Ian Anderson (interview) Broadsword | Underwraps New Edition | Period pains | Springsteen Admiration

[@johnthrasher8146]

Fabulous interview. The radio guy referred to by Ian Anderson was Lee Abrams, who had a huge hand in reducing playlists and formulating what became bland radio for the masses (AOR).

[@larrysmith5249]

Great interview. Ian always comes across as one of the most well-spoken and intelligent rock musicians I’ve heard.

[@nectarinedreams7208]

That's because he's a prog rock musician

[@larrysmith5249]

Right on!

[@keitholiver1299]

What a brilliant selection of probing questions. You can see Ian's cogs working overtime here. 😊 Great insightful interview, Thank You.

[@classicalbum]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@StoryWiseTales]

Fantastic interview. Nice to hear Ian interviewed by someone that knows the history and finds interesting details within it to ask question about. Good job.

[@TZ1000-zu7ki]

Excellent interview. It's refreshing to hear an interviewer ask a question and then let the interviewee talk. You didn't interrupt him once. Jethro Tull is one of my all-time favorite bands. One of the things I like about them is their ever-changing approach. They don't tend to repeat themselves, but yet still have that distinctive Tull sound. The Steve Wilson-produced box sets are the standard of quality for these types of reissues. Broadsword and the Beast is one of the best yet. I'm looking forward to the Bursting Out set.

[@michaelfavreau7617]

Broadsword was the first Jethro Tull I loved. It reached me here in Canada ( upon it`s release ) and moved me profoundly. I still own and play that vinyl

[@neilb224]

Building up a nice portfolio of interviews now, Barry. Keep them coming. 👍

[@classicalbum]

That's the plan!

[@jeffreywilkinson606]

Loved what he said about 1970’s FM radio. I miss it. As I recall he is a huge Roland Kirk fan

[@shimwooley]

The other MTV vid was "Jump Start". Always enjoy listening to IA. Thanks Barry !

[@benavich8]

Wonderful interview with one of my original heroes! My very first concert as a 16 yo punk was the Tull- Passion Play tour, Sept. 1973, Detroit, MI. What a first concert, always thought that PP has been a vastly underrated LP...oh, and $5 50 a ticket! Can't believe it will be 50 years next month!

[@nsbd90now]

Ha! That was my first Tull concert. I was a bit younger... parents had to drive us. Chicago!

[@benavich8]

@@nsbd90now I had just turned 16 in June of that year....so I was a go!

[@dmacnic]

I love that album. Great live show too during the Broadsword tour. They opened with "Somethings on the move" from the Stormwatch album. Heavy riffing by Martin. Ian is the best!

[@DropAnchor1978]

Yes indeed! I saw them on the Broadsword tour. It was my very first concert. Saga opened. Wonderful!

[@et2petty]

Still listening, still feeling, still smiling, and am still rocking to Jethro Tull and Ian's work. Also, the Carly Simon, Yusef Cat Stevens, and Broadsword albums still sound fresh and have in common Paul Samwell-Smith

[@williamgeorgefraser]

I love this album because it came out just a few days before I saw them playing in Montpellier in France. I always think of it as the "Scottish" album due to the presence of "Broadsword", "Beastie" and "The Clasp". Then there is the presence of Peter-John Vettese from Edinburgh and Ian Anderson from my hometown of Dunfermline. Waiting for the new release to arrive on Sept 1.

[@markkonzerowsky8871]

Songs like "Haggis McAngus", "Ach! Ye Criminy Lass o' Lochs", and "No Porridge, Dammit" did betray a bit of an exotic feel. Now that I think of it, you could be right about the Scots connection.

[@handebarlas6248]

I agree. But Stormwatch and Rock Island have very Scottish feels as well, don't you think? All the best from a Tull fan in Turkey who happens to be an admirer of your gorgeous land. Bonnie Scotland!!☮🥃🌍🌍

[@handebarlas6248]

Ha haaa!!! Back then there was no social media, now there is but I don't use it...Ian has to be Ian and that's why he is my idol. Very good interview. Thank you so much!

