Ranking The Jethro Tull Albums

[@pauldenby878]

It's nice to see Under Wraps getting some love - I couldn't agree more!!

[@TheProgCorner]

I listened to it over the weekend and it went up several slots as a result!!!

[@dkoukol]

Roots To Branches is one of my favorite Tull albums, but we all have our personal tastes! I really enjoy your presentational style.

[@TheProgCorner]

Roots To Branches is fantastic!!!

[@RubraLIber]

"Thick As A Brick" the best album of last century

[@TheProgCorner]

I’m inclined to give that opinion serious consideration. It’s not my “favorite” but it is flawless!!!

[@Iainmaclennan70]

Your enthusiasm and energy is infectious! Subscribed!! EDIT - Absolutely love Under Wraps!!

[@TheProgCorner]

So underrated!!!!!!

[@michaellord9745]

I don't understand the hate for The Zealot Gene. I think it's brilliant and easily belongs in the upper third of the catalogue. Recommend that you give a a few more undistracted listens. The sequencing of the songs is fantastic.

[@gideonlapidus8996]

I agree

[@shipsahoy1793]

The vocals kills it for a lot of people Ian Anderson is still a very good musician and still can write good songs; the problem is his voice, that's all it is!

[@canadianstudmuffin]

Enjoyed your ranking! Finally checked out Benefit and loved it.

[@TheProgCorner]

It’s such a great record!!!

[@MusicVersa]

It's not in my top-10, but the 50th Anniversary Edition that came out a couple years ago has some really cool stuff on it.

[@MusicVersa]

Great list (and I'm just saying that because of the shout-out - thank you!). I'd quibble with a couple placements but on the broad strokes I'm 100% in agreement. Rock Island and Catfish Rising aren't great albums but honestly, if those are the worst things you've done in your career, that's a pretty spectacular career. They've been my favourite band since I was 18. My dad had Living in the Past on vinyl and got me to listen to them and I liked it, but it didn't blow me away. When I moved away for school in 2001, I picked up a copy of "M.U. - The Best of Jethro Tull" and side 2 opens with Skating Away on the Thin Ice of the New Day. I immediately said "this is the best song I've ever heard in my life". From there I dove into Tull's entire discography, then to Yes, King Crimson, Genesis, and out from there. I regret that I never got to see them live when Anderson's voice was in top form, but I've seen Tull, Anderson, and Martin Barre Band all on several occasions and enjoyed them every time. You mention Heavy Horses as being the start of Anderson's vocal trouble - I've never heard that. Are you sure? I thought the tone he adopted for that album was a conscious choice. He's talked in a few places about feeling like he was at his strongest vocally on the Broadsword and Under Wraps albums, which makes the blowout on the Under Wraps tour hit particularly hard. I think Broadsword (and the associated B-sides) were his peak as a vocalist, personally. My own list: 1. Minstrel in the Gallery 2. Thick as a Brick 3. Stormwatch 4. Songs from the Wood 5. A Passion Play 6. Under Wraps 7. Aqualung 8. Heavy Horses 9. The Broadsword and the Beast 10. Stand Up 11. A 12. Warchild 13. The Zealot Gene 14. Too Old to Rock & Roll, Too Young to Die! 15. Crest of a Knave 16. Benefit 17. Rökflöte 18. This Was 19. Roots to Branches 20. J-Tull Dot Com 21. The Jethro Tull Christmas Album 22. Catfish Rising 23. Rock Island

[@TheProgCorner]

Just my opinion on Ian’s voice. Conventional wisdom has it that he ruined it completely on tour in 84 so I might be way off base there…

[@paulhart3812]

My favorite album of all time is A PASSION PLAY. Good job by you.

[@thecandlemaker1329]

I really do think Mr. Anderson should consider hiring a vocalist. Even if he had never lost his voice, he's at the point in his life where very few can still sing expressively, and it's not healthy for the throat even if you can.

[@TheProgCorner]

For sure!!! Maybe the next album will move in that direction…

[@david-vp4ku]

Certainly. The voice is improved on rock flute. Perhaps again next time.

[@graemeking7336]

Dig the Tull Drop the head-shaking

[@BSomme]

Awesome Tull run down Scot! Your videos are always so great! Thick as a Brick is a worthy number 1 but love Songs from the Woods just as much! I love most of Tulls stuff this must of been hard to rank all these great albums! I hope you are well brother! Many thanks for the awesome video! Peace and love! :)

[@TheProgCorner]

This discography was very tough to rank as I like all of them and love most of them!!!

[@arnaudb.7669]

Incredible band. Great ranking! We need to see your ranking of "favourite guitar solos" and "favourite keyboard solos"

[@TheProgCorner]

I’ve been thinking about that!!!

[@Prog-t9d]

Great job as usual on the rankings. My Personal Favorite is Songs from the Wood. Prog on !!!!

[@sidestream_alex3047]

my favorite is Songs from the Wood! beautifully composed album

[@TheProgCorner]

Amazing album!!!

[@andremartin5446]

1.Passion Play 2.Songs from the Woods 3.Minstrel in the Gallery 4.Thick as a Brick 5.Heavy Horses 6.Warchild 7.Aqualung 8.Stormwatch 9.Benefit 10.Too Old to Rock and Roll 11.Stand Up 12.A 13.Catfish Rising 14.Roots to Branches 15.Rokflote 16.Rock Island 17.Broadsword and the Beast 18.Zealot Gene 19.Under Wraps 20.This Was 21.Dotcom 22.Crest of a Knave 23.Christmas Album Keep in mind I was born in the 80s, and my dad was a big Tull fan. So I was introduced to them when Rock Island came out, so I have a soft spot for the 3 albums around then, hence why they are ranked higher. And I dont dislike any albums of theirs, they all have songs I love. Music is so subjective, so cant really shit on anyone's opinions, just respect them

[@TheProgCorner]

Outstanding!!!

