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A
Studio album by Jethro Tull
Released	29 August 1980
Recorded	16 May – 6 June 1980
Studio	Maison Rouge Studios, Fulham, London Maison Rogue Mobile, Radnage
Genre	Electronic rock progressive rock folk rock
Length	42:30
Label	Chrysalis
Producer	Ian Anderson Robin Black
Jethro Tull chronology
Stormwatch (1979) A (1980) The Broadsword and the Beast (1982)
Singles from A
"Fylingdale Flyer" / "Working John, Working Joe" Released: 10 October 1980

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music

A is the 13th studio album by British rock band Jethro Tull. It was released on 29 August 1980 in the UK and 1 September of the same year in the United States.

The album was initially written and recorded with the intention of being frontman Ian Anderson's debut solo album. Hence the album's title: the master tapes were marked "A" for Anderson during recording. However, the album was eventually released as a Jethro Tull album after pressure from Chrysalis Records. Anderson has since stated that he regrets allowing the album to be released under the Jethro Tull name.

Musically, the album was a departure from prior Tull works, adopting more of an electronic rock sound with heavy use of synthesizers, although still retaining the band's trademark folk influence and Anderson's flute playing. Lyrically, the album saw a similar departure from the fantasy and folklore themes of previous Tull work, instead emphasizing contemporary matters such as the Cold War. The album was the first Tull album released following a large lineup change which saw drummer Barrie "Barriemore" Barlow and keyboardists John Evan and Dee Palmer departing the band in 1980 while bassist John Glascock had died from heart complications the previous year. The album instead features Glascock's touring replacement Dave Pegg on bass in his first recorded appearance with the band, Mark Craney on drums and Eddie Jobson on keyboards (with Jobson credited as a "special guest") and electric violin.

Overview

A was recorded as an intended Ian Anderson solo album before Tull's record label, Chrysalis, asked that it become credited to the group. This is the reason for the album's title, as the tapes were marked "A" for "Anderson". It is noted for its more synthesiser-based sound, a fact which created controversy among many of the band's fans. On the other hand, it features a folk-influenced piece, "The Pine Marten's Jig".

A features a dramatically different line-up of Tull from the band's previous album, Stormwatch (1979). Former keyboardist John Evan and organist Dee Palmer were fired from the group, while drummer Barriemore Barlow left the band due to depression over the death of John Glascock as well as plans to start his own band.

The only members of Tull to appear on both Stormwatch (1979) and A (1980) are Ian Anderson and Martin Barre. This is also bassist Dave Pegg's first appearance on a Tull studio recording, but he had become a member of the band during the Stormwatch tour in 1979, replacing the deceased Glascock. Conflicting reasons have been given for the line-up change. Anderson has stated that he wanted to take the band in a different direction from the folk rock and progressive rock of the 1970s.

Barriemore Barlow was unhappy with the direction the band was taking and later stated that he would have left anyway. However, biographer David Rees reports in his book Minstrels in the Gallery: A History of Jethro Tull (2001) that Anderson had never intended to replace Jethro Tull's previous line-up with the musicians who recorded A, but was forced by Chrysalis Records, which had decided to release his 'solo' album under the name Jethro Tull. This claim was further evidenced by Anderson's note in the 2003 re-release of the album.

A 40th anniversary box set was released in April 2021, featuring the album remixed by Steven Wilson. It includes some bonus tracks, a DVD of Slipstream, and audio of a concert in Los Angeles.

Track listing

All tracks are written by Ian Anderson with additional music material from Eddie Jobson; arranged by Jethro Tull

• The 2004 remastered two-disc edition includes Slipstream as a bonus DVD.

