What the hell is your problem, pal?! Sure, I like 'Passion Play'--but it's in no wise better than the dozen or so albums you rank below it. It belongs somewhere just under 'Crest of a Knave'. It's certainly not Anderson's #1.

It's a well-known fact that Tull admirers come to look like Ian with time!

" Stand up " , "Benefit " , " Aqualung" and " Songs from the wood "are my favourite Tull albums . Saw them in '71 when l was 16 my first ever gig . Brought " Aqualung "the next day . The title track and guitar solo are incredible and l still get a buzz from it all these years on . What a great decade for Prog the ' 70's was .

I was fascinated by A Passion Play when I bought it at 14 years of age, shortly after its release. And now at 61 I still love it!! A true work of art.

Best discussion of Tull albums EVER! I'm going to listen again in case I missed something.

Must add that Thick as a Brick is a masterpiece. Amazing lp indeed.

I love Tull, and if I could only have one of their albums, it would be “Benefit.” Rest In Peace Glenn.👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

For me....... 1. Aqualung. 2. Thick as a brick. 3. Heavy Horses. Aqualung is one of the greatest albums of all time to me.

Passion Play is an incredible album and one that i never get bored of....there is no other album on the planet like it.

I have not seen a better overview of Jethro Tull. I am going to go back to their catalog and revisit their works. Thank you for journeying me back into their body of work. I think Thick As A Brick is their masterpiece, but there are some many gems that I had missed and now will revisit.

This was a stellar review. I was initially a bit confused to see you rate some of these so low, but you said it yourself once you hit Minstrel: it's just a testimony to the awesomeness of the albums above it. When watching something like this, you really have to keep in mind how wonderful most Tull albums really are. They were a very experimental group, and each album has its own color and sound. My personal favorite is Heavy Horses, and I think you placed it fairly. Happy to see A Passion Play at number one. I feel that one often gets overshadowed by TAAB.

Benefit and Stand Up are to this day my favorite for the period in my life.

Wow! What a tremendous and thoughtful breakdown of the Jethro Tull oeuvre. They were my favorite band during my teenage years in the 70’s. In fact very simply put, Benefit is the reason I found my love of music. From the opening chords of With You There to Help Me.. I was in love with music. Benefit demonstrated to me that music could be WAY more then just ear candy. So Benefit is my sentimental favorite but a VERY close second is Stand Up. Not articulate enough to say why, just love the vibe of it, stylish, intelligent, well...fun. As for your first place pick, here I would defer to you, the much more well versed in Tull lore. However I find it just a fanciful & indulgent excursion. Musically very well done but the whole conceptual idea kind of leaves me...meh. You (and other commentators) mention the denseness of the music on this one but it must be my own denseness that prevents me from appreciating it. As it happens I pretty much moved on from Jethro Tull in the late 70’s after I heard the likes of The Ramones, Patti Smith, Talking Heads (you get the idea) but I still come back to my old Jethro Tull vinyl once in a while and fall in love all over again. Oh... and I sure love me some This Was. Thanks for the work and thought you must have put into this video. Well done.

In my opinion, This Was should be higher up. It rocks pretty hard. It's a top 10 Tull record for me.

What a great video. Thick As A Brick is #1 for me. I never got A Passion Play, but because you put it on the top of your list, I must give it another chance.

i cannot believe i just watched a list where aqualung is number three and thick as a brick number TWO and PASSION PLAY NUMBER 1 so of course immediately subscribed. this after breathlessly watching tales from topographic oceans to the top of the Yes list. this man is is a genius. The list I have been waiting for since the 70s. passion, especially as redone by steven wilson is a fkn revelation. thank you for this.

Glad to hear you mention the Steven Wilson book sets. I love his surround mixes of early Tull. That's how I discovered Tull and they're becoming a favorite band. Nice channel.

I love their live album from 1978.."Bursting Out" I thought that might get a mention..superb playing on that..especially from Barriemore Barlow..

This video is incredible! What an amazing, well researched run-through.

I agree with a lot, disagree with a bunch but one thing for sure is that this gentleman really, really knows what he is talking about. Very impressive and detailed assessments.

From one fan to another, thanks man. What a fascinating, well informed review.

