Songs From the Wood [Gold CD]

Jethro Tull | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 20, 1998)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Gold CD
• Label: Mobile Fidelity
• ASIN: B00000DCWQ
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #419,791 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Songs From the Wood

2. Jack-in-the-Green

3. Cup of Wonder

4. Hunting Girl

5. Ring Out, Solstice Bells

6. Velvet Green

7. The Whistler

8. Pibroch (Cap in Hand)

9. Fire at Midnight

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Tull Signature Work, November 26, 1999

By 

Bellagio "Bellagio" (Las Vegas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Songs From the Wood (Audio CD)

This album is usually the answer to: If there was only one Tull album you could have....? And it is true that rarely in the modern era can you find such a unique and evocative work. Only a handful of times since has Tull matched or exceeded the effort you can hear on this CD. The bucolic life is not a concept you will find often (or ever, outside Tull) in a rock album. But here it is presented to perfection. From the horses hooves racing and whip-cracking in Hunting Girl to the marvelous Scottish country dance in Pibroch, this jewel of an album evokes the pleasures of the British countryside in all seasons. Martin Barre even gets the chance to mimick bagpipes with his electric guitar (Pibroch again), though that's not entirely successful. Weak points are almost non-existant, and really only the smallest of minor quibbles is possible in a work this powerful. The album was so successful in its concept and execution that critical acclaim at the time was practically universal. Tull followed with two more superb albums playing on different aspects of the same theme (Heavy Horses and the lesser known, but perhaps even more marvelous, Stormwatch). You can buy this CD with full confidence that there is no possibility of disappointment.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Enchanting: I return to this disk again and again, March 14, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Columbia, Missouri) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Songs From the Wood (Audio CD)

This album has a distinctive cast to it, a very English countryside flavor that's depicted vividly in the lyrics. Now, that may not sound appealing when described, but it sounds very magical when listened to.

JT covers a lot of ground here: From a tongue-in-cheek sexual farce like "Hunting Girl" and the lonely morning-after feeling of "Velvet Green," to the warm and woodsy homecoming in "Fire At Midnight;" with stops along the way wreathed in magic and enchantment, and the lure of the road ("Jack-In-The-Green," "Cup of Wonder," and "The Whistler"). The theme holds together beautifully through the album (with the single exception of "Pibroch," which doesn't exactly fit with the other cuts.)

As others have mentioned, Ian Andersen's voice and flute performances sound inspired. I think "enchanting" describes both the performances and the theme equally well.

I bought this album in vinyl, then retired it with the CD, and I find myself listening to it at least a few times a year, even 22 years later. That's a pretty strong recommendation for anything.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A TULL RHAPSODY, March 30, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Songs From the Wood (Audio CD)

Let's get it straight.Tull has done more to nature than most other rock groups.This album virtually takes you on a trip down English countryside.This album along with "Heavy horses" truly symbolises,the Folksier side of Jethro Tull.Listen to a potpourri of Instruments from Ian Anderson. sorry! Music Magician!