Jethro Tull- Velvet Green (First Listen) 

This album is like potato chips, I can’t just listen to one song, I have to eat the whole album.

'And August's rare delights may be 'April's fool'. A wonderful way to say oops, 9 months! Such a naughty song that is so wonderful.

Velvet Green... A classical folk masterpiece!!!!!

Every time I listen to this after not having heard it in a while, I am once again blown away by the genius of the orchestration and arrangement. Always just the right sound for the moment, if it's never used again in the song...

This song and album was the soundtrack of my childhood. My dad was a huge Tull fan and loved playing this album. It does have an English folk, baroque, minstrel sound. When I was in elementary school, I would bring home illustrated fairytale books and read them while listening to this album. Tull's music on this song especially took my imagination to those medieval places just like the fairytale books I was reading. That is the magic of Jethro Tull.

Jethro Tull's style of composition is different, virtuous, impressively, melodious, without a doubt, one of the best progressive rock bands, ever existing.

"Love all their albums, but this albums has a certain charm". Exactly. Such a lovely album. Listen to one track you end up going through the lot. And it even leaves you wanting more.

I love how whenever the drums come in you grin from ear to ear. Barrie Barlow - Legend.

Creativity just oozed from the band at the time this was recorded. There are so many touches, layers, changes and effortlessly intricate playing on this song and this album. It wasn't a concept album but they sure managed to give a consistent feel start to finish. Even more appreciated looking back. Your admiration shows all that is not lost on you. Great job understanding on a single listen how special this is.

SFTW is the first and probably best of a trio of great albums which really dug into English/British folk music and gave it a rock twist. Their live shows from this period were awesome and flew in the face of punk. A useful reminder that musical chops still mattered.

“Songs From the Wood” one of my favorite albums of all time.

what a refined arrangements, elegant performance, complex and charming; in one word: JETHRO TULL

Yes, this is the best song on the album and one of the best Tull songs.

Love how versatile JT is, to be able to do raucous hard rock on one song and slip easily into medieval folk on the next. It was a cool time to be around when there was a lot of rediscovery of nice folk music from an earlier time.

This is not an album, but a complete lifestyle. I just yearn for the times that never really occurred. This album changed my head around, truly. It is said that working with Steeleye Span in the studio affected Ian's music for this one. Though Heavy Horses is also excellent, it is more victorian in it's approach. 'Songs' is my favorite Tull. Best album of 1977.

That intro is just so intricate and delicate, like lacework

This is their best album. Every track a winner.

Can you imagine seeing this tour live in 77' 5th row Boston Garden with 6 of your best friends who soaked this album in for months prior, we had the best dark sticky black Hash for that show. It was quite the nite, this was thier peak 💨 🎸

My favorite Tull album. Yes, Barlow is amazing. My favorite Tull drummer.

What a phenomenal album. Such incredible compositions and musicality, and what amazing players. Near perfection. Jethro Tull is just ridiculously good.

such a high quality of everything by JT - structure, composition, melody, playing. perfect.

It's like discovering it all over again. This time I think I heard little bits of Bach in there at times? And a detail I like from this album as a whole is the vocal harmonies. (That quiet, deep voice under the harmony gives some very unusual harmonies; and I think it's largely this that gives the song its "medieaval" quality.) And to think there's more to come! (Once you feel you're ready for a historio-mood shift to the eighteenth century/ early Victorian times, and horse-based agriculture at its peak, you might enjoy Heavy Horses, too. The mood is different, but that's the wonder of this crimson cup. Something in the "styling" of the themed albums - their countryside phase - suggests entire worlds. Yes, that's something that music in general can often do ... but isn't it Wonderful? ... how some concocted noises can somehow or other convey the atmosphere of entire landscapes in whole epochs of time?)

"With kitchen prose and gutter rhyme." Ian is a master at innuendos.The lyrics are funny but not offensive. He's the "Minstrel in the Gallery", the bard, the troubadour, court jester. With Ian, you get it all.❤

Ian Anderson and the band give a "wink and a nod" on this whole album. It's earthy and it's fun!

It’s been a long time since I listened to this song. Great song that reminds me to revisit all my Jethro Tull albums again.

