In long discussions about Tull, no one ever mentions the exquisite Reasons for Waiting from Stand Up. It's the group's most beautiful love song. It's achingly powerful. It always puts me in a dreamy, pensive mood. It's also the first time we get to hear one of Dee Palmer's lush orchestral arrangements. I would put Stand Up (and Benefit, too) in my top five all-time favorite Tull albums.
Great comment for sure - yep great song and Dee Palmer's arrangements were awesome. Elegy is one of the most beautiful pieces of music ever, at least to me.
Howzit : Stand Up was my FIRST JT album ( With that great Band-members cut-out leaping up at you on opening the package ! ); setting ME up for JT for decades ! I have to say that I am kinddov surprised that it rated at # 12 ? ! In any event; with reference to the significance of Ian's extended hand on the back cover .... Go count the number of fingers on his hands on the front cover of the glorious wood-cut type print that sets the design of this album uniquely aside from the others ! To this day; I rate Stand Up at least in the top 5 .... 🎸🥁🎵🎶🎶🎵
it's not that I don't really like Stand Up - I do of course, but my rankings is based on how much I played them and for whatever reason - Stand Up doesn't get as much play from me. Now of course timing is everything and you were an early fan of Tull since Stand Up was your first - that's amazing so I totally get why it rates so high with you. The first is always super special. Love the pop up, and the finger mystery. Glad they reproduced the pop up in the Stand Up box.@@johnnyeveritt5695
Very surprised to see Benefit and Stand up so low! As an Early Jethro tull fan, gotta put them in the top 5, along with Aqualung, Songs from the wood, and Thick as a brick.
Totally subjective, but one we are way out of whack! Passion Play is by far my favorite, in fact it's my top choice to take to a deserted island if only allowed one recording. As you stated, they are so unique because they constantly evolved with many different flavors of music. Soooo, outside my top 10, the rest are constantly changing based on mood and even after Passion Play my top 10 juggle a bit. I play guitar, predominantly acoustic, and Ian's acoustic diddy's on albums such as Aqualung, Heavy Horses, Songs From The Wood, Mistrial, etc is what got me playing the guitar in the first place. It's the one thing I really miss in all the more recent releases, both Ian's solo and Zealot Gene and now RokFlute. With that being said, you convinced me to get the Zealot Gene deluxe addition to get the acoustic guitar demos.
Thanks so much. You’re not alone in APP being #1 as you know I really like it but I definitely have to be in the mood for it as opposed to my other choices. Love your passion for Tull. Agree with everything you said. I hope you like the acoustic demos on the deluxe. To me it’s like sitting with Ian in your den listening to him. I enjoyed it. Hope you too. Thanks again. And yes. The beauty of music is it’s all personal and subjective. Very best. Alan
That was a fantastic video. I've loved Tull ever since I first heard "Living In The Past" back in '72. Not having every JT album (or cd's) that you have (so I can't really rank them honestly), I will put "Stand Up", "Benefit ", "Aqualung" and "Crest of a Knave" as my favorites (for now). Thanks again for the wonderful video.
Thanks so much for watching and commenting. Love that you put Crest Of A Knave so high. Song for song it's an excellent album. The production now is dated with that 80's sound. But I for one was thrilled when they won the Grammy for that album. People forget, and simply look for an easy laugh, that that album won for best hard rock / heavy metal...but that was the only "corresponding" category the Grammy had at the time for rock music. It was well deserved for Budapest alone, but Said She Was A Dancer and many other tracks from that album are absolutely wonderful. Classic Tull that they didn't even go, because the record company didn't want to shell out the money because they figured there was no shot of winning. And also Tull answer in Billboard that the flute is a heavy metal instrument....gotta love it. Thanks again.
Yeah, in fact I saw Tull in concert in Boca Raton Florida (November 2017). They performed "Farm On The Freeway ". Granted, it was the current lineup that Ian has now, (minus the guitar player), but nonetheless a tremendous show.
@@stevepyle5080 Great deep cut. Nice to hear you loved the show. Unfortunately, seeing Tull over the last decade is very hit or miss, simply because of Ian's vocal challenges. He clearly gives it his all and does the best he can, but sometimes it can be very.....lets just say not too good....
Yeah, I agree about his voice. Sometimes, I'm not too sure what song he's singing myself. Going back to the "Crest of a Knave" album, I was very happy to hear that won a Grammy Award. No apologies for that one. Looking forward to they're next album. (I believe it's due out in April). Anyway, thanks again for your great videos.
Actually think the Passion Play box is easily the best of the boxes. The CDH in the proper running order is priceless. Also, I believe side 2 of PP is one of the strongest sides of JT.
Everyone’s list is effected by what point in their lite’s journey they are exposed to each album. I had Passion Play, Minstrel and Songs from the Wood constantly playing in the background when I was first reading ‘Lord of the Rings’ back in ‘77., so yeah they are at the top of my list. My hat is off to you and your passion for Tull.
That is so true. Crucially true, we can't control when we're born and at the age where we are really listening to music. Later on, we can pick up on things we missed, but it's not the same as that "sweet spot", teenagers etc, when music is like religion and constantly buying new releases going to concerts etc. Love that you had those three Tull albums on constant play while reading Lord Of The Rings in '77. 1977 was my sweet spot too - I was 14 and going to many concerts back when tickets were like $8 bucks, radio played great classic rock and new albums....those were the days. Thanks so much.
Respectable ranking. I enjoyed your video as a huge Tull fan. Good news, I understand they are to reissue the Taab box, soon. I think LITP should have been in the ranking, comp or not. Good job !
Thanks so much. Very excited about the Taab box reissue. I’ll then have all the boxes which will he nice. Others also mentioned that LITP should have been in the ranking and in retrospect you’re probably right as it’s so much more than just a comp. Thanks so much again.
@@TheAlanRosenbergShow I have all the boxes, love each and everyone, some of these new mixes have given me new ears for some of the albums that I wasn't crazy about. Thanks, SW !
100% with you on "Moths" Absolutely one of my favourite Tull songs. Most of my favourite songs are Anderson's acoustic pieces (Life's a Long Song, Nursie, Wond'ring Aloud/Again, Up the 'Pool, Salamander, Dun Ringill to mention a few). My current favourite Anderson album is Secret Language of Birds.
Always glad to see devoted JT listener. Really enjoyed the video. I wonder if there any person on this planet who love hard-rock era more than the rest...
Thanks. Hard rock / heavy metal is a huge genre - one of the most popular. But does Tull ever fall into that category? I know they won that Grammy over Metallica (personally I was thrilled that Crest Of A Knave won - should've won for Budapest alone - so well deserved), but I really don't see Tull in that category.
Over 70 times - wow. I love when I hear from extraordinary fans like yourself. Just when I think I'm a big fan, I hear from a REALLY big fan - like yourself and it's wonderful. As you know I LOVE Heavy Horses as well. Two of the greatest back to back albums ever - SFTW and HH. Thanks so much.
@@BirdTrump3324 Wow - and I've talked about this in other videos. They may be my two all time favorite Tull songs as well (Moths is way up there too). Too Old is very special for me, because I fell in love with that song when it first came out and still love it to this day. And Budapest is beyond incredible. When they won the Grammy for Crest, and they got all that grief, I was like, the hell with that - they deserve the Grammy for Budapest alone.
My favourite Jethro Tull album is WarChild and Thick as a Brick. And the Ian Anderson of that era is perhaps my all-time favourite vocalist. I can't listen to any of the albums they made after he blew out his voice in the 80's.
Nice to see WarChild so high - I think it's a great album and typically doesn't get the respect it deserves. Ian permanently blowing out his voice from the Underwraps tour is such a sad tragedy, and it happened because of his incredible work ethic.
Excellent commentary. I never get tired of hearing dedicated fans talk Tull. I can't really rank bands, but I can give you my top and bottom: 1. Heavy Horses (not just my favorite Tull album; my favorite album period) 2. Songs From the Wood (objectively just as good as HH, but my second favorite 3. [3-way tie] Aqualung, Thick as a Brick, Minstrel In the Gallery .......... 20. This Was (not bad, but not memorable) 21. Rock Island (half good songs, half not, but "Heavy Water" is my favorite post-70's Tull song) 22. Under Wraps A Passion Play would rank much higher for me if you took out the sax, took out the annoying skit, and changed the cover art. I absolutely consider both TAAB 2 and Homo Erraticus to be Jethro Tull in all but name.
Thanks for watching and commenting and sending your ranking. Similar to me. Very hard to rank when you love the band and Tull albums can be so different can depend on your mood. Thanks again
Thanks! Really enjoyable and great to see such a fan! They've been my favorite band since about 1985. Fun to amiably disagree with your ranking at times, but I agree on a lot of it, too. "Moths" and "Black Sunday," which you mentioned have always been a standout for me as well and Songs from the Wood is a masterpiece. So many hidden gems in this band, far too many to list. Melodically, harmonically, rhythmically, virtuosically (including singing, at least in the earlier years), and and lyrically, it's really hard to fathom a band could be this good.
Thanks so much for watching and commenting. Love your description of the bands talents. One of the all time greats and most unique bands in history and now so under appreciated. And love what you said. Fun to amiably disagree. People forget that we’re all big fans but like what we like. But being a fan and loving their music is what’s most important. Thanks again
Nice list and I agree with a lot of your opinions (although I have a soft spot for under wraps despite the drums, and a passion play would make my top 5). I personally put heavy horses above songs from the wood, but I'm biased as that was the first album of theirs that I heard. Also, I like that Roots to branches made your top ten as that was the first live concert I saw.
Thanks so much. We're close in that Songs From The Wood was the first new Tull album I ever bought when it first came out. Aqualung was my first Tull album, followed by MU and Repeat the two greatest hits. Agree that Roots To Branches is a terrific classic Tull album too. Thanks again.
Thanks so much. Of course Tull aren’t Heavy Metal / Hard Rock but when they won the Grammy for Crest of a Knave I had no problem with it. The Grammy was just getting started for separate rock categories and they were just figuring it out. It’s still considered the Grammy biggest mistake but not to me. Budapest is certainly deserving. Thanks again
Thanks so much for watching and commenting. You’re totally correct. I love LITP and I love the packaging of the original vinyl which I own. It’s a strange release as it’s a compilation and also new material. I definitely could have spent more time on it though. But even Tull forgets it. No mention of it ever coming out in a deluxe CD reissue. Thanks again
Yeess!! At last someone who knows the genius of Ian Anderson!! Songs From The Wood is not only their best album, but also the best album in rock - history!!
Thanks so much - glad you enjoyed. SFTW is my favorite as you know. The trilogy of SFTW, Heavy Horses and Stormwatch is one of the greatest album runs of all time.
Alan thanks so much for this.. love it..your the best.. Way to many great unreleased tracks it seems. Curious as to what box set i should start with ? Or whats ur fave as to what box set was done best.or has best unreleased tracks. I was thinking about Stormwatch..ps i have night cap
Thanks so much for your support - and your suggestion...definitely not easy to rank Tull. As for the box sets, well the 20th Anniversary Box is amazing - perfect selection of classics, deep tracks, radio shows...just awesome. The box sets of my three favorites - Songs From TheWood, Aqualung and Heavy Horses are all great. Minstrel, Stormwatch and A all have great live shows previously unreleased which are all great. Passion Play goes deep with the Chateau tapes which is interesting if you like Passion Play. I think the early Tull boxes, at least for me, are the least essential. Thanks so much again !!!!!!
@@glendepietro1521 yes...to me one of Tull's all time greatest moments....and to me one of progressive rocks' all time greatest epic tracks. It's truly a masterpiece, which is why when Tull get's so much shit for winning the Grammy for Crest Of A Knave, I'm like.....shut up and listen to "Budapest". The rest of the album is pretty damn good too (though like I said the 80's production is now dated especially on some of the tracks like Steel Monkey). Thanks again.
