Jethro Tull - Songs from the Wood
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Free Music Notes for Songs from the Wood
Free Music Review: Songs (and inspiration) drawn from a sylvan glade
Hit: 5 Stars
This 1977 release presents a fine mixture of harder edged progressive rock and early English folk music that the group has maintained to this very day. Overall, this is another of my favorites from Jethro Tull and presents the band firing on all cylinders; especially after the "not-so-well-received" album Too Old to Rock n' Roll, Too Young to Die (1976).
The players on Songs from the Wood include Ian Anderson (flute, acoustic guitar, mandolin, whistles, vocals, all instruments on Jack-in-the-Green), Martin Barre (electric guitar and lute), Barriemore Barlow (drums, marimba, glockenspiel, bells), John Glascock (bass, vocals), John Evans (piano, organ and synthesizers) and David Palmer (piano, portative organ and synthesizers). This is a great lineup and John Glascock and Barriemore Barlow are simply fantastic throughout.
The nine tracks on the album range in length from 2:27 to 8:38 and range from purely acoustic tracks heavily influenced by early English folk music, to more progressive pieces that feature great ensemble work, tasteful synthesizer and organ playing and (on occasion) hard-edged electric guitar playing by Martin. Although the heavier, proggier tracks like Hunting Girl are very satisfying, I especially appreciated the quieter, folksier pieces on the album. Overall, I found that the use of traditional folk instruments including the lute and mandolin along with the various and sundry bits of percussion added a rich, earthy texture to the music.
Like some other folks here, I have owned this album in one form or other for the past umpteen million years. This remastered album is something special though. The remastered CD features breathtaking sonic clarity, lyrics, photos and additional liner notes. However, although the bonus studio track Beltane is pleasant enough and I enjoyed the live version of Velvet Green, I was more than pleased with the tunes included on the original album.
All in all, this is a great album that presents some excellent material from one of my favorite periods in the career of this group. I did like this remastered CD and found that it was a suitable replacement for my (long gone) vinyl LP. For those folks that liked Songs from the Wood, the follow-up Heavy Horses (1978) is also pretty good and more or less maintains this approach. Highly recommended.
Free Music Review: Walking on Velvet Green
Hit: 5 Stars
According to the liner notes, Ian Anderson had just moved out to the English countryside, and was given a book by their manager Jo Lustig on British folklore and legends. These two events combined to influence Anderson to write a more folksy, rustic, and earthy album "Songs From The Wood". To say that this album is good is an understatement, it's phenomenal. From the opening "Songs From The Wood" we are prompted to enter this rustic English countryside and partake of the wonders thereby. "Jack-in-the-Green" is an ode to the English figure, 9 feet tall and covered with green leaves and flowers, to whom an annual celebration is held in England. "Cup of Wonder", while a weaker track still manages to maintain the momentum till we come to "Hunting Girl", a naughty tale. "Ring Out Solstice Bells" became an unusual Christmas song. "Velvet Green", in my opinion is the strongest track on the album. The middle part of this song, with Anderson's darker vocals raises goosebumps, it sounds so good. "The Whistler" is a lighter, happier tune and the fife playing by Anderson is awesome. "Pibroch (Cap in Hand)" seems to least fit into this album, but it's a good track nonetheless. The closer "Fire At Midnight" ends the original album perfectly. The two bonus tracks "Beltane" and the live version of "Velvet Green" are great additions.Free Music Review: Seminal Tull
Hit: 5 Stars
This is one of the greatest Jethro Tull albums. Along with Aqualung and the live Bursting Out, Songs from the Wood would serve as a perfect introduction to Jethro Tull for kids not already familiar with their work.
For me, the stand out tracks are the "Songs from the Wood," "Jack-in-the-Green," and "Velvet Green."
Songs from the Wood mixes exuberance and a deep respect for ancient music and traditions with a sense of humor. Absent on This album is the more cynical, bitter tone of humor and social satire found in Thick as a Brick and in songs like "Hymn 43." It is replaced here with a more jubilant tone, as if saying "Life is fun, singing about it is fun, rolling in the grass all night with a young lady is fun!" (see "Velvet Green").
I cannot comment on the quality of this remastered release, as I am still listening to the tapes I made from my now nearly-worn-smooth vinyl LP. I have been reading very high praise for the sound quality of the recent Tull re-releases. This leads me to wonder, what are the producers of these CDs doing right that others are failing to? Perhaps Jethro Tull could also teach the recording industry a lesson in remastering CDs.
Free Music Review: a masterpiece
Hit: 5 Stars
Ian Anderson's voice seemed to get MUCH deeper and even *creepier* for this album. Maybe it has something to do with the updated recording equipment they were beginning to use in the mid 70's. Whatever the case, I love the way the music sounds. It's louder and cleaner compared to previous Jethro Tull albums. It almost sparkles it's THAT good!
Anyway, what matters most when listening to any Jethro Tull album is whether the songwriting is up to par. Fortunately that's completely true with this release. The popular belief back in the 70's that the band stopped being good after the Minstrel in the Gallery album is mind-boggling to me. It's simply not true.
The tasty flute playing/jamming has remained, the crazy all-over-the-place singing style of Ian is still there, and the style of songwriting from all the older albums is also very much noticeable as well.
Again, it doesn't make sense how this album used to be considered a downfall of quality of some sorts. I really don't think so. Luckily in recent years people have approached the album with a more open mind, and now people are seeing just how GOOD it really is.
So basically, if you like all the 60's and 70's Jethro Tull albums, you will like Songs from the Wood as well, guaranteed.
Free Music Review: The Quintessential Spirit Lifter
Hit: 5 Stars
After reading every review for Songs From the Wood, I came to the realization that we Tull fans are kindred spirits. Thanks to each and every one of you for voicing your thoughts, feelings, and opinions about this and other Tull albums...I feel "normal" amidst your company.
I really cannot say if this is THE BEST Tull album. Yet, I couldn't effectively make an argument to the contrary. I know that SFTW is timeless, and like some other reviewers, feel that this element adds a uniqueness to the music. Of course, the musicianship, song arrangements, and vocals are astonishingly wonderful.
I saw Jethro Tull a couple of months after this album was released and, like another reviewer, still feel that this was the best concert I have ever attended (and I have seen some people...Yes, Kansas, Zeppelin, the Stones, Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, Rush, the Who...just to name a few of the "name" acts). I will never forget how excited I was to actually see and hear these songs reproduced so faithfully, so well, so dramatically, and with such a superb sound quality. It was truly an experience I could never forget.
Be that as it may, My spirit soars in a similar fashion while listening to Heavy Horses, side one of Thick as a Brick, much of Living in the Past, much of Stormwatch. And I feel a wonderful, timeless feeling when listening to "Back to the Family," "Look to the Sun," "Fat Man," etc. from Stand Up. Likewise, "Inside," from Benefit, "Salamander" from Too Old to Rock and Roll, Too Young to Die, "Cold Wind From Valhalla" from Minstrel in the Gallery, much from Aqualung, "Skating Away..." from War Child. I could go on and on, but I think that you fellow Tull fans understand what I am trying to express here.
This is simply great music from a great, largely unique band. And I have always felt that Ian Anderson is a music legend, a minstrel for the ages. I highly recommend Songs From the Wood, and (chronologically speaking) every Jethro Tull album beginning with Stand Up and ending with The Broadsword and the Beast.
This review is meant to inspire anyone who has never heard Songs From the Wood to do so. It will be money well-spent. I'll let others battle over the supposed "pre-eminent" Tull album.