[@charlesnolan7602]

In 1982, to find out about most albums , it was word of mouth, Record store advance notice, or as in my case, going to Record stores regularly, and looking around! I saw the Broadsword show at the Spectrum, Philadelphia ,PA. I really liked B and the Beast, and the songs live were exceptional. For that US leg of the tour SAGA opened. It was the first time I had ever heard of them and I have been a fan since! As for radio Playlists in Philadelphia on FM radio in the early 1980's, for me I decided I was going to have ultimate control with and where I listened to music. I read about a release, found what I liked, recorded it unto cassettes, and played it in the car!

[@peteramstrup7873]

"Roger... ehh what's his name?"😆

[@ayeatropoulos1]

😅😅😅

[@srikanths5178]

A Momentary Lapse of Memory!

[@pedrozappa]

Very cunning

[@miscellaneousetc.4280]

He didn't forget it.

[@kingkillah101]

Though Ian laments B&TB not really selling hot in USA at release, my older uncles remember it as a return to form for JT, and though I was only 10 when the album came out, my study of the following tour was that it was quite a success. If nothing, a return to the imagery and style of the late 70s period. Surely more on the nose of what us US fans came to expect from JT, as opposed to jump suits, aviation and synthesizers. That said, this current release is honestly well out of the budget of most of us punters, who will have to be happy with the 20 years box set and the first disc of Nightcap to reveal the real muscle of these great sessions. Thanks Barry!

[@joelliebler5690]

Ian is as straight forward and intelligently funny in his own uniquely!I love his style. He is his own person and that is why he and his band or bands have been so successful over the decades!Ian is so right about this album as I was a big fan of Tull back in the day yet never heard anything on the radio and just beginning in the work field. Now I do not even own a CD as cars do not have them anymore. I will listen to it through an alternative source!

[@TheAlbumReviewchannel]

What an extremely interesting conversation between two would be pals. It came across like that which is why it was so watchable. Well done both especially you Barriemore 😂

[@classicalbum]

P2 of the interview tonight.

[@TheAlbumReviewchannel]

@@classicalbum I thought it ended a bit sudden like 😀

[@handebarlas6248]

@@TheAlbumReviewchannel Same here.

[@TheProgCorner]

Barry!!! You did it again!!!

[@classicalbum]

This is just part one of the interview

[@briancox8518]

Personally I like the era of tull from 79 to 84 it was really brave of the band to try something different musically

[@drumhd1]

Yes!

[@shipsahoy1793]

It wasn’t brave of the band. It was brave of Ian Anderson.. He changed everybody except Martin after Stormwatch lol

[@pontifexvonhummer9459]

Chateau D’Saster is awesome. Real. Raw. The last truly savage Tull work. That is, it’s tone is more akin to Benefit and Thick, whereas Passion belongs to the higher pedigree of War Child. Sorry Ian missed it, but understandable. As for Underwraps, I’d pay good money to hear an unplugged album of selections from Under, A, Broadsword and Walk Into. But Good unplugged, not A Little Light Music unplugged.

[@brentheathersimons7042]

What an absolute legend! Great job Barry and thank you for re-introducing me to Jethro Tull!😀 I'm hoping to see them in November. Brent, VT

[@classicalbum]

Have fun!

[@richbrout16]

Great Job Barry! What a wonderful interview with a musical genius! Thank you!

[@calummcgregor3662]

Excellent part 1 ... looking forward to hearing part 2 .... many insights to glean / digest here ... re re-visiting Under Wraps, Ian et al could consider a crowd-funding model for what is considered to be a riskier commercial option ... for 2 x CDs with a re-recording of the original tracks with drummer(s), a remix of the original tracks and contemporary live / video material (plus hires audio) on CD / bluray then I'd be on board to support delivery of such a product .... I would expect that the commercial risk of Crest of a Knave would be completly different ... probably way less risky given its commercial success so the "normal" approach to date would work for that ... I"d be "all in" on that too (as, I would imagine, many Tull fans would be) .... great video ... CMcG, Aberdeen, Scotland .... p.s. did you, by any chance, ask if there would br any reissues of the [most popular] sold out deluxe sets? .... I'd love to get hold of a reissue of the Country Squire set ... wasn't paying attention when it was originally released ... very sloppy on my part!!!

