JETHRO TULL | Did it Really All End in 1979? 

The classic Jethro Tull ended in April 1980 when the Stormwatch tour ended and Barriemore Barlow and John Evans left the band.

It was over when Martin Barre left. Not to mention others who left earlier, John Evan and Barriemore Barlow.

Songs from the wood and heavy horses are the pinnacle of Jethro Tull for me.

For me Jethro Tull is Benefit. A beautiful album. Their best.

I think what happened was .... the 80's, MTV and the new digital technology. What happened to Tull happened to other bands like Yes, for example. Music videos became paramount. Synths stopped being analogue and samplers were invented. It changed every band, many for the worst. ZZ Top put out three DISCO videos. Dire Straits used primitive CGI. Ozzy dressed up as a werewolf. It took a while to recover from this.

Stormwatch was the last truly great Tull album.

My favourites are the ones with the amazing Barriemore Barlow on them - extraordinary drummer that I wish we had more of. And I remember when the my main record shop was WH Smiths and they classified the band under T!

I think A and Broardsword are excellent. But after 1980, with the exception of Barre and maybe Pegg, what is called Jethro Tull is like an ever changing line up of hired session/touring musicians chosen by Anderson. It wasn't like that with the 70s line ups. Each member brought something very special, unique and memorable to the band and the live performance. This has not been replicated since.

Here is yet another comment that no one will read: I was introduced to Jethro Tull in the mid-80s by two Deadheads I worked with (Roy & Linda). They had me play Songs From the Wood on the cassette player and it was a musical revelation to me. To that point I did not have much interest in music but that tape changed everything. Not long after, I bought most of Tull's catalog on CDs. I think each Tull era is great but I checked out after Crest of a Knave (which I really enjoy to this day). I do not think I have ever had a single listen through the A album but Broadsword and the Beast harken enough back to the English Folk era to make it one of my favorites as well.

No it stopped when Martin was sacked and Ian started his tribute band.

I saw Tull in 2008 at Red Rocks. In fact a riot at their 1971 show got all rock acts banned from Red Rocks for years, and this was their first show since then. I had zero expectations, but they blew me away. They opened with Thick as a Brick, and although Ian’s voice has aged, and he isn’t as acrobatic anymore, his talent as an entertainer and storyteller were scarcely affected. A great show I will always remember.

I think Tull did some great albums after '79 (most of all "Broadsword and the Beast" and "Roots to Branches"), but although Anderson always had been the boss, Tull appearing as a band ended around 1979 and changed to Ian Anderson plus a group of musicians.

Crest of a Knave is one of my favourite Tull albums.

I agree that Tull was never the same after ‘79

Thanks Barry… great insights on Tull as per usual. The best Tull lineup in my view was with John Evan and Barry Barlow in the line up. I have heard Ian say that he thought his mate Jeffery was the best. The jury is out on the bass for me. I have always thought that John Evans’ contribution has been grossly underestimated. Martin’s contribution on minstrel was magnificent… he should have got songwriting credits for that. Barlow was brilliant on his contribution… I’m a Tull tragic … aqualung,tab & passion play are my favs… keep up the good work mate

a couple of years ago, I was visiting Stratford upon Avon with family one summer, and the record shop on the tourist street (the one opposite Shakespeare's house) was playing the Aqualung album loud enough to shake the cobbles outside!

The reason many say that Tull ended in 79/80 is because after then they simply lost a lot of what made them interesting in the first place. They turned into a rather old fashioned rock band with a flute where one of the guitars should be. Gone the jazzy, folky, bluesy, slightly arch medieval/renaissance stylings, the deep and fascinating lyrical content, the thrilling complexity, to be replaced with comparative crap of lap of luxury, big riff and mando, kissing Willie, all sounding like it was played by passionless sessioners…. That’s why they ended for me (don’t get me started on the last two “Tull” albums) , but that first 12 years of Tull produced the best music ever made and because of that they are STILL my favourite band.

Saw them live 1977, it was just like the Bursting Out album, crazy and on fire. Saw Jethro Tull again 1981 (A Tour), was great to see Eddie Jobson live, but it was not the same, Ian was very 'normal'!!!

