Jethro Tull have covered many musical styles and cultures over 39 years and have probably sold 80-100 million records while minimising advertising and holding a relatively low profile. They recorded as a blues/jazz rock band in 1968 with the release of the album This Was. A solid album where vocalist Ian Anderson is learning to find his true voice, while the bands better songs where released separately as singles only. The band replaced the jazz with folk as well as replacing the guitarist Mick Abrahams with Martin Barre in 1969 for the Stand Up album. Fairly decent album using middle eastern and phsychedelic influences, while the bands best songs where released independantly as singles only as with the previous year. By 1970 the bands keyboardist John Evan became a full time member and with their third album Benefit, Tull were a Heavy folk rock band. They continued the trend of 2 or 3 hit singles totally independant of the album while the album was succesful as well.
The medievil influence became noticeable with the replacement of the bass player Glenn Cornick with Jeffrey Hammond and the release of Aqualung in 1971. The band had released 4 solid albums and several great singles to this date; however, It was revealed the band had alot more quality music to come when they released Living in the Past in 1972. This was a compilation of previous album outtakes and singles, which were mainly the most interesting, catchy and advanced songs of the albums sessions they belonged to. It also featured a new bunch of songs from 1971 which where a class above some of the songs on Aqualung. If these singles were all included on each album, then these albums would have been alot stronger and maybe some of the more commercial songs would not have been attempted by the band. However, due to album themes and the band working on an early following while being cautious of releasing an unknown style of music, they worked on more commercial sounding songs for the original album track lists. It was unique enough that Ian Anderson the lead singer also played the flute in the majority of songs.
1972 was definately the year to show the world what they were really made of because they released arguably the greatest rock masterpiece of all time, Thick as a brick. A continuation of the heavy folk rock music, but the jazz element brought back with new drummer Barriemore Barlow replacing Clive Bunker. forming one huge cleverly made song. This was their most progressive release to date and argueably their strongest year of recording. The two 1972 releases proved Tull's short career so far to be equal or stronger than bands such as Yes, Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Pink Floyd, ELP, Led Zeppelin, Cream, Hendrix, King Crimson, Gentle Giant, Genesis etc. The first 5 albums alone would prove the band to be a quality outfit, but adding the other 20 or so high quality singles on top of this, took this band up 2 levels in quality. The band was growing in confidence and popularity so they continued with another album length song in 1973 called A passion play. This was even more adventurous, playful and slightly over the top which was slammed by the typically simple minded critics; however, the band continued to sell out tours.
After a year of undeserved attention from the critics, the band went back to the short song format but continued a similar playful style of music to the previous year. However 1974's album Warchild was more commercial, but that was expected since it was a movie soundtrack. The band's progressive rock music is what they always intended on releasing and this is what made them the world's biggest band, rather than the less Tull like radio friendly songs which filled pre 1972 albums as well as the 1974 soundtrack. Once again they decided to keep the stronger songs aside as these songs didn't suit the movie. The outtakes could have formed another heavy progressive rock classic though.
The band maintained a lower profile with more slightly commercial albums such as Minstrel in the gallery in 1975 and another soundtrack Too old to rock n roll Too young to die in 1976, which featured the bands third replacement bass player John Glascock but they still continued to record exciting songs on the side to be shelved for later years. 1977-1979 consisted of albums with stronger track lists and the band didn't hold back much of their strong material although some gems where not released on these albums. The folk trilogy of Songs from the wood in 1977, Heavy horses in 1978 and Stormwatch in 1979, reminded the world that Tull were one of the great Rock bands of that era. Long time orchestral arrangement member of the band David Palmer become a full time member during these album helping out with keyboards and percussion
In 1980, Ian told the band that he wanted to do a solo album, so he hired a couple of other musicians. Next thing, the media spread the word wrongly that Tull were recording a new album with new members. This didn't go down well with the other members; therefore, they parted ways; however, John Glascock sadly passed away with heart disease and was replaced by David Pegg. Only the guitarist Martin Barre remained, since he was already helping out with the album and Eddie Jobson took over the keyboards and added his violin skills, while Mark Craney filled the drum seat. This was a new look Tull, but still of high quality. They continued with the folk style, but added more synthesisers and also displayed some mediterranean influences. Mark and Eddie only planned to join for one tour and Mark has since passed away in 2006 from a long battle with kidney disease.
The next release was Broadsword and the beast in 1982, with new guest drummer Gerry Conway and keyboardist Peter Vettese. The music was more synthesised influenced and less complex than the previous album, but still charted well due to to it's commercial sound and style. There were close to 30 songs recorded for this session but the chosen 10 songs for the album weren't quite the best choices once again. After 16 years, the band was ready for a major experiment with the release of Under wraps in 1984. Gerry Conway was replaced by a drum sampler and Tull released their most Un-Tull like album to date, but it still had enjoyable moments.
The band replaced keyboarists twice for the following 2 albums bringing in Don Airey for Crest of a knave in 1987 and Martin Allcock for Rock Island in 1989, but they gained their longest serving drummer Doanne Perry for the two albums and every other album which followed to this day. Tull were more of a hard edged rock band in the late 80s and Ians great voice showed first signs of deteriation. 1991 saw a country and western blues influence with the release of Catfish rising and 1995 saw a middle eastern heavy rock style with the release of Roots to branches and new keyboardist Andy Giddings.
Tull went back to their progressive roots in 1999 with Dotcom the band gained new bass player Jonathon Noyce. This album was probably their most enjoyable release since 1980. Through the years the band have released 21 studio albums, 3 live albums, several complilations, 2 box sets, several ep's, singles and a christmas album in 2005 as well as solo albums by the band members. These releases are the icing on the cake with aproximately 90 valuable album outtakes which elevates the band from being a very good band to being the greatest band the world is possible to encounter. However, many people never got to discover these gems because they sampled an older Tull album that probably lacked enough of these type of strong tracks which were surprising left off the album.
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