You have landed right into the bands rich vein of musical output. Tull has progressed through many exciting (and at times challenging) projects. Both this and the sister album “Heavy Horses” create a wonderful blend of folk and rock and are worthy favourites in many fans eyes (and ears) including mine. Earlier albums are probably the richest and most rewarding, but I suspect whilst “Thick as a Brick” and “Aqualung” will be on everyone’s lips, “The Minstrel in the Gallery” holds a special place in my discography. Go back further into “the dim and distant past” and you will also reveal Tulls origin roots in blues style music. One thing is sure..life and music with Jethro Tull is rich and varied and consistently rewarding.
I hear ya, now that he's getting into the "Deeper" cuts, he should go for every song on their greatest hits album Original Masters to really get him ready to go down the rabbit hole...there is not a bad song...Tull never ceases to impress...
You have discovered a unique band and will enjoy listening to more of their catalogue of music. So many great songs-and no two albums are alike- so dive into the music. Recommend that you start with Stand Up 1969 and continue with each album that follows through 1980 as well as those that followed through the 80’s and 90’s. I think you will definitely enjoy the music of this band!
Songs From the Wood was part of what was considered by many to be a three album trilogy that covered three different distinct eras: Songs From the Wood covered the pre-agricultural era, Heavy Horses covered the transition from muscle power to steam and coal, and Stormwatch covered the post industrial era. All great albums.
As always thank you for doing thoughtful reactions, researching and knowing at least something about what you’re going to listen to. I’ve loved Jethro Tull since the 70’s when they were huge. For some reason Ian Anderson is never mentioned when rating rock vocalists. I don’t understand it. I adore his voice. Definitely in my top five. And you can HEAR the intelligence in his voice. Interesting trivia….. Ian is the father-in-law of Andrew Lincoln, the actor who plays Rick Grimes on The Walking Dead.
This is the Jethro Tull album I could not do without. Aqualung, of course is their most commercially successful album, but this one is musically one of the folkiest, and pleasantly restrained (good in this case), with some of the best vocal harmonies. Ring Out Solstice Bells, The Whistler, Velvet Green, and of course Hunting Girl are all on this album and they all have their place as the best song to hear at some time in your life. I don't know why The Whistler is not played all the time. It is the pied piper song of the rock era.
I'm just discovering your channel. 'Songs From the Wood' is my favorite Tull album, so thank you. Anderson was also one of the very best frontman you have ever seen. Some folks would love you to react to 'Thick As a Brick', but that really is such a huge chunk. For an experience, you would truly enjoy the live version from Madison Square. The energy level is unbelievable.
I have this on CD in the car for our frequent long drives. This album is perfect for Ian Anderson. I've always felt that he is a wandering medieval minstrel in another life, haha! If you want to listen to a whole Tull album, I would highly suggest Aqualung!!!! Or Thick As A Brick
OMG YES --- I do hope you decide to do the entire The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway album --- You wont be sorry --- I found that this animated clips a big help to understanding the epic journey of Rael and it helps a first time listener navigate the story --Its not perfect but is done pretty well -- Its breaks down into 4 sections like sides of the album -- Here is the first one ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-0IgJfENNYhI.html Also a HUGE Tull fan here --- So glad you are enjoying discovering what makes this band so special -- this album has some real gems on it Pibroch being a favorite one of mine --- I dont know how familiar with their catalog but I hope you treat yourself to more -- LOVE most of the older albums but didnt care for the first album This Was -- its way too jazzy for my taste but to my delight they hit the right groove for me
Prog rock at its creative best. For some reason critics have long hated this band, and fans of theirs like me wonder what more they could have done to innovate and blaze new musical trails that had never even been closely approached. The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame should have a wing exclusively dedicated to these guys, but instead they've never even been nominated. It's unbelievable. I've seen them play live and it was even more impressive in person. Ian Anderson's flute playing, as well as acoustic guitar talents (he also plays sax) and singing, and he wrote it all. What more does he have to do?
"Musical Genius" is an incredibly apt description. You MUST do this entire album! Every song on this album is amazing. "Hunting Girl" is a production and musical masterpiece. "Velvet Green" is a soothing lyrical journey through the English countryside. If you loved "Songs From the Wood", this entire album will knock your socks off!
Try Jethro Tull from when they started in 1968 and work your way forward in their discography. A bit jazz related at first then morphed into prog rock. All great and mostly unknown brilliance.
Ian Andersons’ word play was always lyrical, sly and humorous. Juxtaposed with the “rock opera” sensibilities, created a lush soundscape. I always thought Songs from the Wood to be an extraordinarily underrated album. So glad to see your appreciation. Please continue to explore the rest of it, enjoy!!
