Jethro Tull - The Jethro Tull Christmas Album

Year of Release: 2003
Label: Fuel 2000
Catalog Number: 061340
Format: CD
Total Time: 59:11:00

Am I just getting old? When I saw late last year the Jethro Tull was releasing a Christmas album, I didn't even flinch, I ran out to buy it. Now, go back a few years and I am sure I would have thought - oh god, one of my favorite bands has joined ranks with my parents favorites, I can see it now, Ian Anderson and Andy Williams sing Christmas duets. But the thoughts never crossed my mind. As a matter of fact, as I thought about the band performing traditional numbers, I thought their sound would be perfect for Christmas music.

What do you know, for once I was right! Tull has suceeded in making a very enjoyable album of seasonal, ah, who needs to be politically correct, an album of Christmas Music. Anderson's acoustic guitar and flute are magical, and keyboardist Andrew Giddings adds piano, organ, and the accordion where needed. The band offers plenty of re-worked originals that have appeared on other releases ("Boureé," "A Christmas Song," "Another Christmas Song" among others). Traditional classics include "Holly Herald," a jazzed up "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen," and a track that does receive some radio play, "We Five Kings," a different take on "We Three Kings." Perhaps my favorite track is the closing "A Winter Snowscape," a Martin Barre instrumental of mostly guitar and flute, just a beautiful piece of music.

I do love the Christmas season, and can think of nothing better than hearing the bands I grew up with and love performing their favorite songs of the Holidays. Rather than throwing on that Bing Crosby CD from your parents collection, how about a little Tull for Christmas?? You know what you will hear in my house on Christmas, and I don't even get a look from the wife! Thanks guys!

Tracklisting:
Birthday Card at Christmas (3:37) / Holly Herald (instrumental) (4:16) / A Christmas Song (2:47) / Another Christmas Song (3:31) / God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (instrumental) (4:35) / Jack Frost And The Hooded Crow (3:37) / Last Man At The Party (4:48) / Weathercock (4:17) / Pavane (instrumental) ( 4:19) / First Snow On Brooklyn (4:57) / Greensleeved (instrumental) (2:39) / Fire At Midnight (2:26) / We Five Kings (instrumental) (3:16) / Ring Out Solstice Bells (4:04) / Bour?e (instrumental) (4:25) / A Winter Snowscape (instrumental) (4:57)

Musicians:
Dave Pegg - bass, mandolin
Martin Barre - acoustic and electric guitars
Andy Giddings - organ, bass, accordion, keyboards, keyboard bass
Doane Perry - percussion, drums
Jonathan Noyce - bass
James Duncan - drums
Gyula Benkö - viola
Gábor Csonka - violin
András Sturcz - cello
Sturcz String Quartet
Ian Anderson - acoustic guitar, flute, mandolin, percussion, piccolo, vocals
Péter Szilágyi - violin

Discography:
This Was (1968)
Stand Up (1969)
Benefit (1970)
Aqualung (1971)
Thick As A Brick (1972)
Living In The Past (1972)
A Passion Play (1973)
War Child (1974)
Minstrel In The Gallery (1975)
M.U. The Best Of (1976)
Too Old To Rock 'N' Roll: Too Young To Die (1976)
Songs From The Wood (1977)
Repeat - The Best Of Jethro Tull Vol 2 (1977)
Heavy Horses (1978)
Bursting Out - Live (1978)
Stormwatch (1979/2004)
'A' (1980)
The Broadsword And The Beast (1982/2005)
Under Wraps (1984)
Original Masters (1985)
Crest Of A Knave (1987/2005)
20 Years Of Jethro Tull (1988)
Rock Island (1988)
Catfish Rising (1991)
A Little Light Music (1992)
The Anniversary Collection (1993)
25th Anniversary Box Set (1993)
Nightcap (1995)
Roots To Branches (1995)
J-Tull Dot Com (1999)
The Very Best Of (2001)
Living With The Past (2002)
The Jethro Tull Christmas Album (2003)
Classic Masters (2003)
Stand Up/This Was (2003)
Essential (2003)
Nothing Is Easy: Live At The Isle Of Wight 1970 (2004)
Aqualung Live (2005)
Jethro Tull/Ian Anderson (2005)
Extended Versions (2006)
Live At Montreux 2003 (2007)
The Best Of Acoustic Jethro Tull (2007)
Living With The Past/Nothing Is Easy (2008)
This Was (expanded) (2008)
Nothing Is Easy - Live At The Isle Of Wight 1970 (2004/2008)
The Anniversary Collection/A New Day Yesterday (2008)
Live At Montreux 2003 (2008)
Live At Madison Square Garden (2009)
Christmas Album (2009)
Live In Switzerland 2003 (LP) (2014)
A Passion Play - An Extended Performance (2014)
War Child - 40th Anniversary Theatre Edition (2014)
Minstrel In The Gallery - 40th Anniversary La Grande Edition (2015)

Living With The Past (DVD) (2002)
A New Day Yesterday: 1969-1994 - The 25th Anniversary Collection (VID/DVD) (1994/2003/4)
Nothing Is Easy - Live At The Isle Of Wight 1970 (DVD) (2005) Live At Montreux 2003 (DVD) (2008)
Jack In The Green - Live In Germany (DVD) (2008)
Live In Bethlehem, PA, 2003 (DVD) (2008)
Their Full Authorized Story (DVD) (2009)
Live At AVO Session 2008 (DVD) (2009)
Live At Madison Square Garden (DVD) (rec 1978, rel 2009)

Genre: Progressive Rock

Origin UK

Added: December 19th 2004
Reviewer: Eric Porter

Artist website: www.jethrotull.com
Hits: 2801
Language: english