[@DropAnchor1978]

Could not agree more. I think there could be an audience ready to give UW another chance. I did. Having first bought the double vinyl 45 rpm EP in summer of '84, I had an incling of this "new" Tull. I was pretty bummed after the rustic Broadsword gem. A friend had a cassette of Under Wraps and we played it at work in 1988. Suddenly, aftr four years, I took it on its own terms and could honestly enjoy it. Same with Walk Into Light, when the CD came out in 93, and I revisited it.

[@handebarlas6248]

@@DropAnchor1978 Sure. Great songs on both W into L and UW. It's just the monotonous drum machines that effect the albums negatively. Wish they were both remixed with real drummers!!!

[@DropAnchor1978]

@@handebarlas6248 I do agree about the Linn Drum machine. I would love a bonus disc with a real drummer.

[@FormulaProg]

Barry and his best mate 😂 love it pal

[@rightchordleadership]

Barry lands the prize tuna!!! Nicely done!!! 👍

[@classicalbum]

I've done a interviews with Ian before, but it is always a pleasure to chat with him

[@nsbd90now]

I was just out of college when Broadsword came out. A huge Tull fan, but at that point there were all these new "punk" and "new wave" bands such as Ramones, Devo, Talking Heads, Duran Duran and so on was all just exploding and it was all played in dance clubs on weekends. A whole different feel and freshness and way of experiencing music.

[@smithpm81]

amazing talent, seen him many times since the early 80s, always a TOP show

[@juliandeych]

I would love a potential 40th Anniversary edition of Under Wraps to include the now 40 year old "Walk Into Light" solo album from Ian Anderson as the supplemental material. Perhaps the redone drums on Under Wraps, the remixed Anderson solo album, and a potential DVD from that time would be a worthy purchase! I can't imagine there isn't a plan for a 40th Anniversary of Crest of a Knave. So this Under Wraps set, however unlikely, has to happen at some point... right?

[@Bronek.Konarski]

Like the way you're thinking... never considered the solo as an add-on -but it would fit perfectly. Get them both Wilsoned-up with an RL drummer on UW and I would definitely add to my bookset collection. It might end up being one of the most interesting and rewarding of these releases. For the DVD, one of the Harry Palmer films -mixed down to black'n'white...

[@johnfenner8838]

Great interview, Barry. Of course a clever subject always helps. ✌🏼

[@PhilBaird1]

Thanks Barry. Always fascinating listening to Ian. I wonder would he be up for talking about the history of the band and picking out some of the albums and musicians that he's worked with ?

[@harrynewiss4630]

Ian as always so very informative

[@Zerocool215]

Great interview great questions one of Ian's best

[@classicalbum]

Thank you

[@jamesbonar3092]

Brilliant interview, loved it.

[@sirgilmour]

My favorite Under Wrap tracks are the live acoustic versions, I personally would suggest Ian Anderson to record acoustic guitars over all the the vocal recordings he did in 84 and removing all that sounds dated. Adding real drums, bass and flute are welcome too. I think a complete remake of this album would be the best thing that could ever happen to it.

[@stevesmith3990]

Ian's as cheerful as ever ;)

[@Baz63]

Surely there would be much greater sales if Broadsword was released just as a single album without paraphernalia which many cannot afford.

[@tatedavis2016]

Great stuff man. Very informative interview.

[@nyrocks5580]

When Broadsword was released I only kind of liked it. I feel the same way now. I still listen to a few songs (Beastie, Pussy Willow and Fallen on Hard Times) and that's it. Years later, when I heard the unreleased tracks, I wished some of them were swapped in for ones that made the cut. For my personal taste, those changes would have made it a great album. As for the genesis of MTV and their desperation for videos, according to Ian, Steel Monkey was several years after that period. In my opinion, Crest of a Knave was not only their best album of the eighties but their last very good one, not that subsequent ones didn't have some highlights.

[@DropAnchor1978]

Great questions. I think Under Wraps would be a great set with the original remixed/remastered and then a bonus disc with the real drummer. Throw in that great live video concert footage from the 84 tour and I would be excitedly waiting.

[@classicalbum]

That would be cool!

