The songwriting genius of Ian Anderson

[@timculp4126]

I always felt IA incorporated sophistication, subtlety, and a touch of abstract to great effect in his songwriting. Remarkably diverse in his subject matter as well. One of the very best.

[@snoozedoctor]

I agree. To be able to compose in such varied styles is really amazing. He's one of those lucky few who have the "music in them." It's just waiting to burst out.

[@drj602]

This is like a drunk maybe, who is hit by a bus and injured badly and after being snoozed out for a day or so he comes to and slowly begins to realize what hit him was indeed a bus. Musical Genius. There is no doubt.

[@artemesaulkov2010]

I’m so glad that there’s as big a fan of JT as me. Thank you so much Mark. I would never be able to play my favorite tunes without your tutorials!

[@snoozedoctor]

Glad to help!

[@mhtmaia]

Great job, Doc. Thanks again.

[@snoozedoctor]

Thank you!

[@taab7]

Very enjoyable review. Thanks Doc. I've been using words like "dramatic tension" and "sophistication" for decades to convey my thoughts on Ian's compositional skills. I truly believe that he is the greatest composer of contemporary music from 1969 until 1993 and should be knighted for his magnificent contributions to British art and culture. I'm pleased you included Wichita Linesman (written by Jimmy Webb) in this review - it's a great song and Glen Campbell (brilliant guitarist) did a stellar job.

[@snoozedoctor]

Jimmy Webb is one of favorite composers. Yeah, tension is such a powerful force in a song. Sometimes it resolves to where you're feeling it should go, and other times composers surprise us. Glad you like the video! It's been on my mind for a while now.

[@tommy..980]

I totally agree with you sir.. He’s right up there with anyone,a total genius songwriter..

[@snoozedoctor]

His has that gift of melody, something that's a mysterious thing. I think he could have written many more pop hits if he so desired. I think Living In the Past and Bungle in the Jungle were two that he crafted for the radio. But that wasn't what drove him. He just wanted to create music that HE liked. But, he wasn't immune to critics as demonstrated by his reaction to their reaction about Passion Play. What era of Tull is your favorite?

[@leokissling7072]

Wonderful! Thank you so much.

[@snoozedoctor]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@johnroberts3723]

Totally agree! The beatles and jethro tull both musicians musicians. I have a particular soft spot for tull although it seems that they've always generally been underrated. Thanks for the great educational content.

[@snoozedoctor]

Thanks! A perfect pop song, to me anyway, needs enough repetition to register the note choices, an original and memorable melody line, and a surprise somewhere a long the line. Bonus for good lyrics.

[@cinpa2968]

Great analysis of a great artist!

[@snoozedoctor]

Thanks so much!

[@davidpage8154]

Fascinating lecture and performance

[@snoozedoctor]

Thank you sir!

[@jayeaston13]

Let me join the chorus of those expressing gratitude for all the great JT-related videos you’ve been sharing. Your tutorials are hugely helpful and all your videos are enjoyable. Thanks much for sharing your skills and insights!

[@snoozedoctor]

Thanks so much Jay!

[@EyeShakingKing]

Great video. "Wichita Lineman" is such a masterpiece!

[@snoozedoctor]

Couldn't agree more! I love Jimmy Webb.

[@martinrhodes1619]

Brilliant. Best discussion of this kind I’ve seen. Thank you.

[@snoozedoctor]

Thanks!

[@JG-if6fy]

I can always find something to learn from you, not just how to play, but, perhaps more importantly, how to listen! Hearty thanks!

[@snoozedoctor]

Thank you for the kind comment!

[@ScilentDeath]

Ian Anderson is a total legend and utter hero that has been and is far to easily forgotten about. Tull are spectacular

[@snoozedoctor]

Totally agree. Can you believe they're not in the Rock n Roll hall of fame. Ian doesn't care, but if the hall of fame were legitimate they would recognize ground breaking artists. But the HOF has gone off the rails entirely.

