MINSTRELS IN THE
GALLERY - A History Of Jethro Tull
by David Rees (1998) &
MINSTRELS IN THE GALLERY - Die Geschichte von Jethro
Tull
by David Rees (German translation, 2001)
David
Rees' book is the first biography of the band in the
english language and its release coincided with
Jethro Tull's 30th anniversary. He describes the
genesis and development of Jethro Tull from the early
days in 1968 when they started out as a local blues
band up to 1998, when they are still touring and
recording and have the status of one of the most
famous and "still existing" rock bands. The
band and its music are portrayed against the
background of developments in the rock music of the
late sixties, seventies, eighties and nineties.
Though most of the information is based on articles
in the music press and interviews with past and
present band members, a lot comes from personal
interpretation and assumptions. The history is
described from a linear, chronological perspective.
The appendix contains a chapter on Mick Abrahams and
Blodwyn Pig, a discography and a
"gigography". I would like to recommend
this book for readers who want to get an overall,
critical and from time to time humorous view on the
evolution Jethro Tull went through in the past three
decades.
* Jan Voorbij
Description: SAF/Firefly Publishing,
Wembley, Middx, UK, 1998; ISBN 0946719225; 218 pp.
with b/w pictures, discography and complete concert
list; paperback.
Availability: the book can be ordered online at Barnes &
Noble Books
This book was translated in German in
2001.
Description: Published by Star Cluster,
2001;ISBN: 3925005609; Hardback, 240 pp. with b/w
pictures.
Availability: Bol.Com Books
JETHRO
TULL COMPLETE LYRICS
by Karl Schramm (ed.) & Gerard J. Burns (ed.
)(second edition - 2000)
This book contains all lyrics to the
songs from "This Was" up to "Roots To
Branches", including "Nightcap". The
lyrics were authorized by Ian Anderson. There is an
introduction, "Talking Tull", in which Ian
Anderson shines his light on the various albums
against the background of the genesis of Jethro Tull.
B/w photographs, of which several originate from
Anderson's personal archive, and a song title index
are included. I would recommend it as a great work of
reference as it contains the authorized lyrics of all
the officially released albums up to 1995.
* Jan Voorbij
Description: ISBN 3930378116; Palmyra, 1989. Second edition:
2000. Distributed by International Music
Publications Ltd., Southend Road, Woodford Green,
Essex IG8 8HN, England; 336 pp.; with pictures b/w;
24,5 cm; paperback.
Availability: Chester Hopkins merchandising (details
on The Official
Jethro Tull Website) or through Amazon.co.uk. This is the
edition that was originally included as a hardback
inside the 25th Anniversary Aqualung box-set back in
1996.
IAN
ANDERSON & JETHRO TULL"TOO OLD TO ROCK 'N' ROLL: TOO YOUNG
TO DIE!
by Repik Vladimir
December 2006 saw the release of a new book on Tull, that was published in the Czech Republic. Repik Vladimir translated the Tull lyrics into Czech. Due to the fact that Tull have not released a new recording for more than 3 years, the book represents the complete lyrics of 40 years of the band's existence. By publishing the book the Czech fandom (which is very strong) celebrates the 40 years of Jethro Tull. The book contains the lyrics both in Czech and English. The book's name is Too Old To Rock'n'Roll: Too Young to Die, the publisher's name is Volvox Globator.
More details here http://www.volvox.cz/knihy/evokace/evokace.php#jethro_tull
The book is available through www.volvox.cz; mailto:volvox@volvox.cz
JETHRO TULL
by
Javier de Juan (1984)
In Spanish. A short biography of the
original Jethro Tull (the British agricultural
inventor and farmer), a biography of the band year by
year from 1967 up to 1982, the biography of each
member of the band including their works before
joining J.T. and before leaving the band. The
censorship: some albums were censored under Franco's
dictatorship, esp. Aqualung, Jethro Tull in Spain
(the concerts from 1974 their first visit to Spain to
1982), Songs anthology (English - Spanish, including
9 songs of Aqualung, 2 songs of Living in the Past,
whole Thick as a brick and A Passion Play, 7 from War
Child, 6 from Minstrel, 3 songs from Songs of the
Wood, 2 from Stormwatch and the song Too old to
r&r, discography (Lp's and singles) and a short
bootleg discography. Illustrated with b/w pictures.
Availability: Ediciones Júcar, Menendez
Valdez, 33-1, 33201 Gijon - Asturias, Spain
PHONE: 34-985-349.684, FAX : 34-985-349.542,
E-MAIL : gea_edi@yahoo.es
Price: € 6.00 (excl. p&p)
TO BE THE PLAY
by
Brian Meyers
This book has the distinction of being
the first ever published about Jethro Tull. It is
also the rarest, and the most ridiculed. Nothing is
known about the author, Brian Meyers, who gives us a
"timely meditation on the creations and
performances of Jethro Tull" in the form of a
dialogue between a young man and a middle-aged
professor of English Literature. The young man is a
Tull fanatic who is trying to persuade the professor
that "Anderson is the strongest poet ever to
appear in the entire Western Tradition", taking
Harold Bloom's work of literary theory, 'The Anxiety
of Influence', as his main point of reference.
Nietzsche's 'The Birth of Tragedy' and William
Blake's 'The Marriage of Heaven and Hell' are also
brought in to support his argument. In amongst
all this theorising are entertaining descriptions of
Tull's stage shows from 1972 to 1978. All in all
a truly bizarre mix of information and mad-cap
opinion which, depending on your personal taste, will
either provide much food for thought or much
laughter. Or both!
*
Andy Jackson
Description: Fishergate Publishing
Company, Inc., 2521 Riva Road, Annapolis, Maryland
21401; Library of Congress Catalog Card No. 78-70864;
Published October 1978; pp.140.
Availability: sold out. As a collectors' item, many
fans are hunting for them. If you're prepared to pay
a ridiculous $ 100 for a $ 5 pocket book, I won't
stop you.
Back to
TullBooks 1
