March 22, 2023 Playlist

Jethro Tull "Thick As A Brick" (1972)
CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK
Jethro Tull "Thick As A Brick"  1972 (UK)
When it comes to The Greatest Progressive Rock Concept Album Of All Time, this week's classic album is a strong contender. The album consists of a single multi-sectioned 43 minute song called "Thick As A Brick" which is split into two halves for the original vinyl LP release. It's a completely integrated piece, with musical motiffs that repeat and develop over the course of the thing, and a storyline in the lyrics. The instrumental arrangement includes lots of "tricky bits" with weird scales and difficult time signatures (sooo prog). But I think what really makes it is that this record doesn't take itself very seriously - composer Ian Anderson always maintained Monty Python's Flying Circus was a major influence on Brick and that it was intended to be a parody of a prog-rock concept album. The inspiration for doing so was critics and fans incorrectly deducing that the band's previous album Aqualung was a concept album with a story, when it was not - listeners assumed this based on enigmatic album art and song titles combined with the unifying quirkiness of Anderson's song writing. This album is also a subtle dig at the audience in a couple ways: the "plot" of TAAB involves an artistic young man being shunned by society for using rude words (the masses are mindless nagscolds with vapid imaginations) and of course that title: "Thick As A Brick" as in, "you stupid people." Despite being the snottiest wankers in prog, Jethro Tull were massively popular all over the world in the early seventies, particularly in the USA - where this record went straight to #1 on the album charts!
(N) = New Release
(R) = Listener Request
   
Artist Song Album Year Country
Twink10,000 Words In A Cardboard BoxThink Pink1970UK
The MonkeesWords (R)Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd.1967USA/UK
Thin LizzyDon't Believe A WordJohnny The Fox1976Ireland/
UK(Scotland)/
USA
QueenLiarQueen1973UK
Curved AirHide And SeekAir Conditioning1970UK
 
 
Unknown Mortal Orchestra Weekend Run
   / The Beach		V (N)
2023 (Jagjaguwar)New Zealand
U.S. Girls So Typically NowBless This Mess (N)2023 (4AD)USA/Canada
BPM15Q LaRiLaRusingle (N)2023 (Victor Japan)Japan
88Kasyo Junrei
("88-point Pilgrimage") 		Deishun
("Spring Mud" - sic?)		single (N)2023 (PPR)Japan
Stoned Jesus Thoughts And PrayersFather Light (N)2023 (Season Of Mist)Ukraine
Quasi NowheresvilleBreaking The Balls Of History (N)2023 (Sub Pop)USA
   
 
Jethro TullThick As A Brick (part one)Thick As A Brick
 CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK		1972UK
   
 
Jethro TullThick As A Brick (part two)Thick As A Brick
 CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK		1972UK
Jade WarriorEyes On YouReleased1971UK
StarcastleFountainsFountains Of Light1977USA
GenesisThe KnifeTrespass1970UK
   
 
Al Di MeolaThe WizardLand Of The Midnight Sun1976USA
Return To Forever (with Al Di Meola)The MagicianRomantic Warrior1976USA
Mahvishnu Orchestra
(with John McLaughlin)		Lila's DanceVisions Of The Emerald Beyond1975UK
Jean-Luc Ponty (with Frank Zappa)How Would You Like To Have A Head Like That?King Kong: Jean-Luc Ponty Plays The Music Of Frank Zappa1970France
The Stark Reality
(with John Abercrombie)		New World GenerationActing, Thinking, Feeling (compilation)rec. 1968-69, rel. 2013USA
   
 
Jiro Inagaki & Big Soul MediaThere Is Not Any War To End The WarBy The Red Stream1973Japan
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