Aqualung (1971)

Aqualung is the fourth studio album by the British rock band Jethro Tull, released on 19 March 1971 by Chrysalis Records. Blending progressive rock, folk and hard rock, the album expands on the eclectic musical approaches explored on the band's previous albums by featuring riff-heavy rock songs alongside acoustic, singer-songwriter material placing greater emphasis on lead vocalist and primary songwriter Ian Anderson. Lyrically, the album addresses themes of religion and spirituality, alongside social issues such as homelessness and prostitution. Its prominent critique of organized religion led some critics to describe Aqualung as a concept album, a characterization the band has consistently denied.

Recorded at Island Records' new recording studio in Basing Street, London, Aqualung was Jethro Tull's first album with keyboardist John Evan as a full-time member, their first with new bassist Jeffrey Hammond, and last featuring Clive Bunker on drums, who left the band shortly after the release of the album. The recording process was hindered by technical difficulties associated with the new studio, with Anderson expressing doubts about the album, viewing it as a make-or-break moment for the band.

Aqualung was a major commercial success, becoming Jethro Tull's best-selling album with sales exceeding seven million copies worldwide and marking the band's emergence as a regular presence on FM radio and major arena act. Initial critical reception was mostly positive, with the album since receiving widespread retrospective acclaim for its musical experimentation and engagement with philosophical and social themes. It produced two successful singles, "Hymn 43" and "Locomotive Breath", the latter of which remains one of the band's most iconic songs. The album's title track, "Aqualung", has become one of the band's best-known songs, due in part to its distinctive lead guitar riff played by Martin Barre. Aqualung has frequently appeared on best-of album lists and has been cited as an influence by numerous artists within rock and progressive music.

Production

The bulk of the album was recorded at Basing Street Studios, London, in December 1970, with some re-recording taking place in February 1971 after the January European tour. Two tracks had been laid down at Morgan Studios earlier in 1970: a first version of "My God" on 11–12 April; then "Wond'ring Aloud, Again" on 21 June. Those two early 1970 tracks were recorded with a different bass player than used for the main recordings. After the last of the 1970 American tours, bass player Glenn Cornick was fired from the band, and was replaced with Jeffrey Hammond, an old friend of Ian Anderson. Aqualung was Hammond's first album with the band, and the first album for keyboard player John Evan as a full member; his previous involvement had been as an additional musician on Benefit.

The album was one of the first to be recorded at Island Records' newly opened recording studios on Basing Street. Led Zeppelin did some recording for Led Zeppelin IV at the same time, though in the smaller of the two studios in the converted chapel. In an interview on the 25th anniversary edition of the album, Tull's bandleader Ian Anderson said that trying to record in the larger studio was very difficult, because of its "horrible, cold, echoey" feel.

As with the previous Tull albums, production was done by Anderson and the band's manager, Terry Ellis. Anderson wanted a producer, but felt he would be uncomfortable sharing creativity and authority with another person; and was concerned about having a producer who would take drugs. He spoke about that dilemma with George Martin, who concluded that it would be better if they carried on doing it themselves. The orchestral segments were arranged by Dee Palmer, who had worked with the band since 1968's This Was, and would later join as a keyboard player. The master reels were assembled at Apple Studios on 2 March 1971. Aqualung would be the last Jethro Tull album to include Clive Bunker as a band member, as he retired shortly after recording to start a family.

Musical style

The songs on the album encompass a variety of musical genres, with elements of folk, blues, psychedelia, and hard rock. In a stylistic departure from Jethro Tull's earlier albums, many of Aqualung's songs are acoustic. "Cheap Day Return", "Wond'ring Aloud" and "Slipstream" are short, completely acoustic "bridges", and "Mother Goose" is mostly acoustic. Anderson claims his main inspirations for writing the album were Roy Harper and Bert Jansch.

Songs and themes

Aqualung has generally been regarded as a concept album with a central theme of "the distinction between religion and God". The album's "dour musings on faith and religion" have marked it as "one of the most cerebral albums ever to reach millions of rock listeners". Academic discussions of the nature of concept albums have frequently listed Aqualung amongst their number.