Jethro Tull - Stand Up or Aqualung or Thick As A Brick?

Such an interesting question!

I was a big early Tull fan Saw them in Springfield Mass in '72 - but that's another story, involving scalped tickets, a riot, being chased by mounted police, and last second bribe-the-usher entrance....

I listened to Stand Up, Benefit and Aqualung incessantly. Thick as a Brick less so. At some point I burned out on all of them except Stand Up. Years later I ran across a used CD and snapped it up. I still play it several times a year. I love the songs and the sound. I grew to dislike Martin Barre's later distorted guitar tone, even though I love his playing (he blew me away n concert.)

I don't hear Stand Up as a blues album. I don't know how to describe it, except a beautiful music, and a unique record with its very own sound.

 

Stand Up for me, but only on MFSL CD...

 

1. A Passion Play
2. Benefit
3. Thick as a Brick
4. Aqualung
5. Living in the Past
6. Stand Up

 

Thick as a Brick.

My all time favorite Tull, though, is 'Songs From The Wood'.

 

Aqualung, but I love Thick.

 

Lord, "Stand Up" by a country mile, and I love "Thick As A Brick" and "Aqualung", but "Stand Up" is one of THE records of my life. Stunning.

 

I love the three in the thread title, but...


another write-in vote for Benefit!

 

Now take the next step... go see 'em live!

Though they don't have the energy they once had, they still put on one helluva show!

 

Aqua

 

Heavy Horses !

 

Aqualung !

SU is one of my least favourite Tulls. One I was ecstatic over when I first discovered it, but I find now has aged the "least well". It has its fine and even some exciting moments, of course (Jeffrey Goes..., Back To The Family, Bourrée, in spite of FM rock radio overplay for the latter). But Martin Barre plays some nervous, sub-Claptonesque, mediocre lines here and there, and the production/sound is lifeless to my ear. (Never heard an original Island label LP though.)

"Benefit" is a much better offering to me, much more mature and "anti-hippy-ish". Songwritinng is darker, less self-indulgent, and Barre finds his own niche and works out some great, original sounds and licks.

 

Benefit, played it 1000's of times more then the others.

 

Thick As A Brick

but other albums not so bad too

 

I wasn't that casual of a fan. I've seen them live a couple of times. Once on the "A" tour. Great musical performance....a little silly in their white jump suits. And the other time was probably one of the best shows I've ever seen. Jethro Tull and The Who at Folsum Field in Boulder, CO. Awesome. Funny thing about that show. The opening act was John Cougar. He was so bad, he got boo'd off the stage....and told 70,000 to f-off.

 

Benefit is one of my all-time favorites. Every song is strong.

 

Benefit...oops that wasn't one of the choices.

Then I'll go with Stand Up slightly over Aqualung. I never was big fan of TaaB except for a few parts here and there.

 

They all share the spotlight, depending on my mood.

 

1. TAAB
2. Aqualung
3. Stand Up


but they are all great in their own way.

 

Probably Stand Up for me. I love Aqualung and Locomotive Breath, but much of the rest of that album falls a little short. Stand Up is more consistently great.

 

Difficult choice. Maybe Aqualung

 

I'm with Mike here. Benefit is a stone classic IMHO, and strangely often overlooked.

Having said that, Stand Up is still my favorite, if only for personal, sentimental reasons. But I wouldn't argue the opinion that Benefit is probably the stronger overall album.

Okay, as to John's original question:

1. Stand Up - MFSL
2. Aqualung - DCC
3. Thick As A Brick - MFSL

 

No fair, you stole my post word for word.
However, I got sucked in soon after joining SH Forums by a DCC Aqualung for $30 used at Newbury Comix.

 

jon9091

You're welcome. too

 

Looks more serious than


Stand Up MoFi.

 

Thick as a Brick surely for me.

But then again, I'd place A Passion Play before either of the other two albums in my list of top Tull LPs.