[@adamphillips6865]

Fantastic questions! Well done sir.

[@classicalbum]

Thank you kindly!

[@seethroughhead505]

Superb, thank you.

[@classicalbum]

Glad you liked it!

[@unchattytwit]

Well done Barry, I really enjoyed the interview with a tired and slightly curmudgeonly Ian Anderson. Every time Ian Talks now he manages to come up with some hilarious strangeness or dubiousness IMHO. Here are a few thoughts: Bruce Springsteen is now, reasonably, well known for giving a cosseted wealthy rockstar's take on 'real life', and if it's any consolation to Ian, he's no different. All of that pseudo-realistic writing is a bit of a joke to somebody who's lived a fairly uncossetted full life but is still a huge Tull fan. However despite this, Ian always did seemed to capture the mood of the times. And we mere peasants can at least be appreciative of that. Flippin' hard times again - don't we know it Mr multi-millionaire! Two songs from the same Broadsword sessions on menstruation - it's hardly Rock 'n Roll and no, nobody had to do it except women perhaps (if they wanted to). Perhaps Ian has got a couple of Jethro Tull classic outtakes about 'piles' in his locker or attic? Several Chateau D'Isaster songs were used on Warchild and were very good songs. However, I wish they'd been used instead of The, dreadful, Hare who lost his Spectacles, Monty Python pastiche, on Passion Play - perhaps as a 'suite' to compliment the excellent Passion Play. Great idea of Ian's to insist on a real drummer to replace the drum machine on Under Wraps - should have done it in the first place though, more's the pity - and to have the whole album remixed. I'd even buy that disappointing Tull album again in mindless and foolish expectation. When you discussed Crest of A Knave, I relistened to the whole album and outtakes again. It wasn't one of my favourite Tull albums because poor old Ian's voice had gone by then and he resorted to Mark Knopfler- esque vocal phrasing ( although I understand why). I relistened to see if I could rearrange the album minus the Dire Strait's copies ie. Budapest and She Said She Was a Dancer. However one of the outtakes, Waking Edge, was another Knopfler copy. Part of the Machine IMO is better than any of the Dire Straits tracks and Dogs in Midwinter is pretty good - if they had been included in the original album, minus the DS tracks, I would have been happier! Nevertheless the CD release includes all those outtakes and thus probably is worth getting even though it still has the cringeworthy DS tracks - 'I met this bird in a foreign place, in a bar, and she was exotic' tired Anderson non-classics - real or not, still very dull one nightish stand affairs. Ian's had a lot of think to think in the intervening years since Dot.Com.

[@raymondbonington9355]

Crest of a knave was a gold selling album in the uk ,no way a failure Ian .

[@peteramstrup7873]

Excellent interview!

[@ejc636]

Yes I want it and now

[@maltesetony9030]

The Ian Anderson Group of Companies. Check 'em out.

[@toddrorick117]

Great at direct questioning. You’ve learned how to handle the verbose Anderson. Sometimes I fear however he veers quite a bit. Rambling. Tull fan to the core, but Ian is a hard one to get to in his later years. Just my 2 cents.

[@Cpayne30]

And his eye contact is dreadful!

[@ejc636]

I have the original master of this album. It's going to be great for comparison

[@fernandodelgado1680]

Te saludo de uruguay no ablo ingles pero tu banda es mi preferida gracias a vos ian toco flauta traversa cuando era pequeño primer tema de jehtro tull fue buree abrazo de santa lucia uruguay siempre miro tus videos x yutube la flauta que tengo es una vito110 r conocida como vitoriana tiene las llaves cerradas ✌😃🤓💪🎶🎵🎼👏👏👏👌

[@stephenfranklin8258]

IA eloquent as always, but he does come across as if he’s there under sufferance! One of my all time favourites however.

[@monkeysmasher7628]

Under Wraps with Dave Mattacks on drums would be nice!

[@Runicen]

Nice interview! Great to hear some unusual questions being asked both about the album in question and surrounding. Curious about the abrupt ending to the interview though. Did things cut off shortly after the fade anyway or was there more material?

