March 19, 1971 - Aqualung

Two weeks since my last release, and about a year since "Benefit", Jethro Tull released their fourth album titled "Aqualung" on March 19, 1971. Shortly after the release of "Benefit", bassist Glenn Cornick was fired by the band and replaced with new bassist Jeffrey Hammond. This is the same Jeffrey that Ian Anderson has written several songs about and I'm sure the frontman was thrilled to have his long-time friend in the band. "Aqualung" would be Tull's first album as a five-piece as keyboardist John Evan was upgraded to full-time member after featuring on several songs on "Benefit". Let's see how this new Jethro Tull plays!

Side one kicks off with the title track "Aqualung" and it has a very distinctive, very cool guitar riff by Martin Barre that carries this first part. I think Anderson's voice sounds great and the lyrics for this song were inspired by a bunch of photos Anderson's wife took at a park, especially a particular homeless man, the same one pictured on the album's cover. After a couple solid verses it moves to a slower part with Anderson on acoustic guitar (all acoustic guitar is done by Anderson while Barre only does electric). He sings much more softly and sounds a little distant, but it fits the mood. Evan plays some great piano in this part as well, which then segues into a new much faster part. It has some quick acoustic playing and this leads into quite the guitar solo by Barre. At the time of recording, Led Zeppelin were recording their fourth album as well in the same studio and Jimmy Page popped over to watch the recording of this song. Seeing Page, Barre changed what was supposed to be the solo for the song and spiced it up to try and impress him. He does an excellent job and plays a really good solo that keeps getting better as it goes. The slow acoustic is back briefly, before they replay the first epic verse and finish off with some cool drumming by Clive Bunker. The next song is titled "Cross-Eyed Mary" which finally sees Anderson play some flute and Evan some nice piano. An odd sounding distorted guitar riff starts the first verse and features some more great singing by Anderson. Evan continues to play solid piano and we hear a wicked little flute solo, followed by a cool electric guitar solo. They play out another solid verse before a nice rock and roll ending. Anderson wrote the next song after visiting his father in hospital and is a cool, short acoustic song. He plays some solid guitar and we even hear Evan play a little Mellotron. Track 4 is called "Mother Goose" and has some cool flute and great acoustic by Anderson. He is playing a lot of great acoustic stuff on this album already, including another good riff here. Barre has a nice little flourish on electric guitar but it's the acoustic that definitely steals the show. The next song is another short acoustic ballad titled "Wond'ring Aloud". Anderson's singing sounds great once again and with Evan's piano and some added strings this is a beautiful little tune. The last song on side one is "Up To Me", which opens with guitar and flute playing a synchronized riff. It's a pretty catchy one and Ian is joined by Evan on piano and some wicked guitar by Barre. Anderson takes over the next part though, with another acoustic-led part that also has some cool flute. He is really on point this album, performing great on everything. The opening riff turns out to be the chorus and it's repeated a lot, but with several nice guitar and flute flourishes to keep it fresh until the end.

Side two begins with "My God" which has a cool guitar opening. Another cool acoustic riff and some piano start the first verse and Anderson's voice continues to sound great on this album. Barre plays the same riff much heavier and that sounds great. Anderson a cool short flute bit, Barre rips off a quick solo, and there's another wicked flute riff. He really speeds it up and it sounds crazy! There's some wordless background vocals as we hear a really cool part with a whole bunch of layered flutes. They sound like they're coming from everywhere and it's insanity, I love it! This amazing flute solo finally leads into one more heavy verse and we even get a little more flute at the end in what I think is the best song so far, and side one was pretty great! The next track is a piano-led rock song titled "Hymn 43". I continue to really enjoy Ian's voice and oddly enough the chorus in this song has no lyrics, just a catchy riff by Barre with nice flute as well. Barre plays a solid solo but it's Evan's piano that really makes the song. Anderson plays another short acoustic ballad next called "Slipstream". It's only a minute long but has some more strings that sound nice, and a trippy ending. Track 10 is titled "Locomotive Breath" and it opens with a wonderful piano solo by Evan that sounds very epic. He changes to a faster pace as Barre joins in and then we finally hear the awesome driving riff that carries the rest of the song. Barre flashes in and out with some cool guitar as Evan's piano thunders behind Anderson's singing. There's an awesome flute solo after the second verse, and after the third we halear some more great piano by Evan in yet another fantastic song. The album wraps up with "Wind-Up" which starts with just Anderson singing and playing acoustic. He sounds great by himself, but some nice piano joins in and it's slow for the first couple verses. Barre starts a new part with a cool riff, but Anderson sings in the same style as the last part. It's interesting that the same lyrics fit well in multiple styles. Barre plays a great solo, and then we again hear the same singing and lyrics, but with piano leading this final part. Another cool song and the end of a fantastic album.

That is the end of "Aqualung" and I thought that was some phenomenal stuff. Ian Anderson is absolutely amazing throughout the album and the addition of Evan as a full-time member seems a no-brainer as he also plays great. But how does it compare to their first three albums? I think it leaves "This Was" and "Benefit" in the dust, but "Stand Up" is a different story. While it was also a great album, every song on this one, even the three short acoustic ones, are great. It is a nonstop awesome ride and I believe "Aqualung" to be their best record yet. How will they follow it up? I can't wait to see!