I think fortunately for Ian he had his team that could add to the magic to his tunes, and they were all focused together for the adventure. With each member leaving, it probably shrunk the replacements into just session and concert members and not collaborators. I think John Lennon, Roger Waters also were in that same boat. They wanted to go somewhere else, but they wound up lost at sea.

I began teetering upon the release of "A", although being a huge fan, did my best to find the nuggets that I could enjoy. Even to this day, every albums release, from "A" onward, I have tried my best to enjoy the albums. They truly lost me at "Catfish Rising", although I did like some material on "Roots To Branches". Succinctly put, I've struggled with Tull ever since his vocal decline began. "Roots To Branches" was the last time I saw them perform live and, although I enjoyed the show, I knew in my heart that was probably going to be the last time I would see them in concert. I've toyed with the idea of seeing them since that time, but the cost of the tickets, compounded by my expectation of hearing Ian straining to hit the notes, made the decision for me. One can only downscale the melodies so much before they begin to lose their overall appeal, just as one can only 'take in' a pair of trousers so much, until you end up with a single pocket centered over your bum.

I first saw Tull in October 1972 in Nashville on the "Thick As A Brick" tour. As a 70 year old who has seen all the Rock greats that gig stands out as the BEST concert I have ever seen. I had the chance to meet Ian Anderson in 1999 and told him that. I would give anything to have that show on hi def DVD with state of the art sound but sadly (because I asked him) they didn't film any of those shows.

Good discussion! Personally, I’ve always pointed to the dramatic shift the band took between Too Old to Rock and Roll and Songs from the Wood. With TOTRNR, I feel like essentially Anderson said good-bye (hence the FU cover) to the huge rock and roll band that Tull had become, and decided to take the work in a completely different direction. I’ve never seen anyone ask Ian about that shift, but it’s always seemed clear particularly in hindsight. To me, that's Ian said he was “too old” to continue to be a rock God, got married, settled down, and became essentially a different type of musical star. I wouldn’t say Tull “ended” in that shift, but they certainly changed dramatically (IMO). For me, I treat Tull as two separate bands: before SFTW and after.

I have loved Tull since the beginning, (not so much the albums from the last 20 or years, but I have forced myself to listen to the newer ones, with dislike), you are so right, Tull is the Band not just Anderson, he should have hung up his boots over 20 years ago.

I first went to a Tull concerti in 1988, and for me the line-up Anderson/Barre/Pegg/Perry/Allcock(Giddings) was a real pleasure to hear live. The first half of the '90s was a great time to attend gigs of a band that was already considered a "classic". And I agree with you that since (I'd say Dot Com) it was still Tull. Some compositions are really good also on the later albums, but they aren't Tull anymore; just Anderson's solo (and the vocals are greatly compromised). Also because of the lack of personality of the musicians the followed the last Tull lineup (95/95 onwards). Thank you for your videos, it's a pleasure hearing you. Would love to do it in front of a fireplace, after a nice italian dinner till 2 or 3 a.m.; drinking some good wine. If you ever come in Italy you are my guest.

Heavy Horses was the last Tull album I’ve been interested in.

I got into Jethro Tull back in 1970. I have pretty much everything they have released, both on LP and CD. Most of the albums released after Crest of a Knave have only been listened to once or twice ....

I can only speak for myself but I agree that the 70’s Tull was the best. Favorite albums TAAB , SFTW, HH, SW. Remember being very disappointed when “A” came out. Mistake # 1 and most importantly sacking the best lineup after Stormwatch. Mistake # 2 Over using the horrible keyboards and electronics a la Under Wraps. Imagine replacing Barlow with a drum machine. Mistake # 3 Ian is a genius but also I believe he couldn’t conquer his ego and it was shameful the way he just summarily dismissed Barlow, Evans, David Palmer, Jonathan Noyce, Duane Perrv, Andrew Giddings ( see a pattern here?) and only relatively recently loyal , faithful Martin Barre. Ian can still write songs with the best of them but can’t sing live anymore . Though there were a few average to good albums after SW, Jethro Tulls best work was up to and including Stormwatch.

