Jethro Tull Albums Ranked

Jethro Tull is a British rock band formed in Blackpool, Lancashire, in 1967. Initially playing blues rock and jazz fusion, the band later developed their sound to incorporate elements of hard rock and folk to forge a progressive rock signature. The band is led by vocalist/flutist/guitarist Ian Anderson and has featured a revolving door of lineups through the years including significant members such as guitarists Mick Abrahams and Martin Barre, keyboardists John Evan and Dee Palmer, drummers Clive Bunker, Barriemore Barlow, and Doane Perry, and bassists Glenn Cornick, Jeffrey Hammond, John Glascock, and Dave Pegg. The group first achieved commercial success in 1969, with the folk-tinged electric blues album Stand Up, which reached No. 1 in the UK, and they toured regularly in the UK and the US. Their musical style shifted in the direction of progressive rock with the albums Aqualung (1971), Thick as a Brick (1972) and A Passion Play (1973), and shifted again to hard rock mixed with folk-rock with Songs from the Wood (1977) and Heavy Horses (1978). After an excursion into an electronic rock in the early-to-mid 1980s, the band won its sole Grammy Award with the 1987 album Crest of a Knave. Jethro Tull has sold an estimated 60 million albums worldwide,  with 11 gold and five platinum albums among them. They have been described by Rolling Stone as “one of the most commercially successful and eccentric progressive rock bands”.The last works as a group to contain new material was released in 2003, though the band continued to tour until 2011. Anderson said Jethro Tull was finished in 2014; however, in September 2017 he announced plans for a tour to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the band’s first album This Was. The compilation 50 for 50 was released in 2018. The reformed group—now billed as “Ian Anderson and the Jethro Tull band”—still performs live, and has announced tour dates into 2020. The current band line-up includes musicians who have been members of Anderson’s solo band since 2012. Here are all Jethro Tull albums ranked.

Enjoy listening to this British rock band. Click below and enjoy blues rock and jazz fusion music of Jethro Tull.

10. Living in the Past (2013)

“Although there have been several Jethro Tull compilations in the forty-odd years since ‘Living In The Past’ was released, it remains one of their finest. I lost my way a bit with JT after their third album, ‘Benefit’, dipping in and out of their catalogue from time to time. This album – I bought it as a vinyl reissue, of course – contains some tracks that existed only on singles, some live recordings, the odd out-take – but if this sounds like a bit of a grab-bag of odds and ends, then guess again. It’s a remarkably consistent and nicely-programmed set that serves to illustrate well the many aspects of the Jethro Tull ‘thing’.”

9. Stormwatch (1979)

“One of three Tull albums originally released in the late seventies, (with ‘Songs From the Wood’ and ‘Heavy Horses’), marking a turn towards a rustic rock style by the band as they trawl the rich palette of English folk, country mythologies and cultural artefacts in their music … right through to the madrigal form. This style of delivery is artfully combined with commentary on current topics such as north sea oil exploration and future change, all bound together in a cohesive and creative whole .”

8. A Passion Play (1973)

“Hearing “A Passion Play” on cd is like connecting to a long lost friend. There’s no radio song for instant gratification like “Thick As A Brick” Edits 1 & 4. Yet as a whole, the sum is musically and artistically superior to the parts – T.A.A.B. The fact that the album was #1 in the charts says a lot about the fan base because there was no radio airplay. “The Hare Has Lost His Spectacles” without delay is delightful. This album has aged well. I put it in my top five Jethro Tull releases. The fastest long playing concept I’ve ever heard. “

7. Benefit (1970)

“Benefit is to my ears the culmination of a brilliant band’s early efforts. Every song is solid, and the band had gelled perfectly by this point. Aqualung by comparison contains a few classics weighed down by several filler tracks and extreme flute over-indulgence (My God, that goes on forever!). It’s similar to the way Revolver has aged much more gracefully than Sgt. Pepper. Add in the vastly superior sonics of Morgan Studios (compared to the church/barn that Aqualung was recorded in), and Glenn Cornick’s exquisite bass playing (Jeffrey Hammond was still learning how to play), and there’s no competition: Benefit is hands down the better of the two releases.”

6. Minstrel In The Gallery (1975)

“One of my favourites albums from Jethro Tull just becomes better with the 40th Anniversary edition.
The package includes not only the original album tracks (in different mix sources) but also some bonus tracks from the original album sessions, other BBC versions and alternative takes from “Grace” and “One White Duck”, an early version of “Requiem”.”

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5. Heavy Horses (1978)

“I would have to say that anyone who calls themselves Jethro Tull fans should definitely add this to their collection. Most songs on the album are acoustic. So if you have a preference towards their acoustic stuff, that would be a plus for you. I like every song on the CD but there are a few that stand out and they are Heavy Horses”, “Journeyman” and “Rover.” Although, like I have already said, I like all of the songs. They kind of grow on you when you listen to the CD while driving back and forth to work every day. The bonus tracks are pretty good as well. This makes me want to buy even more Jethro Tull CD’s.”

4.Stand Up (1969)

“The separation is a delight with each song.. The panning is perfect and isn’t there just to show itself off. Mr. Wilson should be considered the absolute master of these 5.1 mixes! (I have four YES releases by Wilson, and they are incredible, but this album is at the top of my favorites of his work..) He obviously loves the projects he takes and it shows in the detail he takes to make them the best.. The acoustic pieces sound clean and balanced. There is high end and no muddiness, but nothing harsh in the EQ. Ian’s flute and Martin’s solos bounce around like they are finally free… Just a wonderful experience listening to this classic album with today’s technology.”

3. Songs from the Wood (1977)

“”Songs From The Wood” is just about perfect. I don’t know if it because the source tapes are in the best shape or were digital or what, but the music seems to be three dimensional, and even better than I recall the original vinyl being. The extra material is fantastic as is all the documentation and written material. This is such a great album. I remember when this album came out and this arrangement really captures the aliveness of the music very clearly.”

2. Thick as a Brick (1972)

“I’m bowled over by the amazing dynamic range of this recording. I previously had a Tull live concert CD set but had no idea what I was missing. The music is amazing and represents the best of Jethro Tull and the CD recording is better than the album, with similar dynamic range but no noise. (Sometimes CD versions are compressed and inferior). The interviews with Ian on the last track was more of a distraction than a feature to me. I highly recommend this CD as well as Aqualung if you want to have not only the best of Tull but probably some of the best folk rock ever produced, coming from the golden musical nursery of the early seventies.”

1. Aqualung (1971)

“Shocking set of songs for the time they were released in. Themes range from homelessness to atheism. Folksy, rocking and gutsy; Aqualung is a deservedly classic album. It’s subject matter is still jarring in a quiet, pondering way that makes the thinking man question many deep-rooted Western beliefs. It’s not only masterfully written in its lyrics, it’s also Tull’s most accessible and succintly arranged work. As far as progressive rock/art rock goes, this ranks with the very best.”