The Mighty Anderson (Ian that is)

Folk, Folk rock, prog rock, blues rock or just plain old rock;  Jethro Tull have been categorised under all these 'genres' and probaby more but through it all Ian Anderson has led one of the most innovative and timeless bands in UK music history.  As I have said a few times, these comments are purely personal but this one I do stick to.

I have been a fan ever since buying the first album 'This was'; I got a mono version at the ime but swapped it for the stereo version with a college friend who didn't have a stereo player (those were indeeed the days).  Shame really because if he kept his copy in the same condition he certainly got the better of the deal!  But nevermind, it's the musi that really counts and I have been 'collecting' Jethro Tull ever since.

I can't remember where I first saw them live, I think it was a pub somewhere in London, Holloway Road area?  But I do remember seeing them again, often;  including the time they supported the American jazz musician Roland Kirk - Kirk played two instruments at a time on some numbers, a flute and sax as well as sometimes playing through his nose (yes you read correctly); so during Tull's set Adnerson playing his flute on one leg as usual was heard to say 'Bet you Roland Kirk can't do this' - actually I have no doubt Kirk could've if he tried but at the time we all cheered (sad really).

That was at the time 'Benefit' or maybe 'Stand Up' had been released and I was a cconfirmed life-long fan.  I have the first 15 studio albums on vinyl as well as the early 'best of' double album 'Living In The Past' and all up for sale here, but I also have all of them and the rest of Tull's output on CD.... and they still get regularly played (well some of them anyway).

Highlight albums for me?  Well 'Aqualung (sort of obviously) but also 'Too Old To Rock 'n' Roll....', 'Tales From The Wood' and 'Heavy Horses'.. However, 'Broadsword and the Beast' has grown on me a lot in the intervening years as have 'Crest of a Knave'.....  nearly forgot, there is the great 'Thick As A Brick', oh and 'Minstrel In The Gallery'.. and 'War Child'... and... well you get the picture.