Well done, Michael! Tull scratches where I musically itch, and have since "This Was" and its '68 release, when I was 13! Another freebie brought home from Dad's radio station, I was taken aback by the old men depicted on the cover, and it wasn't that album that grabbed me....the next year's "Stand Up," though, was another story.
That's the one where Ian's flute playing inspired me to rent a Gemeinhardt, take one lesson (to learn embouchure and fingering), and begin learning all his flute licks all the way, eventually, through to "A Passion Play"......all by ear! So, while every other teen was picking up guitars, inspired by Beck, Page, Hendrix, and Clapton, not I!
My interest in them started to wain around "War Child" ('74), and by "Too Old to Rock," I was basically done. But, my love for the band and, certainly, Ian, remain, especially for those early '70s years!
I saw them about 3 or 4 times during the early '70s, and once, at the Universal Amphitheatre in the late '80s in L.A., with a new favorite band opening. In fact, THEIR leader was a huge Ian/Tull fan, too, and I included a picture of the two together here, in my recent article: https://bradkyle.substack.com/p/audio-autopsy-1989-it-bites-eat-me
As for your Zep/Tull debate, I'm not about to argue. You make some great stylistic points, from the standpoint of each band's motivation and output. Plus, I've always asserted that Ian is one of the most overlooked front men in history, always losing out to the Daltreys, Jaggers, Rods, and of course, Plant. None of those (or any others) can match Ian's dynamism, creativity, musicality, humor, and theatricality (as you so accurately mentioned)!
Aqualung is the only one I know. I'll definitely be checking out the other suggestions here.
Well done, Michael! Tull scratches where I musically itch, and have since "This Was" and its '68 release, when I was 13! Another freebie brought home from Dad's radio station, I was taken aback by the old men depicted on the cover, and it wasn't that album that grabbed me....the next year's "Stand Up," though, was another story.
That's the one where Ian's flute playing inspired me to rent a Gemeinhardt, take one lesson (to learn embouchure and fingering), and begin learning all his flute licks all the way, eventually, through to "A Passion Play"......all by ear! So, while every other teen was picking up guitars, inspired by Beck, Page, Hendrix, and Clapton, not I!
My interest in them started to wain around "War Child" ('74), and by "Too Old to Rock," I was basically done. But, my love for the band and, certainly, Ian, remain, especially for those early '70s years!
I saw them about 3 or 4 times during the early '70s, and once, at the Universal Amphitheatre in the late '80s in L.A., with a new favorite band opening. In fact, THEIR leader was a huge Ian/Tull fan, too, and I included a picture of the two together here, in my recent article: https://bradkyle.substack.com/p/audio-autopsy-1989-it-bites-eat-me
As for your Zep/Tull debate, I'm not about to argue. You make some great stylistic points, from the standpoint of each band's motivation and output. Plus, I've always asserted that Ian is one of the most overlooked front men in history, always losing out to the Daltreys, Jaggers, Rods, and of course, Plant. None of those (or any others) can match Ian's dynamism, creativity, musicality, humor, and theatricality (as you so accurately mentioned)!
Bravo again, Michael!