Jethro Tull vs Led Zeppelin

progbethyname wrote: Jethro by far. Come on. Thick as a Brick and Aqualung. Zep can't compete with that kind of musicianship

I don't neccesarily disagree with that but then, JT also had the luxury of at least more musician (and my Madison square garden DVD has a line up of six musicians) which does make a difference.  Anyhow, as between Plant and Anderson, I know who I prefer and I can't say I prefer Page over Barre, for all that the former is such an influential figure in rock.  Cannot call Barlow v/s Bonham, both amazing.  

I find both a bit excessive in different ways.   There's a bit too much of showmanship and not enough composition for my liking, but that's just me and I always say that over the top bands have a place in rock and are quite an important part of the package.  I think the fact that Anderson is so versatile gives Tull more options vis-a-vis LZ and their sound is also more British than LZ, which I like. 

Jethro by far. Come on. Thick as a Brick and Aqualung. Zep can't compete with that kind of musicianship

That's a tough call,while both bands had their respective roots in folk,blues and rock. Tull was much more of a prog' band.Zep' as latter albums can attest to were more interested in playing music in a rock context.I don't think you can compare the two really,they both are outstanding bands in their own right

Edited by Lifeofprog - October 19 2012 at 13:09

It's most definitely a recorder.

DiamondDog wrote: Atavachron wrote: tary wrote: of course, Jethro Tull!!!!!!!!! Thick as a Brick , a Passion Play, Aqualung, Songs from the Wood, Heavy Horses and so many other genius albums! Jethro Tull would beat OVERRATED Led Zeppelin with just Thick As A Brick! Tull never stole music unlike Zeppelin, whose best songs are just stolen from earlier blues bands! no need to post twice--  Tull stole plenty of music, they were a blues/folk/rock band and as most bands based in those mediums, like say Zeppelin, they derive not just inspiration but a good deal of material;  they lift, poach, borrow, and flat-out steal sometimes.   So did the Stones, Hendrix, Cream.   Oh and the countless bands since that take from Zeppelin itself. According to Tull's manager, the title and idea for "Living in the Past" came from a Clouds song in the Scrapbook album. Then again, I wouldn't say Jethro was particularly guilty of robbing Peter, Paul, and Mary, the band seems very generally very original to me.

You mean as opposed to Zep, one of the most unique groups of the late 60s ?

Atavachron wrote: tary wrote: of course, Jethro Tull!!!!!!!!! Thick as a Brick , a Passion Play, Aqualung, Songs from the Wood, Heavy Horses and so many other genius albums! Jethro Tull would beat OVERRATED Led Zeppelin with just Thick As A Brick! Tull never stole music unlike Zeppelin, whose best songs are just stolen from earlier blues bands! no need to post twice--  Tull stole plenty of music, they were a blues/folk/rock band and as most bands based in those mediums, like say Zeppelin, they derive not just inspiration but a good deal of material;  they lift, poach, borrow, and flat-out steal sometimes.   So did the Stones, Hendrix, Cream.   Oh and the countless bands since that take from Zeppelin itself.

Jethro for me by a country mile

like both of them, but ill prefer a little bit more Led Zeppelin

Still, ... I'm with Tull. Anderson is a great songwriter.

aginor wrote: Dellinger wrote: I really like many songs of Led Zeppelin, they have so many classics, not all of which I like as much, but those I do like are among the best songs I could think of. However, Jethro Tull has many such songs too, and I have ended up finding many more songs I really like from Tull, and that rocking flute is really wonderful, so I have to go with Tull. I would have thought that here Tull would have the clear advantage in votes, but I guess Zeppelin is just too great a band here. Once I did a poll comparing Zeppelin with Rush, and so far Rush did better, having the clear advantage for a long time. Though last time I saw the poll surfacing around, I think Zeppelin had at last gotten their (minor) lead. On a bit unrelated question, anyone knows who plays the flute on Stairway to Heaven? I never saw it credited on the album, or anywhere else, and I believe it must be a real flute, not synths. I know both Zeppelin and Tull were on the same studio when Zeppelin recorded the fourth album, so I might like to wonder if by chance it could have been Anderson, though certainly I haven't read anything at all from him saying such thing might have happened. Also, when Zeppelin and Tull toured together, I think it would have been great if Anderson had guested on that song playing the flute live with them, but I believe that never actually happened, quiet a lost oportunity, in my opinion. JPJ is a multi instrumentalist, so it can be very much he who plays the flute, as he also does the most of the piano, arrangements, and mellotrons, as he have a degree in music, he knows more then play bass, he also can rock a warr bass and chapman stick.

However, if JPJ had actually played the flute in the studio version, then why did he play that part with keyboards when they played it live. Surely, a flute isn't such a big instrument that he couldn't carry one for that song. For me, the song does sound less appealing on it's live versions, mainly because of the lack of a real flute there.