Great job Alan. You are so refreshing and authentic. While I have different rankings, I can't argue with your commitment and rationale for each record. Well done!
1. A Passion Play 2. Benefit 3. Stand Up 4. Thick As A Brick 5. Stormwatch 6. Aqualung 7. This Was 8. Minstrel In The Gallery 9. Broadsword And The Beast 10. Songs From The Wood
Very interesting list. Always especially interesting when A Passion Play is #1 out of all their albums. I'm a fan, but I definitely have to be in the mood to listen to it. Thanks so much.
Agreed on Moths, which was in rotation for a bit on NY's 95.5 WPLJ back in the day. BTW, I also actually heard Hymn 43 on AM 77 WABC a couple of times!
wow - in my whole life, I've never heard Moths on the radio...on PLJ - that's awesome. To me "Moths" is truly a lost classic. Thanks so much for watching and commenting.
Interesting choices and sequences- not far off from my own. And THANK YOU for mentioning the fact that Budapest and Moths are top five contenders because they’re in MY top five! You said you have around 72 Albums of Tull/Tull related tracks….was just curious if you had a tribute album called “To Cry You a Song: A Collection of Tull Tales?” There’s a band on there that never got their due diligence- great prog/ rock (sorta ELP meets Dream Theater) band called Magellan and they do a KILLER version of Aqualung
Thanks so much for watching and commenting. I really appreciate it. I know of that album - at that time and that record label, there were a couple of "tribute" albums of that sort, but I didn't buy it. I've heard of Magellan as well, but I don't own any of their albums. So awesome that Moths and Budapest are near the top of your lists as well. Two incredible tracks that rarely get mentioned (especially Moths), but epitomize some of the greatness of Ian Anderson and Tull. Thanks again.
My daughters boyfriend said I didn't have any good Jethro Tull albums because I always listened to Heavy Horses and Songs From the Wood. I'm glad to see I wasn't alone in my opinion . I have most of your top 12 and A Sack Full of Trouser Snakes bootleg album all on vinyl. Good review I have some new tracks to check out.
Thanks so much. Then I guess he doesn’t like StormWatch either. Lol. Surprising to me because I find those albums very melodic and relatively easy on the ears compared to some other Tull albums. Oh well. Nevertheless we have great taste. Lol. Thanks again
I get it ... I am a huge fan as well. There are some albums that have less stuff that I love, but they all have several great songs on them. I don't know of any other band that has such high quality music consistently. That doesn't mean I can't be critical or that I listen to ever album all the time. Typically I would get a Tull album and be skeptical at first. Then after a listen or two would find myself humming some of the themes, and then I'd have that album on my turntable ( yeah, I go back pretty far, used to have 3 copies of the Aqualung record ) until the next album came out. That is what is going on with the Zealot Gene ... I'm really liking it. Hope you do too. My least faves are Warchild and Too Old To Rock And Roll. I'm curious as to what the blue album in the upper right with Glove on it is. That's one that I have never seen before. I used to have some strange stuff, like a record called Rare Tracks that had Summerday Sands and I think My Aeroplane on it, along with rare songs from other artists. Then March The Mad Scientist, Pan Dance. Funny how so many people complain about the drums. It's not something that bothers me, either on Under Wraps or Zealot Gene. I love the jazziness of Under Wraps, Nobody's Car, Radio Moscow ... and the swagger or Saboteur ... only removing broken seashells from the shore. Great music.
Thanks so much for watching and commenting. I think you nailed it with Tull. They cover so many genres....blues, electronic, folky, progressive, dark, light, acoustic or hard rock. Depending on your mood, you can always listen to them, yet it always sounds like Tull. I do listen to Zealot Gene - song for song it's really really strong and I really like the sequencing - it flows so well. The drums are fine, but for a Tull album, very basic, which is more attuned to an Ian Anderson solo record. But I don't mean it really as a "criticism" though I guess it is. I'm a drummer, so for my ears, I can imagine what Barlow, Perry, Bunker but especially a drummer like Barlow would've done with it. But yea it's a really strong release. The blue album is an original Trade Mark of Quality 2-lp bootleg called Hand In Glove. It's a recording from Tower Theater in Philadephia 11/25/87 on the A Tour - outstanding quality. I have a lot of Tull bootlegs - fun to collect and they're always so great live. Thanks so much again.
@@ToddMason Interesting idea - thanks. Most people seem to be interested in vinyl bootlegs - I have three Tull vinyl boots. I do have CD boots of Tull but not such a big deal anymore with the official boxsets releasing so much great live stuff. Interesting idea though. Thanks.
Thank you for the fair assessment of Under Wraps. I get tired of people saying "there's no guitar" on it (when every track is crammed full of guitar) or "it's too synth-y" (and they also praise Depeche Mode). There are no bad Tull records.
Thanks for your kind words and watching my video. As you said plenty of guitar on this album. In fact I believe it’s one of Martins all time favorite Tull albums. It’s the electronic drums on the album that I dislike. Thanks album.
@@TheAlanRosenbergShow The guy who does the album of Under Wraps by drums is the channel Vetter Drums. Give his channel a plug. Lots of more Tull on his channel including the entire album of Thick as a Brick.
Thanks for that - I didn't remember - was a pretty long time ago that I watched that video but he was fantastic. I was blown away. Perhaps Ian Anderson will hire him for the live drum remix if he does it. Thanks for adding that info for others to see. @@CharlieVetter-wk9hf
Sorry you couldn’t get through the whole thing. But I appreciate you trying. Remember I live Tull. Obviously since I have snd listen to everything by them. But we all have our favorites and what we listen to the most. Thanks again
New to your channel. Enjoying the content. Interesting ranking! Two years too late I know but I thought I'd chip in with mine: 1. Songs From The Wood - 5/5 2. Thick As A Brick - 5/5 3. Aqualung -5/5 4. The Broadsword & The Beast - 5/5 5. Rock Island - 5/5 6. Stormwatch - 5/5 7. A. 5/5 8. Under Wraps - 5/5 (love it as it is, not interested in a redone version) 9. Rok Flote - 5/5 10 The Christmas Album - 5/5 11. Crest Of A Knave - 5/5 12. A Passion Play - 5/5 13. Dot Com - 4.5/5 14. Too Old To Rock & Roll - 4/5 15. Minstrel In The Gallery - 4/5 16. Heavy Horses - 4/5 17. War Child - 3/5 18. The Zealot Gene - 3/5 19. Benefit - 3.5 20. Roots To Branches - 3/5 21. Catfish Rising - 3/5 22. Stand Up - 2/5 23. This Was - 2/5
Never too late - this is great. At this point, I pretty much love, or really like all their albums - so this is fun. Love seeing SFTW at #1 - me too. Love seeing Broadsword and Stormwatch so high (that was a real grower for me). Surprised to see Heavy Horses at #16 when SFTW is #1. Interesting to see Benefit so low (I've gotten comments where I placed it as well). Surprised to see Rock Island so high (I just listened to it again). Interesting about Under Wraps, but as you know I really want a version with live drums. Thanks so much.
Cheers.🙂 I think Heavy Horses is a really strong album but it's a measure of the quality of the catalogue that it's ranked as low as it is. I'm a big folk-rock fan and I think SFTW is just that little bit folkier which is why I enjoy it a bit more. Rock Island is -for me - the centre of the Venn diagram between Crest & SFTW. It just hits the spot. If I was ranking the entire Tull catalogue, I think I' must just put The Whaler's Dues & Ears Of Tin at 1 & 2. I just think they're spectacularly good. Glad you also like Broadsword & Stormwatch. The latter, especially, tends to fly under the radar but it's a terrific listen. I don't dislike Benefit but I've never quite understood why it's s revered either. It's well loved though so it obviously has charms I'm immune to. 🙂 I've only just stumbled across your channel. I'm enjoying the content. Looking forward to having a proper explore!
1. Songs From The Wood (1977) 2. Aqualung (1971) 3. Thick as a Brick (1972) 4. Heavy Horses (1978) 5. Benefit (1970) 6. Stormwatch (1979) 7. Minstrel In The Gallery (1975) 8. Stand Up (1969) 9. War Child (1974) 10. RokFlote (2023) 11. The Zealot Gene (2022) 12. The Broadsword and The Beast (1982) 13. A (1980) 14. Crest of a Knave (1987) 15. Rock Island (1989) 16. The JT Christmas Album (2003) 17. A Passion Play (1973) 18. Roots to Branches (1995) 19. Too Old to Rock 'n' Roll: Too Young to Die (1976) 20. Catfish Rising (1991) 21. This Was (1968) 22. J-Tull Dot Com (1999) 23. Under Wraps (1984)
Thanks for sharing - great list. Love that SFTW is #1 - my favorite too. Stormwatch has really started moving up for me as well - that albums has really grown on me over the decades. Your not alone regarding J-Tull Dot Com, but I like it. Thanks again!!!
Huge Tull fan here from the beginning ( yeah, I'm 67)..Songs from the woods is also # 1 for me....seen the group 5 times dating back to 1971..saw Ian solo 4 times and the GREAT Martin Barre band Twice.
Thanks for shouting out my Under Wraps drum cover. For anyone interested you can watch the full thing here: czcams.com/video/2uD1q7x5y1E/video.htmlsi=DkI2kFxNHjFeIACk I have some other Tull covers on my channel (including the entire Thick as a Brick) and I'll be doing more in the future.
Wow thanks for commenting and sharing your link. You did an incredible job. Let’s hope Ian Anderson contacts you to do it on the real thing. Would love to see your real drums on a new remix of the album and add it to an Under Wraps boxset. You’re quite the talent and showed what this album could sound like with real acoustic drums. Thanks so much.
@nRosenbergShow Thanks! I'm available for anything IA wants to do... Guarantee nobody else in the world who knows the drum parts on that album like me.
I would classify Tull records into bands ... 1. All time classics ... Aqualung, Thick As A Brick, Zealot Gene 2. Great Tull records ... This Was, Stand Up, Stormwatch 3. The Lesser Tull ... Songs From The Woods, Heavy Horses 4. Albums I don't listen to that much, but are still great ... Minstrel, Rock Island 5. Albums I mostly don't listen to, but have songs added to my playlists, TOTRARTYTD, Warchild I just hate to even rate them because they all mean a lot to me, and all of them have songs with musical genius and spectacular passages.
Tull is an amazing band in that they cover so many sub-genres, do them so well, yet still always sound like Tull. You can always listen to Tull, depending on your mood, because they have at least a couple of albums within that genre. And yes, they really are different "bands" in a sense. Interesting that you place Zealot Gene so high. I really do like it too, though I wouldn't put it that high, but will see over the next years how it continues to play out. Funny how I love Warchild, yet so many people don't care for it. And for you Woods and Heavy Horses are lesser and for me they're my favorites. But that's what is so great about music. We all love what we love but nice that we all like them or appreciate them in our own way. Thanks so much for watching and sharing your comments.
Hi Alan, While eBaying I came across these two item's that I thought my be of interest to anyone wanting to "Get in to Jethro Tull" on the CHEAP.... JETHRO TULL - ORIGINAL ALBUM SERIES: 5 CD ALBUM SET 2014 WARNER & JETHRO TULL - ORIGINAL ALBUM SERIES VOL.2: 5CD ALBUM SET (2016) They cost just over £10.00 each so £2.00 an album {$2.50 US} ....
Thanks for bringing to everyone's attention. That's an ongoing series - cheap small boxes with each Cd being in a cardboard sleeve. Inexpensive way to get a lot of CD's for all the bands in the series. Personally I prefer the bigger individual CD's with booklets.
