This Was

The story of Jethro Tull begins with the John Evan Band in Blackpool during the mid-60s. Like most other bands from the era, they played soul covers before moving on to the blues. The summer of 1967 brought Ian Anderson and Glenn Cornick to London. Adding Mick Abrahams on guitar and Clive Bunker on drums (both from McGregor's Engine), Jethro Tull-named after an 18th century agriculturist-was complete, although they gigged for several months under different names (ostensibly to get repeat gigs); Even their first single, "Sunshine Day" b/w "Aeroplane," was released as "Jethro Toe" (typo, if you can believe it). By 1968, the band had gained a residency at the Marquee Club and national recognition, based partly on their Sunbury Jazz and Blues performance that summer. Having picked up his technique from virtuoso Roland Kirk, flautist and vocalist Anderson was the obvious frontman. On This Was, the band plays incredibly tight and raucous-just listen to "Dharma for One" or "Cat's Squirrel." Anderson's songwriting is strong and already developing into his own style, evidenced in particular on "A Song for Jeffrey." Their self-financed debut offers a classic hybrid of hard blues with a jazzy edge that was an instant hit upon release. The album reached No. 10 in the UK charts, while earning a respectable No. 62 in the US. Such was the buzz on Jethro Tull that The Rolling Stones chose them (with a pre-Black Sabbath Tony Iommi miming on guitar) for their Rock ‘n' Roll Circus TV special in December 1968 over another freshman band-Led Zeppelin.