THIS WAS

"This Was" is the debut full-length studio album by UK progressive rock act Jethro Tull. The album was released through Island Records in October 1968. The album saw a US release through Reprise Records in February 1969. Jethro Tull was formed in Blackpool, Lancashire in 1967, but had functioned for a couple of years previous under various other monickers and constellations.

The band played a lot of club gigs in their early years, and when they entered the Sound Techniques recording studio in Chelsea, London, they were a very well playing unit. Although lead vocalist Ian Anderson had taken up playing flute to distinguish himself from other contemporary frontmen (and the flute is quite prominent in the band´s music), the music style featured on "This Was" is predominantly blues rock with a few touches of folk, jazz, and classical music. Anderson isn´t the most diverse singer, but he has a distinct sounding voice and delivery, and to my ears that´s much more important.

The album opens with "My Sunday Feeling", which is a mid-paced blues rock song, and it´s followed by the slow blues of "Some Day the Sun Won't Shine for You" and at this point Jethro Tull don´t stick out much from their contemporaries other than a little flute playing on "My Sunday Feeling". The quality of the two tracks is decent but not extraordinairy. "Beggar's Farm" changes that perception a bit and smells a bit more like near-future material from Jethro Tull. It´s still blues based rock, but there´s a melancholic tone to the song which makes it a bit more interesting than the two preceding tracks. "Move on Alone" is a perculiar little song featuring some orchestration. It´s a pretty time typical track and nothing too exciting. The instrumental "Serenade to a Cuckoo" closes the A-side of the orginal vinyl version of the album, and it´s a classical/jazz influenced song with some nice flute playing (composed by Rahsaan Roland Kirk).

Interestingly enough and a bit unusual side B of the original vinyl version of "This Was" opens with another instrumental track in "Dharma for One". It´s an energetic rock song which is the vehicle for both flute dominated sections, but also a drum solo. "It's Breaking Me Up" is another slow blues song, and although well performed not exactly Jethro Tull´s finest moment on this album. "Cat's Squirrel" is an energetic instrumental blues rock song and a vehicle for a Mick Abrahams guitar solo. "A Song for Jeffrey" is a blues rock song with some distorted lead vocals and slide-guitar. It´s a decent track, but nothing too special. "Round" closes "This Was" and it´s yet another instrumental track (number four instrumental of the album). This time a very short one and it doesn´t make much impact.

Upon conclusion "This Was" is a decent quality release from Jethro Tull showing their early blues rock sound spiced up with a few moments of the sound they would play on the next couple of albums. It´s mostly "Beggar's Farm" which falls in that catagory though. A 3 star (60%) rating is warranted.

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