A Quest for Prog 27: Jethro Tull – Thick as a Brick

"A Quest for Prog" is a series of 50 Progressive Rock reviews to be written over a year.  The band selection is taken from the book in the first post on this blog.  And the albums I am reviewing is based on the highest user ratings for each band on Progarchives.com.

Jethro Tull – Thick as a Brick (1972)

Produced by Ian Anderson

Ian Anderson – Lead Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Flute, Violin, Trumpet & Saxophone

Martin Barre – Electric Guitar & Lute

John Evan – Piano, Organ & Harpsichord

Jeffrey Hammond-Hammond – Bass Guitar & Vocals

Barriemore Barlow – Drums, Percussion & Timpani

Track listing:

Side One:

01. Thick as a Brick, Part I (22:40)

Side Two:

01. Thick as a Brick, Part II (21:06)

Released in 1972 “Thick as a Brick” is the Fifth album by English band Jethro Tull.   The band formed in 1967 by Ian Anderson, Glenn Cornick, Mick Abrahams and Clive Bunker.  During the bands early days they could constantly change their name due to the lack of repeat bookings.  The band happened to be using Jethro Tull when they were offered a return booking.  Originally a Blues band Tull have over their career made Progressive Rock, Folk, Synth Rock and Hard Rock records.  The bands highpoint is regarded as being the Aqualung album which included live favourites Locomotive Breath, Crosseyed Mary and Aqualung.  Still is together and tours with Anderson and long term guitarist Martin Barre along with a revolving cast of musicians.     

“Thick as A Brick” is essentially one 40 minute song split over two sides of an LP hence the two parts. 

“Thick as a Brick, Part I” is the more structured of the two parts.  It begins with acoustic guitars and Flute which plays the main theme of the piece which is a kind of jaunty folk melody.  The recording is very dynamic with instrumentation making brief appearances.  The stripped back folky part of this tune gives way as the full band comes in on a passage similar to the uptempo tracks on Aqualung.  The Guitars, Flute and Keyboards work really well together and play off and around each other.  After an Organ solo the tune slows down into a more bluesy passage around the 6 minute mark that is reminiscent of the bands earlier work on This Was and Stand Up.  There is nice Flute Solo in this section and Ian’s voice is really strong.  The song at this point is moving between passages that showcase different instruments such as a Guitar Solo stylistically similar to Ace Frehley of Kiss.  Into a Keyboard let section with some really nice interlocking melodies with Ian’s Flute.  The signature theme returns around the 12 minute mark with some playing that make it sounds like a victorious military theme.  This section marches on and again the main the returns to herald a section that sounds like a lost Cat Stevens tune.  This part ends with horns and flute and a reprisal of a number of themes in this part. 

Flipping over the record we get “Thick As A Brick, Part II”.  This part much looser and has much more of a Jam feel to it.   Beginning with wind sounds and distant guitars the band comes in we move into quite a Jazz section.  The track gets psychedelic before breaking into a decent drum solo.  Drum solo’s for the most part on record are quite redundant and should be kept for the live setting.  This is no exception and does outstay it’s welcome.  The solo bring the band into quite an Avant-Garde section which is quite interesting.  The main theme returns with the same backing as the start of part 1 but with a completely different melody.  This melody is quite good but doesn’t have the delivery of the original.  A medieval passage with some nice guitars and pianos follows.  Ian’s vocals are probably the most adventurous and progressive I have ever heard them.  This part reminded me of Pentangle but with an uneasy and almost claustrophobic feeling to it.  The flutes and some Harpsichord feature as the song progresses this is all underpinned by some nice rolling drums.  This part is very jammy and does go on far too long.  The part ends with a return again to the main theme and it ends where it first started. 

This album for being a pastiche of Progressive music of its time is still a stellar example of the genre.  The band is on top of their game here and even though at point’s it certainly does drag on it is still a great album.  Is this the best Jethro Tull record? almost.  Is it worth check out? definitely.  Especially if you can get your hands on the excellent Newspaper Vinyl Gatefold.      

6/10