Thanks for the interesting, almost surreal, Tull perspective! For me, post 79 marked the end of the explosive magic for most of the prog rock bands that were spawned out of the 69, 70, 71 big bang!

Roots To Branches is my favorite Jethro Tull album, but I may be unusual in that regard. I believe that Tull means different things to different people.

My love for Jethro Tull has always been tied to a sense of frustration. I discovered the band in 1982 as a teenager with Broadsword, and then went back frantically to all of their 70's catalogue. Aqualung was a cornerstone of my education as a listener and as a boy. When Under Wraps came out one year later, I had decides that my favorite JT album was Songs from the Wood, and the clash between these two sonic worlds couldn't have been sharper. I hated Under Wraps, and I kind of resented Ian for making this kind of detestable sound in my young lifetime, as I resented myself for not having been born ten years earlier. So stupid, and so unfair, but I couldn't help but losing interest in the albums that came out later on. I've never stopped loving Aqualung, Minstrel in the Gallery, Songs from the Wood and Heavy Horses.

For me, Tull as an actual 'band' ended when Jon Noyce, Andy Giddings and Doane Perry left/were 'let go'. Those guys were the last to put real creative substance into the music.Since then it's been a revolving door of characterless session players obviously doing as they're told.

My favorite Jethro Tull album is Stormwatch. I started with Tull in October 1971, with Aqualung- played Thick as A Brick everyday after purchase in June 1972! A was ...eh...OK. I saw the tour, with Eddie, 1980; Broadsword, Crest - fabulous albums... So whatever, Tull up until Martin's departure. After Martin- one band member in my opinion too many that has departed...

I have been a huge Jethro Tull fan and own pretty much every record…Ian has always attracted stellar musicians and I have enjoyed everything up to and including the Tull Christmas album. I do find the latest releases to be less inspiring…

I am not a Tull fan as such… But Thick as a Brick is amazingly tight and skillfully played. I could live happily with just that one Tull album, but yes, I also enjoy many of Aqualung’s songs and the general heaviness of Benefit. Usually bands create their best stuff within their first six studio albums anyway.

Yes, they ended in 1979. But what continued on had its great moments now and then. I was glad you mentioned "The Whaler's Dues," which is the only thing I recall about Rock Island and I also saw that song on that tour. That and "Broadsword," "Slow Marching Band," "Jack Frost and the Hooded Crow," "Black Sunday," and a few others are some standouts from the Non-Tull Era.

Stand Up is still my favorite album of their's. I had them all up through Thick as a Brick, then never bought another one...

My first Tull concert was the Thick As A Brick tour, and that still stands for me as the best evening of showbiz I’ve ever experienced. I saw them three times after that, and all of the concerts were entertaining. But the firing of Martin Barre was the end for me. It may have been justified, but it seemed rather cold to me, given his contribution to the band.

There’s no Jethro Tull without the cod piece!

Jethro Tull… I split their career in two. I think for most Tull fans This Was to Stormwatch is the period we think of when we think of Tull. A to Rok Flote is a different Jethro Tull. Their catalogue became a little more sketchy but there were still some pretty good albums like Broadsword and Roots and even Rok Flote. But when we talk about Tull we’re talking about an A tier band so we get kinda nit picky. It’s like picking your favourite child really. Another thing that should be said in regards to a band’s history. Great careers are marked with up and downs, peaks and valleys. All of the great artists are the same. Think Bowie and Sparks. What about Dylan? So something like Under Wraps adds to the richness of their careers…sorta. Yes have a very similar thing going on. Yes to Drama…then 90125 to Mirror to the Sky. Practically the same as Tull’s discography. 🤘😳🤘

For me, the peak Tull years were wiith Jeffrey Hammond and barrie barlow. My first concert, and the first time I heard tull , was the thick as a brick tour in 1972 at msg nyc. How's that for a first concert? Instant tull freak. I had just entered high school and didn't miss a show for years. But I noticed when Hammond left something was different or missing. Hammond stage presence was equal to Anderson. I also think being they were friends long before Hammond entered the band there was a chemistry between the two. Anderson even wrote a couple of songs that mentions Jeffrey on previous albums. I think Hammonds personality counterbalanced Anderson's. Anderson was quite serious and intense while Jeffreys humor took the edge off. Anything quirky, offbeat and tongue in cheek came from jeffery. He added a charm, a sense of not taking themselves too serious. Unless you were following tull in those years you wouldn't understand the unique subtleties that Jeffrey brought to the band and the music. the only other bass player I ever saaw who was more active on stage was verdin white of Earth wind & fire.