[@classicalbum]

The interview went on for an hour. I'll upload the second half tomorrow

[@Runicen]

@@classicalbum Thanks very much. Just caught the second half. Great interview!

[@JonToft]

Under Wraps with real drums would be awesome! :D

[@ralphmuller6040]

I consider Ian Anderson to be one of the very few genii (geniuses) in the music field. However he seems to be very uncomfortable in this/any interview environment. While the information garnered was interesting, the top of his head was not. I ended up closing my eyes and simply listening. Having said that, I'll be watching part two. Thanks Barry.

[@dingbat19]

Fab interview. Guess you didn't dare ask him why he changed his singing style to the more nasal one for Crest of a Knave... ;-)

[@justgivemethetruth]

You seem to talk with Ian fairly regularly. I am so curious and I was wondering if you happen to know what Ian Scott Anderson of Jethro Tull did at 9:00 January 1st, 2024? Did he begin work on another album, or is he going to skip another album for the time being, or is he going to hang up his codpiece for good. He says there is a new album destined for release in October of '24, this year. Ian mentioned that his brother just passed away, so he must be feeling the twinges or getting older, as are we all, but I'm hoping he just goes on forever!

[@shipsahoy1793]

Wow, if you strip the electronic drum tracks out of Under Wraps and have real well directed drums in place of it, I’ll buy the album again! Edit: Also, I think Steven Wilson did a great job on the Chateau Tapes for the Passion Play boxed set!

[@handebarlas6248]

Of course!! Which Tull fan wouldn't???

[@shipsahoy1793]

That’s the only thing wrong with the Under Wraps album..those damn drum programs from IA. He’s a talented guy, but he’s a not a very good bass player, and an even worse drummer.

[@thekivster]

How is Crest of the Knave the quintessential Tull album?

[@classicalbum]

Ian Anderson once said that the track 'Budapest' is a 'quitessential' tull song

[@thekivster]

@@classicalbum interesting

[@TheRealDrJoey]

Without Barre there's no Jethro Tull. And Jump Start, which Ian seems to have forgotten, has one of the greatest guitar solos ever.

[@staggerlee6794]

You'd think that Anderson was some kind of academic rather than a folk-rock god.

[@shb7772000if]

I just started watching this. Maybe more comments later. But not remembering Rogers Waters last name is absurd, and Ian, can you look at the camera?

[@filosphere]

3:35 "Roger... what? - Waters, this is correct" !!! Is this ironic? Or Ian Anderson truly ignores the name of the iconic PF author?

[@shb7772000if]

Ian can't remember the last name of Roger Water? You gotta be kidding me! Wonder if he remembers Elvis Presley's last name?

[@filosphere]

@@shb7772000if It's probably ironic.

[@shb7772000if]

@@filosphere or it's a hidden dig at Pink Floyd!

[@tomatopiments]

I would have thought that M. Anderson would be wealthy enough by now to allow a little spending on a top notch drummer.

[@lane99]

I believe he's generally an unhappy person, which is a pity.

[@jmdavison62]

It's unfortunate that Ian Anderson couldn't appreciate what Mark Craney brought to Jethro Tull--he really invigorated a lot of their material. There are a lot of Jethro Tull mixes in which you can barely make out what the drums are doing because they're so low in the mix. I don't think Anderson really appreciates what a good drummer can contribute.

[@burdenofproof7284]

Mark Craney died in 2005.

[@thecat8513]

Ahaha no way that he doesn't know who Roger Waters is. EGO!!!

[@adamwade1808]

@13:00 i'll translate what the jerk is saying: "I'm behind the time and the kids have found new music they like better so I'll insult my fans" I used to like Tull, now I can't stand them

[@jupitermadcat]

He seems like a contemptible bugger. Anyway, three albums I’ve always liked by Jethro Tull are benefit, thick as a brick, and A. You can keep the rest. This guy is a real piece of work.

[@shb7772000if]

​@@jupitermadcatI hope by A you mean Aqualung!

[@mitchcompton2530]

Love Ian but Geez he does tend to ramble--creating all these unnecessary analogies in his answers. I feel like he's exhausted by the end of these interviews. His snobbishness becomes more prominent with the years. Rather apparent with listening to his interviews over the past several years.