THIS WAS

Have had to put on a 1968 hat in order to review this album. The album that I'm reviewing is the original one - not any of the remastered or expanded editions. It strikes me that this is essentially blues rock with a psychadelic twist as well as jazz / fusion here and there - for its time it is definitely progressive in parts with a lot of flute and harmonica (in places) use. I must say that as I'm listening to the album in order to write a short review I'm finding it very enjoyable indeed. I've read that some compare the album to Cream's work and to Traffic's work and I don't see that at all exept for in places here and there on the album. For a first release this shows a lot of originality and a uniqueness in sound. Very nice Bunker drum solo on this album adds to the interest for me. Listening to this, the band and the music wouldn't have been a fit for Tony Iommi and I'm glad that he chose the Black Sabbath route rather than the Jethro Tull one as the way things happened we ultimately had two brilliant bands instead of a heavy metal pioneering Jethro Tull. Although this was the first and last studio album to feature Mick Abrahams on lead guitar I really don't see anything wrong with his performance on the album and I do hear definite roots to what Jethro Tull would ultimately become. All in all a very pleasant listen to the beginning of a band that would ultimately help to define prog rock as we know it today. I'm hesitant in not awarding this album four stars, such was my pleasure in the music keeping me company for 38 odd minutes however I do think that a three star rating is more in line with what this really represents musically. However, for a dang good time if you enjoy Tull and a bit of Bluesy Jazzy Fusion, give this one a whirl.