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Jethro Tull- Aqualung- Ian Anderson

Few albums from any time in the Rock Era continue to satisfy quite so well as Jethro Tull's masterpiece "Aqualung". Ian Anderson smartly wrote songs for all seasons for a superb band, including the timeless rockers "Aqualung","Cross-Eyed Mary","Locomotive Breath," and "Hymn #43", but perfectly paced the album with tasty acoustic classics like "Wond'ring Aloud"and "Mother Goose". On "Aqualung" 's anniversary, Ian Anderson is my guest In the Studio.

Live Tracks

Jethro Tull- Locomotive Breath- Zurich dressing room 1989

Jethro Tull's singer/ songwriter/ flautist Ian Anderson ( left ) returns here In the Studio next week for the band's big fiftieth anniversary of "Aqualung", so this should prime the pump with another angle on all of that material. Here's another of the rare "Dressing Room Tapes" performances in the backstage bowels of the concert hall before a Zurich Switzerland 1989 concert with guitarist Martin Barre ripping a spirited "Locomotive Breath".

Medium Rare

Jethro Tull- Minstrel in the Gallery- Ian Anderson

"Light and shade," Jimmy Page once told me, speaking to the secret of Led Zeppelin's universal popularity, and never was that combination more on display than on the title song to Jethro Tull's September 1975 "Minstrel in the Gallery".

Medium Rare

Jethro Tull- Crest of a Knave- Ian Anderson

Beginning in 1979 and continuing all the way until 1987 with "Crest of a Knave", Jethro Tull's fate and fortunes would be quite unlike their first decade of success when the unique amalgam of blues rock, Scottish Highlands folk, and hard rock, led by Ian Anderson and exemplified by "Aqualung" and the worldwide #1-seller "Thick As a Brick", packed arenas.