The Minstrel and the Symphony: Jethro Tull, ELP, and Progressive Rock's Wilder Shores

Get in touch! It seems like every ten years or so, society experiences a great reset. The end of the ‘60s was like that. The idealism and teen-culture of the ‘60’s was ten years older and moving into adult life. Just like everything else in life that was questioned and re-invented, some musicians began pushing the boundaries of what rock music could become. Across the Atlantic, and as Ian Anderson, of Jethro Tull put it, English rockers “were trying to be originators and not simply relying on American music." Some of the most ground-breaking ‘60s albums led directly to the rise of prog, most prominently, The Beatles Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band . This album set a whole new expectation for what bands could do, and for what rock could become. In this third and final part of our Progressive Rock episode, we're rocking out with some of the greats - including Jethro Tull, and Emerson, Lake and Palmer! Life is a long song, friends. Come sing it with us! Themes In this Episode: Classical touches in progressive rock Early Jethro Tull Martin Barre joins the band Tull's themes - a more relatable sort of prog Ian Anderson - An Extraordinary Minstrel Why the flute? What made Tull so unique Early Emerson, Lake and Palmer ELP put their unique stamp on classical music A dystopian future: Tarkus Food For Thought or Thoughtful Food? Brain Salad Surgery Tracks Genesis - The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway Genesis - Blood on the Rooftops Jethro Tull - Bouree The John Evan Smash - Blues for the 18th Jethro Tull - Locomotive Breath Jethro Tull - Wind Up Jethro Tull - Cup of Wonder Jethro Tull - Songs from the Wood Jethro Tull - Thick as a Brick Part 1 Jethro Tull - My Sunday Feeling Jethro Tull - Excerpt; Thick as a Brick Part 2 The Nice - The Thoughts of Emerlist Davjack The Crazy World of Arthur Brown - Fire ELP - The Nutcracker ELP - Still You Turn Me On ELP - From the Beginning ELP - The Barbarian ELP - Tarkus ELP - Still... You Turn Me On ELP - Karn Evil #9 (first impression) Genesis - Duke's Travels/ Duke's End