Jethro Tull was formed this week in 1967. I was a big fan of Ian Anderson back in the 70s. Watching him onstage, swaggering on one leg and jamming on the flute (is there a better way to put it?), playing a style of music that couldn’t be labeled or categorized. It was both rebellious and innovative. There’s never been anything else like it.
Originally, they were a blues band, and their first album, This Was (listen), was heavily influenced by guitarist Mick Abrahams. The album had great reviews, and the band took off right away. Abrahams moved on not long after that, having artistic differences with Anderson. Anderson took on the song writing duties exclusively from there. But the album remains the band’s breakthrough, and is a unique conception in progressive blues.