[@waynecaswell5727]

Wonderful and informative lesson on this aspect of music that makes listening to great songs enjoyable. Ian Anderson is a master of this for over 50 years. His incredible lyrics are worth listening to over and over. As he says in Thick As Brick, "I may make you feel but I can't make you think. " He is also a genius in touring. Developed ways to tour efficiently. Also, a genius to listen to. Interviews are incredible. Thank you for persevering his legacy and bringing more viewers to see his beautiful music. Enjoy every video.

[@snoozedoctor]

Thanks Wayne! Such a nice comment. I agree on the lyrics. When I'm composing I frequently try to think of some common saying that I could turn like Ian does all the time. From Baker's Street "I tried to catch my eye but I looked the other way." So simple, witty, and so good. The live JT show I saw in '72 was my favorite concert ever. The band was really cooking then. You had 5 virtuosos up there that all had incredible stage presence. The energy. that went in to that show was incredible. How they sustained that night to night, wow.

[@waynecaswell5727]

@@snoozedoctor Definitely a great year for Jethro Tull. I was fortunate to see them 2 times that year. This was what I consider the best line up for JT. The stage presence as you said was incredible. Never would have believed that Ian Anderson could have continued be as creative and have the energy that he has been able to sustain. He never disappoints and is able to give us great music. Much more than anyone else in his era.

[@Mel_ilm]

Thank you. Such joy listening to you!

[@snoozedoctor]

Thanks for the kind comment!

[@BigandsmallH]

great analysis

[@snoozedoctor]

Thanks! Cheers to you!

[@Elizareads]

On Wond'ring Aloud, I've come to think of it is as being in C Lydian. All the chords sit nicely with that (except a lone Dm right at the end), with C major as the "tonic". Lydian is renowned for having a pretty dreamy and disconnected feel, without a very strong tonal centre, which I think is apparent in the song. Whether Ian knew he was writing in the Lydian mode or not I don't know!

[@snoozedoctor]

Great analysis! I think he probably went where his ear and musical sense led him. He's said that he doesn't read music but certainly he had a working knowledge of key, meter, and modulation.

[@reidperper798]

Fantastic analysis and so enlightening. I could not agree more and look forward to more musical insights from you! Thank you for putting this together.

[@snoozedoctor]

Thanks for giving it a listen!

[@Gilfanon-2]

Great video, Snooze Doc! One can hear the sophistication in the chord progression and tonal quality, not to mention the lyrical content which is most impressive and colorful!

[@snoozedoctor]

Thank you kindly!

[@ГригорийМирошниченко-б4л]

Thanks!

[@snoozedoctor]

You're welcome! Cheers!

[@jimparker7778]

My favorite Anderson tune is "We Used to Know." I play the accompaniment in a DADGAD tuning and get a great effect. It can also be used to play the first verse or two of Hotel California. Who knew?

[@snoozedoctor]

Never thought about using DADGAD for that! Yeah, there was some controversy as to whether The Eagles had ripped that off since they had opened for JT in the early days. To his credit, Ian said it didn't matter, he didn't care if they did, and Hotel California was a much better song anyhow.

[@jonnyroxx7172]

My much older brother left me an incredible album collection when he left home. He had more Jethro Tull albums than any other artist, and it was not lost on me. Benefit, Songs From the Wood, and Passion Play were huge influences on my musicianship. I’ve actually transcribed the flute solo from My God and tabbed it out on guitar, as an exercise for a student. Ian Anderson is brilliant.

[@snoozedoctor]

That's a great exercise of transcription! I think probably the whole flute, vocal interlude in My God was off the top of his head and done very quickly. As Dave Pegg once said about him, paraphrased, "people don't understand how musical Ian is. Much of that stuff on the albums was right off the top of his head and composed on the spot.

[@jonnyroxx7172]

@@snoozedoctor I believe it. It's amazing how "guitar-like" some of his flute solos are.

[@artrogers3985]

Thanks for that one Doc. A lot of great information.

[@snoozedoctor]

How are you getting along?

[@artrogers3985]

@@snoozedoctor very well thank you. The neurostimulator has been doing wonderfully. It’s not the silver bullet but I have too many other things going on. Best thing is I have been able to cut way back on the pain meds. Maybe another adjustment by the folks at Abbot will help.

[@officialpaulmclaney]

Right on

[@snoozedoctor]

Glad you enjoyed it. Cheers!