1. Thick as a Brick 2. War Child 3. Minstrel in the Gallery 4. Songs from the Wood 5. Living in the Past 6. A Passion Play 7. Too Old to Rock and Roll 8. Aqualung 9. Benefit 10. Stormwatch 11. The Broadsword and the Beast 12. Stand Up 13. A 14. Heavy Horses I would not argue with anyone who would rearrange my top 12 (ask me tomorrow and I might rearrange a bit), but I am STUNNED how many people put Heavy Horses in their top ten. Number 3??!! Above War Child? Minstrel? SFW? Brick??!! Seriously? One great song (Moths), a few middling ones and a few awful ones (e.g. Journeyman and One Brown Mouse which seems like Ian stole a title from One White Duck, a great song on a great album). I only add it because everything after The Broadsword and the Beast is mediocre at best, though generally pretty awful. A few good tracks here and there, albeit mostly previously unreleased songs back from the day when they were the best rock group ever (and still are if you pretend the later stuff never happened), e.g., Summer Day Sands, Rainbow Blues, Glory Row, Strip Cartoon, Jack Frost and the Hooded Crow, the Chateau D'Isaster Tapes. The only others that I own are This Was and Rock Island, the latter of which I bought to see if maybe they had recaptured their old magic. They didn't. So I'll just stick with the classics.
Always fun to see other's lists, so thanks for doing this. Nice to see War Child so high. I love it but seems many Tull fans just think it's OK. Surprising Aqualung is where it is, but hey it's all great pretty much. I listen to Tull all the time depending on mood, different albums fit perfectly which is another reason why Tull is so special.
@@TheAlanRosenbergShow I'm with you. My list would change with my mood too. Surprised to learn that many Tull fans think WC is just OK. I think it hit #2 in the U.S. It has some great songs. I might be a bit prejudiced as I had it on, believe it or not, quadrophonic. The drums on Skating Away would travel around the room. Nice to chat with a fellow Tullite.
Love your Tull collection. Enjoyed your video and passion for Tull. I've subscribed keep up the good work. Did you ever get Thick As A BRICK in deluxe edition?
@@TheAlanRosenbergShow, yea just bought Bursting Out deluxe. According to A New Day Tull magazine, they are doing Living in the past in deluxe edition next, great news !!!!!
@@stephenwaters1242 That's fantastic information - I didn't know that - so wonderful that they are continuing the boxset series. I still would like to see Under Wraps - with a remaster / remix of the original album, a re-recording of the album with real drums, and complete live show from that tour. Living In The Past is a great idea and include the complete Carnegie Hall show of course. Thanks so much.
Excellent Tull overview ... enjoyed your style / take .... the go to's, for me, are Heavy Horses, Songs From the Wood, Broadsword, Crest of a Knave, Stormwatch, Stand Up, Thick as a Brick .... I love Live Bursting Out (awesome) ... plus the AVO Sessions Basel DVD gets plenty of air time .... Aqualung loses marks for audio fidelity (the extraneous buzzy noise in Locomotive Breath about 4 minutes in just bigs me ... I know, I'm being anal) ... I do like Too Old to Rock n Roll album too (great box set) ... oh, and I loved the 2CD single box set of alternate Rocks On The Road .... enjoyed the redo tracks on the retrospective 25th box set .... I like all the Tull catalogue .... but definitely not, for me, the track the hare who lost its spectacles .... oh to have a CD version that would let me skip it (don't have the deluxe) ...eventually I used Audacity to make my own edit of the album where side 1 mixes seamlessly into side 2 by-passing the Hare .... managed to banish it forever. CMcG, Aberdeen, Scotland
Thanks so much again. Love your listing and comments. I used to have a Mobile Fidelity cd of A Passion Play that had the whole album broken down into individual tracks. Was interesting. Could jump around and skip Hare if you wanted. Don’t have that cd anymore though.
I am also a huge fan, but God bless you if you bought the Christmas album. I hate, absolutely hate The Zealot Gene. There is not one memorable song, therefore I would put it in last place. I'm almost 67, so a lot older than you, so our tastes may differ greatly. But I too have never gotten into A Passion Play. #1 is a shocker. Nice review! Just gave you a sub!
Under wraps was the last album I got, and after all I heard and read I did not expect anything good. But then I played it over and over again... If there would be a version with "real" drums I would buy it. A missing drum or bass guitar can make such a difference. I do love the "Too old" album as well and dont think its a weak album. Many great songs on it like Quiz kid, Taxi grab, Crazed Institution, Big Dipper and Pied piper
Hello Alan, I am also a huge fan of Tull/Anderson. Question: you say that you have 9 I.A. solo albums, I own 6, counting TAAB2, Homo..,Rupi's, Secret, Diivinities, and Walk..so what have I missed?? Anyway I agree with your comments about each album, so much great stuff. Personally "A passion play and thick as"..are my faves, while "catfish" and "zealot" are at the bottom. Indeed, one of the greatest, unique bands of all time!!
Hello Stan - thanks for watching and commenting. Here's my 9 Ian Anderson solo albums: Walk Into Light, Divinities: Twelve Dances With God, The Secret Language of Birds, Rupi's Dance, Plays The Orchestral Jethro Tull, Thick As A Brick 2, Homo Erraticus, Thick As A Brick Live In Iceland, Jethro Tull-The String Quartets. Hope that helps - thanks again.
Hey Alan, I also have the orchestral DVD and The Iceland DVD, but no string quartet...Back in '95 I attended one of the greatest shows...The Divinities tour, where they performed the entire album in order. Andrew Giddings was amazing, along with the rest of the boys. Thanks again for your reply.@@TheAlanRosenbergShow
@@stanferraro4130 That must’ve been a really cool different show. Being instrumental and all. Funny thing. I hadn’t listened to that album in years and years and recently did. For that kind of music. It’s terrific. I loved it all over again. Also particularly love Language of birds album. Also terrific. Then again thought TAAB 2 was a masterpiece too. Lol.
wow i used to have the original thick as a brick on vinyl, i have not seen that newspaper cover all spread out for many years- i am surprised that you have benefit so low but as you say its all personal taste- benefit , songs from the wood and minstrel gallery are my favourites but all of their early albums are good - might have a listen to that thick as a brick 2 !
Thanks so much. I hope you like thick as a brick too. I think it’s a really strong album. I do really like benefit. I appreciated it more after I got the box set. But I pretty much love all the tull albums in their own way. When I get remastered CDs or the box sets I typically get rid of the vinyl. But I’ll never get rid of that. Thick as a brick or passion play Rona. The packaging is so amazing. Thanks again and happy new year.
I think it’s so Jethro Tull. So different and so out there. I do love the video of it. Like I said. Of course I like the album. But it’s a difficult complex album and not an easy listen. When I’m in the mood it’s awesome. Prefer flute to sax.
@@TheAlanRosenbergShow I agree in the similarity to Topographic Oceans it that they both have moments of brilliance but are both disjointed and uneven -- making them a hard listen. I actually did a re-mix of TFTO and shortened it to a 45 minute single album. It works better. (But it does lose some of its "Epic-ness." ) Anderson did Thick as a Brick as a bit of a parody of progressive rock but once Tull became one of the leaders in prog, he went all out with PP. But it too, needed some severe edited, or in the least, rearranging. And again, I see how people think THIS WAS is just a starting point, but I was a fan of it when it came out so it holds a place in my heart...AND...after all these years, I still think it's in the top 5 best Tull albums, as different as it may be.
@@NelsonMontana1234 how did you edit it. Wow. That is cool. Rick Wakeman would probably love it as he always says that TFTO desperately needed editing. I really enjoy This Was as well. Pretty unique in their discography. I actually listen to the D’saster tapes more than Passion play. An easier listen to my ears.
@@TheAlanRosenbergShow I felt the the big problem with TFTO was too many repeats and overly long guitar solos. It's almost a Steve Howe solo album using the guys from the band as sidemen. So songs that repeated a section 16 times, I cut down to 4 times. A 64 bar solo became and 8 bar solo. That REALLY quickened the pace. And there was some meandering, experimental stuff on side 3 that if I were producing the album I'd say, "This isn't working-- let's get rid of it." So I did.
@@NelsonMontana1234 that’s actually really cool. Fun. In that you’re acting as a producer and editing to your taste. I wouldn’t even know how to do that technically but very cool.
Now that's a great description - thanks. Benefit has come a long way with me. I always felt it was a bit "cold" and as good as the songs were, and they were, they didn't stick in my head like the other Tull albums. Great riffs on the album though. The album grew alot on me, especially after the box set of it. Thanks so much.
Thanks so much - Passion Play is your favorite - then you're a serious Tull fan. Of course, great choices you have here. They're all great, well at least really really good, in their own way.
Benefit might be my favorite, probably the album I’ve played the most. I thought it was a stoner album. With u there to help me, Teacher , so many great songs. They just all flow together. Aqualung is just so perfect that they thought it would be a flop so did the one takes. Just great albums but maybe it was that time and place, sweet spot? 💞
Thanks for your comments. Funny, Benefit was never one of my favorites until I bought the Benefit boxset and it really grew on me and I have a total new respect for it. Very riffy album which I love. Prime time for Jethro Tull for sure. Thanks.
I am old. I remember Tull from their first album. I bought every one up to Broadsword. After that I lost interest. I agree with you concerning the great drummers, Bunker and Barlow. Nowadays Ian cant sing and there is no Martin Barre. There were great albums though. Some legacy
Thanks for watching and commenting. Very cool that you are an original Tull fan from the beginning. To me the drums are very important to Tull. For me no coincidence that their prime was with Bunker and Barlow. Later on also thought Doane Perry was also amazing. Certainly one of the all time great and unique bands.
I’ve been a Tull fan since I heard Aqualung. And my first time seeing them was the Warchild tour. Share my go to album is Minstrel in the Gallery and Thick as a Brick. My least fav is Under Wraps and A. And I miss the 1970-1980 band mates. Jeffery Hammond-Hammond, John Evan, Barrymore Barlow, David Palmer and of course Martin Lancelot Barre.
Hi Scot - thanks so much for watching and commenting. Really appreciate it. I love the Warchild album and I wish I could've seen them back then. Love the look on that tour too - the codpiece....classic. Yes, to me and I imagine to most, that lineup was the "classic" Tull lineup.
lol. As per my video, I really love A Passion Play...but I have to be in a mood to listen to it. Which is why it's there. It's not that I don't appreciate it's genius, but it's not an album I can just throw on at any time....If most people actually analyze what they actually listen to and how often...I don't think I would be in the minority with that album....although when I am in the mood...it's awesome (though I'd prefer a little less saxophone)...Thanks for watching and commenting.
When I look up for the lists like that - I am always suprised that Stormwatch is never ever top pick. Nothing against other classic albums such as Aqualung or Thick as a Brick. But Stormwatch is so beautiful, dark, varied etc. - I listen to it like 80% of time when listening to Tull records. Heavy Horses comes second.
@@micurzeszow7307 Stormwarch was a major grower for me. My favorite was and is Songs From The Wood and I love Heavy Horses as well. Was such a great period for the band. Stormwatch was darker and more menacing. But it grew over time for me especially after getting the boxset and other live performances Now I love it.
Have you done a ranking of the 40th anniversary boxsets Alan? I’ve seen Aqualung quite cheap but I’m hesitant as some reviews talk about it unfavourably..I mean the edition compared with some of the more recent editions.
I've done many Jethro Tull videos, including the boxsets and ranking of all their albums. All of the boxsets are incredible (except for maybe the Thick As A Brick as its only 2 discs). But all the boxsets are like incredible books covering everything and of course some have tons of discs and extras. The boxes themselves didn't change my ranking of favorite albums though I grew to really love Storm Watch because of the boxset. I also grew to appreciate Benefit a lot more. But I would check out my Tull album ranking video. Thanks.
@@Patrick-sh9tt you’re gonna love it. I always thought Aqualung was the worst sounding Tull album. Something with possibly the original recording or mix. Of course the songs are amazing. To my ears the Aqualung boxset is by far the best sounding Aqualung album. And the bonuses and book on it makes it an essential purchase. Enjoy. I know you will.