What a Tour de Force of an analysis !!! I have always regarded myself as something of a Jethro Tull connoisseur - but I am completely humbled and blown away by the depth of your knowledge, and understanding of what under-pinned each album. Bravo! I would be rather older than yourself, and (bizzarely) remember the early days altogether more vividly than the more recent offerings. Like you, Tull would be one of my absolute favourite bands of all time, and have been since 1971. I would agree with almost all of the points you make, and virtually all the rankings you attribute to each album, with perhaps only a handful of qualifications, which (out of interest, but not dogmatic conviction) I would mention below ...... * I would inter-change Minstrel and Benefit, not because of any qualitative judgement, but because Minstrel played an inportant part in my youth, and I have enormously warm memories of it, whereas Benefit [to me] being sandwiched between two of the best albums of all time (of any band) seemed a little flat by comparison to them. I know Martin felt Benefit was a better platform for his contributions than Stand Up - but I definitively do not. One of the most modest 'great' musicians I have ever encountered, I think he still felt like a "green" novice on this first album - but he is possibly the only person I have ever encountered who thinks this (Ian Anderson included!). * Stand Up was for me the 3rd best Tull Album (on certain days perhaps the 2nd best, edging out Aqualung) and even now I still listen to many of the tracks every month. There is not one weak track amongst the 10 - and "We Used to Know" is one of my 3 favourite Tull songs ever. [Martin's short solo is absolutely magnificent!] I would therefore promote this ahead of the excellent Heavy Horses & Songs from the Wood - both of which I love as much as you do. * Passion Play was a monumental album, innovative, uplifting and incredibly important. But much though I loved it as a stand- alone piece, it did not move me to anything like the same extent as Thick as a Brick, or indeed the 3 albums which preceded it. But, that said, it is still solidly within "my" Top 10 * Crest of a Knave is for me a classic "70's" Tull offering, and - developmentally - should really have followed Stormwatch. Massively the best of the latter-day albums, Crest was another unblemished album with not a single weak track - and absolutely stacked with memorable classics (Steel Monkey, Farm on the Freeway, Budapest, Raising Steam.....) * So - by process of elimination - my No2 and No1 were (and still are) Aqualung - the best Album of perhaps the 2nd best year for Albums ever (1971) - and of course Thick As a Brick in pole position; over the years I have virtually worn through Side 1 [which is also the favourite "track" on my iPod] - and Side 2 is absolutely no slouch either! "The Poet & The Painter" is absolutely what recorded music is all about. So - for what it's worth - my Top Ten would be :- 10 Stormwatch 9 War Child 8 Passion Play 7 Minstrel in the Gallery 6 Heavy Horses 5= Crest of a Knave 5= Songs from the Wood 3 Stand Up 2 Aqualung 1 Thick As A Brick PS - I was at the same "Crest" gig at the NEC which you attended - what a fabulous evening, and what a triumphant return to form for the boys after a few quieter years! (As I remember, the balloons may have made a comeback that year too?) Thanks for a really interesting, informed and nostalgic round up! I know i was late in finding it - but it was a thoroughly enjoyable way to spend 40 minutes! Well done indeed.

Yes I think you got it just right, no one will ever agree, we all identify personally. I think the band started off trying to find a groove. Ian took a lead, then they built and combined to Passion Play. You have remember the time, their were other great bands right in their backyard. What a great time musically. To my mind really was, just that Tull was; intelligent, witty, and the the band members were outstanding, and allot of their work still stands up to day. A lot of great songs mentioned here, thanks for the memories.

Love these ranking videos ... The depth and insight of which you go into each album is top notch. Cheers !

This is the first time I've watched one of your videos. I love the research you did on each album, and even better your commentary. Thoroughly enjoyed this from beginning to end!

Jethro Tull is a deep well of which ive listened to about half of their work, and seen them live once i think in 2010. I am fascinated, surprised, annoyed, excited, intellectually stimulated, etc... my thoughts and feelings run the gamut on this band and i look forward to listening to albums like passion play which ive purposefully been saving for a rainy day when i can really spend some time listening with headphones. Surprised you did not mention "black satin dancer" which has dark and chunky ominous guitar riffs or pan dance which shows off ians enchanting flute. Bungle in the jungle i think was also left out of being mentioned which surprised me (unless im mistaken). Yes there are too many tull songs to mention but these would make my personal list as some of my favorites. Appreciate your hard work and effort. Much Love and peace to you and all Tull fans out there !

