Jethro Tull did rock.
Thx. I wish Martin would be invited back to the band. But it won’t happen.
Punks didn’t care about being mainstream. They were counter-culture. They thrived on the boundary and made their own way.
Losers who made some good tunes.
https://youtu.be/MZQ2lzaf5rE?t=22
I’ve been enjoying a review of Supertramp’s catalog from the mid to late 70s. They had a few gems that go beyond “The Logical Song.” I really enjoyed the live version of “Another Man’s Woman” from a 1977 appearance in London. Jam city.
Also, Bill Bruford just launched a youtube channel, and he’s putting up a whole bunch of really old stuff that might be of interest.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGCjL570rm8Gs8j2d5yenZw/videos
I don't think the Stones are "generic", just thinking through their catalog: they have light little pop tunes ("She's a Rainbow"), the have lots of blues both Delta blues songs("Love in Vain") and Chicago Blues ("Little Red Rooster") and their own blues-flavored originals ("Sister Morphine"). They have country songs (or mock-country, perhaps) like "Girl with the Far Away Eyes". They have a lot of rockers: "Start me UP" "Brown Sugar" "It's Only Rock and Roll". They had a disco period: "Hot Stuff". Latin Jazz flavored jams "Can't You Hear Me Talking".
They were one of the original British Invasion bands, so they invented a lot of what we consider rock & roll after about 1969.
I don't quite see it as "generic".
I saw him in 2019. Poor guys voice was impacted by throat issues. He could still sing it out. And his flute was great. And still as spry as they came.
Just listened to Thick as a Brick in the car last week. As good to me now as it was when it came out. I wish I still had the original album jacket.
Quite an LP.
Watched some reruns of NYPD Blue not too long ago. In one episode one of the cops sees a derelict who might have witnessed a street crime. The cop says ‘Hey, Aqualung, get over here!’. If you are a certain age, you get it.
Here is a side to Tull that some people have never heard.
“A Pretty Tune”
Jethro Tull: Elegy (3/16/1985)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFyIDfgStOQ
ping
Sounds like a couple of rappers having a shoot-out somewhere. “Kid-Punk shot and killed Prog-Z”
I think the punk rockers were more interested in partying and playing live shows than in trying to topple the edifice of prog rock.
I never thought of applying the term “progressive rock” to Jethro Tull
... but who am I to argue with the guy who created it? LOL
Ian Anderson is truly a 20th (and now 21st) Century minstrel.
I don’t like all of his tracks but the ones I do like really blow my mind.
I’ve admired them and their music for years. I discovered their Christmas Album a couple of years ago. It’s the most innovative Christmas music I’ve heard in a long time. Outstanding!
Punk did kill Prog via subsequent post-punk/new wave . I was a big Tull Fan from the first album through Heavy Horses but got bored with them and other self-indulgent “ prog “ and jazz fusion bands in the late 70’s . Never looked back .
Saw them once in Germany in ‘81 or ‘82 at a soccer stadium in Darmstadt at an all day concert, two stages, Tull, Foreigner, King Crimson, Blue Oyster Cult, Kansas, Molly Hatchet and some metal bands.
We missed Neil Young (last act) because we had to catch a train back to base.
Tull was the best in my opinion.
It’s always a sad day for me when a favorite band (especially a prog band) is finally abducted into the “Rock and Roll” “Hall of Fame.”
Real rock-n-roll is supposed to be irreverant, whatever the style, and the R&RHOF is a zoo full of de-fanged, de-clawed, and neutered acts.
It’s like the Pulitzer of Music.
Where is “prog rock” now?
Oh, if you’re making lists of words, the ones that come to mind about Ian Anderson would be pompous, vain, arrogant and self-indulgent,’” he said. “But, hopefully, you might also think serious, studious, passionate and, above all, engaged.”
Yup..pretty much so.
JT’s work was tremendous at times and sincere as hell. Hard driving like Locomotive Breath or a tender ballad like Black Satin Dancer. Bouree is a pleasant ear worm.
Need to dust off the albums...