by Mott the Dog
***** 5 Stars Rating
Jethro Tull, what a wonderful name for a band. The very
mention of their name conjures up images of Ian Anderson, that long haired
flautist, dressed in his shabby raincoat, hopping around on one leg, but
still looking every inch the Rock star, leading his ever-changing line up
of cohorts to ever greater deeds of daring do.
Jethro Tull started out in Birmingham, England, in
November 1967, hitting instant success with their first album "This
Was" in October 1968 and third single "Living In The Past"
in May 1969. By this time they had already left behind their basic blues
roots and had shifted to being moulded into the image carrying vehicle
that Ian Anderson required. This produced some of the best blending of
blues, jazz, a smidgeon of Rhythm & Blues, definite progressive rock
elements, for good measure throw in a healthy dose of medieval folk music
with your basic hard rock, some fine musicianship, plus the use of
whatever instrument suited the song, and there your are, music that will
make you a millionaire many times over. They go back a long way now, but
to this very day continue to produce music that is as relevant,
interesting and entertaining as ever.
This album, "Songs From The Wood", was the
second of five albums put together by this particular line up of Jethro
Tull, which held together for almost five years (an eternity in Tull
time). That is if you don’t include the addition of David Palmer on
keyboards (who had been aboard as arranger since the first album anyway)
and the tragic death of John Glassock to be replaced by Dave Pegg
(formerly of Fairport Convention) on bass. Dave Pegg is still a member of
Jethro Tull today, splitting his time between working with the Tull and
the Fairports.
"Songs From The Wood" came out after the
harder rockin album "Too Old To Rock ‘n’ Roll To Young To
Die" - Ian Anderson’s reaction to the arrival of Punk Rock.
Never one to shy away from fashion and always sticking
to his roots (with the charts full of albums by the likes of The Damned,
Adam and the Ants, etc.), Jethro Tull released their most folk orientated
album to date. Of course, the fickle press leapt on this and slammed the
band for being way beyond their sell by date. Particularly Ian Anderson
was held up to be an object of ridicule for his appearance and song
writing skills.
Not that the record buying public took much notice as
the album shot up both the American and British charts researching number
eight and thirteen respectively. By now the band was one of the most
successful bands of all time, living in tax exile, and their live concerts
were a sell out all over the world.
The music is sensational throughout its nine cuts.
"Hunting Girl", "Songs From The Wood" with its
excellent middle verse of:
"Let me bring you all things refined;
Galliards and lute songs served in chilling ale;
Greetings, well - met fellow, hail!
I am the wind to fill your soil.
I am the cross to take your nail;
A singer of those ageless times -
With kitchen prose, and gutter rhymes",
and "The Whistler" are maybe three of the
best folk rock songs ever made, certainly up there with anything else I
can think of.
"Ring out Solstice Bells" evokes the spirit
of Christmas like no other, with rhythmic handclaps, the wonderfully
monickered Barriemore Barlow let loose on all sorts of percussion, whilst
the flute weaves its magic spell over a relentless backbeat.
Penultimate song "Pibrack (copin hand)" is
where long time Tull guitarist Martin Barre is allowed to step out into
the spotlight with the electric guitar with some marvellous interplay
between himself and Anderson. In folk rock terms the equivalent of
Blackmore playing against Jon Lord in the old Deep Purple. A wonder for
the ears.
All in all "Songs From The Wood" is a
masterful album, full of varied surprises, and if you like this
collection, look out Tull’s follow up album "Heavy Horses",
which is just as good ... but different.
I leave you with my favourite Rock ‘n’ Roll Trivia
question: Jethro Tull have had three lead guitarists during their 33-year
career, all from Birmingham. The first was Mick Abrahams, who lasted one
year and one album. Martin Barre recorded all the other Tull albums. But
who was the guitarist in between Abrahams and Barre? He went on to become
a huge international star himself, and appeared with Jethro Tull on the
Rolling Stones Rock ‘n’ Roll Circus. (The answer is hidden somewhere
inside this issue of the Pattaya Mail.)
Musicians
Ian Anderson - Vocals, Flute, Acoustic Guitar, Mandolin
& Whistles
Martin Barre - Electric Guitar & Lute
John Evans - Piano, Organ & Synthesisers
Barriemore Barlow - Drums, Marimba, Glockenspiel,
Bells, Nakers & Tabor
John Glascock - Bass Guitar & Vocals
David Palmer - Piano, Synthesiser, & Portative
Organ
Track Listing
1. Songs From The Wood
2. Jack-In-The-Green
3. Cup Of Wonder
4. Hunting Girl
5. Ring Out, Solstice Bells
6. Velvet Green
7.The Whistler
8. Pibroch (Cap In Hand)
9. Fire At Midnight
This
is the latest book from the prolific Bangkok based writer William Warren.
It was published earlier this year in the UK, but this edition from
Talisman Publishing (ISBN 9-81045-320-5) is specific for SE Asia. With
over 40 years in the nations capital (the flyleaf says 50, but Warren
writes in the text that he came to Bangkok in 1959), Warren has had ample
opportunity to get to know and understand Bangkok, often given enigmatic
status by first time visitors.
When
I saw the title of this movie I thought, "great, sounds like a really
stupid movie", bearing in mind, I was on a plane at the time and
unable to avoid watching it. What made it worse was that for some unknown
reason we could only get it in French, and my school French is sketchy
with the best will in the world.
Mott’s CD review: