Couldn’t agree more … Martin Barre’s solo is one of, if not THE best solos of all time

The whole album -- everything about it -- is pure genius. I was a 13-year-old schoolboy when I first heard the album Aqualung as background music during a free art practice class. It blew my mind, and I've loved it ever since. It's timeless music, with brilliant, poetic lyrics. Martin Barre is a superb guitarist.

If Martin Barre had never recorded another note in his life that solo alone would easily have cemented his place in the annals of guitarists as one of the all-time greats.

Barre’s solo on Aqualung is one the best ever, gives me goosebumps when I hear it!

I like the sad, acoustic part. It's THAT PART that gives the song the most feeling and color imo.

I love this breakdown! Jethro Tull, one of the most brilliant bands ever.

Man, I gotta say; to my ear and brain power, you are without a doubt the best guitar instructor on KZfaq. I have a college degree in music theory and build guitars for a living and I learn more from you in 20 minutes than I could anywhere else. Thanks man

I saw Tull every year through the 70s and for me Martin Barre was the main attraction. The 2nd time I saw them - June 1972 on the Thick as a Brick tour - was the high point. Martin's solo on Aqualung that night was stratospheric, one of the finest moments of live music I've ever seen. Even though it was 50 years ago I still remember how stunned I was that anyone could play guitar with such emotion, intensity and beauty.

Martin Barre is such an underrated guitarist, certainly a favorite of mine. Saw him live just earlier this year, and it's amazing how much energy and fun he still has on stage. He's certainly brought the "rock" into Jethro Tull, his riffs just tend to be overshadowed by Ian Anderson's flute.

When I realized back in the 80's that the song was about homelessness, I can't help but cry every time I hear it. Martin Barre was so huge as a guitarist. Thanks for doing it.

Definitely one of the greatest bands of all time , very underrated

I’ve always maintained that the guitar solo in Aqualung was the most appropriate solo ever. Fits the song so perfectly.

I've waited a long time for someone to give this song its true merit, and Baldassarre has done a great job. I was 22 when this album came out, and I didn't actually buy a lot of records in those days. But this was one that I had to have, and along with Who's Next, it was my pick for best album of 1971. The days of the Beatles making albums that you would play every track on were gone by 1971, and then Tull released this album that I played and played and played. Every song was a masterpiece, and I thought the opener and closer were all-time classics. The pure musicianship is off the charts, the piano is simply amazing as well. And I have always been disappointed that Martin Barre's guitar solo wasn't rated at least Top Ten of all time in the various polls over the past 50 years. In my book, it has always been, note for note, the best rock solo I've ever heard. Thanks for giving it its due, Carl.

Carl B.: best-dressed gentleman in electric rock&roll guitar

I went to college in 1978, and friend of mine down the hall in my dorm would only listen to Jethro Tull music in his room. He had seen Tull live 4 times and absolutely loved them. I was forced to become immersed in their music. LOL. I became a fan.

Wonderful. Really appreciate the detailed breakdown of Barre's subtle guitar idiosyncrasies (vibrato, double stops...). The contrast between the relaxed feeling of Anderson's minstrel-style acoustic segments and the in-yer-face LP-fueled electric parts make this song very dramatic for me. Lyrically I suppose it's an unflinching look into the world of an aging homeless man? Anderson's empathy for the "old man wand'ring lonely..." is tangible.

I loved this song and album when it came out. It was so innovative to a very musically aware 11 year old. I saw JT at Shea stadium in '76, not the best place for a concert for acoustics and the planes flying overhead. Still it was epic with the Tull-avision. Ian Anderson was a madman on stage. I don't know how he could perform day after day.

Dear CB, everything you do has such a beautiful eloquence and clarity to it. From the way you dress and the way you sit in the way you speak to the loving way in which you bring forth the beautiful details of these magical rock songs that we love so much. I hope your channel explodes. You certainly deserve a million subscribers.