[@theroadhomefromwrestling1788]

You’re breaking down some of my favorite songs ever. Thank you. I’m hoping for some Fires at Midnight in part 2.

[@snoozedoctor]

Thanks! I covered that one a while back, check it out!

[@rattleshakti]

Wonderful stuff yet again. Listening to your breakdown of his songs made me wonder where Ian got those ideas from, I wonder who and what he was in his last lives? Hmm....

[@snoozedoctor]

It always mystifies me when someone creates a whole genre of music like he did. Totally unique.

[@American-Dragon]

I write a lot of songs Doubt Ian jhon or Paul or the county lineman guy ever woried about these things in such an introspective way. Write alot. Play for others. Your writing and playing will become better because you are exploring different things and finding out what works, what works better, what an audience likes and what doesn't. This is stuff you apply with out thinking about it. All my gibberish but this feller is right. Love that waterloo my guy. You should be an extra on Yellowstone.

[@snoozedoctor]

I love your comment. If you set out to write a song that contains certain elements, chances are, it's going to suck. Great songwriters sit down at the instrument and let their fingers go where they may and beautiful music comes out. Because it's so contrary to my composing technique, I don't understand how artists compose around prewritten lyrics, like Elton John. I once read that McCartney said that was backwards, he never did it, and I can't either.

[@Elizareads]

Fantastic video. I would say, that I reckon one of the tricks with the way a lot of these classic great songs were written was making the harmony complement the melody, and not vice versa. It's really easy (I find) when writing as a guitarist to just pick up a guitar, start putting spicy sets of chords together, and sing something that sounds natural over it. But I've always found it's a quick way of coming up with a boring melody, and a boring song. Of course, there's exceptions... I'm no Ian Anderson, Lennon, or McCartney, so I couldn't say for sure, but I've really found writing stuff gets a lot more interesting very quickly when you come up with most of the tune in your head before you pick up a guitar. Subscribed and followed :-)

[@snoozedoctor]

Thanks for the comment! There are songwriters that I've heard say they write the melody first before adding the harmonic structure. Barry Gibb once said that was how The Bee Gees wrote. I agree with you, if you write the whole chord structure first, the melody is going to be confined. I'm not a great songwriter either, but I have fun doing it. My best efforts come when the melody is leading the chord. I write both simultaneously as I hear the melody wanting to go somewhere then I have to find a chord that sounds good with that melody note. Then you have writers like Elton John and Richard Rodgers that put a sheet of lyrics before them and create a song from them. I once heard McCartney say he couldn't do that, that the process was backwards to him. I write better lyrics when I write them first but then the music sucks. If I write the music first, then the lyrics suck. I'm caught in a bind!! Cheers!

[@Elizareads]

@@snoozedoctor Thanks for your reply! Yeah I've heard Barry Gibb say that, but didn't know about Elton John. I spent my Saturday morning yesterday learning Won'dring Aloud from your other video. I never appreciated how many licks he does during the vocal melody, but it was very instructive. It sounds quite folky when I play it probably because I fingerpick and so can't get quite the same distinction between up and down strokes on individual notes. Thanks a lot for making these great videos, great to see others with a similar appreciation for Ian Anderson's songwriting.

[@charlescaputo1155]

the c note with the Bbmaj7 makes it a Bb9th. Also going from Bb from A (lucy sky diamonds) is not that much of a big change. Both chords have the common chord of dm

[@snoozedoctor]

When it goes to the Bb from A, is that the 4 chord of F Major? Those changes confuse me a bit because it goes Bb, C9, F6 and back to Bb.

[@stevenhaywood1195]

Ian is a remarkable songwriter. Hie has an attunement to history, folklore and the past, and has plenty to say therefore The muse doth visit him oftentimes and inspires him with sweet sounds and melodies most rich and strange, that give much delight and hath granted most beauteous musical tapestries and a kaleidoscope of his inner landscape. sttgaegoaktd 😛😛😛😛😛😛😛

[@snoozedoctor]

I agree. He is the most successful of the bands that tried to weave classic folklore, Celtic modes and rhythms into a hard rocking format. Terrific melody writer.