Dave Pegg was a great asset for Tull in the 80s & mid 90s

I draw the line at “Bursting Out” and the album of that tour “Heavy Horses”. The only time I saw Tull was the “Stormwatch” tour and it was the last album of Tull I bought. With Spotify I did go back to those later albums, but I didn’t find any of them to be on the level of the 70’s albums, especially the drums, and I don’t just mean “under wraps” electronic drums.

Agreed, Roots to Branches is a spectacular album but after that it's a slow lingering transformation into something else.

I think you’re probably right in citing 1995 as the end of the real Jethro Tull. Crest of a Knave & Roots to Branches are terrific albums, although the live performances were probably a little more restrained by then. My first experience of them live was 1984 and although thoroughly enjoyable, I am envious of anyone who saw the 1973-80 lineup live.

To me, Tull survives in RokFlote and Zealot Gene. They feel like Tull records to me. Tull's always been more of a concept and less an assemblage of particular players. What's unfortunate is that Anderson never established a clear distinction between Tull and his solo work. He bullocksed it badly by not putting his foot down with Chrysalis, insisting that "A" remain a solo release. He also seemed to confuse matters further by playing fast and loose with the branding of both "solo" Thick As A Brick 2 and Homo Erraticus, both of which were every bit as much Tull albums as the most recent two releases. As much a creative wizard as Ian is, he's less so a marketing genius. Blurring the lines of solo vs. Tull has hardly helped define his or Tull's legacies.

I'd agree that 1979's Stormwatch was the last "classic" Tull album. 1987's Crest of a Knave is clearly their last "best" album. Though I'd say even up to J-Tull Dot Com we get great songs like The Dog-Ear Years. Honestly, I haven't paid attention to Tull's new music for 25 years. Still one of the best back catalogs in rock history. Thanks for another great video. Cheers!

I think you're spot on regarding the timing of Jethro Tull's wandering off the big stage. The "Roots" record was a brilliant capper to the legacy.

No. One thing you can't deny is that the band led by Ian Anderson were masters of reinvention. They never could be put in a box. That's the greatest thing about them IMO.

Most fans know that ‘A’ was an Ian Anderson solo album. The members assumed that they’d been fired when they heard the news that it was going to be called Jethro Tull. Ian just didn’t fight it because he was ready to move on anyway. To say they were “sacked” is pretty misleading. And the previous lineup change was only 3-4 years earlier when Jeffrey left, not in the early ‘70’s. So the idea that they ever had a stable classic lineup for a long while is kind of a stretch. I have a pretty unique opinion on the 80’s. I believe that A and Under Wraps are both Ian Anderson solo albums. So if you remove those then the sequence is Stormwatch, Browdsword, Crest… Yes, there are still lineup changes and an increase of drum machine and 80’s synth sounds but the essence of Tull is fully intact. I would recommend any fan look at it this way unless they’re as obsessive as I am and aim to devour every single recording he has ever produced. Crest, Catfish and Rock Island were a few of the first ones I heard at age 10, not long after their release and I was hooked right away. So when I eventually heard Songs from the Wood and Thick as a Brick, it was just more awesome stuff from my already favorite band. Not anything that could lessen the value of the first ones I heard. It’s too bad others don’t get to share that experience.

I concur with your viewpoint , They ended for me after Roots to Branches . I couldn’t bring myself to see them live after the 1992 tour . While that was a good concert in 1992 , it was a shadow of the wildly exciting shows that I saw throughout the 70 s and 80s . For that very same reason , I couldn’t go watch Genesis on their final tour . While I admired Phil Collins’ fortitude , I just couldn’t watch him doing vocals from a chair . I preferred to remember his performances throughout the 70s and 80s . Thanks .

