CD-Charts Position 1
Average Rating:

.

This Was

by: Jethro Tull

Release Date April 28, 2008
I did recollect 'This Was' as a decent if patchy album by one of my favourite bands of yesteryear - until I heard it again in this new reissue, and what a revelation it is. The band is superb with Ian's contribution nicely balanced with all the others; the superb rhythm section of Clive Bunker and Glenn Cornick, and Mick Abrahams in great form. There are some lovely jazz tinges in amongst the overall blues feel of the album that would sadly be lost on their later albums. There is a freshness and lightness of execution about this and their other early albums, that became leaden by the time they turned the guitar amps up, went a bit heavy metal and got lost in the woods of old England. Despite the always fantastic musicianship, I never really ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 2
Average Rating:

.

Aqualung: 25th Anniversary Edition

by: Jethro Tull

Release Date June 08, 1998
Brilliant album by Jethro Tull I suppose of the early works by the band this album is the benchmark where the band grew into the superband we know and love.Well done Amazon for the great price you are asking here for Aqualung it is a steal.Buy it you will love this fantasic piece of work.I have 12 Tull albums im my collecion and without doubt Aqualung is my favourite sure its early Jethro Tull and its just fantastic.I would also recommend these excellent albums by Tull as well and in no specific order,Songs From The Wood,Heavy Horses,To Old To Rock in Roll,Rock Island,and the wonderful Jethro Tull Xmas album in fact all there albums are great you will decide yourself which ones are your own favourites.Hope review helps you.

CD-Charts Position 3
Average Rating:

.

Songs from the Wood

by: Jethro Tull

Release Date April 14, 2003
Tull always had three main musical styles in the 1970s - hard electric rock (albeit rather quirky), long, complex progresive rock pieces, and more folk-influenced acoustic pieces. This album showcases the latter mainly, although there are a few moments of blistering electric guitar work from Martin Barre on the odd track. The album seems to have captured this Tull line-up (arguably the best of all time) at their musical zenith, and Ian's songwriting skills are displayed in fine form as well (his voice is great as well). The band on this record are just so tight in their performance, yet still quirky and original. From beginning to end, this is quintessential Jethro Tull - quirky, folksy, rocky at times, honest, unique. Each track has its moments and bears ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 4
Average Rating:

.

Benefit: Remastered

by: Jethro Tull

Release Date October 01, 2001
This, the third Tull album, followed This Was and Stand Up. In its time, Benefit as well-received and it sold well, although Stand Up did perhaps have a little more popular acclaim. Stand Up had been an album of rather more gentle melody but Benefit was a little harder-edged: an album with rather more electric guitar. Although not fundamentally a blues album as had been This Was, one can still hear that the band is really not that far removed from the blues, especially on the track 'to cry you song,' which is Tull at their best, and not in the least dated.
I always remember a contemporary 'top 100 of all time' list which contained a review of Stand Up and Benefit in which these albums were described as containing 'tight, riffy songs, full of melody and ripe ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 5
Average Rating:

.

Heavy Horses: Remastered

by: Jethro Tull

Release Date April 14, 2003
This is absolutely brilliant folk/prog rock. Every track here stands up on its own and each complements the others forming a flawless whole. There is not one thing that could be improved on. As usual, Ian Anderson's songs are not just good tunes but intelligently worked melodic structures incorporating trademark Tull changes of pace and rhythm, and the band do them justice. The playing and interplaying is breathtaking. I know these people are rock virtuosos but I cannot believe this was put together without a huge amount of development and rehearsal - that is to say, hard work. Listen closely and you will be amazed at the number of parts on some of the tracks; tricky drum and bass patterns dovetailing seamlessly with honking guitar and growling flute on a bed of acoustic ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 6
Average Rating:

.

Stand Up: Remastered

by: Jethro Tull

Release Date September 24, 2001
"this will do until some more enterprising company puts it out as a digipak with the pop-up figures restored" SAID BEN absolutely right.

A powerful, moving piece by Tull. The opener A NEW DAY YESTERDAY and WE USED TO KNOW are great songs about fading or lost love because all the mix of emotions are there----KEANE et al in the current "scene" take note.

FOR A THOUSAND MOTHERS is a classic statement on the the bitter truths of intergenerational/parental relationships.

Listen and enjoy.

CD-Charts Position 7
Average Rating:

.

The Very Best of Jethro Tull

by: Jethro Tull

Release Date May 14, 2001
You rarely, if ever, find an album that pleases everybody, and perhaps because of this you may find reviews of this collection elsewhere saying "this is a weak song" "that's not up to standard" and so on. I prefer to take a slightly different view.
What you actually have here, (and I think Ian Anderson said as much in the sleeve notes), a kind of Jethro Tull "try before you buy" sales brochure introducing you to their back catalogue. The CD spans JT's illustrious career, starting with their single "Living in the Past" and progressing in a fairly non-chronological order through some classic Tull and some less obvious choices.
I think this gives Tull newcomers a chance to dip a toe tentatively into this unique band and get a feel for their various musical directions, prior to taking the ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 8
Average Rating:

.

A Passion Play: Remastered

by: Jethro Tull

Release Date April 14, 2003
First time I heard this, I honestly didnt know what to think. After a few more listens, it all starts to become familiar and you almost feel like you've gained entrance to an exclusive club. The more you listen to this album, the better it gets. Yes its a bit mad, yes its a bit weird at times, and yes its complex stuff ..... but what a musical ride! As a complete album I would go as far to say that it is musically stronger than "Thick as a Brick" and much more fun. All I can say is - "I absolutely love it!" and feel my life is that little bit better for being able to enjoy the madness of the Passion Play whenever I need a lift. Brilliant!

CD-Charts Position 9
Average Rating:

.

Stormwatch: Remastered

by: Jethro Tull

Release Date February 09, 2004
I have been listening to Jethro Tull regularly over the last 30 years, and have to say I like most of their massive back cataloge. If I was to pick one album though as 'the best Tull sound' it would have to be this stunner. Production, instrumentation and orchestration (to my ears) are superb. I have read much about Stormwatch, and I'm constantly surprised and disappointed at the bad press it generally gets - in my opinion hugely undeserved. It is such an underated album. I was fortunate to see this great line up on the Stormwatch tour, just two days before it broke up, and I remember sitting in the audience open mouthed in awe at the show in front of me! No other band has had that effect on me since. Back to the album, my personal favourite track is probably 'Flying Dutchman' atmospheric Scottish sounding with beautifull ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 10
Average Rating:

.

Thick As a Brick

by: Jethro Tull

Release Date June 08, 1998
Prog-rock excrement. Would only appeal to lovers of the meaningless & noodly. As an impressionable teenager I spent countless hours listening to this (well, at that age you have all the time in the world. You needed it for this) and read every single word of the newspaper gatefold (lyrics included). I even went to see them perform the whole album at the Albert Hall. Of course I must have loved it then. Did I really? Hmmm, makes you wonder.

Get This Was, Stand Up, Benefit or Aqualung instead. This has no merit whatsoever.