Thank you Carl for that history and breakdown of Aqualung. I was a 19 year old young man in Australia and vividly remember when that song was released. It was a fantastic time to be alive with the music of the time. That song in particular had such a profound effect on me that by the following year I was in London searching out all these new bands that made it unique. Unfortunately I wasn't able to be in the same place and time as Jethro Tull so never got to see him live but it was the greatest period in Rock History and I am so grateful to have been there. 🇦🇺

Remember Seeing them live in the 70's at MSG Martin Barre's live solo on Aqualung was one of the most memorable solos I've ever seen in concert More so than some other bands I've seen live in their prime like Pink Floyd , The Who , Yes etc etc

Great analysis! My favorite part of the solo is near the end when the feedback swells and then he snaps it off so quickly. Brilliant.

I was in high school when Jethro Tull unleashed this Mega-Album. Aqua Lung rocketed to the top and was an absolute must play song at every party, event, gathering etc. Ian Anderson is mind blowing on the flute. Good times.

My mother God bless her, stood in line so I could have 7th row seats.... Ian looked me in the eye... and I felt like a little school girl. Lol. Just great musicians with such wonderful unique songs. Great critique Carl.

This has ALWAYS been some of my favorite lead guitar playing....of all time. This lead is up there with Stairway and Comfortably Numb.

I think Martin Barre has the best lead phrasing of any guitar player from that era - including Jimmy Page (you read that correctly). You are the first guitar player I've seen on KZfaq cover Jethro Tull with any depth at all. #martinbarre

I have always loved Tull but listening to this made my mind explode I'm not a musician but I can see you are well acquainted with music theory and it's history and quite a good musician yourself This is so interesting. Thank you for what you do.

I wasn't allowed to listen to much of "my" music when I was in high school. In 1974, upon entering my college dorm for the first time, I heard this song blaring from a room down the hall. Wow! It was time to catch up on everything I had missed.

I saw Martin Barre last night on his 'A Brief History of Tull' tour and he was amazing. I'm not a guitarist but I have really enjoyed watching this video, and Carl's other one about the Top 10 Tull guitar riffs from 1969 to 1971, that have given me more insight into what I saw Martin do and why it's so special. I was fortunate enough to have seen Tull several times back in the 70s so seeing Martin again at age 76 and still rocking the way he does is inspiring.

One of my all-time favorite songs!!! Was just playing this last night. I haven’t even watched this video and I’m so pumped!

One of the first songs I ever learned... Martin Barre.is one of my younger influences... I totally dug this band.. I can see how they rubbed off on Crack The Sky even..While guys like Iommi,Page and Clapton got all the ink.. This man was no less influential... Aqualung goes in the top 10 all time greatest riffs category.... Well done again ... Love the guitar sound!...

This was a great breakdown and explanation of the song. And the cultural dialogue was very informative as well. Love the videos Carl, I'd love to hear you do something on Rush/Alex Lifeson. But honestly just keep on doing what you are doing, I appreciate it

Great to name check Martin Barre. Aqualung paints such a descriptive picture and story. Riff to acoustic, back to riff...!!! awesome.

I love this analysis. I know Ian Anderson complains about this record but the guitar sounds -- acoustic and electric -- on this record are simply out of this world. That Aqualung electric growl really set the, er, barre for guitar sounds. ;-)

Aqualung has to be in the top ten all time best rock riffs. It has to be. Great demo Mr. Carl!...and I’ll say it again and again “THAT LES PAUL IS BITCHIN!”

You are something else, Carl. First of all, I love the Sunburst Gibson you are playing. Martin is my all-time favorite lead guitarist, but every time I mention him to someone else, they give me a blank stare. You know great riffs, runs, fills, and leads. Plus, your playing is outstanding. This is awesom, Carl. Thanks. p.s. -- That question and answer on the solo is really cool. I hear it. I always did, but I didn't categorize it as such.

My dad had the record and I became so obsessed with the stories in the songs that I would write short stories about Aqualung. I carried the liner notes in my backpack all throughout 7th grade. That was 1999 and it seems like a long time ago now, but this song is truly timeless. Wonderful video sir, thankyou for bringing it to my attention!

Thank you for the loving treatment of one of my favorites. ❤

What a wonderful lesson. One of my favourite songs. I don't think I have seen a teacher with so much enthusiasm for his subject for a long time! More please. The lyric was written by Anderson's wife (Jennie) and contains many semantic ambiguities of English as it is spoken by we Brits. Some of my American friends have misunderstood the words. The eponymous Aqualung is a tramp (that's a hobo - not a sexually promiscuous individual). The 'bog' refers to a public toilet. The Army refers to The Salvation Army a charity, one of whose aims is to look after the homeless. Please will you analyse Steve Hackett' Firth of Fifth solo?