Stormwatch is the last Tull album that I unreservedly love every track on, but I love almost all of Broadsword, ditto with Rock Island (c'mon, Kissing Willie is a hoot! How can you not love lyrics like "Willie hangs his head behind grey factory walls"?), and the lion's share of Roots to Branches. So (imho) they certainly didn't end in 1979. I haven't heard anything post Roots to Branches that I give a tinker's cuss for, so I think I agree with your conclusion that Roots to Branches was probably the last great Tull long-player.

Tull was my number 1 band through 1979. I went to 3 or 4 concerts, one in England (I was already there). As much as I like "Stand Up", it's so different and really a jazz album. Having been a percussionist myself, I really liked the Barrymore Barlow years of Tull.

Jethro Tull never released a bad album in my opinion. It was just that some were better than others. And 'A' is a fine album with some brilliant writing.

79 was the end John Evan brought the Madrigal Magic. Gave up University for Tull and ended up as a builder. They had been friends from School!

Writing credits should have recognized the obvious musical contributions of John Evans. Especially TAAB and PP. of course MB bits are obvious too and Ian did acknowledge the guys on SFTW. But still you can see how heavily he leaned on keyboardists up to Crest. Anyway, not to take away from all of Ian’s excellence but the magic the 70’s guys delivered seems under recognized compositionally.

Yes I see the point, but I think Tull really ended in 1999. Stormwatch was my first Tull concert, and I'm glad to have seen the original lineup. But I continued to follow them quite intensely for long after that. There were some some great albums right up to end. After 2000 he should have quit before he lost his voice. I saw the 50th anniversary and it was frankly sad and embarrassing to see him struggling to sing and sounding lousy. Also I think Tull really drove the final nail into its coffin when Ian fired Martin Barre, who was his right hand man since 1969. That made me lose repect for him totally. But I still really appreciate all the good times I had listening to Tull since high school.

The end of Tull for me was 1980, and I left home when I was 18!

You make some good points here about Tull being eclectic, so we shouldn't expect the same album twice. However, after 1979 the only albums I had time for were "Crest.." & "Rock Island" the best song on there for me is "Ears of Tin". The Paradigm shift in music in the 1980s forced many an artist to move with the times & abandon a working formula in favour of attempting to pander to the tastes of the day. Of course, we already know this, & Jethro Tull weren't the only ones this happend to.

Am I the only one who loved Under Wraps from the day it was released? It was certainly an oddball record at the time for Tull along with being loaded with keyboards but the lyrical content made it sound more mature than what the other synth/keyboard bands were doing at the time. Also, the tour for this album was a lot better than the A tour.

If we are talking about pure, top tier Jethro Tull then yes that band really did end with Stormwatch as the last true JT album. But Tull did have an ace up their sleeve and I thought Broadsword was a return to form with an 80's production value that I don't mind. I could give Broadsword a 3.5 out of 5 rating which to me says it's a good rock album. I happen to like a lot of A as well. But yeah I think if we have to define Tull as a band with certain characteristics it seems Stormwatch and the end of the 70's really closed that unstoppable run that defined Jethro Tull.

I pretty much agree with this assessment. Although 1980 certainly represents a major shift, I think Tull still lived on. For me, Tull drifted away some time in the 90's. Perhaps with the departure of Dave Pegg? Yes, Barre was still there but any remnant of Tull being "a band" I think had gone at the point. It was basically IA and guests.

With the loss of John Evan on organ it was no longer Tull even thought I liked "A". The industry wanted to get away from the Hammond organ and called it dated. A Passion Play is my all-time favourite!

Agreed, after Stormwatch, albums were different, save a song or three

I hate long comments, but here goes. I don't think so, no. It's always down to taste, and for me, I love their first three '80s albums (and I also love Walk Into Light), I like Crest of a Knave quite a lot, and I like enough of Rock Island to keep it on the thumb drive in the car. But Rock Island is where the self-consciousness, the sense that Ian was no longer making music, he was making Jethro Tull product, gets too intense to tolerate ("Big Riff and Mando"-ugh). By Catfish Rising it's beyond saving ("White Innocence"-argh). So I would say that they ended in 1989. One of the things that defined Tull was boldly going where no Tull had gone before, and they did so through Under Wraps. They didn't do so on Crest, but the material was solid enough to overcome it. By Rock Island, their days of doing something interesting were over. (Yes, Roots to Branches is a bit of a return to form, but frankly, I don't see a brief focus on exotic scales and instruments as out of left field for Tull, so I don't count it.)

