I've read nine books on Jethro Tull. I just finished Jethro Tull Chronicles 1967 - 79 by Laura Shenton. In this video, i review that book and show you the others from my collection.
Great stuff, Minstrels in the Gallery by David Reese is probably the best I've read, although it doesn't have all the pics as some of the others. Chronicles 67-79 looks awesome!
Interesting as always. I have been a Tull fan a long long time - Benefit was the first album I got but probably a couple of years after release - yet I never saw them live until April 1980, strangely. Greg Russo twice very kindly sent me gratis copies of his Zappa Cosmik Debris book. Recommended. Oh, and Rock 'n' Roll being the tangled web we love so much (and I hope you don't mind me doing this) the person who ushered me through the wrong door to be confronted by a naked Richard Thompson was a lady called Vikki Clayton, and the drummer in her band was a certain Mr. Clive Bunker..........
Love the addition to your great story. I've never heard of the Vikki Clayton band with Clive Bunker, so I just looked it up - very interesting - they did an album of Sandy Denny songs - very cool. Wow how nice of Greg Russo to do that. I still think his Tull book is my favorite Tull book. I need an updated version.
@@TheAlanRosenbergShow It's a lovely album, but then it's difficult to go wrong with Sandy's songs. Vikki has played the Sandy role with Fairport (as have others) over the years on many occasions. And if you are interested in a half-hour R 'n' R documentary with a difference, try this: czcams.com/video/z9viAMUOkt4/video.html
@@TheAlanRosenbergShow I have another little Tull story for you. When we were at school we persuaded the Headmaster to allow us to have a music evening (I suppose this would have been 1970), and guess who we, a bunch of sixteen year old schoolkids, managed to get to come and play at our school??? The Mick Abrahams Band. I do not make any of this stuff up, I promise you!!
A great review, Alan. I think, as you say, there is a gap in terms of the story of the dynamics of this marvellous band and how this influenced the music. Martin Barre is a legend. A fine musician and an unassuming man. I can't understand the way he was treated. I'd like to know more. I saw Ian Anderson interviewed two or three years ago, or as someone said, 'Ian Anderson interviewing Ian Anderson'. Will speak about what he wants to speak about, but there are many unanswered questions. That said, I'd like to have all the books! By the way, Alan, as you probably know, The Martin Barre Band will be in the States in September/October with , 'A Brief History of Tull'. Some shows in New York (I know it's a big place, not sure if any gigs on Long Island). Well, that same show is coming to Scotland at the end of November (Kinross). My wife's sister lives there, so we'd like to go if at all possible. David Butterworth
@@user-hf7no3jb6q I actually saw Martin’s Brief History of Tull tour on Long Island and it was great. Absolutely loved it. He had a screen with videos playing throughout. Was very interesting in that he clearly couldn’t use any official Tull stuff in the videos. I did a review of the show at the time. Not too long ago. If you can go David I highly recommend it. I actually met Martin outside the venue. Such a nice unassuming. In fact the venue had no idea who he was and they gave him a hard time when he tried to get in so I got involved and we all had a good laugh. And he was short like me. lol.
Thanks so much for your reply, Alan. We'll my memory is poor. I remember you talking about meeting Martin now and how they gave him a hard time. Great bloke, outstanding musician.
Once you have got past the hits and misses of a band, you soon want to understand the band's dynamics. A member of the band walks in with their song - what happens? What are the politics? When you have someone as forceful as Ian Anderson, you probably have to recognize the dynamics he is driving. And I like that, because I like singer-songwriters. In many a band, a single voice emerges and everyone else disappears into the background. And then everyone else probably becomes frustrated. They thought they were equal members of the band, and now they are support instrumentalists. Even The Beatles suffered from this. What if another member of the band had become dominant? There you have to dive into a few bands where this happened - Mick Jagger solo albums; Keith Richard solo albums; Don Henley solo albums; The Beatles solo albums etc. That's where the constituent parts become clear, and that, for me, is where things becoming really fascinating. John Lennon vs. Paul McCartney; Don Henley vs. Glen Frey; Keith Richards vs. Mick Jagger; and Robert Plant vs. Jimmy Page. As far as Tull is concerned, it seems pretty clear: Ian Anderson was the creative genius of everything. Martin Barre undoubtedly added hugely to the Tull sound, but he is offering nothing of his own. His contribution should not be dismissed by any means - there would be no Tull sound without Martin Barre, but there is no separate Martin Barre sound. He contributed greatly; he should probably have had more co-writing credits; but what he was doing was enhancing Ian Anderson's music. It wasn't a case of Ian Anderson had his music and Martin Barre had his own music - let's fight it out. It was a case of Ian Anderson's music being massively improved by Martin Barre's contributions. And I think it is wonderful that, after the split, Martin Barre is allowed to play any Tull song he wants. In the vitriolic warfare of Intellectual Property, it is great that decency prevails.