[@MichaelNoland-TheBottomLine]

A noble list indeed Sir Scott! I would’ve ranked Stormwatch , Crest of a Knave, and Aqualung a bit higher, but a noble list indeed!😉❤️👍👌🤙

[@TheProgCorner]

They just have too many albums that I really like!! ❤️❤️👍👍

[@fcamiola]

Great choices Scot! Tull is a top 5 band for me carved in Italian marble.

[@TheProgCorner]

They are definitely in my Top Ten.

[@PaIaeoCIive1684]

Thanks for the mention of King Charles the Third for us British Prog Corner fans! I've been watching you on and off for a while and love your enthusiasm, chap. Noticed I hadn't subbed, so I have. Any plans to review Flower Kings or Norwegian band Anekdoten, by the way? Cheers.

[@TheProgCorner]

New Flower Kings next month!!! Here’s my Flower Kings ranking episode to tide you over until then: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y3LJgJ1oo9OXbac

[@PaIaeoCIive1684]

@@TheProgCorner Thanks for that, I'll see the FK ranking shortly.

[@TheProgCorner]

Awesome!!!!

[@shawnw8717]

I truly believe Too Old to Rock n Roll is Ian's sly dig at Ray Davies' mid-70's Kinks concept albums, maybe even Pete Townshend (mods vs rockers).

[@TheProgCorner]

I think you’re right!!!

[@davidcohen821]

For me, the top 10 are: 1. TAAB 2. Aqualung 3. Heavy Horses 4. Stand Up 5. Minstrel in the Gallery 6. Songs from the Wood 7. Living in the Past (yes, I am adding that, as it had so much "new" material) 8. Benefit 9. A Passion Play 10. Crest of a Knave

[@TheProgCorner]

Nice!!!!

[@carlwmpylu]

Missed this episode. Great band, Jethro Tull. My rankings: 1. Songs From The Wood - 5/5 2. Thick As A Brick - 5/5 3. Aqualung - 5/5 4. The Broadsword & The Beast - 5/5 5. Rock Island - 5/5 (critics be damned, I love it! 👍) 6. Stormwatch 5/5 7. A - 5/5 8. Under Wraps - 5/5 9. Rok Flote - 5/5 10. The Christmas Album 5/5 11. Crest Of A Knave - 5/5 12. A Passion Play - 5/5 13. Dot Com - 4.5/5 14. Too Old To Rock & Roll.... - 4/5 15. Minstrel In The Gallery - 4/5 16. Heavy Horses - 4/5 17, War Child - 3/5 18. The Zealot Gene - 3/5 19. Benefit - 3/5 20.Roots To Branches - 3/5 21. Catfish Rising - 3/5 22. Stand Up - 2/5 (a classic to most fans but I've never clicked with it for some reason) 23. This Was - 2/5 I like some of their later albums more than most, possibly because I heard many of them before their Seventies counterparts (got into the band during the Nineties through the Dave Pegg/Fairport Convention connection). Think Ian's been a remarkably consistent writer over the years.

[@TheProgCorner]

Awesome list!!!! I’m with you on their early albums…

[@carlwmpylu]

Cheers! 🙂@@TheProgCorner

[@jorgep.1877]

Nice job Under Wraps; very much stuck in the 80s sound, but the music and the melody are really good. A friend sold me his UW cassette tape back in early ‘86 and it’s been a favorite ever since.

[@TheProgCorner]

Nice!!!

[@kevinbrown1893]

1. Songs from The Wood (1977) 2. Aqualung (1971) 3. Thick as a Brick (1972) 4. Heavy Horses (1978) 5. Minstrel in the Gallery (1975) 6. Benefit (1970) 7. Stand Up (1969) 8. Stormwatch (1979) 9. A Passion Play (1973) 10. RokFlote (2023) 11. The JT Christmas Album (2003) 12. The Zealot Gene (2022) 13. The Broadsword and The Beast (1982) 14. War Child (1974) 15. Roots to Branches (1995) 16. Crest of a Knave (1987) 17. A (1980) 18. Rock Island (1989) 19. Too Old to Rock 'n' Roll: Too Young to Die (1976) 20. Catfish Rising (1991) 21. This Was (1968) 22. J-Tull Dot Com (1999) 23. Under Wraps (1984)

[@alexnejako777]

ill liaren to any tull. class of their own!

[@sergiyremezov1572]

Thanks for the video! Nice to see I'm not the only one comparing "The Hare Who Lost His Spectacles" to Prokofiev's "Petya and the Wolf"😅

[@TheProgCorner]

👍👍👍

[@PJprog]

Very , very interesting Scot. Any Tull material is TBH. I need to listen to one or two of these albums again with 2023 ears , almost completely agree with top 5 , but personally would have swapped TAAB with APP. But Im splitting hairs... on any given day would rank these best album from ANY band.. great video Scot. 😍

[@TheProgCorner]

The top three were incredibly difficult!!!

[@albertocravalho3282]

My top five 1 - Thick as a brick 2 - Minstrel in the Gallery 3 - Aqualung 4 - Songs from the wood 5 - Stand Up

[@TheProgCorner]

Outstanding!!!

[@MMID303]

I haven't listened to all of them, especially the later albums, but here's my top 10. 1. Songs From The Wood 2. Heavy Horses 3. Aqualung 4. Benefit 5. Thick as a Brick 6. Stormwatch 7. A 8. Broadsword 9. Stand Up 10. Minstrel in The Gallery

[@TheProgCorner]

Excellent list!!!

[@ianstuart5660]

What a fantastic presentation and rankings. Enjoyed it very much, and your enthusiasm for the band is crystal clear. Maybe even Chrysalis clear! 😂😂

[@TheProgCorner]

Good one.

[@frommetoyou1981]

Thanks for this video Scott, interesting and informative as always. Id got 'aqualung', "thick as a brick' and 'a passion play', i recently bought 'heavy horses' and 'broadsword and the beast' 'stormwatch' and 'A' are next on my list!

[@TheProgCorner]

All outstanding records!!!! 👍👍👍

[@stevecowder4774]

As an illustrator, I can definitely appreciate the magnificent “ Broadsword “ cover. The music is decent but still doesn’t hold a candle to their 70s material. And those albums are really tough for me to rank. However, I’d have to put “ Benefit “ in my top 5. That one continues to grow on me with every listen to. But no doubt Aqualung and Thick would be #1 and 2 on my list as well. And I have loads of love for both A Passion Play and Songs from the Wood, which are constantly underrated.

