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Rating: « Caught in the crossfire on Princes Gate Avenue
In go the windows and out go the lights
Call me a doctor. Fetch me a policeman
I'm down on the floor in one hell of a fight »
To herald the advent of the new decade, Jethro Tull decided to modernize their sound by incorporating a notable synth-pop component.
Such a daring choice required a lineup upheaval. However, to seamlessly blend past and present, musicians of high caliber and great experience were necessary.
Thus appear, alongside the singer flautist Ian Anderson and his trusty colleague Martin Barre on guitar, personalities like Dave Pegg, Mark Craney, and Eddie Jobson… Eddie Jobson (keyboards and electric violin) had already made a name for himself with Roxy Music and U.K., while the ex-Fairport Convention Dave Pegg (bass) would be a mainstay in the group until 1995.
The less known but excellent performer, Mark Craney (drums), would be part of Tull for only a couple of years… and this is truly a pity: his ability to blend power and finesse designates him as one of the best drummers to have appeared in the band.
Now let's get back to the album.
The album would be released in 1980 and would simply be titled «A»… aeasy, short, and essential title: characteristics that would be fully reflected in the lyrics and melodies contained within.
Inserting the CD, we are immediately confronted with the pop gem Crossfire. The track, despite its straightforward rhythm and traditional verse-chorus-verse structure, never becomes banal: on the contrary, thanks to the perfect harmony between the keyboard work (not very flashy, but absolutely indispensable) and that of the other musicians, the track gains an added value.
In the same style, we also find the subsequent Flyingdale Flyer, enriched by an atmospheric-spatial conclusion created by Jobson's synths: at the time, the 45 rpm Flyingdale Flyer/Working John, Working Joe also became a moderate success… and it's precisely with Working John, Working Joe that we continue our listening: in the song, the skillful alternation between acoustic and electric guitar and the powerful backing vocals in the chorus stand out.
Black Sunday is the standout track of the album: fast, lively, and equipped with two excellent flute solos… however, the track is much more effective live (just listen to the numerous bootlegs from 1980) and will do even better with the official remix present in the box set "25 Years Of Jethro Tull".
Another small curiosity… Black Sunday is, with the exception of a single unplugged performance of Protect And Survive, the only composition from the album to be (occasionally) included in post-«A» tours.
We continue with the creative flair of Protect And Survive: here too we are in the presence of a high-level pop song, where flute and keyboards travel in unison.
The subsequent Batteries Not Included and Uniform are decent… the former is penalized by an overly intrusive electronic presence, while the latter features Jobson on the electric violin. After this moment of wavering, Anderson and company immediately straighten the course with the overwhelming charm and carefree nature of 4.W.D. (Low Ratio). Essentially, the song talks about a certain Jim, made as happy as a child by his brand-new off-road vehicle.
Another gem is the immense electro-folk of The Pine Marten's Jig (the rightful heir to Warm Sporran and Elegy). It is in this track that the band members, always in great harmony with each other, show their full potential: absolutely impressive is Craney's power behind the drums.
The closing is entrusted to the equally pleasant And Further On… supported by a slow rhythm generated by keyboards and percussion, it proves ideal for a sad and melancholic farewell.
In conclusion, after all the words spent to describe it, I feel inclined to confirm the merit of this album… an album that, moreover, is unjustly criticized and underrated. Obviously, we are not in the presence of Jethro Tull's absolute masterpiece: it is, however, an enjoyable and catchy record, which can prove useful for spending a carefree hour with quality music.
Furthermore, obtaining a copy of «A», we directly get as a bonus the DVD " Slipstream" which includes some music videos (Dun Ringill, Flyingdale Flyer, and Too Old To Rock'n'Roll: Too Young To Die) and numerous performances from the 1980 tour (highlighted by Sweet Dream and an electrifying version of Locomotive Breath).
