Aqualung (album)
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Aqualung (1971) is a concept album by the rock band Jethro Tull. It is best known for its title track, which concerns a homeless ephebophile with a breathing problem - hence the title "Aqualung". It is a concept album only in so much as the first side of the LP vinyl record seems to be concerned with the same character, Aqualung. Side Two revolves around a somewhat different theme of alienation from organized religion. It has been proposed by others that Side Two's bitter words of pro-God-anti-church are from Aqualung's point-of-view. His opinions, obviously Ian's, are shameless and uncensored, with such lines as "You have the whole damn thing all wrong."
The title track was co-written by band leader Ian Anderson and his then-wife Jennie.
The album was one of the first albums to be recorded at the newly opened Island Studios in Basing Street, London. Led Zeppelin were mixing their untitled fourth album at the same time.
Band leader Anderson always denied any attempt to create a concept album.
Aqualung peaked at #7 on the Billboard Music Charts' North American pop albums chart. The single "Hymn 43" hit #91 on Billboard's pop singles chart.
Jethro Tull's previous album was Benefit. Their next album is Thick as a Brick.
Personnel
- Ian Anderson: Vocals, acoustic guitar, flute
- Martin Barre: Electric guitar, descant recorder
- John Evan: Piano, organ, mellotron
- Jeffrey Hammond (as "Jeffrey Hammond-Hammond"): Bass guitar, alto recorder, vocals
- Clive Bunker: Drums, percussion
Track listing
(All songs by Ian Anderson unless otherwise indicated)
- "Aqualung" (I. Anderson/Jennie Anderson)
- "Cross-Eyed Mary"
- "Cheap Day Return"
- "Mother Goose"
- "Wond'ring Aloud"
- "Up To Me"
- "My God"
- "Hymn 43"
- "Slip Stream"
- "Locomotive Breath"
- "Wind Up"
The 1996 25th Anniversary edition also included two out-takes from the albums as well as three BBC recordings from the late '60s. They are as follows:
- "Lick Your Fingers Clean"
- "Wind Up (Quad Version)"
- "Excerpts From The Ian Anderson Interview" (Mojo Magazine)
- "Song For Jeffrey"
- "Fat Man"
- "Bouree" (I. Anderson/Johann Sebastian Bach)nl:Aqualung (Jethro Tull)