From fstroupe@dixie-net.com Wed Jan 30 03:44:57 2002
Subject:Thick as a Brick/Favorite rock organists

> Also "Thick as a brick" by Jethro Tull. Again the settings are great. The
> playing is wonderful.

Thanks for the "Favorite rock organists" thread. When I added Thick as a
Brick to my list of favorites, I pulled it out to listen to it. I had
actually forgotten that I had purchased the CD probably 10 yrs ago and ran
across it last week, looking for something else. I realize that it is my
favorite album and song of all time, having worn out probably 2 or 3 lp's,
and an 8 track listening to it. (the list had been narrowed down to
probably 5 albums) Why? The organ of course. (in an earlier posting I
mentioned that I was a long time guitar player/longer time organ lover)

For those who have never heard this album, it really has very little to do
with anything else written by Ian Anderson, or recorded by Jethro Tull. It
is a nearly 42 minute song in two parts, that has various movements, as in
an opera or something classical, with a couple of recurring themes.(musical
and lyrical) It was released in 1972, but has little or nothing to do with
the other music that was being released at that time. Seems I read
somewhere that it hit #1 in the British charts, but it wasn't that popular
in the States, though they did do a 3 minute or so outtake that did get a
little airplay. Actually, the acoustic guitar intro is in a car commercial
presently being shown on TV. The lyrics are total nonsense, though give the
impression of deep, thoughtful, meaningful lessons. I have always assumed
that "thick as a brick" was Brit Slang for stupid or insane.

There is a tremendous amount of organ in this song, probably during 90% of
the song and much of the time it is right in your face. Surprisingly, there
is very little lead guitar in it, with all of the exitement being given by
the wonderful organ playing. The many variations of playing styles, drawbar
settings, and Leslie manipulation, keeps the organ from ever getting boring.

The LP jacket is probably the most inventive I have ever seen, a probably 12
page newspaper of utter nonsense, somewhat relating to the lyrics of the
song.

Watched or read an interview with Ian Anderson once where he said that it
was probably the easiest song he had ever written, since he had plenty of
time to say what he wanted to say in it. (musically)

Sorry for rambling, thought that someone that had never heard it before
might be interested. Highly recommended.

Frank Stroupe
Myrtle, MS