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.