I’d tip my hat to you if I wore one for taking the time to not only rank Tull’s 22 studio albums, but do it with such enthusiasm. I agree that Tull is an extraordinary band in that its music includes most subgenres of rock ‘n’ roll, resulting in each album being very distinct from another while still being totally recognizable as Jethro Tull. I do think Ian Anderson is a musical genius. Tull should be in a rock ‘n’ roll hall of fame, if a legitimate one were to exist. If I had to split hairs to pick between Songs From The Wood and Aqualung in selecting what I think is Tull’s ultimate masterpiece, then I’d pick Aqualung. Yet, I do listen to Songs From The Wood more than any other Tull album. I share your feelings about Passion Play being an album for which I have to be “in the mood.” I do not, however, feel the same way about Tales From Topographic Oceans. I’m always in the mood for that one!
Great video - thanks. I'm sure you know but they are re-issung the TAAB boxset you're missing for its 50th anniversary. Sa,e boxset, just re-issued at decent price.
@@BlindArthurBlake I have no desire to listen to waters remake of one of the greatest most perfect albums. TAAB 2 of course is a completely new work so I don’t see the comparison.
You are really convincing in getting me to listen again to the entirety of the Tull oeuvre. They lost me at 'Heavy Horses' after 'Songs from the Wood,' because I had had enough of that 'country idyll meets medieval times, hit me with a bladder, morris dancer' nonsense, and I didn't listen to anything new of theirs for nearly fifty years. So, as you may guess, 'Songs from the Wood' and 'Heavy Horses' would be numbers 20 and 21 for me. My top albums would be 'Aqualung' followed by 'Minstrel in the Gallery,' followed by 'Too Old to Rock 'n' Roll,' and recently I would add 'Stormwatch' and 'Broadsword and the Beast' for my top five. But while you were talking, I was listening to 'A' and 'J-Tull Dot Com,' and decided that I rather liked them because they sounded nothing like those two hideous albums you rate so highly. I'm not criticizing your taste, but it's just that they have given me PTSD over the years - so my problem, not yours. The Dire Straits soundalike stuff is a bit weird, but, as you say, they are really high class Dire Straits soundalikes, and I really like Dire Straits in dreamy mood. 'The Human Gene' seems to be a considerable return to the classic Tull sound, as is 'Rockflote,' but I feel I just have to reboot and listen to it all again, buy myself a percheron, stand on one leg, hug a cunning villager covered in English country mud and shit, and see if I can reverse-order my Tull sensibilities. That can be my New Year resolution. I just don't know if I can listen to 'Songs from a Wood' and 'Heavy Horses' again without breaking out in hives and attacking quaint country folk chewing on hay as they pass me by, singing 'Hey noddy no.'
Lol. I love your comments. Very entertaining and really made me smile and laugh. It is interesting in that the albums you love like StormWatch, TOTR&R, A. Etc. I love those Albums but to me they’re not near the excellence of SFTW, or HH. Well it’s all personally taste of course. Let me know if they eventually grow on you past your PTSD
I'll give them a go again, but only last. A cultural difference is that, in the US, country dancing has always been kind of cool and fun - one-step and all that. In Ireland, Irish dancing and jigging is a national thing. But in England, Morris dancing has always been about the nerdiest of nerd things to do, utterly loathed by anyone of a rock 'n' roll sensibility in the 70s. Monty Python nailed it with the 'Fish slapping dance' sketch: czcams.com/video/T8XeDvKqI4E/video.htmlsi=EaGC7-rfDMmXDdxb 'Songs from the Wood' and 'Heavy Horses' uses a lot of country folk-style tunes and Ian Anderson associated himself with the country idyll as he set himself up as the Laird of whatever island it is in Scotland. Profoundly uncool and about as rock as PeeWee Herman.
@@timhewtson6212 love Monty Python. Classic sketch for sure. Lol. Ian Anderson has always been a clearheaded individual and business man. He did well with his salmon farm and literally ran it. Hands on Not just a tax shelter etc which is what most rock stars and athletes and celebrities do. Crested jobs and helped the local economy too. Good on him I say.
I agree. Ian is always interesting to listen to in interviews. I think he finally gave up the salmon farm, but I'm sure he is generous to those who have worked for him. He lets Martin Barre play his songs live even though, I would guess, Ian has the sole copyright in many of them. I have no problems with Ian Anderson whatsoever. He is a superb songwriter - it's just those two albums. And I'm not denying they're excellent musically, I just don't like the territory. I appreciate them; I would just prefer that someone else listen to them.
@@timhewtson6212 lol. It’s all good. I know you’re a big fan and that’s the best thing. Funny that those two are amongst my favorite though. But that’s what makes the world go round
Hi Thanks - I have to go back to it. I haven't really gone back to revisit RokFlote since the month I bought it in. It hasn't left as much of an impression on me as Zealot Gene. I'll be revisiting it soon though for my end of the year review. But really so far sticking with my original review of the album.
Personally, I think the Tull remastered box sets are fantastic. Amazing packaging. Each box is loaded with great material - virtually every possible version of the individual album, great bonus material and on some occasions, previously unreleased live concerts from that period. And the pricing is very fair if you get them when they first come out. I think the Tull boxes are first class all the way.
i been around since the 70's enjoying new JT albums all the way to Dot-Com .. & they all felt like legit new JT albums . . these last 2 just don't cut it anymore with out Martins chemistry included.. more so now that Ian cant sing as good like he use to due to age & over usage.. the more the reason it needed Martin Barr . these other guitarist are just puppies without unique identity & TULL Chemistry..
As per my Zealot Gene review, I felt it should have been called an Ian Anderson solo album. I would love to have Martin back in the band, but it's beyond that. The Tull "band" added so much to Ian's songs - truly making the songs sound like a band. Zealot Gene, as much as I like it, is very much sounding like a solo album with the band following Ian's directions instead of adding to it as a band would. The biggest issue is in the drum seat. Tull's drummers were incredible and took the songs to another level. Anderson's solo albums and Zealot Gene, the drumming is pretty standard and lacks the Tull dynamic.
ouch. of course it's all personal taste. I guess you stuck with Mick Abrahams, which is fine. But to me the musical journey of Tull is amazing, diverse, never boring and unique.
Your choices are poor for the worse albums .. Under Wraps should be first on the list . . Kissing Willie is offensive ..I get it you don't like the more mature Ian
Thanks for watching and commenting. Obviously I'm a pretty big fan since I own 75 Jethro Tull albums - every official album, bootlegs and imports included. I state over and over again that I enjoy every Tull album but when you rank them they all can't be at the top. In fact I really enjoy the more mature Ian Anderson and i'm a big fan of his solo albums as well. Last years Zealot Gene was in my top 3 of the year.
Zealot Gene and Rok Flote should not be considered as Jethro Tull albums due they were composed strictly by Ian Anderson rest of band members were background, these two albums were released below Jethro Tull name for the discography requirements otherwise sells would be very few below Ian Anderson solo . But ir you considers as Jethro Tull albums they are the worst .
Should they be Tull is a debate that’s been discussed. But since they are officially released as Tull. Then they are officially Tull. Personally I think they should also be Anderson solo albums but it his call and I respect that.
@@TheAlanRosenbergShow This new Ian Anderson band that is named Jethro Tull only for selling albums is the worst band I ever heard , it is a shame to call this band Jethro Tull, The guitarist the drummer and the keyboardist are very low level in comparison with the old members D Perry A Giddings and M Barre . See the opinion of many fans , they say No Barre No Tull . I can’t no stand to hear the last two album ZG and RF , they seems a beginners band .
@@javierllerena5756 I’ll just say it is very sad what happened. The legacy has been diminished. With that said I did what I think are very fair reviews of those two albums.
@@TheAlanRosenbergShow The best Ian Anderson solo album in my opinion is Divinities , then The Secret Languages of Birds , these two albums were made with the contribution of old members . Specially Divinities which was composed 50% A Giddings and 50% Ian Anderson. Both are more Jethro Tull than ZG and RF , however never were considered JT albums . To me does not matter if officially these albums are considered JT , the True they are not JT . For almost majority of old fans like me that we were following JT since 1968 , Jethro Tull ended after the Christmas Album.
In long discussions about Tull, no one ever mentions the exquisite Reasons for Waiting from Stand Up. It's the group's most beautiful love song. It's achingly powerful. It always puts me in a dreamy, pensive mood. It's also the first time we get to hear one of Dee Palmer's lush orchestral arrangements. I would put Stand Up (and Benefit, too) in my top five all-time favorite Tull albums.
Great comment for sure - yep great song and Dee Palmer's arrangements were awesome. Elegy is one of the most beautiful pieces of music ever, at least to me.
Howzit : Stand Up was my FIRST JT album ( With that great Band-members cut-out leaping up at you on opening the package ! ); setting ME up for JT for decades ! I have to say that I am kinddov surprised that it rated at # 12 ? ! In any event; with reference to the significance of Ian's extended hand on the back cover .... Go count the number of fingers on his hands on the front cover of the glorious wood-cut type print that sets the design of this album uniquely aside from the others ! To this day; I rate Stand Up at least in the top 5 .... 🎸🥁🎵🎶🎶🎵
it's not that I don't really like Stand Up - I do of course, but my rankings is based on how much I played them and for whatever reason - Stand Up doesn't get as much play from me. Now of course timing is everything and you were an early fan of Tull since Stand Up was your first - that's amazing so I totally get why it rates so high with you. The first is always super special. Love the pop up, and the finger mystery. Glad they reproduced the pop up in the Stand Up box.@@johnnyeveritt5695
Very surprised to see Benefit and Stand up so low! As an Early Jethro tull fan, gotta put them in the top 5, along with Aqualung, Songs from the wood, and Thick as a brick.
Reason for waiting is a absolutely beautiful song, so moving.
It's great to see "Roots To Branches" inside your top ten; one of my favorite Tull albums!
Thanks so much. Appreciate it
Totally subjective, but one we are way out of whack! Passion Play is by far my favorite, in fact it's my top choice to take to a deserted island if only allowed one recording. As you stated, they are so unique because they constantly evolved with many different flavors of music. Soooo, outside my top 10, the rest are constantly changing based on mood and even after Passion Play my top 10 juggle a bit. I play guitar, predominantly acoustic, and Ian's acoustic diddy's on albums such as Aqualung, Heavy Horses, Songs From The Wood, Mistrial, etc is what got me playing the guitar in the first place. It's the one thing I really miss in all the more recent releases, both Ian's solo and Zealot Gene and now RokFlute. With that being said, you convinced me to get the Zealot Gene deluxe addition to get the acoustic guitar demos.
Thanks so much. You’re not alone in APP being #1 as you know I really like it but I definitely have to be in the mood for it as opposed to my other choices. Love your passion for Tull. Agree with everything you said. I hope you like the acoustic demos on the deluxe. To me it’s like sitting with Ian in your den listening to him. I enjoyed it. Hope you too. Thanks again. And yes. The beauty of music is it’s all personal and subjective. Very best. Alan
Excellent! What a collection!!! I would say just two words: Jethro Tull!
Thanks so much. Tull indeed.
That was a fantastic video. I've loved Tull ever since I first heard "Living In The Past" back in '72. Not having every JT album (or cd's) that you have (so I can't really rank them honestly), I will put "Stand Up", "Benefit ", "Aqualung" and "Crest of a Knave" as my favorites (for now). Thanks again for the wonderful video.
Thanks so much for watching and commenting. Love that you put Crest Of A Knave so high. Song for song it's an excellent album. The production now is dated with that 80's sound. But I for one was thrilled when they won the Grammy for that album. People forget, and simply look for an easy laugh, that that album won for best hard rock / heavy metal...but that was the only "corresponding" category the Grammy had at the time for rock music. It was well deserved for Budapest alone, but Said She Was A Dancer and many other tracks from that album are absolutely wonderful. Classic Tull that they didn't even go, because the record company didn't want to shell out the money because they figured there was no shot of winning. And also Tull answer in Billboard that the flute is a heavy metal instrument....gotta love it. Thanks again.
