Product Description

The leap from 1970's BENEFIT to the following year's AQUALUNG is one of the most astonishing progressions in rock history. In the space of one album, Tull went from relatively unassuming electrified folk-rock to larger-than-life conceptualrock full of sophisticated compositions and complex, intellectual lyrical constructs. While the leap to full-blown prog-rock wouldn't be taken until a year later on THICK AS A BRICK, the degree to which Tull upped the ante here is remarkable. The lyrical concept--the hypocrisy of Christianity in England--is stronger than on most other '70s conceptual efforts, but it is ultimately the music that makes the album.
Tull's winning way with a riff was never so arresting as on the chugging "Locomotive Breath", or the character studies "Cross Eyed Mary" and "Aqualung", which portray believably seedy participants in Ian Anderson's story. The fable imagery of "Mother Goose" and the vitriolic anti-authoritarian sentiments of "Wind Up" both serve notice of Anderson's willful iconoclasm and his disillusionment with the spiritual traditions to which he was born. Varied but cohesive, AQUALUNG is widely regarded as Tull's finest hour.

Track Listing

1. Aqualung
2. Cross Eyed Mary
3. Cheap Day Return
4. Mother Goose
5. Wond'ring Aloud
6. Up To Me
7. My God
8. Hymn 43
9. Slipstream
10. Locomotive Breath
11. Wind Up
12. Lick Your Fingers Clean
13. Wind Up (2)
14. Excerpts From The Ian Anderson Interview
15. Song For Jeffrey
16. Fat Man
17. Bouree

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2462 in Music
• Released on: 1998-06-08
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Extra tracks

Customer Reviews

I'm sitting on the park bench
For their fourth offering Tull continued with the folk tinged rock, introduced on 'Benefit'. Viewed by many as a concept album, I prefer to class it as split themed, as each side of the original vinyl contained songs that were about a subject rather than building up to tell a story.

Tracks 1 - 6 (side 1) features an even split of electric and acoustic numbers, dealing with destitution and homelessness. Title track 'Aqualung' with it's superb opening riff which immediately grabs your attention, followed by the uptempo 'Cross eyed Mary' provide a lively opening before the acoustic numbers kick in, 'Cheap day return', 'Mother goose' and especially 'Wond'ring aloud' are the best Tull acoustic fayre to date, while 'Up to me' has more than a little humour in evidence.

Tracks 7 - 11 (side 2) deals with the more controversial subject of English religious denominations. 'My god' part acoustic, electric and choral, opens the ball, followed by the rocking 'Hymn 43' while the acoustic 'Slipstream' leads into what must be the ultimate Tull encore number, 'Locomotive breath' more than chugs along. 'Wind up' closes the original album at a more leisurely pace before exploding into life mid section.

Bonus material is ok especially the IA interview.

Brilliant
Brilliant album by Jethro Tull I suppose of the early works by the band this album is the benchmark where the band grew into the superband we know and love.Well done Amazon for the great price you are asking here for Aqualung it is a steal.Buy it you will love this fantasic piece of work.I have 12 Tull albums im my collecion and without doubt Aqualung is my favourite sure its early Jethro Tull and its just fantastic.I would also recommend these excellent albums by Tull as well and in no specific order,Songs From The Wood,Heavy Horses,To Old To Rock in Roll,Rock Island,and the wonderful Jethro Tull Xmas album in fact all there albums are great you will decide yourself which ones are your own favourites.Hope review helps you.

And still going strong
I was converted to lifelong Tull fan on the original release of this Album. It still contains some excellent material - some of which they still perform live to this day. As i write Tull are moving round the UK then heading off for another world tour - combining Acoustic (for the UK) and full Electric for most other places.

They still stand out as one of the most creative bands of not just their time - but of all time. Excellent is the only way to describe this album. If you want beyond excellence listen to the Passion Play.