Huge Tull fan and I have to say your review of their albums is brilliant. My number 1 album is: Stand Up and favourite track of theirs is also from that album: We used to know. Glad you also appreciate it!

Love your ranking and reviews, I'm with you Passion Play is my #1, saw it live in Quebec city in 1973 what a show !!!!

Awesome review! You forget to mention Barrie Barlows drumming on Passion Play, unbelievably creative! Thanks for taking the time to put this together

Great video. My top 6 Jethro Tull albums have always been. Stand Up / Aqualung / Benefit / Songs From The Wood / Thick As A Brick / Crest Of A Knave. No particular order.

Good review man. I love Songs from the Wood, Too Old to Rock'n'roll, Aqualung, Heavy Horses and Stormwatch

Very well done, well reasoned, and authoritatively delivered video. I really enjoyed this.

Retained his tickets and programs, knows the albums back and forth. A Fan, with a capital-F. Thank you, really enjoyed this overview.

I am so delighted to have listened to your extensive review. I have just finished watching it and I want to thank you very much for such a well informed and insightful review. I still feel very excited. I would put Stormwatch much higher in my list as I think it has just the correct atmosphere musically, lyrically and soundwise in conveying its subject matter. However, as you say, this is your list and I have thoroughly enjoyed it. It is always a pleasure to listen to or read comments from people who really understand and appreciate Tull and the genius of Ian Anderson, as well as of course the all important contribution from the band members. Thank you once again.Now I am off to watch your A Passion Play Review. Exciting.

My number one is Stand Up. There's something so fresh and wonderful about the album due in large part to its simplicity in terms of arrangement. Tull is playing without much studio trickery and the recording is beautiful. Serendipity at the core! Edit: bold move putting A Passion Play at number one! The only album where Ian plays sax I believe. I'd put it at number two.

Teacher ......glad you mentioned it. The lyrics and music is brilliant. Crossed eyed Mary. What a background story to Crossed Eyed Mary Clive Bunker still alive. Live brilliance

Thank you! I like your list. I haven’t listened to A passion play for years. I’ll have to go back and revisit it and see what I think now. This is the first time that I have listened to a video from your channel. I’ll be back again.

Wonderful - you are the only one that I've hear of the loves "Passion Play". It has been my top LP from my first listening. I love the heartbeat running though it. Great work on your list. Cheers

Benefit is the number one for me 👍

Album "Heavy Horses" is The Best One for me!

Impressive list! Great detail and knowledge of the albums. My only beef is seeing Minstrel so low! Great job.

Thanks for the video - really interesting and well reasoned. "Baker Street Muse" is my favourite Tull song.

From 68 through 72 this band was pure genius. Ian Anderson is the full package, the whole enchilada, a triple...quadruple threat. A consummate poet, musician, and human.

You're good man REALLY good! I can watch your video and it never gets old!

25:35 Well done for pronouncing Bert's name properly. I've seldom heard anyone else do so.

Impressive knowledge and very well-spoken. Cheers.

I really enjoyed this video, thanks. Appreciate your opinions and memories.

Great video as usual. I saw them on the War Child tour. Brilliant. Funny how Ian was the only person on a lot of the later sleeves.

Fascinating and informative as hell! Thanks very much for posting these! I only have maybe one album of theirs- stand up (which I think is fantastic!) so am a pretty casual fan.

Fabulous video. Really excellent commentary on all the albums. I'm definitely a 70s Tull fan, so I'd place Minstrel higher. I've never like A Passion Play, but TAAB is overall my favourite. In their heyday they were a sensational live band, who I saw in '78, '80 and '82, and I get huge pleasure these days from seeking out old videos from back then.

Thank you for this; Passion Play is my favorite album, period. I feel vindicated😻😻😻

I loved Tull so much when I was young and began tripping and was born in 1956 so I heard them first from my brother who was 7 years older than I. Living in the Past I think was a cool double album that had pictures of them and one picture really stood out when it is a close-up of the band and you could see their eyes and the pupils totally dilated, meaning they were tripping. I love your Grateful Dead shirt who I totally loved and saw as much as possible, Peace

I doff my hat to you for your knowledge and insight into JT, a terrific review of their music. Forget the subjectivity of music appreciation, I personally am struggling with your #1 choice. I so wanted to really like A Passion Play but find it difficult to listen to without drifting away. It’s not their worst but not in my top 15. (Footnote, I was 15 when I heard my first Tull album (Benefit) and feel lucky to have lived through that era of anticipating the next release. Cheers from Tasmania!

