Difference between revisions of "Aqualung"

Revision as of 01:43, May 13, 2008

"Aqualung" is a progressive rock album released by Jethro Tull. The album was released on March 19, 1971.

About The Album

Aqualung was one of the first albums to be recorded at Island Studios out in London. While they were recording, Led Zeppelin was mixing their untitled fourth album. Aqualung was Jethro Tull's fourth studio album.

Side A begins with two sketches, including some characters that are less than reputable (Aqualung and Cross Eyed Mary). Then, it includes two autobiographical tracks, both written by Ian Anderson. They are about visiting his father when he was chronically ill.

Side B is about being "Pro-God, Anti-Church". This is because, as it states many times on side B, having an organized religion can restrict somebody to worshiping God in a certain way, thereby not enhancing it.

Cover

The cover depicts the title character, Aqualung, standing and eying something. The back cover shows Aqualung sitting on a corner. It was drawn by Burt Silverman. Although Silverman says that it was inspired by Anderson, Anderson denies this.

Track Listing

Side A

Aqualung-6:31
Cross-Eyed Mary-4:06
Cheap Day Return-1:21
Mother Goose-3:51
Wond'ring Aloud-1:53
Up To Me-3:15

Side B

My God-7:08
Hymn 43-3:14
Slipstream-1:13
Locomotive Breath-4:23
Wind Up-6:01

Bonus Tracks

Included with the 1996 and 1999 re-releases of the album were some bonus tracks.

Lick Your Fingers Clean-2:46
Wind Up (Quad Version)-5:24
Excerpts From The Ian Anderson Interview [Mojo Magazine]-13:59
Songs For Jeffery (BBC)-2:51
Fat Man (BBC)-2:57
Bourée (BBC)-3:58

Total Time (Original Release)-42:55 Total Time (Re-release)-75:27

Track Breakdown

Aqualung

This is the first song on the album, coming before "Cross-Eyed Mary". The song is about a pervert named Aqualung who mastrabates to little girls (Spitting out pieces of his broken luck.). Aqaulung is probably a homless person because he is not dressed up in great clothes (Snot running down his nose --/Greasy fingers smearing shabby clothes.). Aqualung hangs out at the park to watch the little girls play. He is very paranoid about the police coming (Aqualung my friend --/Don't you start away uneasy/You poor old sod, you see, it's only me.).

Cross-Eyed Mary

This is the second song on the album, following "Aqualung" and coming before "Cheap Day Return". The song first starts out with a scene of a homless man who would do anything to get back at the rich people ignoring him (And who would steal the candy/From a laughing baby's mouth/If he could take it from the money man.). Then, the song goes to Mary, who is a rich girl (Dines in Hampstead village//On expense accounted gruel). In this song, whilst out at the playground, she notices Aqualung, who she gives money to. She takes from her rich house and gives to the poor (She's the Robin Hood of Highgate --/Helps the poor man get along.).

Reception

The album was 7th in Billboard Music Charts' North America. The album was 4th in the UK Charts. The song "Hymn 43" was 91st on Billboards Pop Singles chart. The album was ranked 337th on Rolling Stones top 500 albums of all time. This is Jethro Tull's most popular album.

Quadraphonic

This was one of two Jethro Tull albums released using quadraphonic sound (the other is War Child). One difference between the actual album and between the quadraphonic version was that the song "Wind Up" was preformed in a higher key (this version is included in the re-release). Also, the song "Aqualung" has two riffs at the begining of it instead of just one in the quadraphonic version.

External Links

@@ Line 50: / Line 50: @@
 Total Time (Original Release)-42:55
 Total Time (Re-release)-75:27
+==Track Breakdown==
+===Aqualung===
+This is the first song on the album, coming before "Cross-Eyed Mary". The song is about a pervert named Aqualung who mastrabates to little girls (Spitting out pieces of his broken luck.). Aqaulung is probably a homless person because he is not dressed up in great clothes (Snot running down his nose --/Greasy fingers smearing shabby clothes.). Aqualung hangs out at the park to watch the little girls play. He is very paranoid about the police coming (Aqualung my friend --/Don't you start away uneasy/You poor old sod, you see, it's only me.).
+===Cross-Eyed Mary===
+This is the second song on the album, following "Aqualung" and coming before "Cheap Day Return". The song first starts out with a scene of a homless man who would do anything to get back at the rich people ignoring him (And who would steal the candy/From a laughing baby's mouth/If he could take it from the money man.). Then, the song goes to Mary, who is a rich girl (Dines in Hampstead village//On expense accounted gruel). In this song, whilst out at the playground, she notices Aqualung, who she gives money to. She takes from her rich house and gives to the poor (She's the Robin Hood of Highgate --/Helps the poor man get along.).
@@ Line 64: / Line 72: @@
 This was one of two Jethro Tull albums released using quadraphonic sound (the other is ''War Child''). One difference between the actual album and between the quadraphonic version was that the song "Wind Up" was preformed in a higher key (this version is included in the re-release). Also, the song "Aqualung" has two riffs at the begining of it instead of just one in the quadraphonic version.
+==External Links==
+*[http://www.musicsonglyrics.com/J/jethrotulllyrics/jethrotullaqualunglyrics.htm Aqualung Lyrics]
+*[http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/jethrotull/crosseyedmary.html Cross-Eyed Mary Lyrics]
 [[category:albums]]