# Jethro Tull **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 22, 2003, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jethro-tull/176890 "2003-05-22T20:43:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jethro-tull/176890/21 "2003-05-23T04:05:01Z")
**Benefit** is one of my all-time favourite albums. To this day, over thirty years after its release, the music still moves and amazes me. Am I the only one who finds it poignant, and sort of a beautiful kind of sad? ---
**Author:** ![Zenster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/cdc98d/32.png) [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jethro-tull/176890/22 "2003-05-23T04:12:41Z")
In Dallas, Texas on a Saturday night back in 1978 with nothing to do. My friend opens the newspaper’s entertainment section and says: “Blue Oyster Cult opening for Jethro Tull at the civic center.” I say, “WTF? YES!” We phone and discover the place is sold out (big shocker). I tell my friend: “Let’s go anyway, we’ll get in.” Short story long; We get to the place and the lines are out the door and around the block. I tell my friend to scout the scalpers while I stand in the ticket line. He gets back to me just as I step up to the window. He’s saying, “Ahhhhh, they want $100.[sup]00[/sup] a ticket!!!” I ask the lady behind the glass: “Canceled reservations please, best five seats in the house.” She says: “Fifth row center good enough?” I say: “KA-CHING!” [/ticket buying story] Great concert. BOC did everything including, “Godzilla.” Excellent laser light show too. Anderson was touring with his “Aqualung” band and brought the house down. The only break he took was during the drum solo. Earned his gate, he did. Saw Fairport Convention open for Jethro Tull in 1988. Same story, Ian never took a break and cranked rock flute all night long. Another great show. ---
**Author:** ![KGS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/90ced4/32.png) [@KGS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KGS)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jethro-tull/176890/23 "2003-05-23T04:26:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by djf750 \* > **Did anybody ever see that crap show hosted by Kevin Bacon on VH1 a few years ago with the top 100 rock acts of all time? I may be wrong but I swear Jethro Tull was not on the list!** No, but they did make #61 on VH1’s top 100 HARD ROCK acts of all time, hosted by Carmen Electra (grrowwwrrlll). Quite a surprise, since they’re not really a hard rock band, despite having a Heavy Metal Grammy and all. 😛 **t-keela** , I’m a Uriah Heep fan, too. What’s your point? ---
**Author:** ![RexDart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b77776/32.png) [@RexDart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RexDart)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jethro-tull/176890/24 "2003-05-23T05:11:54Z")
Best Tull site is Cup of Wonder for lyrics, and the annotated TAAB and PP lyrics are there explaining all the little references that we Americans might not get. I got into Tull as the first classic rock band I listened to alot, when I was 13 (back in 1992). So of course, I’ve never seen them in concert since they don’t come around America much anymore. I’ve seen all my other favorites live (Floyd, Moody Blues twice, BOC) but will probably never get to see Tull. ---
**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jethro-tull/176890/25 "2003-05-23T11:42:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by essvee \* > \*\*I forget, what album is Too Old to Rock and Roll on? Is it eponymous? \*\* Not sure that eponymous is quite the right word. But it does appear on the album titled [Too Old To Rock ‘n’ Roll: Too Young To Die!](http://remus.rutgers.edu/JethroTull/Albums/TooOldToRocknRollTooYoungToDie.html) And here’s the [discography:](http://remus.rutgers.edu/JethroTull/disco.html) > [@](#): > > This Was 1968 > Stand Up 1969 > Benefit 1970 > Aqualung 1971 > Thick As A Brick 1972 > Living In The Past 1972 > A Passion Play 1973 > Warchild 1974 > Minstrel In The Gallery 1975 > "M.U.’’ — Best Of… 1976 > Too Old To Rock ‘n’ Roll: Too Young To Die! 1976 > Songs From The Wood 1977 > Repeat — The Best Of Jethro Tull — Vol. II 1977 > Heavy Horses 1978 > Live — Bursting Out 1978 > Stormwatch 1979 > ‘A’ 1980 > Broadsword and The Beast 1982 > Walk Into Light 1983 (Ian solo album) > Under Wraps 1984 > Original Masters 1985 > A Classic Case 1985 > Crest Of A Knave 1987 > 20 Years Of Jethro Tull 1988 > Rock Island 1989 > Live at Hammersmith '84 1990 > Catfish Rising 1991 > A Little Light Music 1992 > 25th Anniversary Boxed Set 1993 > The Best Of Jethro Tull: The Anniversary Collection 1993 > Nightcap 1993 > Divinities 1995 (Ian solo album) > Roots To Branches 1995 > J-Tull Dot Com 1999 > The Secret Language Of Birds 2000 (Ian solo album) > The Very Best of Jethro Tull 2001 ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jethro-tull/176890/26 "2003-05-23T11:49:47Z")
I saw Jethro Tull on their 25th anniversary tour in Hong Kong. They were totally excellent. I have several albums on vinyl, including the original gatefold album of Thick As A Brick, complete with pythonesque newspaper supplement. Excellent track, though a dirgy album. Incidentally, Ian Anderson used to live about 2 miles up the road from me. Friends of mine used to trespass on his farm, and he used to chase them on his ATC. All very good-natured. ---