My favorite album is "Benefit".Although I didn't buy it until I had purchased " Aqualung", (it wasn't available in the States until after Aqualung was released Number 2 is Aqualung, number 3 is "Thick as a Brick", and 4 is "Living in the Past". 5 is Stand Up.

Only one problem with "A Passion Play". It needs to be longer. I can listen to it over and over again.

Heavy Horse’s does it for me personally. Every song brings back memories, both good and bad. Keep up the good work.

Tremendous review and I love your work best on YouTUbe with The Needle Drop

Excellent reviews and I have to agree with your number one. I have been a fervent Tull fan since 71 when my brother took me to buy my first album, Aqualung, when I was ten years old, but I always considered Passion Play to be their finest as musicians much like Yes's Relayer and Zepplin's Presence which do not get the praise that they deserve. I try to listen to PP in it's entirety at least twice a year at full volume while driving and at 59 happy I still remember every lyric.

After many years of digesting Tull, my top 5 are: 1. A Passion play 2. Stand Up 3. Minstrel in the Gallery 4. Stormwatch 5. Songs From The Wood Guarantee the next 5 aren't too shabby either.

Excellent walkthrough the albums of Jethro Tull with a surprise to me at #1. It's clear that you're a big fan and very knowledgeable. You explain your opinions very clearly.

Well-said! Thanks for sharing. My top three are Songs from the Wood, Songs from the Wood and finally Songs from the Wood!

A respectable list. You're clearly very knowledgeable. Your #1 pick was a surprise, though. I was seeing it as a 3-way race between Aqualung, Thick as a Brick, and Songs from the Wood.

I agree with you: A Passion Play is my best Jethro Tull album too !!!

Stormwatch Deluxe, with Steven Wilson 5.1 mix coming soon! kzfaq.info/get/bejne/qrGFdreSmLerf2w.html

Brilliant video as always, Barry. I only have heard Aqualung & Thick As A Brick. I found the content you give about the albums very interesting. I must purchase more Tull CD’s. Love those tour programs from the concerts you attended.👍

Agreed with Passion Play and your list and reasons was excellent

Dude thanks for introducing me to Jethro Tull! What a band! Only completely listened to Songs form the Wood entirely so far - and man, that one hit differently. What a rollercoaster. Amazing.

Thank you for compiling this list! I agree with your rankings for the most part. One or two albums rank just one above or below what you've chosen. The music of Jethro Tull has been a solid landmark in my life - my parents played these albums repeatedly when I was young, to the point I must admit I've been a Tull fan since the womb! Funny story: while I was being born, my father had just picked up Stand Up and it was receiving some serious attention on the turntable. The songs from that album were stuck in his head during the entire delivery of his firstborn!

Yeah... that was really good. IA is one of my favorite songwriters for most of my life, and I'm a huge fan. Of course, I might put some albums a bit higher or lower than you did, but you were right on, and with excellent responses to and descriptions of each record. I subscribed because of that. I have all the Steven Wilson editions... which now also includes "A", and I guess he's also going to do "Broadsword". Thanks!

One of my very favorite acts of all time. It’s hard for me to grade the excellence of Aqualung, Thick as a Brick, and A Passion Play in any particular order. I love them all and consider them to be at the top of the work. Songs from the Wood comes very close for me. I also really like War Child. Minstrel in the Gallery comes nowhere close for me and I’m really surprised to see Heavy Horses mentioned many times in the comments. I did not like it at all. And it was actually the last one that I bought back in the day. Whilst there are other fantastic songs such as Teacher and Living in the Past, the core of Tull’s heyday is for me: Aqualung, Thick as a Brick, A Passion Play, Songs from the Wood, and War Child. Admittedly I’m unfamiliar with the post-Heavy Horses work! Your commentary is brilliant.Thanks!