There are people who will say the contrary, but it's not true. You are 100% correct. After the This Was Jethro Tull album, Jethro Tull was completely run by Ian Anderson. He wrote the songs, created the concepts, dictated what needed to be done - and all the member would agree with that. But as you said, the members contributed greatly and enhanced those Ian Anderson songs and concepts creating what would be that particular albums Jethro Tull sound. And we know that sound would often change depending on what Ian Anderson was going for. I personally thing Ian Anderson is a musical genius and far underappreciated. But I also appreciate the greatness of the band and what they contributed. I really enjoyed the last two Tull albums - The Zealot Gene and Rockflote - but they are lacking that certain Tull input and sound - to me they are more like excellent Ian Anderson solo albums. As for my book review, and as you stated, I would like to read more of the inter-band interactions and why / how members left or were let go. I've read bits and pieces in the previous books, but overall they are fairly guarded secrets. I thought the new book I read would've delved deeper - it didn't cover that at all.
Yes, I thought the last two albums were quite a comeback, but they were missing a little something, especially 'Rockflote.' Still, they were their best two albums since their golden age 40+ years back.
@@timhewtson6212 Thanks - yea - I really enjoyed them - especially Zealot Gene, but felt and sounded more like an Ian Anderson solo album than Jethro Tull. Mostly in the drumming, didn't have that big Tull drumming sound they used to have.
Hi Alan, OK - now you're talkin !! Jethro Tull one of my favourite bands. Great set of books there. I have a great rock music book library myself, always picking up biographies, magazines etc etc. Mojo is another great magazine. The one really sad, disappointing split in Jethro was the loss of Martin Barre - like you, I would like to know just what went on there. I just dont think they are the same without Martin, he was so much an integral part of their sound. I must say I dont collect much of Tull anymore, although I am collecting the reissue box sets, they are amazing. Just got Bursting Out The Inflated Edition - probably going to stop on Jethro there. Cya Cheers Doug On a totally different subject - have you heard Psycho Street by Richard Thompson absolutely hilarious. Fairports another all time favourite band, and Richard an amazing guitarist songwriter. Cya
Hi Doug - I'll get the new inflated edition of Bursting Out - I actually love that live album, but I'm not rushing. I already have all that Madison Square Garden Tull stuff (they previously released it as a different boxset) - so this box is the least interesting to me - but I'll get it and I'm sure the book in it is fantastic as they always are. I never heard of that Richard Thompson book - I know of his book Beeswing. So I looked it up - you got me - the lyrics to the song. I have a lot of Richard Thompson - but I didn't get Rumour and Sigh album so I didn't know that song - I just read them thanks to you. Damn, that's some crazy shit there. And I'm a horror movie guy. Perhaps Richard should head in that direction...lol.
I find the best books are the ones are the 100 page books that come in the individual album boxsets. The official book by Ian Anderson which has quotes from the members and covers their history is probably a good start. Some of the others are really good but not up to date. The A Passion Play by Brian Rabey was a paperback and I enjoyed that one.
Went to a record store that opened nearby recently. My daughter has started collecting vinyl and I wanted to see if I could find her some Kinks. In any event--is it just me, or is it a little odd that someone who cares enough about music to open a record store would file Jethro Tull albums under T? I just found it odd. It's like filing Pink Floyd under F or Lynyrd Skynyrd under S.
Lol- oh that drives me crazy. Clearly they think (as do so many) that Jethro Tull is the name of the singer - so they file it under T. That also happens alot here with Marshall Tucker band - under T. I've never seen that with Skynyrd or Pink Floyd (I guess they're so big everyone knows their name). Yea - working in a record store, they should know that stuff.
One of the best rock aurobios is from john kay of steppenwolf . Just ust picked up john martyns grac e and danger from 1980 with collins on backing vocalsnand drums. What would you charge me for Creem and circus burned to dvdr or usb?
Never knew John Kay wrote a book - interesting. I have no John Martyn - once had an album decades ago - don't remember which one, but didn't have Phil Collins on it. Don't know what you mean regarding the Creem and Circus magazines. Like scan them - I have no way of doing that and can't imagine how much work that would be...lol.
It's hotter than hell in New Orleans today. Excessive heat advisory. I must be thick as a brick because I have never read a book about Jethro Tull. Alan, do you read while on the toilet or as some call it, the royal throne?? I have an inquiring mind😂. I quess you saw about the new Ian Anderson box set on Madfish. Looks like lo only. It doesn't appear to be autographed either. Pretty expensive. Any thoughts on this?? Happy Fourth Of July!!!
