By 1980 Jethro Tull started afresh. Long derided by fans as being an ‘A-bomination’, that is a little bit unfair on Ian Anderson who migrated the band from a folky/prog rock outfit to a pure art-rock outfit with this album ‘A’.
Written by: gdmonline
ARTIST: Jethro Tull
ALBUM: A
LABEL: Chrysalis
SERIAL: CDL 1301
YEAR: 1980
CD REISSUE: Discogs Reissue List
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: England
LINEUP: Ian Anderson – vocals, flutes * Martin Barre – guitars * Dave Pegg – bass * Eddie Jobson – violin, keyboards * Mark Craney – drums
TRACK LISTING: 01 Crossfire * 02 Flyingdale Flyer * 03 Working John Working Joe * 04 Black Sunday * 05 Protect And Survive * 06 Batteries Not Included * 07 Uniform * 08 4.W.D (Low Ratio) * 09 Pine Marten’s Jig * 10 And Further On
WEBLINKS: Site Link
Background
Hard to know what was going on in the Jethro Tull universe circa 1980. Seemed like there was a lot of crossed wires happening between band members, and the media didn’t help by printing false allegations about the personnel being fired.
The end result being that by 1980 Jethro Tull started afresh. Long derided by fans as being an ‘A-bomination’, that is a little bit unfair on Ian Anderson who migrated the band from a folky/prog rock outfit to a pure art-rock outfit with this album ‘A’.
This was no doubt helped by the addition of uber muso Eddie Jobson, he of Roxy Music and UK fame. What was essentially supposed to be an Ian Anderson solo album morphed into another Tull record.
The bearded flute master bringing back former guitarist Martin Barre and recruiting ex Fairport Convention bassist Dave Pegg and former Jean Luc Ponty, Tommy Bolin and Gino Vannelli drummer Mark Craney into the fold.
Apparently Chrysalis were very happy with the way the material came together, even though it was supposed to be Anderson’s solo record, they wanted to make it a Jethro Tull record instead. Craney’s inclusion came at the behest of Jobson, who did the drum work on Eddie’s demos in New York at the time.
The Songs
Gone is the orchestrated folk aligned material found on the late 70’s LP’s ‘Heavy Horses’ and ‘Stormwatch’. The music here is tighter, more modern (circa 1980 modern) affair, with emphasis on keyboards, violins and an edgier sound, with Jobson the driving force.
You hear his electronic influence shine through on tracks such ‘Flyingdale Flyer’, the prog laden ‘Black Sunday’, or the lean synth workout of ‘Protect And Survive’ which combines Ultravox with Rush. Strange but true.
Even more distant from previous tull material is the thoroughly different ‘Batteries Not Included’, what must Tull fans be thinking by stage? lol.
I love the way that Anderson’s flute and Jobson’s violin combine together on ‘Uniform’, in a swirling union of breath and acute finger work. This is carried through onto ‘The Pine Martens Jig’, flute and violin tearing up a merry dance – in jig style of course.
In Summary
‘A’ would go on to polarise many of Tull’s hardened fans, but in reality, the album’s material was a victim of the times, for which Anderson shouldn’t be criticised for. The fact that the band lineup is a musicians dream team makes this one of Jethro Tull’s compulsory items to have in the collection.
Of course the band would go to release other great albums during the decade including ‘Broadsword And The Beast’, ‘Under Wraps’, ‘Crest Of A Knave’ and ‘Rock Island’. Seek them out.
Jethro Tull on Video
Click to go to YTM album page.