Another great Tull album, which you may enjoy even more, also in the "Baroque" style is "Minstrel in the Gallery".

I bought this album when it first came. To this day it is still one of my favorite albums and I listen to it quite often.

Many many euphemisms...throughout J.Tull's sound-span.

You really should watch the live version of this song on the royal albert hall on '77. It really shows the amazing musicianship of the whole band.

Yes, Jethro Tull IS a beast! TMGS......Too Much Good Stuff. Where do you begin and end? Well, I'll tell you that it never ends you just keep listening to their music the rest of your life. You rediscover much of it because of their huge discography. Larger than most bands. This album came out in my Sophomore year in College. Bought it at the Warehouse Records in Westwood Village. Great memories playing the album over and over. 44 years later its on my iPhone.

Love this whole album and this song especially! It gives off this perfect pastoral feeling that makes me think of summer walks in the forest. I enjoy other Jethro Tull albums a lot,but this album holds a special place in my heart. Always love your reactions,man)

Watch the 1977 live video from London of this song. Barriemore Barlow plays a drum set from the Middle Ages.

Totally agree with you on Mr B Barlow!

One of their finest songs on perhaps their best album

Between Celtic folk and classical music. Beautiful song from a wonderful album.

I’m still amazed that Ian could perform the acoustic guitar part during the band sections while singing live.

If you like the troubadour feel to this album you have got to do "Minstrel in the Gallery". Baker Street Muse is probably my favourite Tull track ever.

Folk music with an attitude. What an album!

What a great song on so many levels, this whole album exudes a lust for life and nature!

Discovered this album in 1978. It's a damn shame so few people are aware of this gem. "Heavy Horses" too

A true piece of art. Very off the wall as well. One of the most 'Elizabethan' Tull songs.

Haven't heard this song since 77 and now years later 2021 having a coffee re discovering the song once again

My favourite song of all time. Velvet Green is immaculate. Tull often went off at strange tangents that I sometimes found annoying but this they got dead right!

I'll say it again, I think this is the album I'd recommmend to anyone who wanted to hear JT for the first time. It's accessible and melodic with just enough prog to tantalise but not put anyone off with overkill :)

I was singing this song to myself as I walked on the grass at a park in Scotland. It was quite velvety green.

Amazing song and one of my all time favorite albums not just by Tull but of any and all!

There's been a lot of great bands over the years, but I don't know. I mean Pink Floyd (who I sometimes think of as #1), Led Zeppelin, Yes, the Beatles, ELP, and some much more recent ones. But most often, yeah, if I have to choose "the best", I've been known to go with Floyd. HOWEVER, there are other times when I just can't do it. I mean some of Jethro Tull's stuff is so very nearly PERFECT that it feels wrong to have them anywhere but the top of the list. During the 70s they were as creative, complex, tight, and mesmerizing as is humanly possible. Of course the glue was Ian Anderson, but he also managed to assemble several world-class artists in their own right. As great as Ian is/was, he couldn't have done it on his own. These guys, AS A WHOLE, were almost inhumanly good.... and not just in the studio. A lot of their live shows were every bit as good, and the talent which is Ian Anderson is just otherworldly. And... (Oh well... sorry for the rant, but I think you get the idea. :) )

with a cup of... with a cup of... how about with a Cup of Wonder?... IT WAS RIGHT THERE! Lol, keep up the good work

This is their most Gentle Giant-ish song. Check out “Experience” and “The Runaway” by GG.

This my favourite Tull song and one of my all-time top 10 songs. I can listen to it every day without it diminishing for me. Very good reaction!

This is my favourite song off the album. The more you listen the more you realise how intricate it is. Ian Anderson used to say this was their most difficult song to play.

Love your reaction. It is an amazing album. Charming is an appropriate word. Incredible arrangements.

I definitely think that this is the best song, my opinion only because their are so many great one's on here.This is the album that introduced me to them so it will always hold a special place 💚

Saw the SFTW tour in 1977 at Madison Square Garden. Word was before the concert that Ian was not feeling well. That the promoter pressured Ian to do the sold-out concert. He was still great.

I love the entire album but this is possibly my favorite among favorites

Jethro Tull, to make you feel much better than you should know...