Yeah, in fact I saw Tull in concert in Boca Raton Florida (November 2017). They performed "Farm On The Freeway ". Granted, it was the current lineup that Ian has now, (minus the guitar player), but nonetheless a tremendous show.
@@stevepyle5080 Great deep cut. Nice to hear you loved the show. Unfortunately, seeing Tull over the last decade is very hit or miss, simply because of Ian's vocal challenges. He clearly gives it his all and does the best he can, but sometimes it can be very.....lets just say not too good....
Yeah, I agree about his voice. Sometimes, I'm not too sure what song he's singing myself. Going back to the "Crest of a Knave" album, I was very happy to hear that won a Grammy Award. No apologies for that one. Looking forward to they're next album. (I believe it's due out in April). Anyway, thanks again for your great videos.
@@stevepyle5080 thanks again for your support
Great presentation and countdown.
Thanks so much... I really really appreciate it.
Actually think the Passion Play box is easily the best of the boxes. The CDH in the proper running order is priceless. Also, I believe side 2 of PP is one of the strongest sides of JT.
That is a great boxset. They’re all top notch. Amongst the best reissues ever done I think.
Everyone’s list is effected by what point in their lite’s journey they are exposed to each album. I had Passion Play, Minstrel and Songs from the Wood constantly playing in the background when I was first reading ‘Lord of the Rings’ back in ‘77., so yeah they are at the top of my list. My hat is off to you and your passion for Tull.
That is so true. Crucially true, we can't control when we're born and at the age where we are really listening to music. Later on, we can pick up on things we missed, but it's not the same as that "sweet spot", teenagers etc, when music is like religion and constantly buying new releases going to concerts etc. Love that you had those three Tull albums on constant play while reading Lord Of The Rings in '77. 1977 was my sweet spot too - I was 14 and going to many concerts back when tickets were like $8 bucks, radio played great classic rock and new albums....those were the days. Thanks so much.
Respectable ranking. I enjoyed your video as a huge Tull fan.
Good news, I understand they are to reissue the Taab box, soon.
I think LITP should have been in the ranking, comp or not.
Good job !
Thanks so much. Very excited about the Taab box reissue. I’ll then have all the boxes which will he nice. Others also mentioned that LITP should have been in the ranking and in retrospect you’re probably right as it’s so much more than just a comp. Thanks so much again.
@@TheAlanRosenbergShow I have all the boxes, love each and everyone, some of these new mixes have given me new ears for some of the albums that I wasn't crazy about. Thanks, SW !
Hi! Great video, man. I love Tull. All albums. Just discovered this channel.
Thanks.so much for watching and commenting. I really appreciate it. I hope you enjoy my other.videos as well
@@TheAlanRosenbergShow Yeah, i will go through your videos now and again, when i get around to it, for sure. Have a good weekend.
@@OMW66 thanks so much again. Really do appreciate it. And please feel free to comment. Have a great weekend as well
@@TheAlanRosenbergShow Thank you.
100% with you on "Moths" Absolutely one of my favourite Tull songs. Most of my favourite songs are Anderson's acoustic pieces (Life's a Long Song, Nursie, Wond'ring Aloud/Again, Up the 'Pool, Salamander, Dun Ringill to mention a few). My current favourite Anderson album is Secret Language of Birds.
Agree with you. I Love SLOB. My favorite as well. Also love TAAB 2. But SLOB is fantastic with a lot of acoustic textures. Wonderful album.
Love your show Alan...excellent research and insight
Thanks so much Pete for watching and commenting - I really appreciate it.
Great show and countdown on Jethro Tull. Very knowledgeable and entertaining at the same time. Love all the insights.
Thanks so much for watching and your support. I really appreciate it.
Tull is my fav band too. I enjoyed your video very much. Thanks for sharing your enviable collection!
Thank you so much - I really appreciate it.
I am so glad to find you I love Jethro Tull as much as you do. Or more.. my favorite Tull is Life's a long Song
Thanks so much. I also love Life’s A Long Song. Fantastic track. Thanks so much.
Always glad to see devoted JT listener. Really enjoyed the video.
I wonder if there any person on this planet who love hard-rock era more than the rest...
Thanks. Hard rock / heavy metal is a huge genre - one of the most popular. But does Tull ever fall into that category? I know they won that Grammy over Metallica (personally I was thrilled that Crest Of A Knave won - should've won for Budapest alone - so well deserved), but I really don't see Tull in that category.
Great clip, thank you. I've seen Jethro Tull/Ian Anderson over 70 times. My favorite Tull album is Heavy Horses
Over 70 times - wow. I love when I hear from extraordinary fans like yourself. Just when I think I'm a big fan, I hear from a REALLY big fan - like yourself and it's wonderful. As you know I LOVE Heavy Horses as well. Two of the greatest back to back albums ever - SFTW and HH. Thanks so much.
@@TheAlanRosenbergShow my 2 favorite Jethro Tull songs though are actually Budapest and too old too Rock and roll too young to die
@@BirdTrump3324 Wow - and I've talked about this in other videos. They may be my two all time favorite Tull songs as well (Moths is way up there too). Too Old is very special for me, because I fell in love with that song when it first came out and still love it to this day. And Budapest is beyond incredible. When they won the Grammy for Crest, and they got all that grief, I was like, the hell with that - they deserve the Grammy for Budapest alone.
My favourite Jethro Tull album is WarChild and Thick as a Brick. And the Ian Anderson of that era is perhaps my all-time favourite vocalist. I can't listen to any of the albums they made after he blew out his voice in the 80's.
Nice to see WarChild so high - I think it's a great album and typically doesn't get the respect it deserves. Ian permanently blowing out his voice from the Underwraps tour is such a sad tragedy, and it happened because of his incredible work ethic.
Excellent commentary. I never get tired of hearing dedicated fans talk Tull. I can't really rank bands, but I can give you my top and bottom:
1. Heavy Horses (not just my favorite Tull album; my favorite album period)
2. Songs From the Wood (objectively just as good as HH, but my second favorite
3. [3-way tie] Aqualung, Thick as a Brick, Minstrel In the Gallery
..........
20. This Was (not bad, but not memorable)
21. Rock Island (half good songs, half not, but "Heavy Water" is my favorite post-70's Tull song)
22. Under Wraps
A Passion Play would rank much higher for me if you took out the sax, took out the annoying skit, and changed the cover art.
I absolutely consider both TAAB 2 and Homo Erraticus to be Jethro Tull in all but name.
Thanks for watching and commenting and sending your ranking. Similar to me. Very hard to rank when you love the band and Tull albums can be so different can depend on your mood. Thanks again
Thanks! Really enjoyable and great to see such a fan! They've been my favorite band since about 1985. Fun to amiably disagree with your ranking at times, but I agree on a lot of it, too. "Moths" and "Black Sunday," which you mentioned have always been a standout for me as well and Songs from the Wood is a masterpiece. So many hidden gems in this band, far too many to list. Melodically, harmonically, rhythmically, virtuosically (including singing, at least in the earlier years), and and lyrically, it's really hard to fathom a band could be this good.
Thanks so much for watching and commenting. Love your description of the bands talents. One of the all time greats and most unique bands in history and now so under appreciated. And love what you said. Fun to amiably disagree. People forget that we’re all big fans but like what we like. But being a fan and loving their music is what’s most important. Thanks again
Nice list and I agree with a lot of your opinions (although I have a soft spot for under wraps despite the drums, and a passion play would make my top 5). I personally put heavy horses above songs from the wood, but I'm biased as that was the first album of theirs that I heard. Also, I like that Roots to branches made your top ten as that was the first live concert I saw.
Thanks so much. We're close in that Songs From The Wood was the first new Tull album I ever bought when it first came out. Aqualung was my first Tull album, followed by MU and Repeat the two greatest hits. Agree that Roots To Branches is a terrific classic Tull album too. Thanks again.
A great review. Thank you! I'm pleased to see Broadsword and Stormwatch in the top ten. I agree about 'Budapest'!
Thanks so much. Of course Tull aren’t Heavy Metal / Hard Rock but when they won the Grammy for Crest of a Knave I had no problem with it. The Grammy was just getting started for separate rock categories and they were just figuring it out. It’s still considered the Grammy biggest mistake but not to me. Budapest is certainly deserving. Thanks again
Great recap! Surprised you glossed over LITP so quickly. It was a platinum double album and is fantastic!! Never seems to be mentioned…
Thanks so much for watching and commenting. You’re totally correct. I love LITP and I love the packaging of the original vinyl which I own. It’s a strange release as it’s a compilation and also new material. I definitely could have spent more time on it though. But even Tull forgets it. No mention of it ever coming out in a deluxe CD reissue. Thanks again
Yeess!! At last someone who knows the genius of Ian Anderson!! Songs From The Wood is not only their best album, but also the best album in rock - history!!
Thanks so much - glad you enjoyed. SFTW is my favorite as you know. The trilogy of SFTW, Heavy Horses and Stormwatch is one of the greatest album runs of all time.
@@TheAlanRosenbergShow
So true !!!
@@razigryn2255 Thanks. I also still like zealot Gene and looking forward to the new release to come.
Alan thanks so much for this.. love it..your the best.. Way to many great unreleased tracks it seems. Curious as to what box set i should start with ? Or whats ur fave as to what box set was done best.or has best unreleased tracks. I was thinking about Stormwatch..ps i have night cap
Thanks so much for your support - and your suggestion...definitely not easy to rank Tull. As for the box sets, well the 20th Anniversary Box is amazing - perfect selection of classics, deep tracks, radio shows...just awesome. The box sets of my three favorites - Songs From TheWood, Aqualung and Heavy Horses are all great. Minstrel, Stormwatch and A all have great live shows previously unreleased which are all great. Passion Play goes deep with the Chateau tapes which is interesting if you like Passion Play. I think the early Tull boxes, at least for me, are the least essential. Thanks so much again !!!!!!
I'm listening to Budapest right now from crust of a knave.. Wow... So good man...
@@glendepietro1521 yes...to me one of Tull's all time greatest moments....and to me one of progressive rocks' all time greatest epic tracks. It's truly a masterpiece, which is why when Tull get's so much shit for winning the Grammy for Crest Of A Knave, I'm like.....shut up and listen to "Budapest". The rest of the album is pretty damn good too (though like I said the 80's production is now dated especially on some of the tracks like Steel Monkey). Thanks again.
Good stuff
Thanks so much. Really appreciate it
Thanks so much. I really appreciate it.
Great video Alan.I could take any 12 albums by Tull and anyone could be my no.1
Thanks - it really is hard to rank them when you're a big fan
Great job Alan. You are so refreshing and authentic. While I have different rankings, I can't argue with your commitment and rationale for each record. Well done!
Thanks so much - that really means a lot to me - really. Thanks so much again.
Great stuff. I have never been a massive Tull fan but I think I am going to give them another try 👍
Thanks so much. I hope you enjoy them.
1. A Passion Play
2. Benefit
3. Stand Up
4. Thick As A Brick
5. Stormwatch
6. Aqualung
7. This Was
8. Minstrel In The Gallery
9. Broadsword And The Beast
10. Songs From The Wood
Very interesting list. Always especially interesting when A Passion Play is #1 out of all their albums. I'm a fan, but I definitely have to be in the mood to listen to it. Thanks so much.
Agreed on Moths, which was in rotation for a bit on NY's 95.5 WPLJ back in the day. BTW, I also actually heard Hymn 43 on AM 77 WABC a couple of times!
wow - in my whole life, I've never heard Moths on the radio...on PLJ - that's awesome. To me "Moths" is truly a lost classic. Thanks so much for watching and commenting.
@@TheAlanRosenbergShow Yep, the radio is where I heard Moths before I even bought the LP!
