Thick as a Brick Appreciation thread
Printed From: Progarchives.com
Category: Progressive Music Lounges
Forum Name: Prog Bands, Artists and Genres Appreciation
Forum Description: Discuss specific prog bands and their members or a specific sub-genre
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=122114
Printed Date: February 21 2025 at 09:59
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Topic: Thick as a Brick Appreciation thread
Posted By: Mortte
Subject: Thick as a Brick Appreciation thread
Date Posted: January 31 2020 at 23:31
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I believe this has been here already, but didnīt find it, so probably it has some time. Started this because there has been quite much discussion about Jethro and also this masterpiece of theirs. To me first album Iīve heard was Stormwatch and I loved it immediately! I think about same time my brotherīs friend loaned us "Bursting Out" and loved that too! But one of my friend had older brothers as I did and they got old great albums. Really wondered what that newspaper-album was! Well, we listened it and I noticed itīs Jethro! Vinyl was in a really bad condition, but through those scratching I hear marvellous music! Main reason to start this was I watched yesterday again that piece in youtube from 1972 tour (put it in the end of this). Allthough of course shame there are so short pieces, I am really glad it exists!! I think I have talked about this for somebody, in the tour I think they played only part 1, very peculiar is there are music in the middle thatīs not in the album. Also, telephone & rabbits are just wonderful! If here are somebody who saw Jethro in that tour, really like to hear his memories! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dbt-pmETcWA" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dbt-pmETcWA
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Replies:
Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: February 01 2020 at 00:30
| Jethro is actually a British ( Cornish ) comedian but anyway. I never took much notice of Tull for a very long time and thought they were just an oddity. Anderson is a character for certain and very sharp intellectually. Along with the likes of Peter Gabriel and Pete Hammill he seems far above everything looking down at the madness attempting to make sense of it. TAAB is a great album no doubt. I love it when the organ kicks in especially but basically its a kick ass prog album up there with the best. |
Posted By: Man With Hat
Date Posted: February 01 2020 at 00:36
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TAAB is one of, if not the best, examples of progressive rock there is. But I love nearly everything from This Was through Stormwatch (just Benefit and Too Old...sink it). What an amazingly creative string of albums. ------------- Dig me...But don't...Bury me I'm running still, I shall until, one day, I hope that I'll arrive Warning: Listening to jazz excessively can cause a laxative effect. |
Posted By: Grumpyprogfan
Date Posted: February 01 2020 at 01:02
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Man With Hat wrote:Posted By: Mortte
Date Posted: February 01 2020 at 01:38
1. Wigwam: Fairyport 2. Pink Floyd: Atom Heart Mother 3. King Crimson: Red (I still think Court is little better, but I have listened it even more than Red, so I think I would have more joy from the Red) 4. Jethro Tull: Thick as a Brick 5. Family: Music In a Dollīs House
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Posted By: The Dark Elf
Date Posted: February 01 2020 at 10:14
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Folks often talk about their preference for the first half of the album; however, the last 3:53 or so of the composition is a brilliant recapitulation of many of the themes circulating through the album. Barlow's exhilarating drumming, the sudden surprise of David Palmer's strings, and the madcap keyboard of John Evan all converge to offer one of the best endings of a rock album, including the segue into a final reprise of Ian's acoustic intro, bringing the album around full circle. Listen starting about 39:57 or so.... ------------- ...a vigorous circular motion hitherto unknown to the people of this area, but destined to take the place of the mud shark in your mythology... |
Posted By: Sean Trane
Date Posted: February 01 2020 at 14:31
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What's most amazing is that TAAB's lyrics are still very much modern and not outdated at all (bar a few time capsule mentions). They're still biting as ever. Two of my fave moments after the first 15 mins are the 18-21 mins mark when returning and on the flipside, the "Do You Believe" movement starting the 28:15 mark, but really kicking at 29:00... unstopped sheer brilliance until the 35-mins mark. |
Posted By: dougmcauliffe
Date Posted: February 01 2020 at 15:07
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This albums grown a lot on me recently. In my opinion, part one is incredible and exciting start to finish, 10/10. Part 2 sort of drags a little and is a bit touch and go at times 8/10. Very good album, could listen to part one all day. ------------- The sun has left the sky... ...Now you can close your eyes |
Posted By: Mortte
Date Posted: February 02 2020 at 00:01
| I have also always really loved that string part in the end. When there has been really high energies in whole album, that end rises it even higher! One of the touching moments in the whole music history! Also, it also shows how Ian did those days many things different than others, when others do whole entity with string orchestras, Ian decided to use it only into that great ending with really genius result! And yes, after the all has gone really flamboyant, there comes that simple acoustic ending, not even echo in the vocals! Itīs just brilliant! |
Posted By: Frenetic Zetetic
Date Posted: February 02 2020 at 00:06
I always argue it's exemplary prog rock, but so isn't Close to The Edge, Godbluff, and LTIA/Red, but all of those albums are ahead of TAAB for me. Doesn't take away from its cemented reputation at all for me, however. ------------- "I am so prog, I listen to concept albums on shuffle." -KMac2021 |
Posted By: cstack3
Date Posted: February 02 2020 at 01:35
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I saw Jethro Tull perform TAAB in concert in Chicago, Nov. 10, 1972. Opening for the band was Glenn Cornick's fantastic band Wild Turkey! It was an amazing show. I'd put TAAB up there with any of the other prog masterpieces of the era, including CTTE. They were great times to live through and witness. ------------- I am not a Robot, I'm a FREE MAN!! |
Posted By: Mortte
Date Posted: February 02 2020 at 02:20
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Just listened first time TAAB2, I was really surprised how good it is! Not really as great as the original, but very great album from an old artist! I think itīs greater than any Jethro album after seventies. Although Martin is not in it, I think it should`ve released under Jethroīs name. Unlike Oldfield, Ian used very little the original music in that new version. Really I was surprised when the original ending came in the end. Really I also wondered, if original Thick were never made and some new progband had made TAAB2, would it be in PA`s top100-albums?
