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Rating:
The exalted often finds in its art form a point where veneration is indispensable.
"This Was", the debut album of Jethro Tull is pure grace and majesty that every good listener with some intelligence understands from the very first track. Anderson (vocals and flute) does not fail to amaze the listener with his flute, right from the start with My Sunday Feeling, it seems one could get lost in a world where our storyteller immerses us without letting us out. We are talking about an album that is probably hard to surpass, it has dark tracks (a beggar's farm decidedly very sinister in its atmosphere), and obviously a good dose of blues (it's burning me up, a song for Jeffrey, someday the sun won't shine for you) aided by a good jazz (some alone) and just this would be enough to declare it a masterpiece. But the real novelty lies in introducing the flute as a perfectly harmonized instrument with everything else, but there is also the undeniable talent of the other members, namely Glenn Cornick, Bunker (in Dharma for one would leave anyone speechless and provoke only great envy) and Mick Abrahams who influences the band with his preference for the blues. Moreover, Anderson does not fail to send us back to Roland Kirk with his Serenade To A Cuckoo perfectly played with his inseparable flute. You can feel a small aftertaste of Hard Rock wanting to emerge (Cat Squirrel, Dharma for one) but flavoured like this, it proves to be even better. Unforgettable A song for Jeffrey gives us a formidable blues.
A band fascinating just right releasing one of perhaps the most important albums in rock history both for its flute experimentation and for the magnificence of the tracks that venture listeners into the world of the incredible. Unique and Extraordinary, if this was (this was) let's hope it returns soon.
Tracklist Lyrics Samples and Videos
01 My Sunday Feeling (03:42)
My Sunday feeling is coming on over me.
My Sunday feeling is coming on over me,
Now that the night is over.
Got to clear my head so I can see.
Till I get to put together,
That old feeling won't let me be.
Won't somebody tell me where I laid my head last night?
Won't somebody tell me where I laid my head last night?
I really don't remember,
But with one more cigarette and I think I might.
Till I get to put together,
Well that old feeling can't get me right.
Need some assistance, have you listened to what I said?
Need some assistance, have you listened to what I said?
Oh, I don't feel so good.
Need someone to help me to my bed.
Till I get to put together,
That old feeling is in my head.
03 Beggar's Farm (04:20)
You're taking chances.
And your reputation's going down.
Going out in the night-time.
You think you make no sound.
But you don't fool me.
'Cos I know what you feel.
If you ignore the things I say --
Someday soon's gonna find you
'way down on Beggar's Farm.
I pay my money for no returns.
I think I need you.
Going to find someone.
Oh, you don't fool me.
'Cos I know what you feel.
When you go out I ask you why.
And I won't worry when I see you lying
Down on Beggar's Farm.
When you run to me, going to turn away.
Won't even listen when you try to say
That you were only fooling around --
'Cos I know what you feel.
But if you ask me nicely, woman --
I'll wake up early one day soon and
I'll visit you down on Beggar's Farm.
04 Move On Alone (01:58)
I feel so sad now that she's gone,
I've been loving that woman too long.
There is no place to go because my friends have all moved,
Got nothing but sit in the sun.
Got tired of crying, guess I'll move on alone.
My bed is so empty and my heart is grown cold,
Guess I'll just die before I grow old.
The place is untidy, that's 'cos I ain't done my dirt,
I just grown tired of thinking.
Got tired of crying, guess I'll move on alone.
06 Dharma for One (04:15)
Dharma, seek and you will find
Truth within your mind, Dharma.
Dharma, each to his own we say,
Together we'll end astray, Dharma.
Truth is like freedom, it doesn't fool me.
Be true to yourself, never think that you're free.
Dharma will come eventually.
07 It's Breaking Me Up (05:04)
So many long days. In so many ways.
I try to get through to what lies deep inside of you.
Oh, baby. I said, you're breaking me up, woman.
Yeah, you're breaking me down.
You're lying in little pieces --
scattered all around.
You're doing your worst to see me get hurt.
You're waiting to see the tears running out of me.
But, oh, baby, I said you're breaking me up, woman.
You're breaking me down.
You're lying in little pieces --
scattered all around.
My teares have run dry and you wonder why.
I've found a new woman who don't do the things you can.
Oh, baby, I said you're breaking me up, woman.
You're breaking me down.
You're lying in little pieces --
scattered all around.
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Other reviews
By Masahiro
"'This Was' is a perfect example of Folk Rock imbued with Blues and Jazz, with glimpses of what would become Hard Rock."
"A great debut. It was in the air that the group was destined for something great."
By AntiComunista
"Ian does not have the role he would have later... and shares the leadership with Abrahams."
"From an instrumental point of view, besides the presence of the flute, a very unusual feature that would forever be one of Tull’s trademarks, there is significant use of the harmonica."