Thank you SO much Carl!... I REMEMBER the FIRST time I saw Martin Barre play Aqualung and the BAND filling IN those Second- Inversion CHORDS after the Intro Riff and Power Chords! . I wasn't well- versed in theory YET, just started playing guitar, but I KNEW the SOUND was Unusual for Rock and Roll but it was SO DAMN COOL...!! Thank you for Showing it, on the guitar, although I WISH I could SEE your fingers better!... Kudos!

Thanks a Million Carl for drawing attention to this iconic song!! I was lucky enough to be the front man in a band that played this & many other great Tull songs. Always relishing the chance to recreate them every time! You & I could have had a great tribute band together!!

Loved em since the 70s... Never seen em live- "Thick as a brick" rocks

What a great discussion of that song and the era. I was not very musicial but was an electronics nerd and when the N.A. tour to support that album came my way in that they wanted a sound system that was unique at the time, more hi-fi and dynamic than some Altec A7s, I was a designer with a small 4 person company and on spec along, threw everything into building a hi-fi sound system that would do both the heavy rock and the acoustic sections justice. It was a complete re-thinking of a touring system and needed to design the power amps, clusters of individual power amp per cab, for each of bottom, mids and hf, the first tri-amp'd system with electronic cross overs, and a unique at the time mixing console. The console was the first one to have switchable ballistics for Vu and PPM metering, parametic Eq on every channel, linear home made faders, and many other features that had not been seen before in touring or fixed install systems....all on spec using every penny we had expecting to win the sound tests the tour manager arranged for various sound companies to set up their systems for a live audition. We would have been bankrupted if we did not win but we did, and were the only ones who never were on tour before. We babied that system all over North America and sometimes an amp would blow so one of use would leave early to be able to search parts stores for the high power transistors and repair them in the hotel room. There were 12 amps per side, all home made. It did sound good but I swore off my first and only tour. The band was GREAT, and Ian was a jewel. I lost track of them for years because I ended up owning a large 3 studio complex and was busy recording. I gave everything away in 1999 and moved to St Petersburg Russia in early 2000. I was walking through a popular pub named Liverpool that featured authentic Beatles memorabilia that had become the home watering hole for UK bands playing tours in Russia. I walked past a table with 10 people on it mostly young except for one guy who was bald and old like me. I heard him talk as I walked by to go talk to my friend, the owner from Iceland. I asked the owner who that was because his voice sounded familar. The reply was Ian Anderson and it all came back to me. I went back to the group stood across from him just staring and he was obviously uncomfortable so it interupted the story he was telling to the younger band members. Finally he spoke to me "May I help you?" I replied "Dallas, stage right, curtain, fire" and a light went off in his eyes..and we met again 26 years later. One my my power amps blew up, safely taking itself off line and caught the curtain on fire. The audience thought it was part of the show. But it was out in seconds. No one let on that it was not planned. We hugged and he told his young members about that tour that was very memorable for all of us. He invited my GF and me to attend the concern in 2 hours and arranged for back stage since it was sold out in the large concert hall. He returned several times every other year. I ran into the Rolling Stones at the same pub before one of there shows but I never had direct involvement with them but we shared a lot of common friends. I LOVED Aqualung and the group, and my first and last tour. My work was making albums and designing gear when needed. My studio did many many gold and platinum albums from everyone from Fleetwood Mac (Rumours), Stevie Wonder(Songs in the Key of Life), Whitney Houston, Heat, Journey, Arethea Franklin, Metallica, Huey Lewis and the News( Sports, and the original songs for the movie Back to the Future) Santana, Tower of Power, Boz Skaggs, Van Morrison, Starship, and too many to count.

Hi Carl, I am one of those older guys who after the kids have grown up and moved out, have finally made it back to playing guitar. I am right in the middle of learning Aqualung when you released this video. Thank you so much for your insight, it has provided deeper meaning to a song that I have cherished since it was released. Thank you, Paul

This is literally the best song breakdown/instructional video on youtube, absolutely killed it. Such an important song in my life, what a masterpiece.