[@TheProgCorner]

That album cover is 10/10.

[@awesoanimations1974]

I’ve been steadily getting into Jethro Tull over the past few years. I initially had a hard time getting into them because I didn’t really understand what prog was back then. But now they’re among my favorite bands and I still have a lot to hear from them. Here’s my list of what I’ve heard so far: 12. RökFlöte - It’s been over a year since I listened to this album. I remember enjoying it, but it didn’t leave a major impression on me. There’s nothing really bad on it, and it does have a few really strong songs on it, my favorites being “Wolf Unchained” and “The Navigators.” From what I remember, this is a solid album, and if this is my lowest ranking album, you can be sure that I like everything else I’ve heard from them. Grade: C- 11. Thick as a Brick - This was the second Jethro Tull album I listened to, having first heard it at a time when I didn’t really know what prog was and when I was mainly into hard rock and heavy metal bands like Van Halen, Metallica, and Black Sabbath. Needless to say, it didn’t really click with me at first. And while I do enjoy it now, it ranks pretty low for me still because of that initial struggle to understand what I was listening to. Grade: C+ 10. A Passion Play - In my opinion, a more playful album than Thick as a Brick, which is more my speed. I like a lot of the musical passages and segments on the album, with “The Story of the Hare Who Lost His Spectacles” being a very silly, lighthearted moment that stuck with me. It runs into the same issue I have with Thick as a Brick, though, since it being essentially one long song makes it a big commitment to listen to it. It’s not one that I can listen to all that often, but when I do, I have a good time with it. Grade: B- 9. War Child - This album has a lot of great songs on it, but it doesn’t seem to flow from one song to another when I listen to it. For the most part, I just pick the songs I want to listen to and skip the rest on this one. Favorite songs of mine include “Queen and Country,” “Back Door Angels,” “Sealion,” and “Bungle in the Jungle,” with Bungle being particularly special since I recently introduced my friend to the song and we both had a great time with it. Grade: B- 8. Minstrel in the Gallery - As of the writing of this comment, Minstrel is the freshest album to my ears. It’s a challenging listen, but it’s very good. All of the songs on here are quite good, especially the title track and “Baker St. Muse.” I definitely need more time with this one, and I could see it moving up on my list in the near future. Grade: B 7. Aqualung - This was the first Jethro Tull album I listened to, and honestly my opinion on it hasn’t changed all that much since that first listen. Most of this album is great. Really the only songs I don’t actively like on the album are “Cheap Day Return,” “Mother Goose,” “Wond’ring Aloud,” and “Slipstream.” But they break the otherwise steady pace of the album for me in a way that drops it a few placements in my rankings. A shame because I really love a majority of the album. Grade: B 6. Crest of a Knave - It’s the Dire Straits album. As a big Dire Straits fan who grew up on all sorts of Mark Knopfler’s recordings, it was quite a pleasant surprise to me to hear a Tull album that sounds like a Dire Straits record. It’s not a perfect album, as I do find a couple of the songs to be just good rather than great, but I do like every song on the album, placing it above Aqualung for me. Grade: B+ 5. The Broadsword and the Beast - This is a very underrated album. It’s not quite classic Tull, since the synthesizers pushed them away from their 70s sound, but I really like the atmospheric use of the synths on this one. They’re not so in your face that they’re distracting, instead being more for establishing a dark tone. This is a very plodding, almost heavy album and I really dig the style of it all. Standout tracks include “Beastie,” “The Clasp,” “Fallen On Hard Times,” “Broadsword,” and “Pussy Willow.” Grade: B+ 4. Songs from the Wood - Alright, now we’re getting to some of my favorite albums of all time. Being the first of their “folk” trilogy, I really enjoy this album for its tone and the feeling of keeping cozy in a cabin in the woods. It’s such a feel good album with some incredible material on it, like the title track, “Cup of Wonder,” “Hunting Girl,” “The Whistler,” and “Fire at Midnight.” Grade: A- 3. Benefit - This is a very bluesy album, which isn’t really typical of classic Tull, but as a big fan of the blues, I’m not complaining. I love this album and everything on it. It has amazing guitar-forward songs and some more whimsical tunes that exemplify the pure joy the band gave off. Love it! Grade: A 2. Heavy Horses - Another feel good album for me. Where Songs from the Wood feels like bundling up in a cabin in the woods, Heavy Horses feels like the freedom of walking through an open plain. The songs that give off that feeling to me include “Acres Wild,” “Rover,” “One Brown Mouse,” “Weathercock,” and most of the title track. However, this album is a bit heavier and darker than its predecessor, and I like that. I really like the power behind songs like “No Lullaby,” “Journeyman,” and the chorus sections of the title track. It kind of signaled the coming storm of their next album… Grade: A 1. Stormwatch - This is my favorite Jethro Tull album, and it has been since my first listen. I love the dark, moody feeling of the majority of this album, especially since it’s a tone Tull rarely took in their history. This album feels like the brooding storm that was hinted at in moments on Heavy Horses and it perfectly caps off the folk trilogy. I love every song on this album, including the instrumentals that close each side of the vinyl. My favorite songs include “Orion,” “Something’s on the Move,” “Old Ghosts,” “Dun Ringill,” “Flying Dutchman,” and “Dark Ages,” my favorite Tull song ever. It’s not a feel good album like the two before it, but it makes me feel like the captain of a ship at sea, caught in a raging storm and being tossed about by rolling waves. It’s such a cool album and one that doesn’t get nearly enough love in my experience. Grade: A+

[@TheProgCorner]

Stormwatch!!!! Yeah. So good!!!

[@RubraLIber]

"Thick as a Brick" the best album of '900, more than a Masterpiece

[@TheProgCorner]

Sheer perfection.

