CD Review: Jethro Tull - Aqualung Live

I’m frequently surprised by the endurance of some rock bands. One would think with the myriad difficulties involved with touring, recording, labels, agents, A&R flacks, press people, and just getting along with a bunch of guys well enough to produce cohesive material would try the best of a musician's patience. Still, several bands from the sixties and seventies seem to have gotten beyond all those problematic things, and continue to create music that is energetic, thought-provoking, and extremely well-played.

Jethro Tull is one of those enduring bands. It was formed back in the late ‘60s and, in the time since, has released 30 albums and sold over 60 million records. Back in 1971, Tull released Aqualung, a sardonic rant on organized religion. The music on Aqualung serves as the signature sound for the band, and remains among the pantheon of classic rock masterpieces. Last year, Tull vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Ian Anderson, original guitarist Martin Barre, and new additions Doane Perry, Andrew Giddings and Jonathan Noyce accepted an invitation from XM satellite radio to record a live performance of the album for a small group of invited fans. Fuel Records has released this concert on CD. Anderson and the band are donating the royalties to charities serving the homeless.

Aqualung Live is a marvelous addition to any Tull fan’s collection. For the most part, the album is a pretty straight version of the original, but there are some new arrangements that accommodate some of the new musicians, especially Giddings' accordion part of “Mother Goose”. Where this album succeeds is in the few new interpretations of the songs by Anderson and Barre. Barre improvises upon his original guitar lines and does an incredible job on “Aqualung”, “Cross-eyed Mary”, and “Locomotive Breath.” It would be easy for a professional of Barre’s caliber to just phone in a performance like this. However, Barre seems to be on a mission of musical discovery even now in his advanced years.

Article Author: Larry Sakin

Larry Sakin is a former music executive and non-profit medical organization administrator. He advocates for literacy issues and provides advocacy training for grassroots and non-profit groups around the country.

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