THIS WAS

JETHRO TULL's debut album was released in 1968 and it was a very groovy record with a lot of Blues, Jazz and folky acoustic songs.

The band was originally formed by Ian ANDERSON (flute, harmonica and vocals), Glenn CORNICK (bass), Mick ABRAHAMS (guitar) and Clive BUNKER (drums) and their debut album became very popular in the United Kingdom really quickly (so popular that they even got the chance of making an appearance in THE ROLLING STONES' Rock and Roll Circus (where they didn't actually played but made a playback while future BLACK SABBATH's guitar Tommy IOMMI replaced Mick ABRAHAMS in the gig).

As I said before: the songs in the album go from Jazz to Blues passing through folky and mainly acoustic songs that give this album a very eclectic and experimental sound that they would later perfection in other albums.

1.- My Sunday feeling (03:41): The opening track of the album is my favorite: it has a heavy guitar riff and a very unique flute solo, the flute would have been the most characteristic instrument in all JETHRO TULL's albums and this was the beginning of it, kind of their introduction to the rock scene of the late sixties.

2.- Someday the Sun won't shine for you (02:49): This is a very nice Blues song with an electric guitar and harmonica very in the mood of some 50's Blues artists as SONNY BOY WILLIAMSON, JOHN LEE HOOKER, HOWLIN' WOLF or MUDDY WATERS (if you like these artists as much as I do you'll love this piece).

3.- Beggar's farm (04:19): This is a very interesting piece with a Jazzy drum beat and a guitar rhythm kind of obscure; the middle part is a very short but still very nice instrumental jazzy jam in which the flute of ANDERSON changes to a more joyful melody, later they return to the original rhythm of the song and end it with a more rocky instrumental section.

4.- Move on alone (01:59): More of a joyful song with nice trumpet arrangements; it's also one of the shortest songs of the album with a nice guitar line.

5.- Serenade to a cuckoo (06:08): This song was originally composed by flute Jazz player Ronald KIRK in his 1964 album "I talk with the spirits"; as KIRK was a flute player, the flute is the main instrument in this piece.

6.- Dharma for one (04:15): This is an instrumental jam with a very powerful drum solo in the middle section, the song would later become one of JETHRO TULL's most played songs alive and later they wrote some lyrics to it (we can appreciate a live version with lyrics in the "Living in the past" record).

7.- It's breaking me up (05:04): Another Blues song with a faster rhythm than "Some day the Sun won't shine for you" and with drums this time.

8.- Cat's squirrel (05:42): It's a traditional instrumental piece arranged by Ian ANDERSON. The song was also played by CREAM in their 1966 debut album "Fresh cream"; JETHRO TULL's version substitutes the harmonica with a more energetic guitar line.

9.- A song for Jeffrey (03:23): Probably the most famous song of the album, the flute line is exquisite and the harmonica gives it a bluesy touch along with the slide guitar and the punchy drums.

10.- Round (01:04): The last song is the shortest of the album and it is an instrumental very short jazzy piece with a nice flute solo.

In later albums JETHRO TULL developed a Progressive Rock style, in this early record the Jazz and the Blues are the predominant rhythms of the album.

SONG RATING: My Sunday feeling, 5 Some day the sun won't shine for you, 4 Beggar's farm, 4 Move on alone, 3 Serenade to a cuckoo, 5 Dharma for one, 4 It's breaking me up, 4 Cat's squirrel, 4 A song for Jeffrey, 5 Round, 4

AVERAGE: 4.2

PERCENTAGE: 84

ALBUM RATING: 4 stars

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