[@TigerMtnKing]

1, 2, and 3 were no brainers of course. Nice job Scot! Any more YES stuff coming up? What's left to do that you haven't already done? I'm sure you'll think of something.🤩

[@TheProgCorner]

I’m working on a BIG YES PROJECT: Ranking Every YES Song!!!! That will be fun!!!

[@TigerMtnKing]

@@TheProgCorner Can't wait for that. Here's a crazy idea, rank the top 25 according to length. Just a thought. Anything to do with YES works for us die hard YES lovers.🤩

[@jeffschielka7845]

@@TheProgCorner 👍😎

[@jtull6558]

1. Passion Play 1. Thick as a Brick 2. Benefit 2. Stand Up 3. Aqualung 3. Songs from the Wood 4. Stormwatch 5. Broadsword and Beast 6. A 7. Heavy Horses 8. War Child 8. Minstrel in the Gallery 9. This Was 10. Crest of a Knave 11. Dot Com 12. Too Old to Rock and Roll 13. Roots to Branches 14. Rock Island 15. Under Wraps 16. Catfish Rising

[@TheProgCorner]

Beautiful!!!! 👍👍👍

[@moshemosh7792]

The best 1 stend up.2. Benefit.

[@glennfagervik5547]

1. Benefit 2. Thick as a brick 3. Minstrel in the gallery 4. Stormwatch 5. A passion play 6 Warchild 7. Songs from the wood 8. Heavy Horses 9. Stand Up 10. Aqualung 11. Catfish Rising (much better album than most people say) 12. This Was 13. Broadsword and the Veas 14. The Christmas Album 15. Crest of a knave 16. A 17. Rock Island 18. Too old to rock n roll 19. Roots to Branches The rest I do not enjoy very much

[@TheProgCorner]

Nice! I just can’t connect with Catfish Rising. But I keep trying!!!

[@Tarkuslevi123]

Thick as a brick will always reign supreme in my books! Great vid as always!

[@TheProgCorner]

It’s a Top Five album all time for me. So as good as Aqualung and Thick As A Brick are…

[@danielfuentes3226]

I agree with your top 5 albums Scott.Everybody have diferent choices what they like more.Personely the album that I hear the most is"Minstrel at the Gallery"a classic by the band.

[@TheProgCorner]

What a great album!!! I absolutely love it.

[@coast73]

Yeah mine aswell, I think black satin dancer is my favourite Tull song but I love all songs on that album.

[@danielfuentes3226]

@@coast73 thank

[@danielfuentes3226]

@@coast73 Thank you Steven

[@NelsonMontana1234]

No! No! No! THIS WAS is a GREAT album. Yes, they were a different band. But man, they were so good at what they did. Totally unique. British Blues with jazz overtones with hints of what was to come. And Bunker and Cornick are KILLIN'! That's when they sounded like a BAND, instead of an Anderson solo project. This was my introduction to Tull so yes, I have a different experience with it as well as a special connection to it, but all in all, I think it holds up far, far FAR better than some of Ian's later efforts where his voice has obviously deteriorated to the point where he shouldn't even be singing. And as much as I love Thick as a Brick (I must have listened to that album hundreds of times) it hasn't held up well over the years. I play bass and drums and practiced to that album on both dozens of times, but in retrospect, it has quite a bit of repetition and "filler" sections with overly long solos that sound dated and stale in 2023. Meanwhile, STAND UP is an absolute masterpiece. Not a second of it isn't perfection. That can't be said about any of the albums you have in the Top 10. Passion Play -- okay, I get the boldness of it, and I tried -- really I tried. But for all the interesting sections, it just doesn't gel. Yep -- STAND UP is #1. The rest is subjective

[@TheProgCorner]

Stand Up is being VIGOROUSLY defended in these comments. You are not alone, sir!!!

[@josemarkievich55]

Mi List 1 Acqualung 2 Thick As A Brick 3 Minstrel In The Gallery 4 Too Old To Rock & Roll too young to die 5 A Passion Play 6 Songs From The Wood 7 Heavy Horses 8 Catfish Rising 9 The Broadsword & The Beast 10 Crest Of A Knave 11 Benefit 12 Roots To Branches 13 This Was 14 Stand Up 15 Dot Com 16 War Child 17 The Zealot Gene 18 A 19 Rok Flote 20 Under Wraps 21 The Christmas Album 22 Stormwatch 23 Rock island

[@shipsahoy1793]

I don't know how you could spell aqualung wrong and never correct it 😂😂😂

[@patrickmcevoy5080]

Quite a good list! Love the hard work and energy you put it. For me I'd swap Passion Play and Songs from the Wood, but why quibble?

[@TheProgCorner]

Yeah, it’s really close between those two. Some days I even consider Heavy Horses up there too…

[@johnmedland3399]

Hey Scot found you from your appearance over on SOT. Now a happy subscriber thank you! TAAB is my fave Tull as well, nice call. I just turned 60 this year as well. Going thru some of your other rankings, we match on Moody Blues and Yes, and I had Hot Rats as my #1 Zappa. Cheers!

[@TheProgCorner]

Nice!!! I’m glad SOT got you over here!!! And WARNING: I’m only getting started. Oh boy…

[@lemming9984]

Top 5: 1 - Stand Up, 2- Brick, 3 - Minstrel, 4 - heavy Horses, 5- Benefit.

[@TheProgCorner]

Stand Up getting lots of love here!!!

[@rightchordleadership]

No

[@TheProgCorner]

(It felt right to me at #10.)

[@paultomaney8285]

Just seen them in UK this very week. Ian Anderson surrounded by some young, super talented musicians....the voice is limited, so tracks rearranged and picked to suit. Much love and respect shown to a prog genius....and deservedly so! The only thing left to do is to " keep on keepin' on"

[@TheProgCorner]

I saw JT about three years ago and yeah, Ian can’t sing anymore but the show was still awesome!!!!!

[@AngryCalvin]

I really liked Roots to Branches. It was like a return to the folk trilogy but aimed more towards world music. It's definitely overlooked. Minstrel in the Gallery which was sort of cramed in the time period of weaker 70's Tull albums and people don't realize it's a very solid album. Songs from the Wood blew me away when I first listened to it. What a masterpiece!

