Jethro Tull’s continued musical success proves that, yes, maybe they did use to build them differently – musicians and their fans. Throughout the 1970s, the group put out a series of musically complex and lyrically adventurous albums that sold in the millions. Jethro Tull is one of the greatest bands of all time.

Fronted by heavily bearded flute player Ian Anderson, outside of prog-rock circles, Tull was, essentially, a faceless group. The music, however, connected with so many and remains highly successful.

Here’s a breakdown and taster of Jethro Tull’s finest moments. These are the band’s greatest 10 songs.

Greatest 10 Songs by Jethro Tull

10. “A New Day Yesterday”

Every young British band of the late 1960s took a stab at the blues. So did Jethro Tull. For a short while. The blues form may have been a little limiting. Plus, like The Kinks, the band wasn’t too good at it.

You can still hear traces of heavy blues on “A New Day Yesterday.” But the trademark of the band’s essential sound is already there as well. “Stand Up” is an interesting document of the Tull, obsessed with blues, classical and all.

9. “Cross-Eyed Mary”

Anderson was cynical, alright. But he didn’t look down upon audiences. In fact, he challenged their taste and beliefs.

The “Aqualung” album is the band’s great anti-Church record. But it’s also funny and emphatic. “Cross-Eyed Mary” is a prostitute, and you can’t help but feel sorry for the girl.

8. “Bungle in the Jungle”

The cliche is that you needed to reserve half an hour or so to enjoy the song of a regular progressive-rock band. Not the case with Jethro Tull. Ian Anderson’s radio-friendly songs will make you convert or teach you to stay away nearly instantly. Yes and Genesis could learn a thing or two.

The wordplay for “Bungle in the Jungle” is mighty clever. But the singing and arrangement also make this a bit of a gem.

7. “Too Old to Rock ‘n Roll: Too Young to Die”

Jethro Tull was never cool but never very concerned by this. After all, of all the bands that sold millions, they were among the ones whose members were the least known by the public.

“Too Old to Rock ‘n Roll: Too Young to Die” is about a greaser desperate to having dedicated his life to a dying fad. In the end, the attempt to kill himself turns him a few decades younger and makes him an instant success. It’s a rockin’ fairytale if there ever was one.

6. “Songs from the Wood”

Ian Anderson does folk music better than most, and certainly has plenty of ideas about how one should go about it. His version of folk music isn’t Woody Guthrie-inspired but rather influenced by medieval European music.

“Songs from the Wood” is certainly tongue-in-cheek in places and quite beautiful sounding throughout. It’ll give you a singalong and a workout for your brain who’ll need to focus on the details of the arrangement.

5. “The Whistler”

Jethro Tull was a group of rebels, not public-pleasing cowards as most prog-rockers of their generation turned out to be.

“The Whistler” is one of the highlights of the band’s discography. It’s a song concerned with evil and the divine by way of English mythology. And, in some ways, it picks on Anderson’s favourite target – mainstream religion.

4. “Minstrel in the Gallery”

The early to mid-1970s was created for bands like Jethro Tull. Forget pop, punk and disco. Those came later. The first part of the decade made stars of musicians who could display their tremendous virtuosity.

“Minstrel in the Gallary,” ironically, plays to the gallery. Turns out that audiences were famished for long prog-rock songs with complex arrangements and challenging lyrics. Right place, right time, right musicians.

3. “Aqualung”

“Hey, Aqualung!” The most famous pop hit to feature a flute and a song immortalized in the “Anchorman” movie, “Aqualung”, is one of the great rock songs of the 1970s.

An odd song to become a non-single hit, “Aqualung”, was dark, funny, and, to non-Tull fans, may have had something of the novelty-song quality to it. Dig deeper and “Aqualung” is also a great character study. Besides, if Anderson thinks he can play a live show and omit it, he’s wrong!

2. “Living in the Past”

Beyond anything, “Living in the Past” is a great sound. Anderson’s flute, a difficult proposition to record producers trying to make a buck, sounds sublime. The instrumental section truly transports you back to the olden days.

And, for prog fans demanding more from their rock n’ roll, the lyrics may have resonated deeply.

1. “Locomotive Breath”

The trick to Jethro Tull’s success is that their sound could always compete and, sometimes, outmuscle Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, etc.

“Locomotive Breath” speeds by at a menacing speed. It comes accompanied by Anderson’s meanest, most cynical take on humanity. And if the solo doesn’t make you want to play guitar, then you’re a hopeless case!

“Locomotive Breath” is Jethro Tull’s finest song and one of the best rock numbers ever.