@@davidkunzli680 hot here. Hot on the bowl. Hot everywhere. I have all his solo albums. Won’t be buying an expensive box of them. Madfish is amazing though.
You have a very impressive collection of Jethro Tull books. Instead of waiting to find the definitive book on Tull, why not write it yourself (when you retire and thus have all the time needed to take on such a massive challenge)? I doubt there are more than a few Tull fans who are as knowledgeable about the band as you are. If you do a book signing, I’ll be the first on line.
Lol - thanks so much. In actual fact, the best books on Tull are the 100 page books that come with each of the deluxe album reissue boxsets. They're incredible. I still would love to read more about the interpersonal stuff, and that I really have little information on .
It's hotter than hell here in New Orleans today. We are under an extreme heat advisory today and tomorrow. I must be thick as a brick because I have never read a book about Jethro Tull. Alan, do you read on the toilet, or as some call it, the royal throne?? I have an inquiring mind. So, I guess you saw that an Ian Anderson LP box set is coming out on Madfish. No CD and he didn't autograph it as far as I can tell. Any thoughts on this box set?? Happy Fourth Of July!!!
@@TheAlanRosenbergShow Did you see two similar messages? I sent one that didn't show up on my end in the comments, so I sent a second message that did. Maybe u tube is overheated🤣😂
Awesome Alan, I've a read a number of those as well.
@@bkbcpa thanks. I do enjoy reading about Tull. So many twists and turns.
What a nice treat just before my bedtime.
@@markspooner1224 thanks my friend.
Nice review Alan.Some great books.I don't have any of these
@@thomaswery3087 thanks as always Tom.
Great stuff, Minstrels in the Gallery by David Reese is probably the best I've read, although it doesn't have all the pics as some of the others. Chronicles 67-79 looks awesome!
@@DarrenMcGill442 yea. David Rees is so knowledgeable. That may have been the first Tull book I read.
Interesting as always. I have been a Tull fan a long long time - Benefit was the first album I got but probably a couple of years after release - yet I never saw them live until April 1980, strangely. Greg Russo twice very kindly sent me gratis copies of his Zappa Cosmik Debris book. Recommended. Oh, and Rock 'n' Roll being the tangled web we love so much (and I hope you don't mind me doing this) the person who ushered me through the wrong door to be confronted by a naked Richard Thompson was a lady called Vikki Clayton, and the drummer in her band was a certain Mr. Clive Bunker..........
Love the addition to your great story. I've never heard of the Vikki Clayton band with Clive Bunker, so I just looked it up - very interesting - they did an album of Sandy Denny songs - very cool. Wow how nice of Greg Russo to do that. I still think his Tull book is my favorite Tull book. I need an updated version.
@@TheAlanRosenbergShow It's a lovely album, but then it's difficult to go wrong with Sandy's songs. Vikki has played the Sandy role with Fairport (as have others) over the years on many occasions. And if you are interested in a half-hour R 'n' R documentary with a difference, try this: czcams.com/video/z9viAMUOkt4/video.html
@@TheAlanRosenbergShow I have another little Tull story for you. When we were at school we persuaded the Headmaster to allow us to have a music evening (I suppose this would have been 1970), and guess who we, a bunch of sixteen year old schoolkids, managed to get to come and play at our school??? The Mick Abrahams Band. I do not make any of this stuff up, I promise you!!
@@martinstarnes2237 I totally believe you. That’s so cool. Love the courage that you even asked him. You just never know. Awesome
@@TheAlanRosenbergShow We were fearless in those days!!
Nice video. Now, in those great reissue book/cd sets, aren’t the personnel changes addressed? I’m going by memory.
@@JimMorrisonslizard thanks. Somewhat. I just thought this thick book would have gone into detail. Not at all. Like one sentence
A great review, Alan. I think, as you say, there is a gap in terms of the story of the dynamics of this marvellous band and how this influenced the music. Martin Barre is a legend. A fine musician and an unassuming man. I can't understand the way he was treated. I'd like to know more. I saw Ian Anderson interviewed two or three years ago, or as someone said, 'Ian Anderson interviewing Ian Anderson'. Will speak about what he wants to speak about, but there are many unanswered questions. That said, I'd like to have all the books! By the way, Alan, as you probably know, The Martin Barre Band will be in the States in September/October with , 'A Brief History of Tull'. Some shows in New York (I know it's a big place, not sure if any gigs on Long Island). Well, that same show is coming to Scotland at the end of November (Kinross). My wife's sister lives there, so we'd like to go if at all possible. David Butterworth
@@user-hf7no3jb6q I actually saw Martin’s Brief History of Tull tour on Long Island and it was great. Absolutely loved it. He had a screen with videos playing throughout. Was very interesting in that he clearly couldn’t use any official Tull stuff in the videos. I did a review of the show at the time. Not too long ago. If you can go David I highly recommend it. I actually met Martin outside the venue. Such a nice unassuming. In fact the venue had no idea who he was and they gave him a hard time when he tried to get in so I got involved and we all had a good laugh. And he was short like me. lol.
