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Post by nonrabbit on Dec 22, 2011 23:32:03 GMT
 "The Jethro Tull Christmas Album is the 21st studio album released by Jethro Tull, on September 30, 2003.
The songs are a mix of new material, re-recordings of Tull's own suitably themed material and arrangements of traditional Christmas music.
In 2009, the live album Christmas at St Bride's 2008 was included with the original album on CD.
Ian Anderson about the song Birthday Card at Christmas:
"My daughter Gael, like millions of other unfortunates, celebrates her birthday within a gnat’s whisker of Christmas. Overshadowed by the Great Occasion, such birthdays can be flat, perfunctory and fleetingly token in their uneventful passing. The daunting party and festive celebration of the Christian calendar overshadows too, some might argue, the humble birthday of one Mr. J. Christ. Funny old 25ths, Decembers…"en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Jethro_Tull_Christmas_AlbumI have it on authority from Tull Inc that the album cover was a painting that Ian found.
He then painted the figure of himself on it and in doing so, in my opinion, produced a worthy piece of art that should really be reproduced for those willing to part with a few bob to hang on their wall.I've only just noticed recently the "pied piper shepherd" position of the figure to the sheep  |
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Post by maddogfagin on Jun 20, 2012 8:19:04 GMT
blogcritics.org/music/article/music-review-jethro-tull-the-jethro/I remember my initial reaction when I first heard Jethro Tull was releasing a Christmas album: what a terrible idea. The image of Ian Anderson as a mad Santa would not leave my mind. Well, then imagine my surprise when The Jethro Tull Christmas Album was released during September of 2003 and it proved to be their best album in years.
It may not be a traditional Christmas album in the truest sense of the phrase, but in an odd way the music captures the spirit of the season. The tone and texture of the album is actually closer to their Songs From The Wood period rather than their recent hard rock offerings.
The Christmas Jethro Tull consisted of Anderson, lead guitarist Martin Bare, drummer Doane Perry, keyboardist Andrew Giddings, and bassist Jonathan Noyce. There are a group of string players on hand as well to lend a festive air to the project; plus, old friend Dave Pegg makes a holiday appearance on a few tracks.
Anderson re-recorded a number of songs from the group’s past. “A Christmas Song,” the even-better “Another Christmas Song,” “Jack Frost and the Hooded Crow,” “Ring Out Solstice Bells,” and a reworked “Bouree” are all resurrected as tasty holiday fare.
And yet I find the seven instrumentals to be the heart and soul of the album. The best of the lot is “Greensleeved,” which uses the traditional “Greensleeves” as its taking off place and the album closer, “ Winter Snowscape,“ written by Martin Barre, which allows him to grab the spotlight.
“Birthday Card At Christmas” is the opening track, written by Anderson especially for this release, and contains over-the-top, tongue-in-cheek lyrics which he's been so good at creating. It's a song about his daughter who is unfortunate enough to have a birthday near Christmas — like myself, I may add. It's just a lousy time for a birthday as it's overshadowed by the materialism and parties of the holiday season, and so too is the true meaning of the season according to Mr. Anderson.
The Jethro Tull Christmas Album marked a return to their musical past and as such produced a nice if somewhat unusual holiday release. As the final notes of “A Winter Snowscape” fade away on this, my 21st Jethro Tull review, I say at least for this classic band, “and to all a good night.”David Bowling Got a birthday card at Christmas: it made me think of Jesus Christ. It said, “I love you” in small letters. I simply had to read it twice. Wood smoke curled from blackened chimneys. The smell of frost was in the air. Pole star hovered in the blackness. I looked again: it wasn’t there. People have showered me with presents. While their minds were fixed on other things. Sleigh bells, bearded red suit uncles. Pointy trees and angel wings. I am the shadow in your Christmas. I am the corner of your smile. Perfunctory in celebration. You offer content but no style. That little baby Jesus: he got a birthday card or three. Gold trinkets and cheap frankincense. Some penny baubles for his tree. Have some time off for good behaviour. Forty days, give or take a few. Hey there, sweet baby Jesus: Let’s share a birthday card with you. Uploaded by BeauJamesTaylor
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Post by Deleted on Jun 20, 2012 13:19:21 GMT
The Christmas album was slaughtered by a Toronto Sun review, one of the worst reviews ever.