Excellent video, glad that A Passion Play was number 1 :)

This was brilliant! Thank you for taking the time and putting in the effort to share your impressions with us. Personally I also want to thank (and compliment) you for repeatedly mentioning Barrie 'Barriemore' Barlow as a key figure in Tull's sound. Clive Bunker could flat out p-l-a-y....but a Jethro Tull that desired to produce a Thick As A Brick and a Passion Play would require Barlow's deft touch with awkward time signatures, eclectic originality and controlled pace. Again, BRILLIANT review overall.

Thanks for posting and sharing your knowledge & opinions. I hope tis video will encourage people to explore & appreciate the great Jethro Tull

Barry, That was the Quintessential review of Tulls discography. Very enjoyable. My first cd was also Tull and it was Broadsword and the Beast and additionally i went to the Crest of a Knave tour my 1st Tull gig ncle city hall. i have the tour programme too. I loved the passion you showed in this video. I think Tull could be your favourite band. My favourite album would be Aqualung, genius from start to finish, Neil Young best to worst would be amazing.☺ Andy H

Songs From the Wood. Has anyone ever made a better album?

Hello! Just wish to repeat what others have said about the quality and value of this list. So entertainingly informative, in-depth and eloquent. Jethro Tull were for me a band that I always enjoyed but never got around to diving deeply into as a youngster. Wasn't until my final day of Air Force boot camp in 1985 when, rather than walk about San Antonio, I took to the rec center where a listening room was set up, with desks and headphones, and a volunteer DJ would cue up reel-to-reel, and I selected Thick as a Brick and was blown away. Subscribing now, and all that jazz, and looking forward to more edifying content. Thanks so much

Thanks! A is one of my favorite albums. My #2 Jethro Tull album (next to Heavy Horses). The first time I saw Jethro Tull live, 78?, I went to see the "warm up" band, UK!, (Jobson, Wetton, Bozzio), and it is still the best thing of any kind I ever saw. UK got three encores. Terry Bozzio set a standard for live drumming that I never saw again. A year later UK was done, Jobson was with Jethro Tull and "A", to me, was just awesome! Thanks; David.

Couldn't agree more with Passion Play as #1, though I didn't appreciate it for many years. The medley of "Memory Bank", "Best Friends" and "Critique Oblique" forms one of the greatest musical movements in rock, showcasing Tull at their best. Power combined with subtlety, brilliantly executed. I hope Martin brings it back on his tour. I seriously doubt that Ian will ever perform any of it again. So many great songs and albums. It is indeed a matter of personal taste to rank them. Thanks for a great summary and run down.

I love a passion play, just listened to it a couple days ago straight through- the only way. Nice vid, Thank you

Very nice video .. I need to go back into my archives .. I very much like Budapest.. Great works .. thanks.

Tull is also one of my favorite bands, and your video has shone a light upon the albums that represent holes in my collection. It's like discovering new music. Cheers!

Nice work from a true fan. Your justifications for each selection are sound. Couple of things: Too Old to Rock N Roll may be thematically thin, but the songwriting and some of the melodies are superb ('Crazed Institution', 'Salamander'). 'Tall Thin Girl' has that Indian feel because it's very much a sequel - and named antithetically - to 'Fat Man'. I agree that Broadsword... is massively underrated and would even consider putting it higher due to the strong songwriting. 'Dark Ages' is not on Bursting out, unless there are some bonus tracks somewhere that I haven't heard. 'Reasons for Waiting' on Stand Up is one of the most beautiful acoustic songs ever. How it fits onto that album I'll never understand, but it does. To me, Passion Play was a great failure, especially after TAAB, but I've known others for whom, like you, it's their favourite album.

Great. Warchild would be in my top 10 too. It's too often overlooked. Excellent choice for no.1. I've loved Passion Play since the first day I heard it sometime in the later 70s. Cheers.