Interesting choices and sequences- not far off from my own. And THANK YOU for mentioning the fact that Budapest and Moths are top five contenders because they’re in MY top five! You said you have around 72 Albums of Tull/Tull related tracks….was just curious if you had a tribute album called “To Cry You a Song: A Collection of Tull Tales?” There’s a band on there that never got their due diligence- great prog/ rock (sorta ELP meets Dream Theater) band called Magellan and they do a KILLER version of Aqualung
Thanks so much for watching and commenting. I really appreciate it. I know of that album - at that time and that record label, there were a couple of "tribute" albums of that sort, but I didn't buy it. I've heard of Magellan as well, but I don't own any of their albums. So awesome that Moths and Budapest are near the top of your lists as well. Two incredible tracks that rarely get mentioned (especially Moths), but epitomize some of the greatness of Ian Anderson and Tull. Thanks again.
Allan....i really like your video, i agree with you 90%. Thanks!!!!!
Thanks so much - with all their albums - 90% is pretty amazing - thanks again.
My daughters boyfriend said I didn't have any good Jethro Tull albums because I always listened to Heavy Horses and Songs From the Wood. I'm glad to see I wasn't alone in my opinion . I have most of your top 12 and A Sack Full of Trouser Snakes bootleg album all on vinyl. Good review I have some new tracks to check out.
Thanks so much. Then I guess he doesn’t like StormWatch either. Lol. Surprising to me because I find those albums very melodic and relatively easy on the ears compared to some other Tull albums. Oh well. Nevertheless we have great taste. Lol. Thanks again
I get it ... I am a huge fan as well. There are some albums that have less stuff that I love, but they all have several great songs on them. I don't know of any other band that has such high quality music consistently. That doesn't mean I can't be critical or that I listen to ever album all the time. Typically I would get a Tull album and be skeptical at first. Then after a listen or two would find myself humming some of the themes, and then I'd have that album on my turntable ( yeah, I go back pretty far, used to have 3 copies of the Aqualung record ) until the next album came out. That is what is going on with the Zealot Gene ... I'm really liking it. Hope you do too.
My least faves are Warchild and Too Old To Rock And Roll.
I'm curious as to what the blue album in the upper right with Glove on it is.
That's one that I have never seen before.
I used to have some strange stuff, like a record called Rare Tracks that had Summerday Sands and I think My Aeroplane on it, along with rare songs from other artists. Then March The Mad Scientist, Pan Dance.
Funny how so many people complain about the drums. It's not something that bothers me, either on Under Wraps or Zealot Gene. I love the jazziness of Under Wraps, Nobody's Car, Radio Moscow ... and the swagger or Saboteur ... only removing broken seashells from the shore. Great music.
Thanks so much for watching and commenting. I think you nailed it with Tull. They cover so many genres....blues, electronic, folky, progressive, dark, light, acoustic or hard rock. Depending on your mood, you can always listen to them, yet it always sounds like Tull. I do listen to Zealot Gene - song for song it's really really strong and I really like the sequencing - it flows so well. The drums are fine, but for a Tull album, very basic, which is more attuned to an Ian Anderson solo record. But I don't mean it really as a "criticism" though I guess it is. I'm a drummer, so for my ears, I can imagine what Barlow, Perry, Bunker but especially a drummer like Barlow would've done with it. But yea it's a really strong release. The blue album is an original Trade Mark of Quality 2-lp bootleg called Hand In Glove. It's a recording from Tower Theater in Philadephia 11/25/87 on the A Tour - outstanding quality. I have a lot of Tull bootlegs - fun to collect and they're always so great live. Thanks so much again.
@@TheAlanRosenbergShow I'd love to see a viddie of your Tull bootlegs someday.
@@ToddMason Interesting idea - thanks. Most people seem to be interested in vinyl bootlegs - I have three Tull vinyl boots. I do have CD boots of Tull but not such a big deal anymore with the official boxsets releasing so much great live stuff. Interesting idea though. Thanks.
Good stuff. Agree w/ Stormwatch high ranking.
Thanks so much - really appreciate it.
Thank you for the fair assessment of Under Wraps. I get tired of people saying "there's no guitar" on it (when every track is crammed full of guitar) or "it's too synth-y" (and they also praise Depeche Mode). There are no bad Tull records.
Thanks for your kind words and watching my video. As you said plenty of guitar on this album. In fact I believe it’s one of Martins all time favorite Tull albums. It’s the electronic drums on the album that I dislike. Thanks album.
@@TheAlanRosenbergShow The guy who does the album of Under Wraps by drums is the channel Vetter Drums. Give his channel a plug. Lots of more Tull on his channel including the entire album of Thick as a Brick.
Thanks for that - I didn't remember - was a pretty long time ago that I watched that video but he was fantastic. I was blown away. Perhaps Ian Anderson will hire him for the live drum remix if he does it. Thanks for adding that info for others to see. @@CharlieVetter-wk9hf
Turned this off after passion play and benefit were listed 😂😂
Kudos to your collection!
Sorry you couldn’t get through the whole thing. But I appreciate you trying. Remember I live Tull. Obviously since I have snd listen to everything by them. But we all have our favorites and what we listen to the most. Thanks again
New to your channel. Enjoying the content. Interesting ranking! Two years too late I know but I thought I'd chip in with mine:
1. Songs From The Wood - 5/5
2. Thick As A Brick - 5/5
3. Aqualung -5/5
4. The Broadsword & The Beast - 5/5
5. Rock Island - 5/5
6. Stormwatch - 5/5
7. A. 5/5
8. Under Wraps - 5/5 (love it as it is, not interested in a redone version)
9. Rok Flote - 5/5
10 The Christmas Album - 5/5
11. Crest Of A Knave - 5/5
12. A Passion Play - 5/5
13. Dot Com - 4.5/5
14. Too Old To Rock & Roll - 4/5
15. Minstrel In The Gallery - 4/5
16. Heavy Horses - 4/5
17. War Child - 3/5
18. The Zealot Gene - 3/5
19. Benefit - 3.5
20. Roots To Branches - 3/5
21. Catfish Rising - 3/5
22. Stand Up - 2/5
23. This Was - 2/5
Never too late - this is great. At this point, I pretty much love, or really like all their albums - so this is fun. Love seeing SFTW at #1 - me too. Love seeing Broadsword and Stormwatch so high (that was a real grower for me). Surprised to see Heavy Horses at #16 when SFTW is #1. Interesting to see Benefit so low (I've gotten comments where I placed it as well). Surprised to see Rock Island so high (I just listened to it again). Interesting about Under Wraps, but as you know I really want a version with live drums. Thanks so much.
Cheers.🙂
I think Heavy Horses is a really strong album but it's a measure of the quality of the catalogue that it's ranked as low as it is. I'm a big folk-rock fan and I think SFTW is just that little bit folkier which is why I enjoy it a bit more.
Rock Island is -for me - the centre of the Venn diagram between Crest & SFTW. It just hits the spot. If I was ranking the entire Tull catalogue, I think I' must just put The Whaler's Dues & Ears Of Tin at 1 & 2. I just think they're spectacularly good.
Glad you also like Broadsword & Stormwatch. The latter, especially, tends to fly under the radar but it's a terrific listen.
I don't dislike Benefit but I've never quite understood why it's s revered either. It's well loved though so it obviously has charms I'm immune to. 🙂
I've only just stumbled across your channel. I'm enjoying the content. Looking forward to having a proper explore!
@@carlwmpylu Thanks so much again for your wonderful comments and I so appreciate you checking out my channel.
Thick As A Brick will be reissued in the book format this October !
Yes can’t wait. Then my collection will be completed
Good stuff Alan. I'd love to share my and my brothers' top albums with you some day.
Please do. I would love it.
@@TheAlanRosenbergShow got an email I can send the spreadsheet to?
@@guyh4559 it would be better to list it in the comments so others can see it as well. Becomes part of the channel.
@@TheAlanRosenbergShow 1) Aqualung 2) TAAB 3) Songs from the Wood 4) Minstrel in the Gallery 5) Stormwatch
@@guyh4559 great choices. Nice to see Stormwatch so high It’s grown on me probably more than any other Tull album. Thanks.
Good reviews!
Thanks so much - really appreciate you watching and commenting. Thanks.
1. Songs From The Wood (1977)
2. Aqualung (1971)
3. Thick as a Brick (1972)
4. Heavy Horses (1978)
5. Benefit (1970)
6. Stormwatch (1979)
7. Minstrel In The Gallery (1975)
8. Stand Up (1969)
9. War Child (1974)
10. RokFlote (2023)
11. The Zealot Gene (2022)
12. The Broadsword and The Beast (1982)
13. A (1980)
14. Crest of a Knave (1987)
15. Rock Island (1989)
16. The JT Christmas Album (2003)
17. A Passion Play (1973)
18. Roots to Branches (1995)
19. Too Old to Rock 'n' Roll: Too Young to Die (1976)
20. Catfish Rising (1991)
21. This Was (1968)
22. J-Tull Dot Com (1999)
23. Under Wraps (1984)
Thanks for sharing - great list. Love that SFTW is #1 - my favorite too. Stormwatch has really started moving up for me as well - that albums has really grown on me over the decades. Your not alone regarding J-Tull Dot Com, but I like it. Thanks again!!!
No
@@rightchordleadershipUh...yes. Not no.
Huge Tull fan here from the beginning ( yeah, I'm 67)..Songs from the woods is also # 1 for me....seen the group 5 times dating back to 1971..saw Ian solo 4 times and the GREAT Martin Barre band Twice.
Thanks so much for watching and commenting. Really appreciate your support
songs from the wood, heavy horses and stormwatch are quintessential tull.
@@morrisanderson3180 Thanks for watching and commenting. They sure are. IMHO one of the greatest "trilogies" of all time.
can't fault martin barre, great guitarist and a nice man to boot!
The TAAB box set is being rereleased as a 50th anniversary version. I'm sure you know!
Yes. Can’t wait to get it. Will complete my box set collection.
Thanks for shouting out my Under Wraps drum cover. For anyone interested you can watch the full thing here: czcams.com/video/2uD1q7x5y1E/video.htmlsi=DkI2kFxNHjFeIACk
I have some other Tull covers on my channel (including the entire Thick as a Brick) and I'll be doing more in the future.
Wow thanks for commenting and sharing your link. You did an incredible job. Let’s hope Ian Anderson contacts you to do it on the real thing. Would love to see your real drums on a new remix of the album and add it to an Under Wraps boxset. You’re quite the talent and showed what this album could sound like with real acoustic drums. Thanks so much.
@nRosenbergShow Thanks! I'm available for anything IA wants to do... Guarantee nobody else in the world who knows the drum parts on that album like me.
@@vetterdrums97 I believe it. You earned it and deserve it. I hope I see you on it in the near future
I would classify Tull records into bands ...
1. All time classics ... Aqualung, Thick As A Brick, Zealot Gene
2. Great Tull records ... This Was, Stand Up, Stormwatch
3. The Lesser Tull ... Songs From The Woods, Heavy Horses
4. Albums I don't listen to that much, but are still great ... Minstrel, Rock Island
5. Albums I mostly don't listen to, but have songs added to my playlists, TOTRARTYTD, Warchild
I just hate to even rate them because they all mean a lot to me, and all of them have songs with musical genius and spectacular passages.
Tull is an amazing band in that they cover so many sub-genres, do them so well, yet still always sound like Tull. You can always listen to Tull, depending on your mood, because they have at least a couple of albums within that genre. And yes, they really are different "bands" in a sense. Interesting that you place Zealot Gene so high. I really do like it too, though I wouldn't put it that high, but will see over the next years how it continues to play out. Funny how I love Warchild, yet so many people don't care for it. And for you Woods and Heavy Horses are lesser and for me they're my favorites. But that's what is so great about music. We all love what we love but nice that we all like them or appreciate them in our own way. Thanks so much for watching and sharing your comments.
