Brian riffs on the fifth studio album by Jethro Tull from March of 1972 (Thick As a Brick). ENTERTAINMENT TRACK: the main theme from the motion picture “The Godfather” STAFF PICKS: “A Horse With No Name" by America — Rob. “Chelsea Girls” by Spirit — Bruce. “30 Days In the Hole” by Humble Pie — Wayne. “Stay With Me” by Faces — Brian. INSTRUMENTAL TRACK: “Taurus” by Dennis Coffey. **(NOTE: What the Riff?!? does not own the rights to any of these songs and we neither sell, nor profit from them. We share them so you can learn about them and purchase them for your own collections.)
For it's fifth studio album, Jethro Tull decided to satirize the concept album which was popular amongst prog rock acts like themselves, Yes, and Emerson, Lake & Palmer. Thick as a Brick is a single piece of music spread across two album sides, and takes inspiration from Monty Python, poking fun at the critics, the audience, and the band itself. Ian Anderson wrote much of the album, but the entire band contributed to the songs.
The "concept" of this concept album is that the lyrics are written by an 8 year-old genius named Gerald Bostock, and the album is a musical adaptation of Bostock's poem. The cover art continues the spoof, as it forms a 12-page English newspaper with both articles and advertisements that might be found in a small town paper.
Contemporary critical reviews of the album were mixed, but retrospective reviews would all be positive. Commercially the album was a success, hitting number 1 in the US, Canada, and Australia, and hitting number 5 in the UK.
Brian brings us this prog rock spoof-turned-classic.
Thick as a Brick, part 1
This is the entire album side 1. Most Jethro Tull fans will recognize the first few minutes as the radio cut of "Thick As a Brick," though most FM stations would truncate it as it drifts into the next movement of the suite. Although it is one continuous piece of music, the movements are actually three- to five-minute songs stitched together to form a continuous whole.
ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:
The main theme from the motion picture “The Godfather”
The ultimate mob movie was released this month, and was an offer we couldn't refuse!
STAFF PICKS:
A Horse With No Name by America
Rob's staff pick was America's first and most successful single off their self-titled debut album. The song was originally entitled "Desert Song," and was inspired by prints by Salvador Dali and M.C. Escher. One unusual thing about this song is that it is built on only two chords.
Chelsea Girls by Spirit
Bruce brings us a deep cut in the leading track from Spirit's fifth album called Feedback. This is the only Spirit album to feature John and Al Staehely as band members, and to not feature Randy California as a band member. This album is a little more California country rock than the prog rock/psychedelic rock for which Spirit is better known.
30 Days In the Hole by Humble Pie
Wayne presents the version of Humble Pie with guitarist Steve Marriott on lead vocals, as Peter Frampton had left the group. This is off their fifth and most successful album, “Smokin.’” This would become Humble Pie's best known song, despite the fact that it did not do well on the charts.
Stay With Me by the Faces
Rod Stewart's voice is hard to miss in Brian's staff pick. This song chronicles the stereotypical one night stand of a band member on the tour. Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood co-wrote this song, and it is off their album "A Nod Is As Good As A Wink...To A Blind Horse."
COMEDY TRACK:
Taurus by Dennis Coffey
This rock instrumental was on the charts in this month.