Songs From The Wood [Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered]

This album is the epitome of Jethro Tull. The instrument playing is simply wonderful, the songs are evocative and meaningful and the production is great. The blend of rock and folk has never worked better than it does here. The highlights for me are the title track itself, The Whistler, Hunting Girl and Velvet Green although people new to the album might be more familiar with Ring Out Soltace Bells, a regular on the Christmas playlists of many radio stations.

This album and its messages takes on a new meaning in the present feeling of doom regarding global warming and climate change. Ian Anderson's song writing suggests an almost predictional message of the difficulties facing a society in which the wheels of industry and pollution have taken hold over nature and as nature struggles to fight back, it becomes clear that it faces an insidious and determined enemy. On the other hand, if this is too deep, just enjoy the songs for what they are-tuneful songs played by a band at the top of their game.

Every so often in life something very special comes along. The album Songs From The Wood is in my opinion just such an example of specialness in its extreme. Released in February 1977 while England was gripped by Punk Rock, its folk and countryside related themes only served to fuel its many NME type critics. However, I would wager that many Punks secretly loved the record and at the time possibly played it in secret in their bedrooms via headphones.

Songs From The Wood contains a perfect set of earthy and folk edged songs that sound as fresh and vibrant today as they did back in 1977. There is a feeling of pastoral happiness that runs throughout the album which in turn makes you feel all the better for listening to it. If it's at all possible you can almost 'Hear' Ian Anderson smiling as he sings.

It's interesting to note that Jethro Tull's previous offering was Too Old To Rock'N'Roll, which although brilliant and special in its own right was a world removed from the styles and themes on Songs From The Wood. In my opinion it was a change in direction that was a perfect and refreshing move for the band.

And what of the songs? Well, as I've already said it's a perfect set, stuffed with brilliant tunes and lyrics from start to finish. I could probably write a whole book concerning the merits of each individual song. However, I will dwell here on just the one track entitled Pibroch (Cap In Hand). This brilliantly played song also tells a very interesting story about a man returning one night 'cap in hand' to his woman after a relationship break-up only to look through the dining room window and witness strange slippers by the fire and strange boots in the hallway. Even more disconcerting he also notices a candle lit table for two has been laid. In short he's been dumped for someone else. It's fabulous writing that as usual paints a such a vivid picture in the mind that you can almost feel and see the warmth of the fire and the look of those strange slippers. Also you can feel sadness as the spurned lover sadly walks away with his cap now firmly on his head.

Hopefully I've said enough to sell you Songs From The Wood. It really is a must have album for anyone with an imagination and an ear for a good tune. I've been listening to it for the past 23 years and I'm not bored of it yet!

Some old sounds for summer. They may be considered terminally unhip now but Jethro Tull caused something of a sensation in 1968 when they emerged, amid the by now wilting flower children, made up to look like a bunch of ageing farmers.

By 1977, after several line-up and stylistic changes, they developed a baroque form of folk-rock in the shape of "Songs from the Wood". It is a riotous collection celebrating earthy delights in rural settings. Pagan ritual, revelry, song and dance, much ale, horse-riding, and riding of an altogether different variety. Yes, not to put too fine a point on it, a lot of the songs here are about shagging. If Tull are to be believed, these country folk are at it all the time.

The album shows Tull at their most ornate and bucolic with plenty of Ian Anderson's trademark flute, acoustic guitars and mandolins, and all manner of (non-synthesiser) keyboard. Martin Barre's electric guitar, always a pleasure, gets a god airing too. His searing notes drenched in reverb form a dramatic counterpoint to the acoustic folk heart of "Pibroch", a very Lady Chatterley tale of discreet liaisons between a woman of substance and a lowly employee. "Hunting Girl" is a less sultry, more jaunty number on a similar subject. You see? They're sex mad! Fetch me a bucket of cold water. Makes you want to move to the country right away.

So, unfashionable though Jethro Tull may be, "Songs from the Wood" is a brilliant catalogue of rural frolicking, from love among poppies filled with summer rain on the opening track to putting your feet up by the fire at midnight on the closer. A perfect soundtrack to summer.