Zealot Gene and Rok Flute are shite
Hi Alan, While eBaying I came across these two item's that I thought my be of interest to anyone wanting to "Get in to Jethro Tull" on the CHEAP.... JETHRO TULL - ORIGINAL ALBUM SERIES: 5 CD ALBUM SET 2014 WARNER & JETHRO TULL - ORIGINAL ALBUM SERIES VOL.2: 5CD ALBUM SET (2016) They cost just over £10.00 each so £2.00 an album {$2.50 US} ....
Thanks for bringing to everyone's attention. That's an ongoing series - cheap small boxes with each Cd being in a cardboard sleeve. Inexpensive way to get a lot of CD's for all the bands in the series. Personally I prefer the bigger individual CD's with booklets.
Hi Alan - my top 6, not in any order. Standup, This Was, Benefit, Aqualung, Broadsword and Thick as a Brick. and the rest lol. Cya Doug
Nice to see This Was and Broadsword way up there
1. Thick as a Brick
2. War Child
3. Minstrel in the Gallery
4. Songs from the Wood
5. Living in the Past
6. A Passion Play
7. Too Old to Rock and Roll
8. Aqualung
9. Benefit
10. Stormwatch
11. The Broadsword and the Beast
12. Stand Up
13. A
14. Heavy Horses
I would not argue with anyone who would rearrange my top 12 (ask me tomorrow and I might rearrange a bit), but I am STUNNED how many people put Heavy Horses in their top ten. Number 3??!! Above War Child? Minstrel? SFW? Brick??!! Seriously? One great song (Moths), a few middling ones and a few awful ones (e.g. Journeyman and One Brown Mouse which seems like Ian stole a title from One White Duck, a great song on a great album). I only add it because everything after The Broadsword and the Beast is mediocre at best, though generally pretty awful. A few good tracks here and there, albeit mostly previously unreleased songs back from the day when they were the best rock group ever (and still are if you pretend the later stuff never happened), e.g., Summer Day Sands, Rainbow Blues, Glory Row, Strip Cartoon, Jack Frost and the Hooded Crow, the Chateau D'Isaster Tapes. The only others that I own are This Was and Rock Island, the latter of which I bought to see if maybe they had recaptured their old magic. They didn't. So I'll just stick with the classics.
Always fun to see other's lists, so thanks for doing this. Nice to see War Child so high. I love it but seems many Tull fans just think it's OK. Surprising Aqualung is where it is, but hey it's all great pretty much. I listen to Tull all the time depending on mood, different albums fit perfectly which is another reason why Tull is so special.
@@TheAlanRosenbergShow I'm with you. My list would change with my mood too. Surprised to learn that many Tull fans think WC is just OK. I think it hit #2 in the U.S. It has some great songs. I might be a bit prejudiced as I had it on, believe it or not, quadrophonic. The drums on Skating Away would travel around the room. Nice to chat with a fellow Tullite.
Love your Tull collection. Enjoyed your video and passion for Tull. I've subscribed keep up the good work. Did you ever get Thick As A BRICK in deluxe edition?
Yes - I sure did - have them all, well except the brand new Bursting Out, which I will be getting of course. Thanks so much!.
@@TheAlanRosenbergShow, yea just bought Bursting Out deluxe. According to A New Day Tull magazine, they are doing Living in the past in deluxe edition next, great news !!!!!
@@stephenwaters1242 That's fantastic information - I didn't know that - so wonderful that they are continuing the boxset series. I still would like to see Under Wraps - with a remaster / remix of the original album, a re-recording of the album with real drums, and complete live show from that tour. Living In The Past is a great idea and include the complete Carnegie Hall show of course. Thanks so much.
Excellent Tull overview ... enjoyed your style / take .... the go to's, for me, are Heavy Horses, Songs From the Wood, Broadsword, Crest of a Knave, Stormwatch, Stand Up, Thick as a Brick .... I love Live Bursting Out (awesome) ... plus the AVO Sessions Basel DVD gets plenty of air time .... Aqualung loses marks for audio fidelity (the extraneous buzzy noise in Locomotive Breath about 4 minutes in just bigs me ... I know, I'm being anal) ... I do like Too Old to Rock n Roll album too (great box set) ... oh, and I loved the 2CD single box set of alternate Rocks On The Road .... enjoyed the redo tracks on the retrospective 25th box set .... I like all the Tull catalogue .... but definitely not, for me, the track the hare who lost its spectacles .... oh to have a CD version that would let me skip it (don't have the deluxe) ...eventually I used Audacity to make my own edit of the album where side 1 mixes seamlessly into side 2 by-passing the Hare .... managed to banish it forever. CMcG, Aberdeen, Scotland
Thanks so much again. Love your listing and comments. I used to have a Mobile Fidelity cd of A Passion Play that had the whole album broken down into individual tracks. Was interesting. Could jump around and skip Hare if you wanted. Don’t have that cd anymore though.
Stand Up for me number uno !
Thanks for watching and commenting. No problem with that choice. Certainly a classic
I am also a huge fan, but God bless you if you bought the Christmas album. I hate, absolutely hate The Zealot Gene. There is not one memorable song, therefore I would put it in last place. I'm almost 67, so a lot older than you, so our tastes may differ greatly. But I too have never gotten into A Passion Play. #1 is a shocker. Nice review! Just gave you a sub!
Thanks so much. I really appreciate it.
Under wraps was the last album I got, and after all I heard and read I did not expect anything good. But then I played it over and over again...
If there would be a version with "real" drums I would buy it. A missing drum or bass guitar can make such a difference.
I do love the "Too old" album as well and dont think its a weak album. Many great songs on it like
Quiz kid, Taxi grab, Crazed Institution, Big Dipper and Pied piper
Thanks so much - we are in agreement totally.
Hello Alan, I am also a huge fan of Tull/Anderson. Question: you say that you have 9 I.A. solo albums, I own 6, counting TAAB2, Homo..,Rupi's, Secret, Diivinities, and Walk..so what have I missed?? Anyway I agree with your comments about each album, so much great stuff. Personally "A passion play and thick as"..are my faves, while "catfish" and "zealot" are at the bottom. Indeed, one of the greatest, unique bands of all time!!
Ian Anderson Plays the Orchestral Jethro Tull
Thick as a Brick - Live in Iceland
Jethro Tull - The String Quartets
Hello Stan - thanks for watching and commenting. Here's my 9 Ian Anderson solo albums: Walk Into Light, Divinities: Twelve Dances With God, The Secret Language of Birds, Rupi's Dance, Plays The Orchestral Jethro Tull, Thick As A Brick 2, Homo Erraticus, Thick As A Brick Live In Iceland, Jethro Tull-The String Quartets. Hope that helps - thanks again.
Thanks so much - perfect.
Hey Alan, I also have the orchestral DVD and The Iceland DVD, but no string quartet...Back in '95 I attended one of the greatest shows...The Divinities tour, where they performed the entire album in order. Andrew Giddings was amazing, along with the rest of the boys. Thanks again for your reply.@@TheAlanRosenbergShow
@@stanferraro4130 That must’ve been a really cool different show. Being instrumental and all. Funny thing. I hadn’t listened to that album in years and years and recently did. For that kind of music. It’s terrific. I loved it all over again. Also particularly love Language of birds album. Also terrific. Then again thought TAAB 2 was a masterpiece too. Lol.
wow i used to have the original thick as a brick on vinyl, i have not seen that newspaper cover all spread out for many years- i am surprised that you have benefit so low but as you say its all personal taste- benefit , songs from the wood and minstrel gallery are my favourites but all of their early albums are good - might have a listen to that thick as a brick 2 !
Thanks so much. I hope you like thick as a brick too. I think it’s a really strong album. I do really like benefit. I appreciated it more after I got the box set. But I pretty much love all the tull albums in their own way. When I get remastered CDs or the box sets I typically get rid of the vinyl. But I’ll never get rid of that. Thick as a brick or passion play Rona. The packaging is so amazing. Thanks again and happy new year.
You like that rabbit and spectacle thing? That put the bullet through the head of that album. I also think THIS WAS is a criminally underrated record.
I think it’s so Jethro Tull. So different and so out there. I do love the video of it. Like I said. Of course I like the album. But it’s a difficult complex album and not an easy listen. When I’m in the mood it’s awesome. Prefer flute to sax.
@@TheAlanRosenbergShow I agree in the similarity to Topographic Oceans it that they both have moments of brilliance but are both disjointed and uneven -- making them a hard listen. I actually did a re-mix of TFTO and shortened it to a 45 minute single album. It works better. (But it does lose some of its "Epic-ness." ) Anderson did Thick as a Brick as a bit of a parody of progressive rock but once Tull became one of the leaders in prog, he went all out with PP. But it too, needed some severe edited, or in the least, rearranging. And again, I see how people think THIS WAS is just a starting point, but I was a fan of it when it came out so it holds a place in my heart...AND...after all these years, I still think it's in the top 5 best Tull albums, as different as it may be.
@@NelsonMontana1234 how did you edit it. Wow. That is cool. Rick Wakeman would probably love it as he always says that TFTO desperately needed editing. I really enjoy This Was as well. Pretty unique in their discography. I actually listen to the D’saster tapes more than Passion play. An easier listen to my ears.
@@TheAlanRosenbergShow I felt the the big problem with TFTO was too many repeats and overly long guitar solos. It's almost a Steve Howe solo album using the guys from the band as sidemen. So songs that repeated a section 16 times, I cut down to 4 times. A 64 bar solo became and 8 bar solo. That REALLY quickened the pace. And there was some meandering, experimental stuff on side 3 that if I were producing the album I'd say, "This isn't working-- let's get rid of it." So I did.
@@NelsonMontana1234 that’s actually really cool. Fun. In that you’re acting as a producer and editing to your taste. I wouldn’t even know how to do that technically but very cool.
BENEFIT is an album I could listen to all night long while playing poker.
Now that's a great description - thanks. Benefit has come a long way with me. I always felt it was a bit "cold" and as good as the songs were, and they were, they didn't stick in my head like the other Tull albums. Great riffs on the album though. The album grew alot on me, especially after the box set of it. Thanks so much.
Passion Play, Heavy Horses and Thick as a Brick including Minstrel. I love them all though. Add War Child and Too Old and Songs from the Wood.
Thanks so much - Passion Play is your favorite - then you're a serious Tull fan. Of course, great choices you have here. They're all great, well at least really really good, in their own way.
Benefit might be my favorite, probably the album I’ve played the most. I thought it was a stoner album. With u there to help me, Teacher , so many great songs. They just all flow together. Aqualung is just so perfect that they thought it would be a flop so did the one takes. Just great albums but maybe it was that time and place, sweet spot? 💞
Thanks for your comments. Funny, Benefit was never one of my favorites until I bought the Benefit boxset and it really grew on me and I have a total new respect for it. Very riffy album which I love. Prime time for Jethro Tull for sure. Thanks.
Benefit my favorite too. So many great songs. Passion Play # 2 for me, so there!
I am old. I remember Tull from their first album. I bought every one up to Broadsword. After that I lost interest. I agree with you concerning the great drummers, Bunker and Barlow. Nowadays Ian cant sing and there is no Martin Barre. There were great albums though. Some legacy
Thanks for watching and commenting. Very cool that you are an original Tull fan from the beginning. To me the drums are very important to Tull. For me no coincidence that their prime was with Bunker and Barlow. Later on also thought Doane Perry was also amazing. Certainly one of the all time great and unique bands.
I’ve been a Tull fan since I heard Aqualung. And my first time seeing them was the Warchild tour. Share my go to album is Minstrel in the Gallery and Thick as a Brick. My least fav is Under Wraps and A. And I miss the 1970-1980 band mates. Jeffery Hammond-Hammond, John Evan, Barrymore Barlow, David Palmer and of course Martin Lancelot Barre.
Hi Scot - thanks so much for watching and commenting. Really appreciate it. I love the Warchild album and I wish I could've seen them back then. Love the look on that tour too - the codpiece....classic. Yes, to me and I imagine to most, that lineup was the "classic" Tull lineup.
