Jethro Tull - Too Old to Rock 'n' Roll: Too Young to Die!
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Music CD Cover
Artist: Jethro TullEdition: Music CD
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Format: Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered
CD Release Date: 2002-11-05
Music Label: Capitol
Soundtracks:
- Quiz Kid
- Crazed Institution
- Salamander
- Taxi Grab
- From A Dead Beat To AN Old Greaser
- Bad-Eyed And Loveless
- Bug Dipper
- Too Old To Rock 'N' Roll: Too Young To Die!
- Pied Piper
- The Chequered Flag (Dead Or Alive)
- A Small Cigar
- Strip Cartoon
Free Music Notes for Too Old to Rock 'n' Roll: Too Young to Die!
Free Music Review: Tull's underrated concept album about an aging rocker STILL HOLDS UP over 30 years later
Hit: 5 Stars
English art rockers Jethro Tull's ninth studio album Too Old To Rock 'n' Roll Too Young To Die was released in May of 1976 here in the US and in April, 1976 in the UK.
The album is seen as the "dark horse" of the Tull catalog. Some fans loved it and some hated it. I tend to fall in the "LOVE IT" category.
The album was the band's first album with new bass player John Glascock (whom replaced Jeffrey Hammond who retired after 1975's Minstrel In the Gallery). Glascock joined Tull mastermind/singer/songwriter/flute player Ian Anderson, guitarist Martin Barre, drummer Barriemore Barlow and keyboard player John Evan in time to record an album to a proposed musical which Ian decided not to pursue in the end. The album is a concept album (as illustrated in the cartoon in the album's gatefold) about a rock star named Ray whose career went into obscurity and tried to fit in to society only for his career to resurrect at album's end. This theme is still relevant today as many from the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s generations are trying to feel young again by listening to classic rock, old school metal and grunge on the radio. I'm already trapped in the 1970s considering I am soon to be 32!
We open the album to a teaser intro of the album's title cut which then gives way into the superb rocker "Quizz Kid" which features excellent guitar work from Barre and has our hero Ray becoming a game show winner. Next is another great rocker "Crazed Institution" which tells the tale of the glam rock types whom were now the rage. The musicianship is excellent on this track (and the rest of the album is as well). Next is the intricate acoustic guitar number called "Salamander" which is a great piece about a girl that Ray meets. Next is the great bluesy-rocker "Taxi Grab" which is about Ray and his girl he met in the taxi. The track has some tasty guitar work by Barre and harmonica work and vocals by Anderson. Barre and Glascock play here like they were on fire. We end the first half with the ballad "From a Dead Beat To An Old Greaser" with excellent multi-tracked harmonies by Anderson and an excellent sax solo by David Palmer (who would become Tull's second keyboard player and sax player in time for this album's tour) and guitar solo by Barre. This is about Ray and a fellow old greaser who meet at a pub whilst Ray waits for his date.
The second half kicks off with the acoustic "Bad Eyed and Loveless" which describes Ray's anger for being stood up. We follow with the great rocker "Big Dipper" which has a very infectious beat supplied by barlow and a superb flute riff by Anderson mimicked by Evan and Barre. Next is the album's title cut which is the album's most famous track and a great piece and tells of Ray's motorcycle ride and crash. Next is the superb "Pied Piper" which has Ray emerging from his coma to find out he is in popularity again. We end the album with the beautiful "The Chequered Flag (Dead Or Alive)". This piece is probably the best Tull album closer and Ray seeing that his life is back on the upswing again.
Too Old to Rock n Roll: Too Young to Die initially reached #14 on the Billboard album charts in 1976 (making it Tull's lowest chart appearance on the US album charts since 1969's Stand Up). Also, this is the only 1970s era Tull album not to be certified Gold. However, the material has withstood the test of time unlike many albums from 1976 (no one remembers neither The Starland Vocal band nor Vickie Sue Robinson nor Andrea True Connection in 2008).
In 2002, this underrated gem was remastered and re-released with TWO bonus tracks. First is the acoustic "A Small Cigar" which is hilarious but great. "Strip Cartoon" is also a great track as well.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
Too Old to Rock 'n' Roll: Too Young to Die! Poster
Their #14 LP from 1976: Quiz Kid; Crazed Institution; Salamander; Big Dipper ; the bonus tracks A Small Cigar and Strip Cartoon , and more!Classic Rock Music CDs
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