This entire album just sparkles. It is vibrant, lushly arranged, with so many textures. The first of the three "folk rock" Tull records (and the best, IMO). During this period, Ian Anderson also worked with some "actual" folk rock bands, and I believe he helped produce and played on a couple of tracks of the band Steeleye Span (they and Tull were on the same record label, Chrysalis). In another vein....are you really sure you are ready to tackle "A Lamb Lies Down on Broadway"? A surreal, double-length, non-sensical concept album could end up being a bit of a slog, despite what certain rabid Genesis fans might tell you. There is so much other easily digestible old-school Genesis...maybe work your way up to it?
I agree, Ian's voice is unique in the truest sense of the word. Completely recognizable, and what a wonderful thing. Seems voices nowadays are sadly interchangeable and mundane. Ian is representative of an era when artists were individual enough that a voice, a guitar riff, a drummer, was instantly recognized. I miss those days. BTW, Requiem may be a great next sing. Very different from this song. Totally sweet and soft.
This album was written with "kitchen prose and gutter rhymes " If it were up to me, I suggest starting with Standup and work your way through. Want to listen to just one album? Thick as a Brick: 1 record, only one song, done as a whim.
And my car system has the best amps micro precision z studio speakers etc and tull just amazes who aca daka too etc outlaws try them next sir emerson lake palmet too floyd
Also...stick with the Studio Versions first. They add so much more depth and smoothness to what the artist was trying to create.....Then they did them live. The studio versions are where these songs were created!!
Always loved this album. Cap in Hand, Velvet Green, Fires at midnight, Ring Out Solstice Bells. I inherited my brother's record collection when he went to college back in 1977. I still listen to this one often.
@@bobbyhilda5880 Hmm, I thought I replied to this but it seems to be missing. Anyway, Thank you for the correction. It was too embarrassing to leave like that so I edited it. lol. I claim an aged memory! >.>
This whole album is wonderful, especially for a pagen folky like me. It is one of my favorite albums. Please listen to the whole album when you get a chance. "Cup of Wonder" is my Beltane song and "Ring out the Solstice Bells" I use for Yule. I have had this album since it came out. As others have stated, Heavy Horses is a follow up and is also a favorite, especially the title song. I went to see them in concert during the Heavy Horses tour. I had not heard of "Prog Rock"as a type of music until I started watching reactors. I looked it up and it does work with my definition of Tull's music - intelligent rock, both in lyrics and in the use of many styles of music and instruments.
Genesis yesterday, Tull today? Yes! Next Tull album? Minstrel in the Gallery. My opinion, better than Aqualung, which we've all heard a million times Just so you know, you do 70s prog, I'm in...PS the song "Velvet Green" from Songs from the Wood album is the stand out on it, hope you go for it!
The genius of composition and execution that was Jethro Tull is fully displayed on this album; check out "Hunting Girl" for another taste before the whole album. The album _Stormwatch_ is also rich and varied with "Something's On the Move" rock blast countered with the subtlety of "Dun Ringill."
Agree! This full album as well as most of Heavy Horses and Minstrel in the gallery. No bad or boring songs and most are as brilliant as this one. In the Summer of 1978 I lived by myself in my Granddads house (guarding it after he had died). The only music I had brought was Songs from the wood + Heavy Horses. I still think it was a good choise!
Absolutely a great candidate for a full album listen -- the weakest song on it is merely excellent, and it is unique in tone and style beginning to end. Top 10 album of all time for me. I like other Tull as well, from their entire range, but this is always #1 for me.
Anderson is a perfectionist which caused much difficulty in the band. He drove everyone as hard as himself. But the results speak for themselves. This album is superb. Yes there are many others and lots of people will say Aqualung orbothers are best but the "folk" trio of the Heavy Horses era is my favoutmeite period Thick as a Brick was a favourite of mine at the time too.
SALVOG - Loved this review and the joy that you obviously got from listening to it. As for the Genesis - PLEASE DO A REVIEW OF THE COMPLETE "THE LAMB LIES DOWN ON BROADWAY"..... I will be there for it... Thank you for asking.. great to tell you I will be in the audience.... Keep on Rocking As for when did I first hear this... The day the album came out... I'm an old git and have been buying records since the mid sixties. And with a job and leavin home in the 70's then there was so much music in my house. It never gets stale.... Same as the Genesis... I can promise you that. You will be listening to all these records decades from now with a smile on your face tahnking youtube for letting you discover all this great music that I GREW UP WITH...... I was one lucky man... Stay safe.
Too damn weird... I was listening to this album an hour ago. My favorites (in order) remain Stormwatch, Minstrel, this one, A Passion Play, and Heavy Horses.
Tull is definitely one of my favorite bands that I was lucky to grow up with. I have even seen them (Ian Anderson) in concert with family. Amazing. Glad you’re enjoying them too!