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Posted By: Mortte
Date Posted: February 02 2020 at 02:24
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Posted By: BarryGlibb
Date Posted: February 02 2020 at 02:31
Keep listening to side 2 Doug... it will gel. The avante-garde section early on side 2 breaks the whole thing up; it needs to be there; it's prog not pop and the "Do You Believe In The Day" section is a glorious dirge that will stick in your head forever. The "Biggles, Superman, Robin, etc reprise" brings the whole album to a magnificent end. I am just a big a fan of side 2 as I am of side 1; you just can't have one without the other.
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Posted By: Mortte
Date Posted: February 02 2020 at 03:17
| ^"Clear White Circles" has always also been my big faves. Really also love that avantgarde section with nonsense speaking of Jeffrey! And love too rotation of "Let me tell you/so come on all the young men". How many of you does have the original newspaper-vinyl? I first bought just gatefold-repress, but found original US-version from the nineties. |
Posted By: I prophesy disaster
Date Posted: February 02 2020 at 07:09
I do. I like the somewhat Pythonesque humour of the newspaper articles. ------------- No, I know how to behave in the restaurant now, I don't tear at the meat with my hands. If I've become a man of the world somehow, that's not necessarily to say I'm a worldly man. |
Posted By: Barbu
Date Posted: February 02 2020 at 12:26
Bought it used for the newspaper, got rid of the vinyl. ------------- |
Posted By: cstack3
Date Posted: February 02 2020 at 12:55
I believe you are thinking about "A Passion Play." I was always very impressed with Ian Anderson's band-mates.....Jeffrey Hammond-Hammond was amazing on bass, for a self-taught player!! He was all over the stage during TAAB, very energetic! ------------- I am not a Robot, I'm a FREE MAN!! |
Posted By: kenethlevine
Date Posted: February 02 2020 at 20:43
agreed! I mentioned in my review that this album was unappreciated by me for decades because all I ever heard was a 3 minute excerpt, and I also had a probalem with Ian's voice to the extent that I bought Benefit and, though I loved a number of the tracks, I couldn't listen to him sing for more than 10-15 minutes. I know longer feel that way for some reason.
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Posted By: Mortte
Date Posted: February 02 2020 at 22:06
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Posted By: Mortte
Date Posted: February 02 2020 at 22:07
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Posted By: dr prog
Date Posted: February 03 2020 at 02:32
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Classic. Its the best of Tulls original albums. Its probably on par with 5 or 6 of the anniversary books though. Stormwatch and Aqualung books are the best with great double albums. Then Thick, Horses, Songs, Passion and Warchild are all pretty equal In the book series. ------------- All I like is prog related bands beginning late 60's/early 70's. Their music from 1968 - 83 has the composition and sound which will never be beaten. Perfect blend of jazz, classical, folk and rock. |
Posted By: Sean Trane
Date Posted: February 03 2020 at 03:56
Check out thesmall ads... they answer each other too
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Posted By: dr wu23
Date Posted: February 03 2020 at 12:54
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Great album....but I still will take Stand Up, Benefit, and Aqualung over TAAB.
Saw them in 1974/75 at college..IU Indiana....great show..they played various tracks from everything they had done up to then...I'm glad they didn't play side long tracks from TAAB or Passion Play since I was more into the earlier lp's. The power went out in the middle of the show...and Anderson told a funny ribald tale about the bass player....Hammond at the time. ------------- One does nothing yet nothing is left undone. Haquin |
Posted By: miamiscot
Date Posted: February 14 2020 at 09:03
| Top Ten Album for me. Easily JT's best and right up there with CTTE, SEBTP, DSOTM, ITCOTCK, etc. |
Posted By: Dellinger
Date Posted: February 16 2020 at 17:49
| It's a great album, of course. Yet I feel it drags a bit at some parts. From side one, I actually like better the version on Live Bursting Out, that keeps mostly the very best parts. And from side two it's also about the first half of it that I really really love. |
Posted By: Squonk19
Date Posted: February 17 2020 at 00:34
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Aqualung, Songs, Live - Bursting Out, Living in the Past was the order of my album purchases that got me into Tull as a teenager (when your pocket money needed to be spent carefully and wisely). Think I bought TAAB relatively later (definitely after Stand Up, Benefit and Minstrel) - but what a revelation it was! Superb - flowing musical invention, wonderful lyrics, repeat motifs, light and shade. Side 1 seemed perfection and Side 2 eventually clicked fully as well. I still love that keyboard sound that washes through the whole album. Up there with Foxtrot and CTTE still! ------------- Living in their pools, they soon forget about the sea. |
Posted By: Frenetic Zetetic
Date Posted: February 17 2020 at 03:57
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This truly is a landmark, legendary album. I listened again just yesterday and was reminded how timeless it is. By far my favorite entry in the Tull discography. Worthy of every single bit of praise it receives! ------------- "I am so prog, I listen to concept albums on shuffle." -KMac2021 |