[@trainguy7276]

I will say, the Steven Wilson remixes are the de facto version of all the Jethro Tull albums so far, I know Broadsword just got that treatment. Your top 10 is identically to mine, just in a somewhat different order! It goes: 1. Minstrel In The Gallery 2. Thick As A Brick 3. A Passion Play 4. Heavy Horses 5. Songs From The Wood 6. Aqualung 7. Stormwatch 8. War Child 9. Benefit 10. Stand Up

[@TheProgCorner]

That’s eerily similar.

[@Hartlor_Tayley]

Dude I don’t even disagree with you ! You did a great job with a very unrankable band. Truly one of the all time great rock bands.

[@TheProgCorner]

Definitely!!!! 👍👍👍❤️❤️❤️

[@bbchronicles736]

Great job, as usual, and about time you did this ranking. Great band, great discography, one of the all-time great rock bands, Prog or otherwise. I did my JT ranking at my site last year, so I was ready for this one. Although many minor disagreements, overall, we're just about on the same page with these (with the exception of Under Wraps which I just can't even listen to, it's the only Tull album that I would call bad. It's not the songs themselves, but the presentation and production is just horrible). So, here is my list (FYI, I did not include the Christmas album, but I did include Living in the Past, because when it came out the songs were mostly all new in the US even though released earlier in the UK). The top 3 here are nearly perfect albums and all of the top 10 are great, and the rest are all good to really good (except Under Wraps). #23. Under Wraps (1984) #22. Rock Island (1989) #21. J-Tull Dot Com (1999) #20. The Zealot Gene (2022) #19. RokFlute (2023) #18. Catfish Rising (1991) #17. Crest of a Knave (1987) #16. Roots to Branches (1995) #15. This Was (1968) #14. Benefit (1970) #13. Broadsword and The Beast (1982) #12. Too Old To Rock n Roll, Too Young To Die (1976) #11. A (1980) #10. Stormwatch (1979) #9. Stand Up (1969) #8. War Child (1974) #7. Heavy Horses (1978) #6. Minstrel in the Gallery (1975) #5. A Passion Play (1973) #4. Living in the Past (1972) #3. Songs From the Wood (1977) #2. Aqualung (1971) #1. Thick As A Brick (1972)

[@TheProgCorner]

Yeah, it looks like Under Wraps is the only major difference!!!

[@magnuswettermark8293]

Stormwatch is one of their best in my humble opinion.

[@TheProgCorner]

Great album!!! Orion!!!

[@rightchordleadership]

SW is the most underrated album in their entire catalog. Fantastic album.

[@TheProgCorner]

Sure is!!!

[@greghansell5115]

It was my introduction to JT and it hooked me into becoming a fan, so it would rank very highly on my list. The never mentioned 'Home' is my favourite.

[@jtull6558]

It's almost like if SW had somehow been released earlier it would rank higher, but regulars began to fade on Tull at or post PP. Stunning album.

[@debbieedwards711]

Aqualung is#1 and Thick as a Brick #2 for me. I love this band too!

[@TheProgCorner]

Sweet!!!

[@shipsahoy1793]

Woah, great! One of the BEST lines in this video is "Budapest is definitely the best track on this album that Dire Straits never wrote." 😂Classic!!

[@adelharduslange9955]

Under Wraps is rock bottom for me, I absolutely despise it. Interesting to see you put it so high! That's why I love subjective rankings

[@TheProgCorner]

I had it at #21 and then I dove in. First time I’d listened to it all the way through in a long time and it was waaaaay better than I remembered!!!

[@adelharduslange9955]

I listened to every album about a year ago and I was actually shocked at how much I could dislike an album by what is otherwise one of my favorite bands. I agree with your top three, except that I always put A Passion Play first

[@PaIaeoCIive1684]

Same here. There's a decent album under all the horrible drum machine and synths, as the decent track Under Wraps shows. A re-mix with acoustic instrumentation, real drums and little or no synthesiser would be worth a listen.

[@jimalaimo8467]

My older brother turned me onto Aqualung when I was 10 (1971). It's my #1(for its effect on my musical experience). Your top 5 are my "go-to" albums (plus Stormwatch, Heavy Horses and Too Old.... .) I enjoyed your ranking. Thanks, man.

[@TheProgCorner]

No. Thank you for taking the time to share your Tull story! We all have one and I suspect a lot people started with Aqualung!!!

[@Michael2460]

I also love the Baker Street Muse from Minstrel! Awesome song!

[@TheProgCorner]

Incredible!!!

[@markspooner1224]

I can't argue with the ranking although my favourite is Songs From The Wood although that doesn't mean I think that it's their best. I'm seeing them next month if they don't cancel like Yes did in June!

[@TheProgCorner]

Ian still puts on a great show!!!

[@bobsala7780]

I fast forwarded straight to number 2 to make sure your top 2 albums were the same as mine. Turns out they are indeed the same.

[@TheProgCorner]

A Passion Play came VERY close…

[@starcloud4959]

'Stand Up'(1969) by far the best, how could anybody not even know that?

[@TheProgCorner]

Music is weird like that.

[@SpenceCurry]

@@TheProgCorner not. Benefit superior. Wild turkeys battle hymn a bookend to benefit

[@NelsonMontana1234]

Absolutely true. A masterpiece. See my comment.

[@jtull6558]

I've listened to Stand Up more than any other album I own (I started playing it in early 1970). It's still #3 on my list.

[@waymire5]

Thanks. Enjoyed your countdown.. Agree with your #1 and 2 choices. What about the follow up to Thick as a Brick 2 Whatever Happened to Gerald Bostock?

[@TheProgCorner]

I love it!!!

[@michaelbaucom4019]

LOL, Budepest described as " the best song Dire Straits never wrote "..pretty much perfect description I'd put Crest of a Knave a bit higher...can't choose between Benefit, Songs From The Wood, and Minstrel In The Gallery for my #1... a bit tired of Aqualung, save my favorite Tull song, the theatrical and dramatic My God...My God indeed

[@TheProgCorner]

I had it higher but over the weekend there was some movement!!!

