Jethro Tull ‎– This Was

The band's debut album, released after their opening support gig with Pink Floyd at London's Hyde Park in 1968. Fronted by flautist Ian Anderson, performing like a demented heron poised on one leg, the band had a distinctive sound of blues and jazz fusion.

Named after a pioneering 18th-century agriculturalist the group were the third signing to the growing Chysalis / Island roster. Guitarist Mick Abrahams quit after the release to form Blodwyn Pig. He was replaced for a short period - including a Tull TV appearance - by Tony Iommi. This TV line-up, in "The Rolling Stones Rock And Roll Circus", shows them miming (with the exception of Anderson) to the album's penultimate track "Song For Jeffrey". This is preceded on the album by the traditionally popular blues number "Cat's Squirrel". This gives Abrahams opportunity to show how he can plunder the riff, while "Dharma For One" enables Clive Bunker to flex his drum kit. "It's Breaking Me Up" is an even-paced exploration of the blues and "My Sunday Feeling", with a similar feel to the TV number, opens the album.

"Serenade To A Cuckoo" closes side one which, for me, is the nugget among the tracks, with Anderson giving vent to a 6-minute interpretation of a classic Roland Kirk melody. EMI have now released a 40th Anniversary Edition of this, along with a few extras. Probably easier to acquire than this milestone original...