For a full album listen I'd highly recommend "Heavy Horses", the follow up album to this. It has a perfect blend of prog & folk and I think consistency of good song writing that will make for a seamless listening experience. The title track is epic with great guitar lines.
When it's alowed to place a tip for yer Projekt "well lets listen to that carpet crawler stuff🤔", the album it's the best way to hear in one "Session". Bring enough time and take whatever Provision that brings you in a proper mood, and then start "the lamb lies down on broadway". On you tube theres a Video, where someone has done the work to make Kind of anime out of that Story. But first I would prefer to consume it only by ear. In Tulls discography you start quite on well place, with "Songs from the wood" Begins kind of trilogy. The following albums "heavy horses" and "stormwatch" are showing an development in Sound that sadly ended, with a completely change in "A". In fact it became actually another Band.
Agreed Lars… things did change…but fair play when I saw them on the “Broadsword” tour the live work was still incredible and the band still paid homage to past glories.
I bought this album when it came out...I enjoyed listening to it...but I'm a big Tull fan..I've seen them five times...each show was a spectacle to behold!...My favorite album of theirs is "War Child"....check out that title song...thanks for bringing back great memories...peace ✌🏽 13:45
ANY OF THE 3 ALBUMS SALVO AND MORE OF COURSE 😊 BUT YEAH ( AQUALUNG, THICK AS A BRICK ( CONCEPT ALBUM ) AND OF COURSE SONGS FROM THE WOOD, BANGERRRR AFTER BANGER 💯 AND OVERALL JUST A HAPPY FEEL GOOD ROCKER ALBUM! 😊
Quintessentially English Old Boy. Jethro play as hard and as tight as some of the best bands in that genre. Check them and the band Gentle Giant for more Brit prog vibes.
I can’t tell from your comment if you already know there WAS a classical album featuring Jethro Tull songs played by the L.A. Philharmonic, but there is! Enjoy! 😊
Jethro Tull like many other bands are not their top 10 hits . The best is on the album's tracks that dont get radio time . one of my many favorites is "life is a long song" beautiful words and so sweet .
My older brother introduced me to Songs From the Woods after The Minstrel in the Gallery. I then discovered Thick as a Brick and Aqualung. When I was growing up, we bought albums, not songs. We would hear a song we liked on the radio, and buy the album. We were rarely disappointed.
Jethro Tull and led Zeppelin are my two top favorite bands, who happens to be number one and number two all depends on who I'm listening to at the moment lol 😂
Well, it’s 2024, and they will be here in Italy in November I think and also next year. I will be going with a friend of mine, who is never heard of Jethro Tull and yes she’s Italian. I will also be dragging a priest who is just starting to learn not church music ( I love Gregorian Chants) but secular music and he is going to have probably a heart attack if they play my God.
I’ve got tickets to see Jethro Tull in August. I can’t wait! I hope you listen to this entire album and also the Heavy Horses album. Brilliantly composed and played.
Don't blame people for lack of views-the fact is that Jethro Tull isn't for everybody.Many of their songs are complicated ,jumbled and very busy,so not everybody can assimilate them.Don't get me wrong,I'think they are absolutely brillant and beyond awesome.Tull does have some mainstream songs that they tamed down,and made them easier to listen to and those instantly became mega-hits,songs like Bungle in the jungle,Aqualung and others.Great reaction and I'd love to see you react to Minstrel in The Gallery and Skating Away on the Thin Ice of a New Day,more brillant Tull repertoire.
I'm a very non-standard Tull fan because I love Benefit and hate this minstrel crap. Please consider listening to Benefit and Aqualung for a different kind of Tull
This ẁas their ɓest album in my opinion. Three songs you ṅeed to hear are The Whistler, Velvet Green , and Fires at Midnight. JT was my first concert in 1979, amazing.
It's Renaissance music...not popular among the Hip-Hop generation of the 80's 90's and 21st Century babies. Very Folk Renaissance Rock. Not popular in your generation. I love ❤ Baroque and Renaissance music. And Jethro Tull performed this song in the middle of their concert at the Los Angeles Colliseum in 1974. It was AMAZING!!!!
I would call this more folk rather than prog tbh. Epic Folk.... Try "Skating Away on the Thin Ice of a New Day"... allegedly the first ever song about climate change....
Yes. You should listen to Tull albums. This Was Stand Up Aqualung Songs from the Wood Minstrel in the Gallery Thick as a Brick are a good starting place
Everything from the folk-rock trilogy is a must-listen. Any song on "Songs from the Woods," "Heavy Horses" and "Stormwatch" is worth a reaction video. So much brilliance and unique instrumental work along with the insightful lyrics.