Thanks so much for your reply, Alan. We'll my memory is poor. I remember you talking about meeting Martin now and how they gave him a hard time. Great bloke, outstanding musician.
Once you have got past the hits and misses of a band, you soon want to understand the band's dynamics. A member of the band walks in with their song - what happens? What are the politics?
When you have someone as forceful as Ian Anderson, you probably have to recognize the dynamics he is driving. And I like that, because I like singer-songwriters. In many a band, a single voice emerges and everyone else disappears into the background. And then everyone else probably becomes frustrated. They thought they were equal members of the band, and now they are support instrumentalists. Even The Beatles suffered from this.
What if another member of the band had become dominant? There you have to dive into a few bands where this happened - Mick Jagger solo albums; Keith Richard solo albums; Don Henley solo albums; The Beatles solo albums etc.
That's where the constituent parts become clear, and that, for me, is where things becoming really fascinating. John Lennon vs. Paul McCartney; Don Henley vs. Glen Frey; Keith Richards vs. Mick Jagger; and Robert Plant vs. Jimmy Page.
As far as Tull is concerned, it seems pretty clear: Ian Anderson was the creative genius of everything. Martin Barre undoubtedly added hugely to the Tull sound, but he is offering nothing of his own. His contribution should not be dismissed by any means - there would be no Tull sound without Martin Barre, but there is no separate Martin Barre sound. He contributed greatly; he should probably have had more co-writing credits; but what he was doing was enhancing Ian Anderson's music. It wasn't a case of Ian Anderson had his music and Martin Barre had his own music - let's fight it out. It was a case of Ian Anderson's music being massively improved by Martin Barre's contributions.
And I think it is wonderful that, after the split, Martin Barre is allowed to play any Tull song he wants. In the vitriolic warfare of Intellectual Property, it is great that decency prevails.
There are people who will say the contrary, but it's not true. You are 100% correct. After the This Was Jethro Tull album, Jethro Tull was completely run by Ian Anderson. He wrote the songs, created the concepts, dictated what needed to be done - and all the member would agree with that. But as you said, the members contributed greatly and enhanced those Ian Anderson songs and concepts creating what would be that particular albums Jethro Tull sound. And we know that sound would often change depending on what Ian Anderson was going for. I personally thing Ian Anderson is a musical genius and far underappreciated. But I also appreciate the greatness of the band and what they contributed. I really enjoyed the last two Tull albums - The Zealot Gene and Rockflote - but they are lacking that certain Tull input and sound - to me they are more like excellent Ian Anderson solo albums. As for my book review, and as you stated, I would like to read more of the inter-band interactions and why / how members left or were let go. I've read bits and pieces in the previous books, but overall they are fairly guarded secrets. I thought the new book I read would've delved deeper - it didn't cover that at all.
Yes, I thought the last two albums were quite a comeback, but they were missing a little something, especially 'Rockflote.' Still, they were their best two albums since their golden age 40+ years back.
@@timhewtson6212 Thanks - yea - I really enjoyed them - especially Zealot Gene, but felt and sounded more like an Ian Anderson solo album than Jethro Tull. Mostly in the drumming, didn't have that big Tull drumming sound they used to have.
Hi Alan, OK - now you're talkin !! Jethro Tull one of my favourite bands. Great set of books there. I have a great rock music book library myself, always picking up biographies, magazines etc etc. Mojo is another great magazine. The one really sad, disappointing split in Jethro was the loss of Martin Barre - like you, I would like to know just what went on there. I just dont think they are the same without Martin, he was so much an integral part of their sound. I must say I dont collect much of Tull anymore, although I am collecting the reissue box sets, they are amazing. Just got Bursting Out The Inflated Edition - probably going to stop on Jethro there. Cya Cheers Doug On a totally different subject - have you heard Psycho Street by Richard Thompson absolutely hilarious. Fairports another all time favourite band, and Richard an amazing guitarist songwriter. Cya
Hi Doug - I'll get the new inflated edition of Bursting Out - I actually love that live album, but I'm not rushing. I already have all that Madison Square Garden Tull stuff (they previously released it as a different boxset) - so this box is the least interesting to me - but I'll get it and I'm sure the book in it is fantastic as they always are. I never heard of that Richard Thompson book - I know of his book Beeswing. So I looked it up - you got me - the lyrics to the song. I have a lot of Richard Thompson - but I didn't get Rumour and Sigh album so I didn't know that song - I just read them thanks to you. Damn, that's some crazy shit there. And I'm a horror movie guy. Perhaps Richard should head in that direction...lol.
