If you’ve ever listened to a man play a flute and say “goddamn that would sound dope as hell in a rock and roll band” then boy do I have an album for you. Jethro Tull’s 1971 prog-rock classic Aqualung is notable for many things– its reflection on spirituality and the sometimes fraught relationship it has with organized religion, the impact urbanization has on its nature, and oh yes, it’s absolutely blistering mouth and fingers on fire flute solos. Lead vocalist and flutist Ian Anderson absolutely lays it down throughout the course of this album in all the best ways and combined with the folk meets blues rock aesthetics, classical music influence, and psychedelia, you have a quintessential early 70’s prog-rock album.
A final fun piece of music history on this one— Aqualung was recorded at the newly opened Island Records studio at the exact same time as the historic rock record Led Zeppelin IV. The space contained two recording studios at the location which meant Zeppelin and Jethro Tull were basically apartment building neighbors for a few weeks during both of these albums.
Standout Songs: “Up To Me”, “Aqualung”, “wondering aloud”, “Hymn 43”