[@jtull6558]

After the scuffle over Ian/Martin imitating Knopfler/DS, Ian wrote - I feel so sure but who knows, or maybe it's common knowledge, sorry - 'Wounded, Old and treacherous' as an answer to Knopfler's 'My Party'.

[@ricardoluna7114]

I agree absolutely man!!

[@adrienmaterne9243]

oh man i love your content as always BUT after 5 turn on the plate i think rokflote is an outstanding record i like it so much !

[@TheProgCorner]

Me too!!! It really grew on me!!!

[@sunlightglider6772]

War Child is my most played Tull Album, have them all and War Child is my go to album x

[@TheProgCorner]

I love that record!!!!!

[@stevendavid5370]

Scott dig your ranking, however, my favorite Jethro Tull album is Broadsword and the Beast. It is my go to every time. I've got the 8 disk anniversary book album coming to me any day now and I'm F-ing excited. Then you can give any of your top 8 and 13, 17, 23 to listen to next. Love your passion Scott, but don't get a heart attack, been there done that. Trust me you don't need that road. Saw you on SOT, like to see on Pete's channel again.

[@TheProgCorner]

I’m hoping to get another invite to SOT. We shall see!!! But yeah, I’m actually a very calm person. I rarely lose my temper. My wife thinks I’m a robot. Or an alien. My taste in music probably doesn’t help…

[@eldorado852]

I agree with the first two and I'm fine with the others. I would rank Under Wraps significantally lower though, Broadsword is in my top 5.

[@TheProgCorner]

There you go!!! Such a great band!!!

[@eldorado852]

@@TheProgCorner Absolutely. Ask me next week and I will re-think my ranking anyway.

[@Sammeep02]

Under Wraps is the 90125 of the Tull catalog. Maybe even the BiG Generator

[@TheProgCorner]

Exactly!!!!

[@juliandeych]

I adore Under Wraps. Would you be interested in the idea Ian has talked about regarding replacing the drum machine with a live drummer for a potential 40th anniversary edition?

[@TheProgCorner]

Why not??!! Maybe it will force people to give it another shot…

[@Broxin7]

Not if he rerecorded the vocals.

[@TheProgCorner]

Good point!!! 👍👍

[@juliandeych]

@Broxin7 he will not.. just drums.

[@Broxin7]

@juliandeych Cool. I'd consider a listen. I've never been big on the synth sound, and each time I listen to Under Wraps I wonder what the songs would sound like if the album was guitar driven. For what it is, it's not a bad album. At least I remember it; I can't say the same for Roots to Branches, which I refer to as the easily forgotten album.

[@gogoyubari366]

Passion Play is no. 1 for me.

[@TheProgCorner]

It’s so good!!!! I hated it for a long time…

[@meloralovesdarkness2495]

I Love Your Ranking Dude.. It seems logical. My Favorite 1st is the 20th Aniversary album, both condensed and large box set! This had "Lick Your Fingers Clean"! And Lots of Other Greatness by Tull! It IS what got me into them as well! Question.. "Spencers" is that old?? = Wow!!

[@TheProgCorner]

Right??? Ancient!!!!

[@R3TR0R4V3]

I'm definitely with ya on #1, man! And if you dig vinyl, the 1st UK pressing is the only way to roll... It sure as hell sounds better than the 50th anniversary pressing that came out recently. 🤘

[@TheProgCorner]

The original US pressing sounds surprisingly good as well.

[@simonboyers4917]

Look at that, mines the same top ten but in a slightly different order. 1. Minstrel in the Gallery (1975) 5 2. Aqualung (1971) 5 3. A Passion Play (1973) 5 4. Thick as a Brick (1972) 5 5. Heavy Horses (1978) 5 6. Songs From the Wood (1977) 5 7. Benefit (1970) 4.5 8. Stormwatch (1979) 4 9. War Child (1974) 4 10. Stand Up (1969) 3.5

[@TheProgCorner]

We are very close!!!

[@MoviesNStuff]

Great band, the riff is Aqualung rocks! Thick as a Brick is amazing and probably objectively better than A Passion Play. HOWEVER, Passion Play has a certain darkness to it that I love!

[@TheProgCorner]

My Top Three is almost interchangeable.

[@DRRwine]

After getting the Steven Wilson remix of A Passion Play, I found myself enjoying it (the clarity of the mix) much more and wanting to listen repeatedly. It's now firmly in my #1 spot. I think I hear more clearly what's going on, whereas the original release was fairly muddled.

[@TheProgCorner]

I love those SW remixes!!!

[@IraSiegel]

Sadly I’d put the last two releases at the bottom. At least Rock Island has Martin Barre and the great Doane Perry. Saw the tour in ‘89.

[@TheProgCorner]

Doane Perry is a monster.

[@SoCalDan530]

I think your ranking of this remarkable group is perfect. No argument.

[@TheProgCorner]

Thank you!!!! It was a tough one…

[@jeniferallan6693]

I have to listen to Passion Play for sure. Sounds really quirky. Never tried it. Great vid as always with loads of info. 😊😊😊

[@TheProgCorner]

Guess what??? I went to the post office today. And someone sent me a Tales From Topographic Oceans tour program!!!! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!!!

[@jeniferallan6693]

@@TheProgCorner Cool innit. 😎 I love the cover! 😆 Sent in appreciation. God bless your favourite band!

[@TheProgCorner]

Amazing!!!! Thanks again. I love it!!!!

[@jeniferallan6693]

@TheProgCorner The lyrics are from Asylum by fav Supertramp. Such an amazing record and incredible lyrics. Trying to throw you off the scent!!! 😆 Saw it and knew you would love it. We love what you do!

[@TheProgCorner]

I was expecting something Supertramp related!!! But wow! Even better!!!

[@antoniodias4718]

Good selection. I love "Aqualung" but I love "Thick as a brick" too. "A Passion Play" I wouldn't put it in the 3rd place but I guess it's alright!!