Wow, what a great video! I don't know anything about music theory, chords, etc.etc., but I stuck it out and this was a wonderful window into a fantastic era, and song! Thank you!

Love your presentation and the ability to translate some loftier musical insights in an entirely engaging and entertaining way. Many of us might otherwise overlook these things while distracted by the more simplistic act of enjoying the performance at its base level. It certainly brings another level of appreciation for the music and the artists. Though it may never happen, I'd like to think I'm not the only one who wouldn't totally love to see a collaboration between yourself and Rick Beato - maybe a live stream or a recorded episode of something along the lines of Rick's "what makes this sound great" or digging into a particular influential artist, band, or performance in a way that you could both share your obvious mutual love for music, the history, and the craftsmanship behind both the performances and the production. Just a thought. In the meantime I'm glad I landed on your channel here. Great stuff. Thank you for sharing!

Saw Martin Barre and his band at The Gov in Adelaide maybe two years ago. So so good. Martin played brilliantly, with a full examination of so many great Tull classics. No flute! However, the band made it all work. He was a real live wire and had seemed to have so much fun playing. His drummer was AMAZING!

Uncannily I have been listening to Tull this afternoon ! Great video once again , thanks Carl 👍🏻

Thank you for spending time with this masterpiece!

I was born in ‘58 and with two older sisters who were 9 and 12 years older than me and an older brother three years older, I had a giant leap forward on musical exposure in such a way that I was ready for something that I could relate to and appreciate the paradigm shift when the Beatles appeared on Ed Sullivan in’63. I was a Who freak and got a bass in ‘68. I was a Jethro Tull, Who, and Yes freak and saw them many times in LA where l grew up. Thanks brother

Carl, your videos are absolutely superb, and this one is is a perfect example. The discussion of the music, the production, and the historical context are fascinating. Many thanks for all that you do.

Thanks, Carl, I really enjoyed that presentation. I appreciated how you put the song in its social and historical context - context is everything.

Amazing! You just allowed me to enjoy a song I've been loving for 40 years even more!

Thank You! That was awesome!!!

So so great ! One of the best performances ever witnessed. Thank you

Fantastic THANK YOU 🙌CARL🙌

I'm thrilled you've done this song Carl. Thank you!

I love your work. It's so informative and well-assembled, but more than all that is your clear love of the material. It radiates from your work.

Brilliant, even though I understand no music theory! All I know was that Jethro Tull produced inspiring music and dramatic performances. Love the tension, contrast, elegance and power. Martin is still under-appreciated. His current band brings back the power of live Tull. Still stunning audiences. Thank you!

I am so glad that you give this song such good credit. I have always loved this whole album ever since I first heard it in boarding school in Cape Town in 1972

Thanks so much for this. I was 20 in 71 and I didn’t understand Martin Barre’s guitar playing but I liked it as I did Ian Anderson’s. I always felt that there some kind of Medieval feel to the music. Not so much in the first records but it was there nevertheless. Glad I found your channel.

There is one photo that I know of of the "Aqualung" album recording session, and it's the one appearing in the "Living In The Past" album booklet, where you have the specific Aqualung line-up (that to my knowledge hasn't played on any other recording than this one) with their instruments and a backdrop that could indicate the Island studio. And there Ian Anderson still has his cheap Japanese (Aria?) acoustic guitar, not the parlour-type instrument you refer to in your analysis of the acoustic part, like the Martins he'll be touring with a little later. Of course that doesn't prove anything. He could still peharps also have played this track with his older Yamaha acoustic. Your videos are amazingly good and informative; they sound awesome! Congratulations and thank you!

Love the attention to detail while simultaneously zooming out into the context for the whole song.

Thank you, Carl, for this brilliant elucidation of the theory behind the music we all here love so much. Cheers.

Fantastic episode Carl. Really enjoyed it! Thank you.

Excellent analysis. Thank you.

Great discussion of an amazing song. Thanks!