A Passion Play at 17???? Nooooo, sorry.
lol. As per my video, I really love A Passion Play...but I have to be in a mood to listen to it. Which is why it's there. It's not that I don't appreciate it's genius, but it's not an album I can just throw on at any time....If most people actually analyze what they actually listen to and how often...I don't think I would be in the minority with that album....although when I am in the mood...it's awesome (though I'd prefer a little less saxophone)...Thanks for watching and commenting.
When I look up for the lists like that - I am always suprised that Stormwatch is never ever top pick. Nothing against other classic albums such as Aqualung or Thick as a Brick. But Stormwatch is so beautiful, dark, varied etc. - I listen to it like 80% of time when listening to Tull records. Heavy Horses comes second.
@@micurzeszow7307 Stormwarch was a major grower for me. My favorite was and is Songs From The Wood and I love Heavy Horses as well. Was such a great period for the band. Stormwatch was darker and more menacing. But it grew over time for me especially after getting the boxset and other live performances Now I love it.
Did you get the Japanese CD version of Thick As A brick that reproduced the original newspaper to a tee?
No but I still have the original vinyl with the actual newspaper when first released.
Puras JOYAS de Àlbums tiene atràs de el !!
I had to translate but they are indeed pure jewels. Muchas Gracias!
Have you done a ranking of the 40th anniversary boxsets Alan? I’ve seen Aqualung quite cheap but I’m hesitant as some reviews talk about it unfavourably..I mean the edition compared with some of the more recent editions.
I've done many Jethro Tull videos, including the boxsets and ranking of all their albums. All of the boxsets are incredible (except for maybe the Thick As A Brick as its only 2 discs). But all the boxsets are like incredible books covering everything and of course some have tons of discs and extras. The boxes themselves didn't change my ranking of favorite albums though I grew to really love Storm Watch because of the boxset. I also grew to appreciate Benefit a lot more. But I would check out my Tull album ranking video. Thanks.
@@TheAlanRosenbergShow many thanks, awesome content. I decided to buy the Aqualung boxset..what a band!
@@Patrick-sh9tt you’re gonna love it. I always thought Aqualung was the worst sounding Tull album. Something with possibly the original recording or mix. Of course the songs are amazing. To my ears the Aqualung boxset is by far the best sounding Aqualung album. And the bonuses and book on it makes it an essential purchase. Enjoy. I know you will.
@@TheAlanRosenbergShow oh that’s great news. Keep up the good work!
@@Patrick-sh9tt thanks so much.
I’d tip my hat to you if I wore one for taking the time to not only rank Tull’s 22 studio albums, but do it with such enthusiasm. I agree that Tull is an extraordinary band in that its music includes most subgenres of rock ‘n’ roll, resulting in each album being very distinct from another while still being totally recognizable as Jethro Tull. I do think Ian Anderson is a musical genius. Tull should be in a rock ‘n’ roll hall of fame, if a legitimate one were to exist. If I had to split hairs to pick between Songs From The Wood and Aqualung in selecting what I think is Tull’s ultimate masterpiece, then I’d pick Aqualung. Yet, I do listen to Songs From The Wood more than any other Tull album. I share your feelings about Passion Play being an album for which I have to be “in the mood.” I do not, however, feel the same way about Tales From Topographic Oceans. I’m always in the mood for that one!
Thanks As always. You summarized my feelings in such a concise way, better than I do and I really appreciate that thanks again
Great video - thanks. I'm sure you know but they are re-issung the TAAB boxset you're missing for its 50th anniversary. Sa,e boxset, just re-issued at decent price.
yes, thanks. I can't wait, and the pricing is awesome. Really looking forward to that - thanks again and for watching/commenting.
i would take Ian Anderson's Thick As A Brick 2 way over Roger Waters' new version of Dark Side Of The Moon...
@@BlindArthurBlake I have no desire to listen to waters remake of one of the greatest most perfect albums. TAAB 2 of course is a completely new work so I don’t see the comparison.
I listen to War Child the most x
@@sunlightglider6772 I love War Child too. Great choice.
@@TheAlanRosenbergShow Excellent video Alan. Great band and I loved your listing, pretty similar.
@@sunlightglider6772 thanks so much
You are really convincing in getting me to listen again to the entirety of the Tull oeuvre. They lost me at 'Heavy Horses' after 'Songs from the Wood,' because I had had enough of that 'country idyll meets medieval times, hit me with a bladder, morris dancer' nonsense, and I didn't listen to anything new of theirs for nearly fifty years. So, as you may guess, 'Songs from the Wood' and 'Heavy Horses' would be numbers 20 and 21 for me.
My top albums would be 'Aqualung' followed by 'Minstrel in the Gallery,' followed by 'Too Old to Rock 'n' Roll,' and recently I would add 'Stormwatch' and 'Broadsword and the Beast' for my top five.
But while you were talking, I was listening to 'A' and 'J-Tull Dot Com,' and decided that I rather liked them because they sounded nothing like those two hideous albums you rate so highly. I'm not criticizing your taste, but it's just that they have given me PTSD over the years - so my problem, not yours.
The Dire Straits soundalike stuff is a bit weird, but, as you say, they are really high class Dire Straits soundalikes, and I really like Dire Straits in dreamy mood.
'The Human Gene' seems to be a considerable return to the classic Tull sound, as is 'Rockflote,' but I feel I just have to reboot and listen to it all again, buy myself a percheron, stand on one leg, hug a cunning villager covered in English country mud and shit, and see if I can reverse-order my Tull sensibilities.
That can be my New Year resolution. I just don't know if I can listen to 'Songs from a Wood' and 'Heavy Horses' again without breaking out in hives and attacking quaint country folk chewing on hay as they pass me by, singing 'Hey noddy no.'
Lol. I love your comments. Very entertaining and really made me smile and laugh. It is interesting in that the albums you love like StormWatch, TOTR&R, A. Etc. I love those Albums but to me they’re not near the excellence of SFTW, or HH. Well it’s all personally taste of course. Let me know if they eventually grow on you past your PTSD
I'll give them a go again, but only last.
A cultural difference is that, in the US, country dancing has always been kind of cool and fun - one-step and all that. In Ireland, Irish dancing and jigging is a national thing. But in England, Morris dancing has always been about the nerdiest of nerd things to do, utterly loathed by anyone of a rock 'n' roll sensibility in the 70s. Monty Python nailed it with the 'Fish slapping dance' sketch: czcams.com/video/T8XeDvKqI4E/video.htmlsi=EaGC7-rfDMmXDdxb
'Songs from the Wood' and 'Heavy Horses' uses a lot of country folk-style tunes and Ian Anderson associated himself with the country idyll as he set himself up as the Laird of whatever island it is in Scotland. Profoundly uncool and about as rock as PeeWee Herman.
@@timhewtson6212 love Monty Python. Classic sketch for sure. Lol. Ian Anderson has always been a clearheaded individual and business man. He did well with his salmon farm and literally ran it. Hands on Not just a tax shelter etc which is what most rock stars and athletes and celebrities do. Crested jobs and helped the local economy too. Good on him I say.
I agree. Ian is always interesting to listen to in interviews. I think he finally gave up the salmon farm, but I'm sure he is generous to those who have worked for him. He lets Martin Barre play his songs live even though, I would guess, Ian has the sole copyright in many of them.
I have no problems with Ian Anderson whatsoever. He is a superb songwriter - it's just those two albums. And I'm not denying they're excellent musically, I just don't like the territory. I appreciate them; I would just prefer that someone else listen to them.
@@timhewtson6212 lol. It’s all good. I know you’re a big fan and that’s the best thing. Funny that those two are amongst my favorite though. But that’s what makes the world go round
Ok Alan, where you gonna squeeze in RokFlote?
Hi Thanks - I have to go back to it. I haven't really gone back to revisit RokFlote since the month I bought it in. It hasn't left as much of an impression on me as Zealot Gene. I'll be revisiting it soon though for my end of the year review. But really so far sticking with my original review of the album.
I Remeber regretting trading benifit f😊or court ofcrimsonking, but I would of heard them all anyway
Two classic albums.
rank them on how much profit Ian netted on each one because that's all that matters.
Personally, I think the Tull remastered box sets are fantastic. Amazing packaging. Each box is loaded with great material - virtually every possible version of the individual album, great bonus material and on some occasions, previously unreleased live concerts from that period. And the pricing is very fair if you get them when they first come out. I think the Tull boxes are first class all the way.
Noooo, Benefit 16th??? I can't continue viewing your list, sorry :(
Sorry. I do really like benefit a lot. Lots of great riffs. Love it. Just not as much as the ones above it. Oh well.
Stend up 1 benefit2 the best.
They certainly are great - thanks.
i been around since the 70's enjoying new JT albums all the way to Dot-Com .. & they all felt like legit new JT albums . . these last 2 just don't cut it anymore with out Martins chemistry included.. more so now that Ian cant sing as good like he use to due to age & over usage.. the more the reason it needed Martin Barr . these other guitarist are just puppies without unique identity & TULL Chemistry..
As per my Zealot Gene review, I felt it should have been called an Ian Anderson solo album. I would love to have Martin back in the band, but it's beyond that. The Tull "band" added so much to Ian's songs - truly making the songs sound like a band. Zealot Gene, as much as I like it, is very much sounding like a solo album with the band following Ian's directions instead of adding to it as a band would. The biggest issue is in the drum seat. Tull's drummers were incredible and took the songs to another level. Anderson's solo albums and Zealot Gene, the drumming is pretty standard and lacks the Tull dynamic.
Why this mob, saw them first year then Blodwyn Pig. Forget the rest.
ouch. of course it's all personal taste. I guess you stuck with Mick Abrahams, which is fine. But to me the musical journey of Tull is amazing, diverse, never boring and unique.
Hall of Fame is a mountain of Crap. Who cares?
I've never been there and would one day like to visit it. It upsets me because of what I wish it could be, instead of what it's become.
Your choices are poor for the worse albums .. Under Wraps should be first on the list . . Kissing Willie is offensive ..I get it you don't like the more mature Ian
Thanks for watching and commenting. Obviously I'm a pretty big fan since I own 75 Jethro Tull albums - every official album, bootlegs and imports included. I state over and over again that I enjoy every Tull album but when you rank them they all can't be at the top. In fact I really enjoy the more mature Ian Anderson and i'm a big fan of his solo albums as well. Last years Zealot Gene was in my top 3 of the year.
Zealot Gene and Rok Flote should not be considered as Jethro Tull albums due they were composed strictly by Ian Anderson rest of band members were background, these two albums were released below Jethro Tull name for the discography requirements otherwise sells would be very few below Ian Anderson solo .
But ir you considers as Jethro Tull albums they are the worst .
Should they be Tull is a debate that’s been discussed. But since they are officially released as Tull. Then they are officially Tull. Personally I think they should also be Anderson solo albums but it his call and I respect that.
@@TheAlanRosenbergShow
This new Ian Anderson band that is named Jethro Tull only for selling albums is the worst band I ever heard , it is a shame to call this band Jethro Tull, The guitarist the drummer and the keyboardist are very low level in comparison with the old members D Perry A Giddings and M Barre . See the opinion of many fans , they say No Barre No Tull . I can’t no stand to hear the last two album ZG and RF , they seems a beginners band .
@@javierllerena5756 I’ll just say it is very sad what happened. The legacy has been diminished. With that said I did what I think are very fair reviews of those two albums.
@@TheAlanRosenbergShow
The best Ian Anderson solo album in my opinion is Divinities , then The Secret Languages of Birds , these two albums were made with the contribution of old members . Specially Divinities which was composed 50% A Giddings and 50% Ian Anderson. Both are more Jethro Tull than ZG and RF , however never were considered JT albums . To me does not matter if officially these albums are considered JT , the True they are not JT .
For almost majority of old fans like me that we were following JT since 1968 , Jethro Tull ended after the Christmas Album.
@@javierllerena5756 I actually thought TAAB 2 was great and was a Tull like album. I also love SLOB. Fantastic album.