[@RajMathur-u9j]

When did some 20 year old players learn such intricate music theory? No formal lessons as far as I know and yet, such mastery?

[@snoozedoctor]

The great composers follow their ear and the truly great ones go to some place unexpected. I heard Sting say in a recent interview that if a tune didn't surprise him within the first 15 seconds, he didn't listen. The art of modulation is being lost because no one does it any more and it always brings the best surprises to the ear.

[@acoustically9201]

Difference between IA and JL/PMcC ? The former is likely to have actually written his songs.

[@snoozedoctor]

Not sure what you mean but one difference to me is IA kinda invented something new. The Beatles took R&B, and popular music of the 40s and 50s, took some acid, and stretched it out. Ian took elements of R&B, classical music, folk music, Celtic music, and synthesized something completely new, without the help of drugs. Thanks for listening and commenting!

[@amiskalo]

👏👏👏

[@snoozedoctor]

Thanks!

[@Robbo57]

started watching this late last night and will watch it all again today. Did you deliberately keep editing the view at the beginning to emphasise your point?😎

[@snoozedoctor]

I pause quite a bit when I'm talking, I guess growing up in the South of the US will do that to you. I snip out all the little pauses and that actually does shorten the length of the video quite a bit. I did intentional zoom in and out a bit. If you watch other channels, everybody does it. It emphasizes the edit, which I guess makes it look more professional? 😁

[@Robbo57]

@@snoozedoctor ok doc, you're the man. I watch it again, sober this time.😁

[@paulhart3812]

No one has the poetic prowess of Ian Anderson. -------- I am the wind to fill your sail. I am the cross to take your nail.

[@snoozedoctor]

Always loved the lyric!

[@petrbrazda1064]

Doc, Hi, ...I always lowed Jethro Tull. Now as i found you, i Lowe you to. Take care of yourself, you seams so fragile to me. This days there is no many left.

[@snoozedoctor]

Thanks for the kind comment!

[@imannonymous7707]

I agree that tull wrote some songs with clever harmonic content . But really only a handful .and modulations arent that hard , there are dozens of 50s pop songs that do the same. Personally my favorite tull songs are thick as a brick ,locomotive breath, mother goose,skating on thin ice. Most of the songs you cited are beatles songs, not tull at all.....interesting tho

[@snoozedoctor]

Thanks. yeah, I was trying to build some context with the Beatles stuff. Unusual and inventive modulations, such as the one in Penny Lane, aren't that easy. The most common modulation out there, simply moving up a half or whole step is very easy and is all over in popular music. I miss all those modulations of the old pop songs you mentioned.

[@ttatum]

I suspect much of Ian's songwriting success was due to his unwillingness to release something that wasn't quality. He knew quality and he kept working the song until it was there. I've always thought the 20 years compilation had some examples that were still works in progress. To me, those provide insight into how he worked. The saying is "20 percent inspiration, 80 percent perspiration". A demanding personality, demanding of himself.

[@snoozedoctor]

He's undoubtedly a very hard worker. The amount of time he spent touring was just incredible. He could compose so fast (TAAB being composed in about 2 weeks), he could be very efficient as well. I once spoke to an artist that opened for Tull on one of their tours. Their comment was "he's an intense guy." Of that I'm sure.

[@artrogers3985]

@@snoozedoctor 2 weeks? I didn’t know that. Amazing

[@Elizareads]

Definitely, I'm sure he was uncompromising when it came to music. Probably got something to do with why he ruffled a lot of feathers with bandmates, and they went through so many lineups. Great talent and commitment is isolating.

[@richardpane7624]

All the more the genius for being completely self- taught.. Just listen to the songs he was writing in his early twenties for examples that clearly demonstrated his enormous and growing talents

[@snoozedoctor]

Yes, a genius. His command of odd time signatures is astounding. It's hard to write a song in 7/4 or 5/4 and not have it sound contrived, at least for me it is.

[@richardpane7624]

@@snoozedoctor You too are extremely talented and you bring depth and rich sound to his songs

[@snoozedoctor]

@@richardpane7624 Thanks, you are very kind! Cheers to you and happy holidays.

