This Was
Jethro Tull was initially a strange kind of blues
band. Their first line-up included Mick
Abrahams, Glenn
Cornick, Clive
Bunker, and Ian
Anderson.
In
June, just before this album was recorded, Jethro Tull began a residency
at London’s famed Marquee Club (where the ‘Stones and The Who
also launched their careers). Band advisers failed to get Ian to give
up the flute and let Mick do all the singing. The album was recorded
without any record company contract presuming, correctly, that a deal
could be made afterwards.
The debut album hit #10 in the British charts, partly thanks to great airplay
from BBC Radio DJ John Peel. Just before the release in the U.S., guitarist
Abrahams left to form "Blodwyn Pig," primarily due to Anderson's
preference for a less blues-orientated future.
Tull began their first US tour in January 1969, immediately after securing
the services of guitarist Martin
Barre.
The album had little commercial impact in the US charts (#62) but the U.S.
tour did earn the band a strong cult following.