Undoubtedly an excellent purchase…
« And with the last line almost drawn
wish you goodbye till further on
Will you still be there further on? »
Tracklist and Lyrics
01 Crossfire (03:55)
Spring light in a hazy May
and a man with a gun at the door
Someone's crawling on the roof above ---
all the media here for the show
I've been waiting for our friends to come
Like spiders down ropes to free-fall
A thirty round clip for a visiting card ---
admit one to the embassy ball
Caught in the crossfire on Princes Gate Avenue
In go the windows and out go the lights
Call me a doctor. Fetch me a policeman
I'm down on the floor in one hell of a fight
I'm just a soul with an innocent face ---
a regular boy dressed in blue
conducting myself in a proper way
as befitting the job that I do
They came down on me like a ton of bricks
Swept off my feet, knocked about
There's nothing for it but to sit and wait
for the hard men to get me out
Calm reason floats from the street below
and the slow fuse burns through the night
Everyone's tried to talk it through
but they can't seem to get the deal right
Somewhere there are Brownings in a two-hand hold ---
cocked and locked, one up the spout
There's nothing for it but to sit and wait
for the hard men to get me out
02 Fylingdale Flyer (04:35)
Through clear skies tracking lightly from far down the line
No fanfare, just a blip on the screen
No quick conclusions now --- everything will be fine
Short-circuit glitsch and not what it seems
Fylingdale Flyer --- you're only half way there
Green screen liar ---
for a second or so we were running scared
On late shift, feeling drowsy eyes glued to the display
Dead cert alert, lit match to the straw
One last quick game of bowls --- we can still win the day
Fail-safe; forget the things that you saw
They checked the systems through and they read A-o.k.
Some tiny fuse has probably blown
Sit back; relax and soon it will just go away
Keep your hands off that red telephone
05 Protect and Survive (03:36)
They said protect and you'll survive ---
(but our postman didn't call)
8lbs. of over-pressure wave seemed to glue him to the wall
They said protect and you'll survive
E.M.P. took out the radio ---
(and our milk-man didn't call)
Flash blinded by the pretty lights,
didn't see his bottles fall
or feel the warm black rain arrive
Big friendly cloud builds in the West
(and our dust-men haven't called)
They left the dual carriageway at a hundred miles an hour ---
a tail wind chasing them away
And in deep shelters lurk below, sub-regional control
who sympathise but cannot help
to mend your body or your soul
Self-appointed guadians of the race with egg upon their face
When steady sirens sing all-clear they pop up,
find nobody here
And so I watch two new suns spin ---
(our paper man doesn't call)
Burnt shadow printed on the road --- now there's nothing there at all
They said protect and you'll survive
07 Uniform (03:34)
See black, see yellow with little notebooks drawn
See grey stripes bowling down the street
Silver streaks and T-shirts so precisely torn
Strange foreign chaps in white bed-sheets ---
Uniforms
See golden halo'd men of high renown
prance to the politicians' beat
Well tailored in unswerving elegance
with shoes by Gucci on their feet ---
Uniforms
How do you know who the hell you are?
Wake up each day under a different star
Dressed to the nines, meet yourself going home
like a clone, smartly dressed in your pressed uniform
White battle dress on green pitch, proud eleven
Beneath the swelling box so neat
the teeming millions of the future fly ---
the spinning cricket ball to cheat
They're all uniform
08 4.W.D. (Low Ratio) (03:42)
Met a man just the other day ---
said his name was Jim. Boy, won't you take a look!
Got a car for you --- it's a real steal
Cleaned it right down --- new brakes, clutch and here's the hook
Yes, it's a 4.W.D. (low ratio)
Cash to Jim. I took it home
through the deep mud. Plugged happy as a boy in sand
Fitted wide tyres, spotlight, a winch as well
and some brush bars up front to complete the plan
Now it's really a 4.W.D. (low ratio)
Take you down to the edge of town
Where the road stops, we start to hold the ground
Well, I'm blessed! Got traction in a special way
Hold the roll bar, slide back, feel me pull it round
Let me show you my 4.W.D. (low ratio)
10 And Further On (04:20)
We saw the heavens break and all the world go down to sleep
and rocks on mossy banks drip acid rain from craggy steeps
Saw fiery angels kiss the dawn
Wish you goodbye till further on
Will you still be there further on?
And troubled dynasties, like legions lost, have blown away
Hounds hard upon their heels call to their quarry --- wait and play
Before the last faint light has gone
Wish you goodbye till further on
Will you still be there further on?
The angry waves grow high --- cut icy teeth on northern shores
Brave fires that flicker, cough --- give way to winds
through broken doors
And with the last line almost drawn --- wish you goodbye till further on
Will you still be there further on?
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By v8interceptor
An album that critics surprisingly appreciated (too much for a Jethro Tull album) but perhaps it was a personal revenge given the album's poor sales.
This album will remain unique because from then on we will not see Jethro Tull as we have known them anymore.