This is a great list from a true fan of Jetrho Tull. This is only my 2nd listening of reviews from the Classic Album Review Channel, with my 1st listening the review of A Passion Play, #1 on this list (spolier alert). And, APP as #1 tells you a lot about this reviewer and his interest in JT. It got me listening again to APP and I recently actually used "The Story of the Hare Who Lost His Spectacles" juxtaposed with Aesops The Story of the Tortoise and the Hare to make a larger point (America does not need to find its spare pare, but it needs new vision with a new prescription, the tortoise is China), so thanks again, I would not have revisited Anderson's fable without your review showing up in my YT feed. I consider myself a big JT fan, 1st becoming aware of them in 1972, and my first live concert was their 3rd live playing of APP ever in 1973, Richmond VA. My last Tull album I bought was Songs From the Wood (#4) until I bought one not included here (none of the compilation albums were included, understandably), in 2003, The Jethro Tull Chirstmas Album, which I still play quite a bit. Living In the Past being the other favorite compilation album I really liked, along with the title hit, and its 5/4 time signature to 4/4 (just like Cream's White Room another from that period). As someone who was mostly familiar with the work of #s 15, 9, 7, 6, 4, 3, 2, 1, I feel that I must have some common taste in JT fandom with this reviewer. I was familiar with some of the songs from the other albums, their being played on progressive radio over the years, but hearing this compilation review really gives a great, broad overview of the career of Ian Anderson and Jethro Tull. And, JT did win their only Grammy with #8. I use that turn of phrase because perhaps, like Bruce Springsteen in the USA, had Ian named his band that way from the beginning, as "Ian Anderson and the Jetrho Tull band" (like BS and the E Street Band), he might, might have made it into the R&R HOF. I agree with the reviewer that JT is inherently a British band with old English, and British influences, along with Jazz, Indian, barouque/classical and that is both why I like them and likely, perhaps, why they have been excluded from the R&R HOF. Other British bands that made it there - Rolling Stones, Beatles, Clapton/Cream, Led Zeplin, many others all had American musical influences and that really was not Ian's influence at all after #15, This Was. A line from one of the Benefit Album songs notes this when Ian says "Blues used to be my favorite colour" (or close to that, help me with the song there JT fans). Anyway, great work again, I guess I will have to listen to some more reviews.

This is terrific! Thanks for your thorough analysis.

Excellent overview, thank you. I discovered JT fairly late and Passion Play has remained my favourite (your review of that album is also excellent).

1. "Songs From the Wood" and 2. "Heavy Horses". I don't know what would follow after but I'm a huge fan of his 1970's works.

I have 14 of the older albums you have ranked, on lp, and after all those years they are there to prove that Tull, to me, were one of my first pre-NWOBHM-militancy classic rock bands. I learned so much from them, in the process of becoming a total metalhead but trying to keep a connection with the elders' musicianship. I guess it was also felt amongst the ranks of such nwobhm luminaries like Maiden, Dark Star, Blitzkrieg, Cloven Hoof and maybe Legend, from the Jersey islands. I absolutely appreciated, agreed with and also learned a lot from your analysis. Please keep up the excellent work. Cheers from Portugal.

Great video, thanks Barry. Has peaked my interest in other Tull records.

great analysis! i generally agree but have a different take on a few. i do love Thick and Passion but i generally prefer traditional song collections to concept albums and medleys. even as you rightly describe Benefit as transitional, i find it flawless and it might even be my favorite. hard to choose! i really appreciate how much thought you’ve put into this. going back to my library for another listen!

A very difficult exercise but I am astonished at how low Minstrel In The Gallery is rated. Number 4 for mine after Stand Up, TAAB and Aqualung

Fantastic, I loved every minute!

An by the way thank you SO MUCH for explaining the reason of how Ian Anderson's voice sounds in Heavy Horses album. I always wondered why it sounded like that

Interesting how people often forget about Rover. That has to be my favorite song off the Heavy Horses record. It's wonderful to listen to and play.

Great overview. Passion Play as #1 is a bold choice but a defensible one and it deserves the love. (My first concert was Passion Play which was still one of the best concerts I've ever seen.)

now u have me on a another tull album crawl. i never really explored past songs from the wood which i loved. there was simply so much before it that i would imerse in before going to king crimson or yes. this time im gonna go thru them ALL. thank you. ur videos are awesome. i especially liked ur bill bruford interview

I always watch instantly when you post a Worst to Best. I learn about so many hidden song gems.

I agree with A Passion Play, my favorite Tull album too, number two for me is Minstrel In the Gallery and three Songs From the Woods.

I grew up with 'Songs From the Wood' in my American living room. I had minimal exposure to MTV no knowledge of punk rock, so I got to enjoy it firsthand with no context. And that was perfect.

Lovely listing, I appreciate how much thought you put into it. It doesn't align with my own listing, but you always made your reasoning clear. Bonus drinking game: Take 1 shot every time he says 'of course'.