A classic that I listen to often and gladly by the great Jethro Tull, Thick As A Brick, from 1972.
43 minutes divided into two tracks, Thick as a Brick - Part 1 and 2, a single piece with lyrics and melodies that repeat throughout. One of my "desert island" albums, in my opinion the most progressive Jethro Tull album.
It is a concept album that contains a single continuous track, presented in two parts of great musical complexity and with the witty and satirical lyrics of Ian Anderson for a complex and engaging masterpiece, a milestone in the history of progressive rock.
The arrangements are outstanding, complex and include pastoral acoustic passages, energetic rock explosions, and moments of orchestral grandeur.
An incredible cover, I've never seen anything like it, a copy of a real newspaper, the St. Cleve Chronicle, from January 7, 1972, which can be leafed through and contains real crosswords, with the front page reporting the news of the awarding of a very young writer (who never existed) of 8 years old named Gerald “little Milton” Bostock, who is even credited with the album's lyrics, which were supposed to rehabilitate the poet unjustly damaged by the revocation of the prize as he was disqualified as immoral.
A mix of folk and prog that begins with a little folk song with Anderson singing over acoustic guitar and reaches incredible heights with explosions of bass, drums, and guitar, for 40 memorable minutes also thanks to Anderson's best flute (in my opinion) and an exceptional harmony of the whole band, in folk, in prog but also in pure rock, a masterful album.
An essential album by Jethro Tull and of progressive rock.
Tracklist
1. Thick as a Brick - Part 1 (22:39)
2. Thick as a Brick - Part 2 (21:05)
Duration 43:44
LineUp
- Ian Anderson - vocals, flute, acoustic guitar, violin, saxophone, trumpet
- Martin Barre - electric guitar, lute
- John Evan - Hammond organ, piano, harpsichord
- Jeffrey Hammond - bass, spoken word
- Barriemore Barlow - drums, timpani, percussion
With:
- David Palmer - arrangements and orchestra direction
Note: All links to the musicians' works are in the TAGS below the article title or on the "Artists" page