**Author:** ![LateComer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b5ac83/32.png) [@LateComer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LateComer)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jethro-tull/176890/27 "2003-05-23T12:21:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by KarlGauss \* > \*\ ***Benefit** is one of my all-time favourite albums. To this day, over thirty years after its release, the music still moves and amazes me. Am I the only one who finds it poignant, and sort of a beautiful kind of sad? \*\* To Cry You a Song is one of my all time favorites. I love the riff. Benefit was the second 3rd Tull album I ever owned after MU and Passion Play. I now own them all, and all on vinyl up until Crest of a Knave. Though some are those crappy re-issues I do have an original Living With the Past with the 8 page photo gallery and Thick as a Brick with the entire newspaper. My prized possession is some sort of promotional cut out from Minstrel in the Gallery. It’s 4 or 5 foot vague likeness of Ian Anderson as a minstrel. I have my tickets for their show this summer in Pittsburgh. I haven’t seen them since 2000 at the wolftrap in Virginia and I am having serious withdrawals. > [@](#): > > Best Tull site is Cup of Wonder for lyrics, and the annotated TAAB and PP lyrics are there explaining all the little references that we Americans might not get. I’m proud to say that I’m cited on that page. And also, RexDart: > [@](#): > > I got into Tull as the first classic rock band I listened to alot, when I was 13 (back in 1992). So of course, I’ve never seen them in concert since they don’t come around America much anymore. I’ve seen all my other favorites live (Floyd, Moody Blues twice, BOC) but will probably never get to see Tull. I saw them almost every year live in the nineties, mostly in Baltimore/Washington DC area. You must live in the wrong area. Sad. You’re really missing something. They always put on a fantastic show. ---
**Author:** ![t-keela](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a3d4f5/32.png) [@t-keela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/t-keela)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jethro-tull/176890/28 "2003-05-23T12:58:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by KGS \* > > **t-keela** , I’m a Uriah Heep fan, too. What’s your point? \*\* Nothing bad if that’s where you’re going…just a remark pertaining to **FallenAngel** ’s name. chill 🆒 J Tull BOC U Heep Leon R etc. (all good for me) ---
**Author:** ![t-keela](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a3d4f5/32.png) [@t-keela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/t-keela)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jethro-tull/176890/29 "2003-05-23T13:10:03Z")
Looks like **Tull** is out of the country 'till August, but this is supposedly where they’ll be when they get back. AUGUST 7 - 31 USA 7 Vienna, VA Wolftrap 9 Bethlehem, PA Musikfest 10 Uncasville, CT Arena 12 Lenox, MA Tull with orchestra Tanglewood 13 Philadelphia, PA Mann Center 14 New Brunswick, NJ State Theater 15 Big Flats, NY Tag’s Summer Sound Stage 16 Verona, NY Turning Stone Casino 17 Lewiston, NY Artpark 19 Williamsport, PA Community Arts Center 20 Pittsburgh, PA Chevrolet Amphitheater at Station Square 21 Indianapolis, IN Murat 22 Chicago, IL Navy Pier 23 Wisconsin Dells, WI Crystal Grand 24 Appleton, WI Fox Cities PAC 26 TBA 27 Fort Wayne On sale Fr.2/28 @ 10 A.M. CST at all Ticketmaster outlets, charge at 260-424-1811 or online at [ww.ticketmaster.com](http://ww.ticketmaster.com). Embassy Theater 28 Mt. Pleasant, MI Soaring Eagle 29 Cleveland Tower City Amphitheater 30 Rockford, IL On the Waterfront 31 Cedar Rapids, IA Taste of Cedar Rapids ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jethro-tull/176890/30 "2003-05-23T13:12:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RexDart \* > \*\*I got into Tull as the first classic rock band I listened to alot, when I was 13 (back in 1992). So of course, I’ve never seen them in concert since they don’t come around America much anymore. I’ve seen all my other favorites live (Floyd, Moody Blues twice, BOC) but will probably never get to see Tull. \*\* They still tour the U.S. frequently; I saw them last year in San Jose. They’ll be touring the northeast and midwest in August, although it looks like the closest they’re coming to you is Cedar Rapids on August 31. (No shows at all out here in the west, though. ☹ ) ---
**Author:** ![jovan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/0ea827/32.png) [@jovan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jovan)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jethro-tull/176890/31 "2003-05-23T13:25:10Z")
I saw Tull twice, two years in a row, circa 1993. The first concert was very laid back, they had set the stage up more or less like a restaurant. At one point Ian Anderson picked a lucky damsel from the audience and had a glass of wine with her onstage. They played somewhat more recent songs. It rocked. The second concert, a year later exactly, was a lot more rock’n roll, with almost all the songs taken from their first three albums. I managed to get second row tickets. During the encore, when everyone had crowded in front of the stage, Martin Barre played the Aqualung solo standing less than two feet away from me. Greatest rock concert-going experience ever. ---