2021 40th Anniversary A La Mode Edition

Personnel

• Ian Anderson – vocals, flute
• Martin Barre – guitar
• Dave Pegg – bass guitar, mandolin
• Mark Craney – drums

Guest personnel

• Eddie Jobson – keyboards, synthesizer, electric violin on The Pine Marten's Jig

Technical staff

• Robin Black – sound engineer
• John Shaw – photography
• Peter Wagg – art direction

Charts

References

1. "Music Week" (PDF). p. 32.
2. Eder, Bruce. A review allmusic.com. Retrieved 20 June 2011.
3. Larkin, Colin (2007). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (4th ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0195313734.
4. Kovarsky, Jerry (17 November 2016). "Interview: Eddie Jobson". Keyboard Magazine. Retrieved 28 July 2019.
5. A New Day Yesterday: The 25th Anniversary Collection, 1969–1994
6. David Rees (1998). Minstrels in the Gallery. p. 224.
7. "Jethro Tull 'A' 40th Anniversary Edition". Jethrotull.com. 17 February 2021. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
8. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 155. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
9. "Austriancharts.at – Jethro Tull – A" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
10. "Top RPM Albums: Issue 4703a". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
11. "Dutchcharts.nl – Jethro Tull – A" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
12. "Offiziellecharts.de – Jethro Tull – A" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
13. "Norwegiancharts.com – Jethro Tull – A". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
14. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
15. "Jethro Tull Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
16. "Ultratop.be – Jethro Tull – A" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
17. "Ultratop.be – Jethro Tull – A" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
18. "Offiziellecharts.de – Jethro Tull – A" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
19. "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2021. 16. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
20. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
21. "Swisscharts.com – Jethro Tull – A". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
22. "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 20, 2024.

External links

• A (1980) at AllMusic
• A (2004) at AllMusic (Bonus DVD)

v t e Jethro Tull
Ian Anderson David Goodier John O'Hara Scott Hammond Jack Clark Mick Abrahams Clive Bunker Glenn Cornick Tony Iommi Martin Barre John Evan Jeffrey Hammond Barriemore Barlow John Glascock Dee Palmer Dave Pegg Mark Craney Eddie Jobson Gerry Conway Peter-John Vettese Paul Burgess Doane Perry Don Airey Maartin Allcock Andrew Giddings Dave Mattacks Jonathan Noyce Florian Opahle Joe Parrish
Studio albums	This Was Stand Up Benefit Aqualung Thick as a Brick A Passion Play War Child Minstrel in the Gallery Too Old to Rock 'n' Roll: Too Young to Die! Songs from the Wood Heavy Horses Stormwatch A The Broadsword and the Beast Under Wraps Crest of a Knave Rock Island Catfish Rising Roots to Branches J-Tull Dot Com The Jethro Tull Christmas Album The Zealot Gene RökFlöte
Live albums	Bursting Out Live at Hammersmith '84 A Little Light Music Jethro Tull in Concert Living with the Past Nothing Is Easy: Live at the Isle of Wight 1970 Aqualung Live Live at Montreux 2003 Live at Madison Square Garden 1978 Live at Carnegie Hall 1970
Compilations	Living in the Past M.U. – The Best of Jethro Tull Repeat – The Best of Jethro Tull – Vol II Original Masters 20 Years of Jethro Tull: Highlights Nightcap The Best of Jethro Tull – The Anniversary Collection Through the Years The Very Best Of The Best of Acoustic Jethro Tull The Essential 50 for 50
Boxed sets	20 Years of Jethro Tull 25th Anniversary Box Set
Videos	Slipstream 20 Years of Jethro Tull 25th Anniversary Video Living with the Past A New Day Yesterday Nothing Is Easy: Live at the Isle of Wight 1970 Live at Montreux 2003 Jack in the Green Live at Madison Square Garden 1978 Live at AVO Session Basel Around the World Live
Songs	"Sunshine Day" "A Song for Jeffrey" "Love Story" "Living in the Past" "Bourée" "Sweet Dream" "The Witch's Promise" "Teacher" "Aqualung" "Cross-Eyed Mary" "Mother Goose" "Hymn 43" "Locomotive Breath" "Life Is a Long Song" "Bungle in the Jungle" "Skating Away on the Thin Ice of the New Day" "Too Old to Rock 'n' Roll: Too Young to Die" "The Whistler" "Songs from the Wood" "Heavy Horses" "Dun Ringill"
Related	Discography Members A Billion Hands Concert The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus A Classic Case Thick as a Brick 2 Jethro Tull – The String Quartets
Category

• Jethro Tull (band) albums
• 1980 albums
• Chrysalis Records albums
• Island Records albums
• Albums produced by Ian Anderson