[@benitoherrero3895]

I agree, Ian Anderson was as good composer as Lennon or McCartney, nobody in this world was able to made so many wonderful melodies as them. The rest have several good melodies but not so many like those three people. Specially these two: Thick as a brick is a continuous set of chained gorgeous melodies and Abbey Road is the same. Also Genesis Selling England by the Pound is similar to these, but the rest are one or several steps from them.

[@snoozedoctor]

The Beatles, especially early in their career, wrote songs to get on the radio and sell records. Later in their career they did move on to compositions that were riskier, culminating in Abbey Road, their masterpiece. Tony Banks is a terrific melodist. Mad Man Moon being one of my favorites. Ian, seems to me, always composed for himself, and focused less on radio airplay, although Living in the Past and Bungle in the Jungle were certainly radio friendly tracks. Ian is so capable of throwing in little melodic interludes such as the little instrumental section between Pig-Me and the Whore and Crash Barrier Waltzer in Baker Street Muse. And of course the main melodic theme of Thick as a Brick is so simple but so memorable.

[@bridgetgidget1446]

Ian's songs have much more depth than any Beatles songs.

[@snoozedoctor]

Certainly from meter and complexity perspectives, agreed. One big difference was that Ian, being a virtuoso, and playing with virtuosos, was composing in that genre. It was music the Beatles would never have been able to play.

[@scottmelton8414]

“Dare I say?” Yeah, I think we’re old enough to dare. McCartney is a very prolific, gifted, and resourceful composer, and for eight years the chemistry of the two men (with the help of their producer) was perfect. But McCartney is not and never was a musician in the same class as Anderson. As long as there are what we call echelons, there will be opinions. But I think you’re correct that he's right up there with the best.

[@snoozedoctor]

yeah, IA composed for virtuosos, being one himself. Passion Play is a divisive album for many, but damn, try to play that stuff! Murderous! They could do it whilst bouncing around like pogo sticks.

[@norcoauctions]

sorry, not even close to Lennon and McCartney. Paul McCartney was the greatest songwriter in thew 20th century. no question. Now as far as rock goes, Ian Anderson WAS THE GREATEST ROCK PERFORMER OF ALL TIME

[@snoozedoctor]

People sometimes belittle "pop" songs and I think they don't appreciate the skill it takes to write a good one. If you're talking about appealing to the largest group of people out there, both musicians and non-musicians, McCartney is the best of the century. Man he was in the pocket from '65 to '70. Pumped them out! Totally agree. Ian had a different goal, he wrote music to please himself and the general audience was much more secondary. He did write "Living in the Past" with the specific goal of putting a song on the radio. So, I wonder if that had been his goal all along, what would have been produced. I do find Ian's orchestral compositions to be far more interesting than McCartney's. kzbin.info/www/bejne/aHzOfIBvftagebs

[@norcoauctions]

@@snoozedoctor Ian had an arranger and I am sure he was utilized extensively. Sorry, but not sorry, but Ian is a snob and selfish. He has left people like you and me to fend for ourselves to try and figure out how to play his music because he has not published his music in notational form so the world could play his music just like the record. How excellent it would be to hear TAAB or APP performed by the local college or orchestra. Ian will have none of it though and his music will slowly fade into the west after he dies. Ian needs to change this. He wants to continue to perform and all that he accomplishes in doing this is barely passable for a tribute band. I repeat though, there was NEVER a greater rock performer than Ian Anderson. His arranger of course was David Palmer

[@snoozedoctor]

@@norcoauctions Robert (now Dee) Palmer is a fantastic arranger. She added so much to Tull in the early years. Many of those songs wouldn't be as interesting without her. Andrew Giddings did quite a bit of arranging on The Divinities album. That includes "In The Grip of Stonger Stuff." IMHO that was the last great incarnation of Tull, which ended around 2007 or thereabouts. Like most breakups with IA, I think it was acrimonious. And well, Martin B., who seems every bit the gem, he was done wrong.

[@charlescaputo778]

Ian anderson was a good songwriter but please dont call him a genius.

[@corybritton1966]

Is this an Ian Anderson video or a beatles video? Make up your mind. And please refrain from singing....please!!!!😅😅😅