Tull always had brilliant musicians but my favourite line up is Barre, Evan, Barlow and Glascock.

I would say aside from the very first album anything with Ian Anderson and Martin Barre is what I considered Tull. Stuff without Martin feels more like solo albums which isn't necessarily A Bad Thing. Martins contributions are unique and he is a singular guitarist. Losing Barrie Barlowe was massive but Anderson was on to something when he hired Mark Craney. I wish that he'd stuck with him

Thank you for your Crest of a Knave by Jethro Tull shout out. I never ventured past their 1973 or 1974 Thick as a Brick era. I'm also a bit thick as a brick!

WTF … inlets I missed something … not a mention of Martin Barre … love your channel, but I cannot figure out why you completely ignored his contributions over this vast catalogue … a great disservice on your part I think, Could you take a minute and explain that one please

In 1973, when I went to the 2nd live performance of a Passion Play in the US, I went with my older sister and her then boyfriend, a big fan of the Beatles, Stones and Dylan, but unfamiliar with Tull. After watching that show and me playing him some albums he remarked: "Ian Anderson IS Jetrho Tull" and I think that was true then and right up until now. So, Tull is whatever Anderson and the guys playing with him at the time say it is. That does not mean the other contributors (I think 40+ or so) over the years have had some important ones and helped him and the band with their then current sound, but it has always been Anderson's musical project.

Roots to Branches is my favourite Tull album. No other Tull album I played more than this one and I love the Giddings/Noyce line up. For me after this line-up ended Tull stopped being a real band.

I think Stormwatch possibly signalled the end of Jethro Tull's ubiquitous phase when considering the behemoths of 60s / 70s rock. For the likes of Genesis and Yes (although more fleeting) the transformation into a more accessible form of music was met with some commercial success. Unfortunately with Tull's attempt to integrate the more electronic sounds of the day this was met with a degree of apathy from which their formative status was never reached again. These days Martin Barre suggests that the current version of the band is Tull lite and having witnessed their performance at Ephraim Gardens in 2023 i tend to sadly agree. Competent musically of course but lacking character as they come across as simply backing musicians. BTW special mention for Roots to Branches as suggested is a strong late period Tull album.

The tull magic started to slip away as early as post minstrel in the gallery.

I'd argue they ended with Songs From The Wood, or Bursting Out. It's hard to say because there was a fair number of duds before that (Passion Play, Too Old.., War Child etc). However, they were really sunk a little later, when they embraced the horrors of Mark Knopfler-style guitars, 80s production and big synthesiser sounds. I like 80s music as much as anyone, but none of those things suited them. Add in an over-emphasis on musicianship rather than song-writing and you've got a dead band.

The most famous line up in JT was the "Thick as a Brick" onward band, but it slowly unraveled starting with Jeffery H-H leaving and Glascock & Palmer joining. After the Stormwatch album, JT was blown up and major changes occurred. Maybe it was time for a change as B. Barlow in 1980 commented on how the band's songs and formula were starting to wear thin. Perhaps new blood was needed to give energy to the idea of JT in the 80's, and they had a few solid albums in that era. I loved that 70's band lineup the most and enjoy those albums even to this day.

I first became aware of Tull at Hyde Park when I was in the 6th form. I admired Anderson's frenetic flute playing, but I was not in tune with bluesy music in general. The revelation came with Stand Up after Mick Abrahams had left. I was a solid Tull fan throughout the Seventies but only an episodic one after the A album, when the 'ironing board' players turned up