**Author:** ![meow\_meow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@meow\_meow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/meow_meow)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jethro-tull/176890/32 "2003-05-23T13:45:49Z")
My band, when I had one, used to cover Cross Eyed Mary. I sang this one and did the flute. I had a flute mike and would sing right into it. I’m a girl but have a pretty wide vocal range. We kicked ass on that song… ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jethro-tull/176890/33 "2003-05-23T13:51:17Z")
Me and some friends had a Tull cult going through high school, lasting through Stormwatch. Then when Anderson fired the old crew and started going with a more progressive sound, my passion for Tull fizzled out. One of the best shows I’ve ever seen was Government Mule opening up for Tull. I will still see Tull live any day. ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jethro-tull/176890/34 "2003-05-23T13:51:55Z")
Since no one in this thread has made the specific effort of raving fanatically about Minstrel in the Gallery, I shall do so. This is one of Tull’s pearls, it has the most brilliant efforts of both Anderson and Barre, oh if I could only grind a guitar like on Black Satin Dancer. And the sheer silliness of One White Duck can’t be topped. A perfect Tull album. ---
**Author:** ![HookerChemical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/278dde/32.png) [@HookerChemical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HookerChemical)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jethro-tull/176890/35 "2003-05-23T19:41:49Z")
Since the Internet ate my first post… My father raised me on his classic rock albums, and I really latched onto Jethro Tull. I saw them at my first concert in 1996 (16 years old at the time). Me and some high school buddies used to try and play Aqualung and Cross Eyed Mary. I have all their studio albums except ‘A’ on CD. (Does anybody know if they’re remastering and re-releasing this one soon?) To Knowed out: I always considered albums like TaaB and PP their most progressive work. Yeah, the 80’s stuff included more synth, but the structures were more traditional. Just my opinion… ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2003, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jethro-tull/176890/36 "2003-05-24T00:12:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by GargoyleWB \* > **Since no one in this thread has made the specific effort of raving fanatically about Minstrel in the Gallery, I shall do so.** One of my absolute favorites. Great atmosphere, and some of Anderson’s most biting (and moving) lyrics…which is saying a **lot**. My Tull Top Three would be _A Passion Play_, _Thick as a Brick_, and _Minstrel_. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2003, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jethro-tull/176890/37 "2003-05-24T00:19:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by KnightNavro \* > \*\*I have all their studio albums except ‘A’ on CD. (Does anybody know if they’re remastering and re-releasing this one soon?) > \*\* The current remaster series is up to 1978–_Songs from the Wood_ and _Heavy Horses_ just came out this month. So I expect we’ll be getting _Stormwatch_ and _A_ in the next batch. Oddly enough I saw a reissue of _A_, complete with a bonus track, advertised on [amazon.uk](http://amazon.uk) last year, but it turned out to be an error in the listing. ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2003, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jethro-tull/176890/38 "2003-05-24T00:29:16Z")
Tull was the first rock band I listened too courtesy of an older brother. I think Stand Up and This Was were my first two albumns. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to see them until IIRC1978. Saw 'em a couple of times, but while pretty good, they were not the legendary performing band of Aqualung or Passion Play days. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2003, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jethro-tull/176890/39 "2003-05-24T04:23:15Z")
I had the relatively rare album “A” with “Working Joe” and other songs on it as my first Tull. I like nearly all of his stuff, although I must admit I’ve heard “Aqualung” too many times to have any appreciation for it. ---
**Author:** ![Caprese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9a28c/32.png) [@Caprese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caprese)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2003, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jethro-tull/176890/40 "2003-05-24T12:49:56Z")
I did a pen-and-brush of Anderson in full codpiece regalia which he very kindly signed for me with “Hello Caprese!” Seen them so many times I lost count, my favorite concerts were at the small venues, but the 1971 Red Rocks show, with Police-On-Horseback-Throwing-TearGas, was certainly memorable. It’s good to have Tull on vinyl, because their album covers were so cool, especially Stand Up. Their music still holds up today, and each scratch on those discs brings back good memories. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jethro-tull/176890.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jethro-tull/176890.md?page=3)