[@damianflavius8663]

My favorite has to be Benefit, not quite the proggiest one, but close behind come Thick as a Brick, Aqualung and Passion Play! These guys have such a great long catalogue, there's a lot to love (and not love lol) but this goes to show how much stuff they can make that's great. BTW, probably a bit unrelated to your normal coverage, but how much would you consider to get into the discografy of King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard? I know they are mainly jammy/psychedelic, but I think their variety in albums and songs is worth the look for any prog fan. Cheers!

[@TheProgCorner]

I love King Gizz!!! I will probably do an album ranking at some point!!! What’s your favorite album from them? (Mine is Flying Microtonal Banana…)

[@damianflavius8663]

@@TheProgCorner I'd have to give that spot to their most progressive and complex one in y opinion, (also i got it on my bithday) Polygondwanaland. A close second would be Gumboot Soup, a bit messy being leftovers from the other 4 from 2017. And the third would be Omnium Gatherum. such a statement of a double album. AND all the variety you can want. Amazing stuff and band bringing us great music every time. But yea, a ranking would be great!

[@TheProgCorner]

By the time I get around to it they’ll have 20 more titles…

[@damianflavius8663]

@@TheProgCorner 20 more great releases for all of us to enjoy!

[@JohnFiocchi]

Great ranking! I agree with it totally!

[@TheProgCorner]

Thank you, John!!!

[@stukevideo]

How're you doin, Scott? Like I said earlier, we rarely differ by a wide margin, but this time I'm gonna have to kick you in the butt. "This Was" is #16? Please play it again. Peace and love, Robert

[@TheProgCorner]

Maybe a tad bit harsh? I have tried over the years but it never clicked for me. But I will listen again with new ears.

[@stukevideo]

It tends to be a blues album, but its got cuts like "Song for Jeffrey" (Hammond?) and "Dharma for One". Take care.@@TheProgCorner

[@LuisGarcia-ee2tr]

We agree on the top ten albums, but my order is different: 1. Thick as a Brick 2. Minstrel in the Gallery 3. Aqualung 4. Benefit 5. Stand Up 6. Heavy Horses 7. Stormwatch 8. War Child 9. Songs from the Wood 10. A passion play Very salad show Scot!!!!!!

[@TheProgCorner]

Nice to see Minstrel so high!!!

[@shipsahoy1793]

A is a very good album, you're right!

[@TheProgCorner]

I love it!!!!🥰

[@shipsahoy1793]

@@TheProgCorner in my ranking, I actually have A at number 11 also !!

[@SwisstedChef2018]

The Christmas Album I take out on ---- well - Christmas , it is awesome. I aggee, Broadsword is awesome, and you are right again , Watching you watching me watching you is shit. Thick as a Brick, that is indeed the one, I have listened to this since 71' and never got tired of it

[@TheProgCorner]

You get it!!!

[@R2112-i9c]

JT Christmas Album nie ma na winylu( chyba że ruski pirat)!

[@mikereiss4216]

I agree that Catfish Rising and Rock Island are probably their worst. I probably like Rock Island slightly more but that's just me I guess. Under Wraps is supposed to be bad too but I never heard it. I admittedly have a few gaps in my JT listening. Btw, I agree with your number one.

[@TheProgCorner]

I listened to Under Wraps more over the weekend than I ever had!!!

[@tullfan2560]

My Top 5: 1. Bursting Out!! And Equal second in no particular order: Benefit Songs from the Wood Broadsword and the Beast Crest of a Knave My criteria is that Bursting Out is the most perfect Tull album with the quality of the songs and the way they flow. The other 4 are well balanced in that there are so many good, quality songs on them. But, there are still plenty of gems scattered throughout the other 15 studio albums.

[@TheProgCorner]

Bursting Out is one of the best live albums ever!!!!! ❤️👍👍

[@tullfan2560]

@@TheProgCorner 💯

[@andrewlongshaw2128]

1968 to 1977 (possibly 1982 but I am not sure, and I don't have Broadsword on vinyl). One of my favourite bands.

[@TheProgCorner]

So good!!!

[@danaaronmusic]

Hey, thanks for ranking my second favorite band in the universe! I won't go into detail about where I agree and disagree with your rankings, because if you get me started talking about Jethro Tull, I'll be up all night. But there is one thing I have been wond'ring about: It seems so strange to me that you (and a bunch of other people) prefer RokFlote over Zealot Gene, when to me ZG is a much better album. Here's a hypothesis: You are listening to the band, the performances, the guitar solos, the arrangements, the production and the overall sound of the albums. On all that, I have to agree that RF is better. However, to me the most important thing is always the songwriting, and there's some truly inspired songwriting on ZG, where the songs seem like a bit of an afterthought on RF. Love to hear you thoughts on this. Am I totally off base? And since I can't resist: 1. Heavy Horses 2. Songs from the Wood 3. (tie) Aqualung, Thick as a Brick, Minstrel in the Gallery ......... 23. Under Wraps Long live Jethro Tull! Long live The Prog Corner!

[@TheProgCorner]

That’s what I love about Tull: every album, every era affects different parts of your brain. So good. I hear you about ZG. It’s just weird how music works - and RF just hit me harder. Maybe it’s the song sequencing. Who knows!!! But don’t listen to me. I’m the guy who actually likes Under Wraps!!!

[@danaaronmusic]

@@TheProgCorner And I'm the maniac who like J Tull Dot Com!

[@Michael2460]

Great job. I would have put Stand-Up in the top 5!

[@TheProgCorner]

So hard!!! That was painful.

[@plantagenetes6059]

I must notice that Jethro has many great non-album tracks, bigger than any other prog band in history. To name a few - Commercial Traveller, Living In These Hard Times, Broadford Bazzar, Man Of God, Kelpie, Drive On The Young Side Of Life, Overhang, Coronach. They are decent, trust me.

[@TheProgCorner]

A good point!!!

[@robertharvey2604]

Hard to beat that Top 10!

[@TheProgCorner]

It’s pretty much perfect.

