The 2018 calendar is crowded with half-century anniversaries. 1968 was a year of worldwide unrest as well as a slew of great albums. Jethro Tull’s first LP came out that year and in tribute, founder-flautist Ian Anderson culled through 50 years of releases for this three-CD set. The early tracks were a unique convergence of blues, jazz, rock, British folk and Eastern influences. By the close of disc one, Jethro Tull had moved on to hard rock (“Aqualung”) and prog rock (“A Passion Play” excerpt). Disc two echoes Anderson’s lifestyle as a gentleman farmer in the late ’70s in songs contemplating the countryside (“Heavy Horses”). By this time Tull had become nothing more than Anderson’s backup band and included ex-members of British folk-rock pioneers Fairport Convention. Disc three, mostly covering the ’80s and ’90s, boasts a surprising number of strong songs.
50 for 50 includes a copiously detailed booklet chronicling the band’s long story and is a well-chosen collection representing Jethro Tull from the beginning through almost now. Anderson’s band is still on the road and will perform at Ravinia Festival in Highland Park, Ill., on Sept. 3.
