Jethro Tull will be celebrating their 50th anniversary with two career-spanning compilations – a comprehensive three-disc album 50 for 50 as well as 50th Anniversary Hits, a single disc overview of the band’s catalogue. Both are due out May 25th on Parlophone.
50 for 50 has been personally curated by the band’s founder, singer and flautist, Ian Anderson. The tracks are arranged roughly in chronological order, taking the listener on a journey through Jethro Tull’s various musical phases. According to Anderson he chose songs that “reflect the breadth and musical diversity of Jethro Tull over the band’s 50 year career.”
The first disc of 50 for 50 begins with early blues-influenced songs such as, “Nothing Is Easy” and “Beggars Farm”, moves to their hard rock hits “Aqualung” and “Locomotive Breath”, then to prog rock tunes such as “Skating Away” and “Critique Oblique.” It also includes such folk songs as “Heavy Horses” and “Songs From the Wood.”
The 50th Anniversary Hits album is a more condensed overview of Jethro Tull’s career with only 15 tracks. It still showcases the band’s evolving styles and will be available both on CD and on vinyl (due out August 31st).
50 for 50 Track List
1. Nothing Is Easy – Stand Up(1969)
2. Love Story” – This Was(1968)
3. Beggars Farm” – This Was(1968)
4. Living In The Past” – Living In The Past(1972)
5. A Song For Jeffrey” – This Was(1968)
6. A New Day Yesterday” – Stand Up(1969)
7. The Witch’s Promise” – Benefit(1970)
8. Mother Goose” – Aqualung(1971)
9. With You There To Help Me” – Benefit(1970)
10. Teacher” – Benefit(1970)
11. Life Is A Long Song” – Living In The Past(1972)
12. Sweet Dream” (Studio) – Stand Up(1969)
13. Aqualung” – Aqualung(1971)
14. Minstrel In The Gallery” – Minstrel In The Gallery(1975)
15. Critique Oblique” (Steven Wilson Remix) – A Passion Play(1973)
16. Weathercock” – Heavy Horses(1978)
17. Cross-Eyed Mary” – Aqualung(1971)
18. Bouree” – Stand Up(1969)
19. Dun Ringill” – Stormwatch(1979)
20. Heavy Horses” – Heavy Horses(1978)
21. Hunting Girl” – Songs From The Wood(1977)
22. Bungle In The Jungle” –War Child(1974)
23. Salamander” – Songs From The Wood(1977)
24. Pussy Willow” – The Broadsword And The Beast(1982)
25. Too Old To Rock ‘n’ Roll: Too Young To Die” – Too Old To Rock ‘n’ Roll: Too Young To Die!(1976)
26. Songs From The Wood” – Songs From The Wood(1977)
27. The Whistler” –Songs From The Wood(1977)
28. Really Don’t Mind/See There A Son Is Born” – Thick As A Brick(1972)
29. Moths” –Heavy Horses(1978)
30. One White Duck / Nothing At All” – Minstrel In The Gallery(1975)
31. Cup Of Wonder” – Songs From The Wood(1977)
32. Ring Out Solstice Bells” – The Jethro Tull Christmas Album(2003)
33. Skating Away” – War Child(1974)
34. A Christmas Song” – The Jethro Tull Christmas Album(2003)
35. One Brown Mouse” – Heavy Horses(1978)
36. Rare And Precious Chain” – Roots To Branches(1995)
37. Kissing Willie” – Rock Island(1989)
38. Rocks On The Road” – Catfish Rising(1991)
39. Fylingdale Flyer” – A(1980)
40. Paparazzi” – Under Wraps(1984)
41. North Sea Oil” – Stormwatch(1979)
42. Steel Monkey” – Crest Of A Knave(1987)
43. Black Sunday” – A(1980)
44. European Legacy” – Under Wraps(1984)
45. Budapest” – Crest Of A Knave(1987)
46. Broadsword” – The Broadsword And The Beast(1982)
47. Dot Com” – J-Tull Dot Com(1999)
48. Farm On The Freeway” – Crest Of A Knave(1987)
49. This Is Not Love” – Catfish Rising(1991)
50. Locomotive Breath” – Aqualung(1971)
50th Anniversary Hits Track List
1. Love Story
2. Living In The Past
3. Life Is A Long Song
4. Sweet Dream
5. The Witch’s Promise
6. Aqualung
7. Dun Ringhill
8. Cross-Eyed Mary
9. Bouree
10. Bungle In The Jungle
11. Steel Monkey
12. Too Old To Rock ‘n’ Roll
13. Ring Out Solstice Bells
14. Farm On The Freeway
15. Locomotive Breath
Jethro Tull is also celebrating their 50th anniversary with a massive worldwide tour. The tour launched on March 1st in Denmark and will be heading to Phoenix, AZ on May 30th for the first North American leg. They will make a brief foray to the Czech Republic for two dates in June and then return to the US, wrapping up the first North American leg of the tour on July 7th in Montreal, QC. The band will be in Europe from July 12th – August 25th and will begin their second North American tour on August 31st in Minneapolis, MN. Their final US date will be on September 12th in Wallingford CT. They will then head back to Europe and will finish off the anniversary tour in Zurich, Switzerland on December 8th. Visit Jethrotull.com to buy tickets.