Comment’s I’ve just read are from a year ago so I’m not sure you’re going to see mine. It’s 5/12/23 and my first viewing of your dive into Aqualung and I love it. MB is in my top five best guitarists. I have seen them from 1971-present. You need to view the 1970 Isle of Wight video performance of Tull. You will see the madness and musicianship of Ian and how tight the band was. I suggest that you also listen to the Minstrel in the Gallery album one of Martin’s incredible guitar works ! And I agree with you that Martin’s guitar works were overshadowed by Ian’s flute ( obviously by the critics of the time), but I recognized that Ian and Martin made the sound of Tull. I could go on and on. But now that I’m subscribed I will check out what you already have and I hope you will dive deeper into Tull ! I thoroughly enjoyed my first video of you and learned a lot so thanks. I will be commenting in the future. God bless you for your work!

With your looks, talent, and knowledge-if this world didn’t provide you with a ton of success- lost faith in humanity prevails! Thanks a ton for this!

Great show I love music of Jethro Tull scene in a few times

That was a great video Carl,thank you,

Thank you, this is special content. You’ve done a great job of putting this unusual, cool song into its musical, historical and emotional context. Your sartorial elegance, personal warmth and guitar playing chops are all big cherries on the cake. Looking forward to whatever is next. Bowie, Ziggy and Mick Ronson?

Love the channel Carl, have been subbed since the beginning, you break down some great iconic songs with so much insight and cool info, your guitar skills are unreal wish had half the talent, be really cool to see your band

Ive watched hundreds ,if not thousands of hours of music-centric video over the decades , this might be the singularly most thorough and illuminating, best thought outermost clearly ,demonstrated and enunciated offering I have ever seen! Period. Thank You so much! You deserve every success ,I cant wait to hear your music!!!

Was there. Saw it on stage. Lived it . . . now I understand it a bit better. Thanks!

This song has been with me my whole life, thank you for breaking this down now that I can understand the strange beauty of it.

This may very well be the best video every posted on KZfaq.... GREAT STUFF! Love you Carl!

Wow I can watch and learn from you all day. Was in a rut in my playing and inspiration and your videos have helped me re spark so much

Fascinating,learned a lot. Thanx !

One of my favourite all time songs - Great analysis... Many Thanks.👍

Thank you. That was great!

That was great. Looking forward to seeing more from you.

I absolutely enjoyed it Mr. Baldassarre! JT is another one of my favorite bands and IMHO, Martin Barre is cruelly underrated. His solo work is outstanding as well. While I do hear the 3rd played in the chord sequence, I always hear the 5th too, which I always thought Mr. Barre was playing. I sit corrected and I'll obviously have to listen more closely next time. I agree with you wholeheartedly too; it was the "Golden Age" of Rock/Progressive Rock and I for one am grateful that I was around during that period to experience it. Cheers, MB

You are a great enabler of learning. Thanks

You have the words that I don't to articulate our appreciation for Jethro Tull and their beautiful music. This was a thoroughly enjoyable watch and I'll be checking out more of your content. Thank you.

Thank you for sharing this with us!

Fantastic Breakdown!

Wow absolutely amazing

Right on love it🎸💯

Thank you, Carl! I thoroughly enjoyed your insights in JT! I especially liked your explanation of the "megaphone" voice that IA used on Aqualung. I was always interested in that and wondered why, thanks for that!

You make me dream again ❤ thanks...

One of my all-time favorite songs.

Outstanding breakdown of this iconic song CB. Always loved JT and MB but your analysis of this song has given it new life for me again. Like I'm hearing it in a way I never have before. Thanks so much! I have seen Tull and the Martin Barre Band a few times and highly recommend if he comes to your area to go see him. He's playing as great as he ever has!

Martin’s solo on Aqualung is one of my favorites.

I enjoyed that more than the song. I didnt know the song was so good until you explained it. Brill! Thank you.

One of the greatest rock guitar solos of all time." I think you are right! Thank you for this!

Absolutely Grand piece of work Carl! Spot on!

Great lesson and thoughtful insight

My first concert ever in 1971 when they released the album. One of the best concerts still to this day. I saw them at Rhode Island auditorium which is now a parking lot lol

I’ve listened to that album so many times but was never aware of some of what you shared in this video. I have a much deeper appreciation for the song now. Thanks!