As one of Tull's biggest fans, I consider the band existing up to and including The Christmas Album. Not that every album in there was excellent mind you. There were some weak ones including Crest, (yes Crest. I got so sick of hearing the safe to play/easy to handle for old Ian "Budapest" in concert). Rock Island, Catfish. Several good songs there, but not entirely classic albums. By the way, as late a release as it was in the history of Tull, Roots to Branches is a modern classic, and one of my favorites. This is my humble opinion and feeling. I don't like the latest Ian solo albums, so it's not just the current matter of Tull?/NOT Tull! I personally think the writing has dried up and is relying more on rehashing. As far as the current band, well, it definitely is Tull only in name. The band has always been made up of members with unique style, talent AND personality. All which to me is sorely lacking now. Besides Ian's been too old to rock 'n' roll indeed, for some time now. I know he does as he wishes (and good for him), as far as continuing to release albums and tours, but I'll remain content with the rich library of genius he's already given us a long time ago. Happy new year from New York's Hudson Valley. Cheers and keep up the good work.

I really don't mind if you sit this one out... I first heard Tull, Aqualung, at a friends home in '72, and was hooked. Every album was a Gem, with no filler songs (Too Old, and Heavy as exceptions IMHO) through Broadsword. That and not getting stuck in the mold of a fixed sound / theme keep me hooked. (the opposite of BTO whom many claimed all their songs sounded the same) I always felt Martin was much underappreciated by fans as a guitarist, as his was a big part of the Classic Tull Sound that I love. If Ian and Martin are on it, it sounds like a Tull Album to me. I'm not as familiar with Tull's later work as after Broadsword as I only bought Knave and it seemed like Ian's songwriting had went past its peak by then. That High Quality I loved seemed to be waning and I'd rather live in their Hay-day than listen to lesser works. mike Living in the past

'A' is, as you say, rather sterile and after that I drifted away from new Tull albums. But for some unremembered reason I gave 'Roots To Branches' a closer listen and was very pleasantly surprised at how strong it was, and so too Anderson's 'The Secret Language Of Birds'. Other than those two nothing else after 'A' has impressed me. But my favourites are 'Aqualung' and 'Too Old To Rock ’n’ Roll: Too Young To Die'.

Every album after Stormwatch were Anderson solo albums IMO. Prior, the entire band contributed heavily to the music. While Ian had some very good lyrics during their most popular days, it was his prior bands musical contributions kept me coming back for more. (Although, Too Old was disappointing to me. How could they produce a brilliant album like Minstrel and follow it up with that nonsense? Whiz Kid? WTH...?.) Like Martin has stated himself, if it isn't broken, don't try to fix it. Yes, Tull moved from side to side musically through to good years, but one man doesn't make a band. When the band is let go, or leaves due to unjust circumstances, things will change drastically. Why doesn't anybody interview the other living band members from the 70's outside of Martin and a few clips from Palmer? Does Ian have them clamped down legally? Just asking because many of them were brilliant musicians in their own right and it would be interesting to hear what they have to say about those days, outside of the standard Ian interview line. There is more to the history than we have been told, and "I suspect" its not entirely flattering to a certain singer/songwriter. Its never good to only get one side of the story.

" The tale of a wandering bard " was undoubtedly his best performance...IMO of course. Thx. ✌️👍

Tull without Martin Barre isn‘t really Tull

Yes, I rather agree! For me it’s everything from Aqualung to Stormwatcher, the first 3 albums and Broadsword, and Roots to Branches get an occasional listen.

For me Yes! Anderson got far too cocky, he sacked or caused the best musicians in Jethro Tull to leave all except Martin Barre. He lost his direction and his muse, never to regain them.

Man.....Nothing beats that 1978 lineup. My first ever exposure to the band was Bursting Out.

My mum says I should be offended that you said I am still living with her - - I want to make clear we are in separate rooms! Strangely - I would agree with 1995, but I keep returning to the view that the 2000 solo album by Anderson (The Secret Language of Birds) was actually the best Tull Tull album since 1979.

Don't think I've ever been insulted so much and yet agree with every word uttered. My mother upstairs agrees.

I see it differently: like many other famous groups (Deep Purple or Manfred Mann's Earth Band for example), Jethro Tull simply had several eras, not only two: First it was very bluesy, then it was the peak in the 70s (the best indeed), then experiments (imposed by the inevitable 80s which ruined the general quality of the music in terms of arrangements, production and format), then a gentle slope towards weakness in the 90s, and a resurgence of maturity in starting from the Christmas Album (which I find good), including the latest two which I consider more as solo Ian Anderson, and moreover I include in this last era The Secret Language Of Birds and his three following solos albums as well.

