Jethro Tull Studio Works

Stand Up
Benefit
Aqualung...my three favorites!

 

Benefit
Stand Up & Aqualung (tie)
Thick as a Brick
Minstrel in the Gallery
Living in the Past
This Was
Stormwatch
Broadsword and the Beast


Have seen Ian & Co. live about 10 times, going back as far as the Thick as a Brick tour. They were the greatest live band I ever saw, just nudging The Who, Hendrix, The Kinks (on their best nights -- seen 'em not so good, too), Grateful Dead (ditto previous comment), etc.


I've seen there are lots of A Passion Play fans on this Forum -- I was about the world's biggest Tull fan when it came out, bought it the day of release, and probably have never been so disappointed in an album ever. I still think it's pretty mediocre, though there is a great 8-minute or so segment on it... let the flaming begin!

 

I have seen Tull on every tour, (from TAAB on) sometimes several times on a tour, and I have seen almost every major act from the 70s (in the 70s) Pink Floyd, Yes, EL&P, Wings, Guess Who, John Kay&Steppenwolf, T.Rex, Alice Cooper, Chicago, Neil Young,CSN&Y, Supertramp & more. All great concerts! No doubt!
The best live act in the seventies was Jethro Tull.
A Passion Play I Love
As for A Passion Play the listener may not be in for the music but rather for the view of death being a good thing! Which I believe (OH taboo), and why I still listen after all these years! Strange as it may seem I consider A Passion Play, Thick As A Brick, DSOTM, Wish You Were Here, Crime Of The Century, A Question Of Balance, & Close To The Edge to be companion pieces! yours truly toottoot

 

I can't rank them that precisely. I would probably put them in the following buckest:

Excellent:
Songs From the Wood
Benefit
Minstrel in the Gallery
Stand Up
Living in the Past
Heavy Horses
Thick as a Brick
Bursting Out

Very Good:
Aqualung
Stormwatch
Warchild

Good:
A
This Was
Too Old to Rock 'n' Roll
A Little Light Music
The Jethro Tull Christmas Album

Not Bad:
Broadsword

Not Worth Getting:
Catfish Rising
Crest of a Knave
Rock Island
Roots to Branches
Dot Com
Under Wraps

 

Poor Under Wraps so misunderstood too many fake drums, if only we could look beyond this fact I believe a treasure lies here! Great remaster for me!
Broadsword is dynamite consider the bonus tracks on the remaster for a further listen!
Crest is not one I will defend someone else maybe!
Catfish is a return to blues roots according to Rolling Stone mag(crap I gotta change the batteries in my keyboard).
Rock Island always seems to get slammed but it is a constant listen for me except for Big Riff And Mando!
Roots well you have to rock to the beat of India man! a good thing if you're open to it! I certainly love Roots avatar and all!
Dot Com wipe out Hot Mango Flush & Mango Surprise and I call this a winner combined with The Secret Language Of Birds Ian's solo and I think this is a major work in the arsenal of the Tull spirit!
Like I've said I love them all (I don't worship Ian Anderson)

 

It does have great bonus tracks, though I had them all before on the 20th Anniversary box set (nice to have them remastered though).

 

with Broadsword - Motoreyes should have been included I'm still
I added it to my CDR but I would have preferred that it appeared on the official release!

 

I want to get Brick on vinyl, if just for the liner notes!

 

I'll defend Crest. It was my first Tull album and still has a soft spot in my heart. Budapest is one of my favorite songs, and Part of the Machine, which is in the same style is my single favorite tull song.

I do have to agree with the rest of your post. Every Tull album is unique and that's what makes them all so great.

 

Currently on my IPOD i have the DCC Tull albums Aqualung/ War Child/ and selections from the DCC version of Original Masters.