See this song in a live version in 1977... very nice!!!

Nice reaction - what a totally unique band Jethro Tull were.

No other band like the Tull. There music always levels me out feeling refreshed. Great review as always.

When I was (a bit) younger, I used to listen to this album and Heavy Horses a lot. Great albums. This one was also my introduction to Jethro Tull. For some reason the older albums never really caught me. But from this album on I've got them all. Great stuff Justin!

This was mine and my first (and only really) true love's song because it describes our attachment with such living sentiment and experience so it's always been on my personal favorite songs list, its Celtic vibe a celebration of ______ (fill in the blank).

Greatest reaction ever to velvet green. You are one of the few who really gets it.

My favorite Jethro Tull album, glad you’re enjoying it so much! I think you’d really like “Too Old to Rock ‘n Roll, Too Young to Die”, also a great concept album, and a bit of a different sound as the “story” is set in late 50s-early 60s, and an aging biker.

You didn't mention the time signature changes, but they are there! This whole record has always struck me as "medieval progressive". Or something 😅. I love it, and have since '77, and Velvet Green is my fave tune of the record.

I got into the sold out Songs From the Wood concert at Radio City Music Hall with a NY Met Ticket! ... The ticket taker never even checked... This was back in the Ticketron days when all tickets looked the same.

Ian Anderson was exploring getting back to nature around this time and did buy a farm in the country not too long after this. Kelli from Kel and Rich called This album musical sunshine🌞 Hope you get back to VdGG and ELP sometime. The Lamb is coming soon😉 Keep up the good work!

This is so good imo.. Ians vocals are just sublime Justin. The acoustic guitar work is stunning. Them so country sounding flutes and keyboards are so well used butty. Oh and Mr Barlow on the mighty marimba!! ♥️. What a musician he is Justin. Yes, i, d say baroque too, definitely in parts. So seductive, and dreamy. The invention in Velvet Green is on another level imho. ❤️ ❤️ ❤️. Wonderful review Justin, wonderful song too.. Class ❤️ 👌 😊

My favorite Tull album.

Definitely in my top 3 Jethro Tull albums... Wore out my first copy in two years, had to buy a new...

"Songs from the Wood" is an amazing album. Thanks for the review. 😊

On the back porch on a sunny day. Quite nice but nothing as tawdry as this song’s meaning. Still I take Tull and great weather any day. Great song review! Thanks again! Hey! Tomorrow starts The Lamb, right? I’m stoked.

Instrumentaly realy great song, that reminds me a litte of the time around the warchild record prog folk with these baroque elements. I relay love the opening melody, while the middle part feels like a different song with the acustic guitar like on the Minstel in the Gallery record.

This and its companion disc HEAVY HORSES are underated . Tiring of the big city ratrace , Ian wrote a batch of songs drawing on the ancient lore of the small towns , with complex passages linking themes of folk simplicity . Overall , this era worked better for me than albums like MINSTRAL IN THE GALLERY .

The Renaissance era in music ran from 1450-1600. The only types of music that I’m familiar with from the era are works for solo lute and sacred choral works (which I think are some of the most beautiful pieces of music ever written). John Dowland was a prolific and well-known musician of the time. You might enjoy his music for solo lute and lute with voice, especially for a taste of authentic Renaissance music.

I especially like the part at 4:03 when that rattle comes in and transitions to something sounding like a folk festival at the village green.

Justin, so when is A Passion Play coming up? You would be the first person to do a reaction video for it!!!!!

You're not alone, Justin! At one Tull concert decades ago, I saw someone with a t-shirt that said, "Which one's Jethro?"

Another great one from my favourite JT album

Modern English Court music. Troubadours .... Tull's essence.

The velvet referred to, is close to a ladies intimate parts! The green is a metaphor of spring when the sap rises as in the Pine tree reference. Folk music often has this allusion to green as having to do with varility. I think there is another song on the album which is called Jack in the Green.

For as long as i have been listening to this song (bought it in vinyl when it came out), I never paid attention to the count (@4:01) much. I got a little chuckle out of it today.

"Songs from the Wood" is the perfect album for Beltane (May 1st).

Monday is officially May Day. The ideal time to listen to "May Day Galliard" by The Enid.

