

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