[@MrSinnerBOFH]

It’s Tull, man, it’s Tull! Long live to Steel Monkey, the best rock song ever! 😂 (I had to say this, lol)

[@TheProgCorner]

I love that song!!!

[@BlindArthurBlake]

I had heard, but cannot confirm, that Under Wraps was Martin Barre's favorite Jethro Tull album...

[@TheProgCorner]

I heard that too!!!

[@shipsahoy1793]

@@TheProgCorner yes that's true he said that when interviewed; on more than one occasion.

[@UrielVoltra]

i became a fan of JT yesterday ❤

[@TheProgCorner]

Yes!!!! What a band!!!! Enjoy their lengthy (and awesome) catalog…

[@williambaldridge1203]

Do you have any idea why they never performed any of Baker Street mues live?It's so well liked. It's so many people's favorite Tull stuff.

[@TheProgCorner]

A great question!!! Seen Tull four times and they’ve never played it!!!!

[@leandropessina3961]

Hi! It is simply impossible to play that live 😂 too many tracks. Or at least, it was not possible 50 years ago

[@TheProgCorner]

It would be nearly impossible to do that song the right way live. A good point!!!

[@williambaldridge1203]

If they could do thick as a brick , or passion play.I don't see why it would be so difficult to do that song.

[@shipsahoy1793]

@@williambaldridge1203good point!

[@bulkvanderhuge9006]

My list would be 1. Thick as a Brick, 2. Warchild, 3. A, 4. Aqualung, 5. Songs from the woods. I own their albums up to Stormwatch, and for whatever reason A Passion Play just never clicked with me. The parts I like from A Passion Play can all be found on M.U. The Best of Jethro Tull. To me Passion Play seems like a forced mess, and not as well organized as Thick as a Brick. The reason I like Warchild so much is because of Sea Lion, and also that that album has some of their most complex 'musical harmonies" ever, a good example being the beginning of Sea Lion, and the strange, almost atonal lines being played by the instruments in the chorus of "Warchild" are amazing, because they sound so strange, but are very musical. And I absolutely LOVE the Vocal Harmonies on "Ladies"

[@TheProgCorner]

Warchild getting some praise. Nice!!!

[@tom-kz9pb]

Should we rank gifts from an artist, any more than we should rank members of our family, in order of whom we like most? So many gifts: Bouree, Songs from the Wood, Cup of Wonder, Mother Goose, Moths.. like a reincarnation of a wandering minstrel from medieval days.

[@TheProgCorner]

I rank everything!!! If I had children I’d do an episode and rank them too!!!

[@desistindo1]

My worst to best rank: 23 - Under Wraps [1984] 22 - Rock Island [1989] 21 - The Jethro Tull Christmas Album [2003] 20 - RökFlöte [2023] 19 - The Zealot Gene [2022] 18 - J-Tull Dot Com [1999] 17 - Roots To Branches [1995] 16 - Catfish Rising [1991] 15 - The Broadsword And The Beast [1982] 14 - This Was [1968] 13 - Stormwatch [1979] 12 - Crest Of A Knave [1987] 11 - A [1980] 10 - Too Old To Rock 'N' Roll, Too Young To Die! [1976] 09 - Stand Up [1969] 08 - War Child [1974] 07 - Benefit [1970] 05 - Minstrel In The Gallery [1975] 06 - Heavy Horses [1978] 04 - Aqualung [1971] 03 - Songs From The Wood [1977] 02 - Thick As A Brick [1972] 01 - A Passion Play [1973]

[@TheProgCorner]

Excellent list!!!! I knew my Under Wraps take would be a bit contentious…

[@desistindo1]

haha, I loved where UW is on your list, it made me listen to the album again these last few days, and I have to say it's growing on me. By the way, I love Ian's first album, Walk into Light, and now I'm having more affection for UW. I love your channel, thank you very much and please keep going!@@TheProgCorner

[@TheProgCorner]

I’m just getting warmed up!!!!!

[@marcelob4132]

I agree with your top 5 followed by Benefit and Stand Up

[@TheProgCorner]

Those two are special, aren’t they?

[@questionbeggar1869]

It's a tough group to rank. Every Tull album was at least half full of excellent songs. I agree that "A" and "Underwraps" are underrated. They're most enjoyable coming up here and there randomly in Tull playlists, for their different soundscapes. I'd like to see Ian's solo albums, live albums, and scrap albums in a ranking with the proper Tull albums. I mean, come on: Ian is Ian. It's unfair that Brick 2, and the excellent Homo Erraticus don't get in on the action, to say nothing of SLOB, Rupi's and 12 Dances.

[@TheProgCorner]

I love those “solo”albums!!!

[@kevinbutler3665]

My top 5 1. Songs From The Wood 2. Thick As A Brick 3. A 4. Aqualung 5. Stormwatch.

[@TheProgCorner]

A at #3. A bold move!!!

[@kevinbutler3665]

I really love that album, no weak moment and it's pretty heavy and i'm a sucker for a ballad album closer and the track Further On i just love as a closer. I think that album is massively underrated. Don't get me started on Yes Tormato, ha ha. @@TheProgCorner

[@JoseCruz-vq6nc]

Aqualung, Stand Up, Minstrel in the Gallery, A Passion Play, Thick as a Brick, Thick as a Brick II, Benefit, Songs from The Wood...and, yes, let's add Living in the Past. I will give Heavy Horses another listen. War Child was weak. This Was...was confusing. I liked Roots to Branches...but it was too late. I was hopeful when Crest of a Knave and Rock Island were released...but they just didn't hold together real well as albums. I haven't heard the others and I don't want to. Minstrel in the Gallery was the last great release. I was however impressed with Thick as a Brick II. Nicely done. The Benefit album is improved without "Teacher".

[@michaelbenz8092]

Is this the greatest catalog of all time? You were using the adjective great from album #21.

[@TheProgCorner]

Exactly!!!

[@pilesovinyl]

Aqualung has to be #1 for me, I'd put A Passion Play #2 and Minstrel In The Gallery #3, then Thick As A Brick, War Child, and your rankings beyond are pretty good otherwise.

[@TheProgCorner]

Awesome!!!!