This Was

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Professional reviews
This Was

Studio album by Jethro Tull
Released	October 25 1968 (UK)
Recorded	June 13, 1968 - August 23, 1968
Genre	British blues
Length	42:55
Label	Island Records (UK), Reprise Records (US)
Producer(s)	Terry Ellis and Jethro Tull
All Music Guide (3/5) link Allen Evans, New Musical Express (favourable) October 26, 1968 Melody Maker (favourable) November 2, 1969
Jethro Tull chronology
	This Was (1968)	Stand Up (1969)

This Was (1968) is the first album by the rock band Jethro Tull. Recorded at a cost of only £1200 GBP, the album was definitely the work of amateurs on the rock music scene. One might therefore believe it to be mainly of interest to historians of rock music. Nevertheless, some of the songs reveal the kind of inventiveness that characterizes the band's later work. The album received generally favorable reviews and sold well upon its release. In the documentary film of the Woodstock Festival, portions of the song "Beggar's Farm" may be heard on the PA system, indicating that the album had achieved some notice in the United States.

Unlike their later albums, vocalist Ian Anderson shared songwriting chores with guitarist Mick Abrahams. The album overall has more of a rhythm and blues feel than the progressive rock feel the band is better known for.

Abrahams left the group following this album.

The album includes a cover version of the jazz tune "Serenade to a Cuckoo" by Roland Kirk, whose flute technique was an influence on Anderson.

Jethro Tull's next album was Stand Up.

[edit] Track listing

This Was was remastered in 2001 and released with three bonus tracks.

"My Sunday Feeling" (Anderson) – 3:43
"Some Day the Sun Won't Shine for You" (Anderson) – 2:49
"Beggar's Farm" (Abrahams/Anderson) – 4:19
"Move on Alone" (Abrahams) – 1:58
"Serenade to a Cuckoo" (Kirk) – 6:07
"Dharma for One" (Anderson/Bunker) – 4:15
"It's Breaking Me Up" (Anderson) – 5:04
"Cat's Squirrel" (Traditional, arranged by Abrahams) – 5:42
"A Song for Jeffrey" (Anderson) – 3:22
"Round" (Anderson/Abrahams/Bunker/Cornick/Ellis) – 1:03
"One for John Gee" (Abrahams) (bonus) – 2:06
"Love Story" (Anderson) (bonus) – 3:06
"Christmas Song" (Anderson) (bonus) – 3:06

[edit] Credits

Ian Anderson: Vocals, flute, mouth organ, claghorn, piano
Mick Abrahams: Vocals, guitar, nine-string guitar
Clive Bunker: Drums, hooter and charm bracelet (the last two are jokes)
Glenn Cornick: Bass guitar

[edit] External links

Jethro Tull
Ian Anderson \| Martin Barre \| Jonathan Noyce \| Andrew Giddings \| Doane Perry
Mick Abrahams \| Clive Bunker \| Glenn Cornick \| Barriemore Barlow \| Jeffrey Hammond \| John Evan \| David Palmer \| John Glascock \| Mark Craney \| Peter-John Vettese \| Eddie Jobson \| Dave Pegg \| Gerry Conway \| Maartin Allcock \| Dave Mattacks
Discography
This Was \| Stand Up \| Benefit \| Nothing Is Easy: Live at the Isle of Wight 1970 \| Aqualung \| Thick as a Brick \| Living in the Past \| A Passion Play \| War Child \|Minstrel in the Gallery \| M.U.- The Best Of Jethro Tull \| Too Old to Rock 'n' Roll: Too Young to Die! \| Songs From The Wood \| Repeat - The Best of Jethro Tull - Vol. II \| Heavy Horses \| Bursting Out \| Stormwatch \| A \| Broadsword and the Beast \| Under Wraps \| Live at Hammersmith '84 \| A Classic Case \| Original Masters \| Crest of a Knave \| 20 Years of Jethro Tull \| 20 Years of Jethro Tull: Highlights \| Rock Island \| Catfish Rising \| Jethro Tull In Concert \| A Little Light Music \| 25th Anniversary Box Set \| The Best Of Jethro Tull - The Anniversary Collection \| Nightcap \| Roots to Branches \| J-Tull Dot Com \| The Very Best of Jethro Tull \| Living with the Past \| The Essential Jethro Tull \| The Jethro Tull Christmas Album \| Aqualung Live