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Post by steelmonkey on Jun 20, 2012 15:37:07 GMT
Well Bah Humbug to them, too.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 20, 2012 15:42:53 GMT
Well Bah Humbug to them, too. Half star for Christmas. OH NO! |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 7, 2012 15:33:24 GMT
I bring you good tidings of great joy, wait, wait, wait a minute... The Worst Original Christmas Songs of the Last 10 Years By Max Blau on December 5, 2012 www.grantland.com/blog/hollywood-prospectus/post/_/id/63073/the-worst-original-christmas-songs-of-the-last-10-years2003: Jethro Tull, Birthday Card at Christmas Why it's awful: Let's just say that front man Ian Anderson should've left the rampant Christmas flute solos back in the 70's when the novelty was still perhaps slightly appreciated. Select Christmas-y lyrics: Have some time off for good behavior. Forty days, give or take a few. Hey there, sweet baby Jesus ... Let's share a birthday card with you. Career marker: The Jethro Tull Christmas Album was the band's 21st album. They have not released anything since then, so it appears that Jethro Tull have placed a self-imposed ban on themselves for the time being. |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 10, 2012 18:10:48 GMT
To Tull it's called BALANCE... I bring you good tidings of great joy, at least I try. Mince pie...OH NO! ;D
[OPINION] Happy Xmas: Ten Great Christmas Albums
December 10, 2012njtoday.net/2012/12/10/opinion-happy-xmas-ten-great-christmas-albums/By John W. Whitehead Rev. John Whitehead “Christmas—an aspirin for the soul or cold-turkey celebration of the birth and life of Christ? It has to be a measured bit of both, doesn’t it?”—Ian Anderson, The Jethro Tull Christmas Album 8. The Jethro Tull Christmas Album (Fuel Records, 2003): If you like deep-rooted traditional holiday songs, you’ll love this album. The 16 songs range from “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” to Ian Anderson originals such as “Another Christmas Song” and “Jack Frost and the Hooded Crow.” With Anderson on flute and vocals, this album has an old world flavor that will have you wanting mince pie and plum pudding. Read more: njtoday.net/2012/12/10/opinion-happy-xmas-ten-great-christmas-albums/#ixzz2EfooPow3Tell everyone to get New Jersey News from WWW.NJTODAY.NETyou balance your world on the tip of your nose... |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 18, 2012 17:33:56 GMT
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Post by maddogfagin on Dec 18, 2012 17:56:19 GMT
Time to get out the voodoo doll and some pins ? |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 18, 2012 20:20:57 GMT
Time to get out the voodoo doll and some pins ? For sure! |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 14, 2013 14:03:37 GMT
New?  New Sounds of the Season Published: Saturday, December 14, 2013 Read more: www.morningstarpublishing.com/articles/2013/12/14/grand_traverse_insider/entertainment/doc52ac12c1ae9ce078281024.txt?viewmode=fullstoryIf you want your rock with a bit of folk and flute, then consider “The Jethro Tull Christmas Album. Ian Anderson and company offer reflections on the season with souped-up versions of “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen” and a medley of “The Holly and the Ivy” and “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.” Longtime Tull favorites “Ring Out Solstice Bells” and Bach’s “Bouree” fit right into the proceedings, and Anderson originals like “Jack Frost and the Hooded Crow,” “Birthday Card at Christmas” and “A Christmas Song” are also of a piece. Of course, it helps to be a fan of Jethro Tull’s unique melding of classical, progressive rock and folk music, but the music is both seasonal and enjoyable regardless. |
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Post by journeyman on Dec 19, 2013 5:07:44 GMT
I've never been partial to the album, but I have heard songs from it included on some christmas mixes in stores/workplaces and it fits in well. Perhaps I really ought to get more into the Tull Christmas spirit!
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Post by JTull 007 on Dec 20, 2013 3:53:01 GMT
A show worth having on cd. Thanks to my friend David (Flutes to Branches)  Bonus Disc: Jethro Tull Live - Christmas At St Bride's 2008 1 Weathercock 4:41
2 Introduction: Rev. George Pitcher/Choir: What Cheer 3:32
3 A Christmas Song 3:19
4 Living In These Hard Times 3:44
5 Choir: Silent Night 3:06
6 Reading: Ian Anderson, Marmion 2:17
7 Jack In The Green 2:33
8 Another Christmas Song 3:56
9 Reading: Gavin Esler, God's Grandeur 1:50
10 Choir: Oh, Come All Ye Faithful 3:50
11 Reading: Mark Billingham, The Ballad Of The Breadman 3:33
12 A Winter Snowscape 3:39
13 Reading: Andrew Lincoln, Christmas 3:12
14 Fires At Midnight 3:38
15 We Five Kings 3:19
16 Choir: Gaudete 3:39
17 God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen/Thick As A Brick 10:25
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Post by JTull 007 on Dec 23, 2013 19:01:09 GMT
I just love this artwork from the Christmas album. Whom is the artist?