@@TheAlanRosenbergShow bloody hilarious I reckon lolol
@@douglasweston126 yea - nothing I expected from Richard Thompson lol.
Good lord...I didn't even know there WERE 9 books about Tull!
Which one should I track down first?
Love Tull!🤘😎🤘
I find the best books are the ones are the 100 page books that come in the individual album boxsets. The official book by Ian Anderson which has quotes from the members and covers their history is probably a good start. Some of the others are really good but not up to date. The A Passion Play by Brian Rabey was a paperback and I enjoyed that one.
Sadly, public libraries in my area don't have much in the line of music and movies books, the kind I like anyway.
Same here - the public libraries cover just the best sellers, not the books I read.
Went to a record store that opened nearby recently. My daughter has started collecting vinyl and I wanted to see if I could find her some Kinks. In any event--is it just me, or is it a little odd that someone who cares enough about music to open a record store would file Jethro Tull albums under T? I just found it odd. It's like filing Pink Floyd under F or Lynyrd Skynyrd under S.
It's not just you!
Lol- oh that drives me crazy. Clearly they think (as do so many) that Jethro Tull is the name of the singer - so they file it under T. That also happens alot here with Marshall Tucker band - under T. I've never seen that with Skynyrd or Pink Floyd (I guess they're so big everyone knows their name). Yea - working in a record store, they should know that stuff.
Nope, not just you!😂😂
The band is just fantastic. That is really what I think.... Oh by the way, which one's Pink? 😂
@@nintzelj It's a hell of a start, it could be made into a monster
If we all pull together as a team
One of the best rock aurobios is from john kay of steppenwolf . Just ust picked up john martyns grac e and danger from 1980 with collins on backing vocalsnand drums. What would you charge me for Creem and circus burned to dvdr or usb?
Never knew John Kay wrote a book - interesting. I have no John Martyn - once had an album decades ago - don't remember which one, but didn't have Phil Collins on it. Don't know what you mean regarding the Creem and Circus magazines. Like scan them - I have no way of doing that and can't imagine how much work that would be...lol.
It's hotter than hell in New Orleans today. Excessive heat advisory. I must be thick as a brick because I have never read a book about Jethro Tull. Alan, do you read while on the toilet or as some call it, the royal throne?? I have an inquiring mind😂. I quess you saw about the new Ian Anderson box set on Madfish. Looks like lo only. It doesn't appear to be autographed either. Pretty expensive. Any thoughts on this?? Happy Fourth Of July!!!
@@davidkunzli680 hot here. Hot on the bowl. Hot everywhere. I have all his solo albums. Won’t be buying an expensive box of them. Madfish is amazing though.
RIP both Brian Rabey and Scott Allen Nollen
wow - wasn't aware of that - thanks.
@@TheAlanRosenbergShow Rabey last year I think. Nollen a few years now. Rabey was active on Facebook.
You have a very impressive collection of Jethro Tull books. Instead of waiting to find the definitive book on Tull, why not write it yourself (when you retire and thus have all the time needed to take on such a massive challenge)? I doubt there are more than a few Tull fans who are as knowledgeable about the band as you are. If you do a book signing, I’ll be the first on line.
Lol - thanks so much. In actual fact, the best books on Tull are the 100 page books that come with each of the deluxe album reissue boxsets. They're incredible. I still would love to read more about the interpersonal stuff, and that I really have little information on .
It's hotter than hell here in New Orleans today. We are under an extreme heat advisory today and tomorrow. I must be thick as a brick because I have never read a book about Jethro Tull. Alan, do you read on the toilet, or as some call it, the royal throne?? I have an inquiring mind. So, I guess you saw that an Ian Anderson LP box set is coming out on Madfish. No CD and he didn't autograph it as far as I can tell. Any thoughts on this box set?? Happy Fourth Of July!!!
@@davidkunzli680 didn’t I just respond to this. It’s still hot since I answered 2 minutes ago.
@@TheAlanRosenbergShow Did you see two similar messages? I sent one that didn't show up on my end in the comments, so I sent a second message that did. Maybe u tube is overheated🤣😂
@@davidkunzli680 I think you overheated it.