Yes, April 1980 in fact after the Stormwatch tour, where Dave Pegg replaced the late John Glascock. Had some nice moments until the late 90's though with the Anderson/Barre/Pegg band.

For me, Jeffrey Hammond leaving the band was the end of the very exciting live shows Tull were known for. Strange but my favorite period was when their hair was the longest. Particularly "Thick as a Brick". John Glascock was a great player and "Songs from the Wood" was an incredible album, but the interplay between Barlow, Evan, Barre, Hammond and Anderson was the most exciting.

I have been a Jethro Tull fan since my high school days, back in the late 80s, when the 20th anniversary box set was issued, those records were a crash course on learning the JT universe that fascinated me until these present days. In my opinion, what makes JT one of the greatest bands ever to exist, with Ian Anderson as its sole driving force, is precisely the permanent musical innovation that makes each album a unique work of art. I do enjoy their “prog rock” period (1970-1975) better than their other periods (A Passion Play is my all time favorite JT album) however, the whole JT discography constitutes a musical legacy worth listening to, as well as preserving it for posterity.

I went/limped along with Tull up until this last album. It was ok, but the Ian/Tull, that I know and love, have just plain worn out, and gotten old. Just like me. Ian couldn't help what happened to his knee, I understand that all too well. As for his voice, he said that he tried too hard one night when he had a cold. I can buy that as well. I knew that some day when I was young in the 1970's that my musical heroes and myself, would one day grow old and blow away. I had just always hoped it would take a very long time. It did, just that, and now I'm a geezer. I still have some hope for JT, however.

I think Heavy Horses was the last great Jethro Tull album. After that, Ian stopped evolving his music and the albums became more inconsistent, I think. He did try to adapt to the sound of the time with the album Under Wraps, but that was an exception. I think it works but the album is as uneven as most of the other Tull albums from eighties and nineties. I think the problem was that he started to divide his time between music and other interests. In the seventies, I believe he was only engaged in his music.

In my view A is a great album, as great as several other Tull albums in the 1970s. I like the comments that Tull albums are significantly different from each other.

The second barrymore barlow left i left......and tull is my favorite band.

I think Tull did end in 1979. Indeed, I saw them in 1994 and it was basically a concert of old songs, supporting the view of the 1979 division

Tull certainly continues with a changing rota of musicians as in life you move on with who you work with! It's the music! At the end of the day! People have their favourites which is the same for many bands!

It may be that a band is like a car. Is it mechanically sound? If so, is it still powerful? Is it stylish? If so is it classic? An MGB-GT is a classic, let’s say, but the one in my backyard is rusty and inoperable. It makes no sense to speak of that particular MGB-GT as either representative of the car model while in disrepair or, if fully restored and functioning as a new vehicle. Same with Tull. There were many models. Many breakdowns. Many restorations. The best we can do is to properly admire the band’s overall style and design. Time isn’t typically kind to cars nor bands, in particular and in model.

Great review. 70's Tull albums were and remain outstanding definitive masterpieces - perhaps considered the "prime" decade for the band and it's lineup. Rock Island, Crest and even DotCom to have some good songs and those tours were enjoyable. CRising however I simply cannot enjoy. As JT followers know so well Tull is much to do about experimentation + pushing creative limits and with that comes the possibility of turning some listeners off and not getting the rave reviews. Broadsword, Roots, and UnderWraps are strong albums and in spite of Ians vocal struggles those live shows were excellent. Don't forget the quality of musicians Ian brought in during those 80-90's albums - he had a knack for picking tremendous talent. And here we are today in 2024 with even more fresh music from Ian, woo! granted the live shows are a challenge.

For me, 'A', Crest of a Knave and Catfish Rising were the only post - Stormwatch material really worth listening to that had some of their older sound available is some form.

I have everything they've ever made, but after 1979, I have little interest in much of the output since then. Barrymore Barlow was an amazing drummer for Tull, as was John Evans keyboards totally amazing.