Add the catalog going back to the mid 60s, by '77 this was another dimension of tull, connected by string/woodwind theory aka magic, legend. Steven wilson remastered this catalog...nothing added, but the sound quality is better than the original I played at the time. Thanks for the share. 'J'

Great song by JT!!! Also check out their album Minstrel in the Gallery it’s fantastic...

There's a lot of Gryphon sounds coming out of this song too. I know you haven't enjoyed them that much, but if you like the vibes of this Tull album, you should like Gryphon's third, Red Queen To Gryphon Three, which is a prog classic.

SFTW has been my favorite Tull for 40 years.

As others have said - the first of a great trilogy of albums from Jethro Tull. Definitely a minstrel ( and of course, a rockier style can be heard on the earlier "Minstrel in the Gallery", when the songs move from folk to rock between verses). Now, if I may, can you make a brief diversion back to "Benefit" and listen to "For Michael Collins, Jeffrey and Me" ? Part of the title and definitely the chorus of this song are a reference to the late Michael Collins ( October 31, 1930 - April 28, 2021 ) of Apollo 11 fame. It would be a nice reaction tribute. And as someone also pointed out, tomorrow is Beltane (May 1st) - originally on the 25th Anniversary album, I think it is on newer "Songs From the Wood" releases. "Have you ever stood in the April wood . . . And called the New Year in".

I love JT! It's been a while since I've heard this song, but OMG! "Hunting Girl" WAS my favorite song on the album, however, hearing "Velvet Green" again has shifted my opinion to it! I was lucky enough to see Tull in November of '77, when they performed nearly all of SFTW. I, too, had purchased this album as a new release on the dreaded 8-TRACK format. As an 18 yo, I had no idea I'd just purchased JT's last best complete album. Sure, 'Heavy Horses,' 'A' and 'Crest of a Knave' are good, however here JT showcases the perfect blend of songwriting, musicianship and style to produce an outstanding record that stands the test of time. Heck, it was released only FORTY-FOUR short years ago!! Where have all the decades gone?!? I guess I'm just an old school hippie chick....🐣❤✌😽

IF YOU WANT A SONG THAT IS THE PERFECT COMBINATION OF ALL THE GENERS MIXED TOGETHER... THE MIXING STYLE OF JT, TRY PIBROCH, FROM THIS ALBUM

I’m just a Baker Street Muse walking down the gutter thinking how the hell I am today, I tried to catch my eye but I looked the other way.......... my favorite band for sure.

Great song. I hope you have a good day as well. I'm laying in bed watching this but I'm not feeling good at all.

this was like mediaeval music played in a modern progressive style-it sounds like it should have been a disaster but amazingly it sounded great, one of tull's best

Apologies if mentioned already by others, but the Album Title was partly conceived due to reemergence of drinking real ale, which resulted in frequent references to ‘from the wood’ i.e. ale from the wooden barrel or ‘from the wood’. Which made for a nice pun on Wood as in Forrest. How about a Video of your own favourite songs from various artists?

Please give a listen to the "Minstrel in the Gallery" album. You will love it.

Great review. Have a listen to the Strands song wavey. A new fantastic band from northeast England. Aw the best.

If you listen to Barlow's drumming on "A Passion Play" you will finally notice that he is one of the best drummers of rock (not only progressive rock, but the genre as a whole). And I'm not talking only about technic: he actually knows exactly what to do to enhance both the quality of the song and their coleagues performances. It's really incredible. Just a few musicians have this kind of perception of its own instrument. Now about Velvet Green: the first keyboard sound that seems like harpsichord is, in fact, the portative pipe organ, and is played by David Palmer. The live version of Golders Green should clarify what is happening here.

Just another winner from this album. So glad you are enjoying it. Songs from the wood one of my all-time favorites. Love you

Did you know their is a Steven Wilson remix for this song I just found that out

Yes you do need a green shirt... green is my favorite color... I mentioned before this is my favorite Tool album I listen to it all the time I find it as great album to put on when I'm doing chores I just get so much done it's just a great great album to listen to over and over again from start to finish As always you did a fantastic reaction. Enjoying your channel so much. I'm so glad that Daniel turned me on to your Channel.