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Post by Tull50 on Dec 23, 2013 21:56:07 GMT
Hi Jim, I've always wanted to know who is the artist of this cover, but I have not found information  I will be attentive to the response Jethro Tull - Another Christmas Song Live At The Empire Theatre, Sunderland 1990 |
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Post by journeyman on Dec 24, 2013 2:52:42 GMT
Great high quality picture Jim. It almost seems as if Ian Anderson is part of the original paining instead of just photoshopped in? I suppose it's pretty hard to tell with photoshops nowadays.
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Post by JTull 007 on Dec 24, 2013 4:40:26 GMT
Great high quality picture Jim. It almost seems as if Ian Anderson is part of the original paining instead of just photoshopped in? I suppose it's pretty hard to tell with photoshops nowadays.  |
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Post by maddogfagin on Dec 24, 2013 8:31:18 GMT
I just love this artwork from the Christmas album. Whom is the artist? No one seems to know for sure Jim. If memory serves me correctly it was "found" by IA but the artist is unknown. To me it has the appearance of one of the Dutch landscape painters from a century or so ago. |
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Post by maddogfagin on Dec 24, 2013 18:42:05 GMT
The cover artwork is very similar in style to the Dutch artist Fredrik Marinus Kruseman (1816 - 1882)  Well that's my theory anyway  |
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Post by JTull 007 on Dec 24, 2013 20:10:59 GMT
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Post by journeyman on Dec 25, 2013 0:22:58 GMT
Nice! More or less answers my question  |
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Post by maddogfagin on Dec 25, 2013 10:17:21 GMT
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Post by journeyman on Dec 25, 2013 12:52:32 GMT
Most certainly. It would be very interesting if someone ended up tracking down the original artist, whether it's Kruseman or a student/admirer of his, so the album credits may be proper! |
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Post by JTull 007 on Dec 25, 2013 19:44:57 GMT
Most certainly. It would be very interesting if someone ended up tracking down the original artist, whether it's Kruseman or a student/admirer of his, so the album credits may be proper!
If that controlling authority allowed the artwork to be slightly modified for this purpose,
they would have gotten a reasonable royalty and extra public awareness. Both sides win! Everyone wins! |
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Post by maddogfagin on Dec 26, 2013 10:00:29 GMT
Most certainly. It would be very interesting if someone ended up tracking down the original artist, whether it's Kruseman or a student/admirer of his, so the album credits may be proper!
If that controlling authority allowed the artwork to be slightly modified for this purpose,
they would have gotten a reasonable royalty and extra public awareness. Both sides win! Everyone wins!If the artist is Frederik Marinus Kruseman, or one of his followers, the scenes that he depicted were "imaginative" and do not portray actual places. However the style of the building on the Christmas Album cover is almost certainly Dutch/Flemish and there are one or two similar buildings in other paintings by Kruzeman which depict similar roofs and turrets. When Ms Nonrabbit returns I will ask her to research further. At the moment Ms Nonrabbit is taking a sabbatical due to a wonky and misbehaving laptop (she deserves a holiday due to the exceptional work she has done on behalf of the Forum) and sends her warmest wishes to all Forum members for the Christmas and New Year Holidays. |
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Post by journeyman on Dec 26, 2013 23:08:48 GMT
Very great point Jim! And thanks Maddog (and in advance to Nonrabbit) I really do love it when Tull mysteries are being solved |
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Post by maddogfagin on Dec 27, 2013 9:37:48 GMT
Very great point Jim! And thanks Maddog (and in advance to Nonrabbit) I really do love it when Tull mysteries are being solved Nearly, but not quite . . .  |
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Post by Tull50 on Dec 27, 2013 21:16:52 GMT
Thanks Graham and all those involved in this thread for almost unravel this Tull mystery. I think the cover of Christmas Album is inspired from these paintings of the Dutch artist Fredrik Marinus Kruseman, and we also learned some culture |
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Post by maddogfagin on Dec 28, 2013 16:03:30 GMT
Thanks Graham and all those involved in this thread for almost unravel this Tull mystery. I think the cover of Christmas Album is inspired from these paintings of the Dutch artist Fredrik Marinus Kruseman, and we also learned some culture It's even more confusing because when the Christmas Album was first promoted on the official site before its release, this was the cover used for publicity purposes  I have it on authority from Tull Inc that the album cover was a painting that Ian found. He then painted the figure of himself on it and in doing so, in my opinion, produced a worthy piece of art that should really be reproduced for those willing to part with a few bob to hang on their wall. When Patti's back on line, the solving of this conundrum is her first priority |
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Post by steelmonkey on Dec 28, 2013 18:57:19 GMT
Yuck...that alternate cover for the Xmas albums looks like the kind of stuff you'd get free in December when you filled your tank at Texaco or something....calender art circa 1964....gag me with a spoon.
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