I got so caught up in the music that I forgot to mention a few important details: Burton Cummings learned to play the flute specifically for this song.
Poor Ian Anderson. He often gets an unfair rap due to memories of him standing on one leg while playing the flute and theatrically flailing around the stage. But, I think Tull's three albums 'Stand Up,' 'Benefit,' and 'Aqualung,' plus their various singles between 1968 and 1971, are superb. Lyrically, they are deep and touch upon complex issues such as the British class system and religion, and these particular albums were before they ventured too deep into the prog/fantasy/Tolkien'esque narratives, which I bailed on.
I don't think he's gotten much pity in these parts; I adore his music and singing and have featured the band a few times. What I meant in the essay is that most of his playing will probably always be out of my league. I remember failing miserably at trying to do some of his tonguing work and vocalizing while playing when I was at the peak of my self-taught abilities.
I wrote a long essay about how Tull is the one band I have probably had the most music disagreements about. I love their 1968-1971 period, but when I defend them, most people just hark on the pomp, pretentiousness, and overindulgence of later years Tull (fair enough!) rather than taking the time to appreciate their early records for what they are. I have also learned that Ian's voice is one you either like or dislike and those who side with the latter struggle to get past it.
I've always really liked the flute on Jethro Tull's Living in the Past, Heart's Love Alive, and Men at Work's Down Under. It's a great instrument that takes me to some deep, mysterious place!
This is lovely! I wouldn’t have pegged it as a Guess Who song and definitely didn’t recognize Burton Cummings’ vocals until later in the song.
Good luck with your flute progression. Back in the 90s I decided I wanted to learn the harmonica. So I bought one and then, without any training or practice or learning how to play scales or notes or anything, I sat down with Blues Traveller’s Four and attempted, brute force, to try to replicate some of John Popper’s solos. Needless to say, it didn’t go well and it ended up being a short-lived experiment.
So glad you like it, Mark. I think many people have had an experience similar to yours, with the same result. Outside of musically gifted individuals, learning to play requires a lot of practice, doing boring scales and arpeggios and whatnot. Harmonica has always seemed deceptive to me, and I appreciate hearing it played well.
I hope your retirement and moving preps are proceeding apace and with as little stress as possible.
I definitely appreciate hearing the harmonica played well. The moving prep is progressing slowly but surely. We made a commitment when we got back from our vacation at the beginning of April that we would start consistently working on the downsizing tasks a little bit each day. For the most part we’ve stuck to it and I feel like we’re in pretty good shape with three weeks left to move out.
I got so caught up in the music that I forgot to mention a few important details: Burton Cummings learned to play the flute specifically for this song.
A classic Canadian rock tune.
The book “She’s Come Undone” by Wally Lamb, brought this song back into my life in the early 00s. If you haven’t read it, it’s as good as the song. 🎵
I hadn't even heard of it before now. Thanks, Al; I'm always looking for something good to read.
Poor Ian Anderson. He often gets an unfair rap due to memories of him standing on one leg while playing the flute and theatrically flailing around the stage. But, I think Tull's three albums 'Stand Up,' 'Benefit,' and 'Aqualung,' plus their various singles between 1968 and 1971, are superb. Lyrically, they are deep and touch upon complex issues such as the British class system and religion, and these particular albums were before they ventured too deep into the prog/fantasy/Tolkien'esque narratives, which I bailed on.
I don't think he's gotten much pity in these parts; I adore his music and singing and have featured the band a few times. What I meant in the essay is that most of his playing will probably always be out of my league. I remember failing miserably at trying to do some of his tonguing work and vocalizing while playing when I was at the peak of my self-taught abilities.
I wrote a long essay about how Tull is the one band I have probably had the most music disagreements about. I love their 1968-1971 period, but when I defend them, most people just hark on the pomp, pretentiousness, and overindulgence of later years Tull (fair enough!) rather than taking the time to appreciate their early records for what they are. I have also learned that Ian's voice is one you either like or dislike and those who side with the latter struggle to get past it.
https://michaelfell.substack.com/p/wondring-aloud?utm_source=profile&utm_medium=reader2
I've always really liked the flute on Jethro Tull's Living in the Past, Heart's Love Alive, and Men at Work's Down Under. It's a great instrument that takes me to some deep, mysterious place!
First concert I saw was Guess Who opening for Creedence.
What a show! Thanks for sharing, Thomas. If I'd been there, I would have probably left after The Guess Who was done... never been a big CCR fan.
This is lovely! I wouldn’t have pegged it as a Guess Who song and definitely didn’t recognize Burton Cummings’ vocals until later in the song.
Good luck with your flute progression. Back in the 90s I decided I wanted to learn the harmonica. So I bought one and then, without any training or practice or learning how to play scales or notes or anything, I sat down with Blues Traveller’s Four and attempted, brute force, to try to replicate some of John Popper’s solos. Needless to say, it didn’t go well and it ended up being a short-lived experiment.
So glad you like it, Mark. I think many people have had an experience similar to yours, with the same result. Outside of musically gifted individuals, learning to play requires a lot of practice, doing boring scales and arpeggios and whatnot. Harmonica has always seemed deceptive to me, and I appreciate hearing it played well.
I hope your retirement and moving preps are proceeding apace and with as little stress as possible.
I definitely appreciate hearing the harmonica played well. The moving prep is progressing slowly but surely. We made a commitment when we got back from our vacation at the beginning of April that we would start consistently working on the downsizing tasks a little bit each day. For the most part we’ve stuck to it and I feel like we’re in pretty good shape with three weeks left to move out.