Jethro Tull
This Was

THE REVIEW

Who were the Jethro Tull before they had written "Aqualung"? Who were they when masterpieces like "Stand Up" or "Thick As A Brick" had not even been envisioned?

In 1968, progressive rock was not yet born; it was in gestation, in an embryonic state, but it was already destined to explode. Jethro Tull at their debut were light years away from the albums that would come later. "This Was" is a perfect example of Folk Rock imbued with Blues and Jazz, with glimpses of what would become Hard Rock. The entire album heavily focuses on Ian Anderson's flute and Mick Abrahams' guitar. Already, one can notice Anderson's great composing and writing skills, as he, with his flute, manages to master any type of situation, both in a soloistic manner and in accompaniment with the rest of the group. The group's sound is already strong and compact, as is evident from the very first beats of "My Sunday Feeling," where all the elements of the band are recognizable. The song is direct, and Anderson's voice contributes to giving it a strong folk imprint. The harmonica and Glenn Cornick's bass are the main instruments in "Some Day The Sun Won't Shine For You," a track halfway between blues and jazz, a meeting/clash that we will often find within the album. "Beggar's Farm" travels on the same track but appears much more incisive, highlighting Anderson's ability with the flute. Beautiful folk atmospheres for the very short "Move On Alone," which, unlike the previous track, highlights Abrahams' guitar. The following "Serenade To A Cuckoo" is a long instrumental to be savored calmly. Abrahams' ability is fully evident, as is Anderson's. Cornick and Clive Bunker keep time well with bass and drums, making the piece intense like few others. Harder sounds are touched with the following "Dharma For One," which starts with folk themes, passes through a small Abrahams solo, and continues with a great drum solo by Bunker. Only at the end do we find the guitar for one last intense cry. One of the tracks that most closely resemble what will be the progressive rock of subsequent works. Still folk/blues with "It's Breaking Me Up," which reprises the harmonica heard a few tracks earlier. The guitar solo is also beautiful here. "Cat's Squirrel" is the hardest track on the album, where the real protagonist is once again Abrahams' guitar, with bluesy solos and typically Hard Rock riffs. We are at the final stages of the album, and the group has already said a lot. We leave the right space for Anderson and his wind instruments in the playful "A Song For Jeffrey," and we close beautifully with the very brief "Round."

A great debut. It was in the air that the group was destined for something great. The folk component in Jethro Tull has always been a constant presence, but never has there been so much homage to this genre as in this work. Especially when compared to the more recent works.