The Jethro Tull Christmas Album

Immersed in my room of vinyl and digital media soaking in the music of the season, I will be playing Christmas music deep into January.

Over the next several days, I want to share some of my favorites with you.

Released in 2003, the Jethro Tull Christmas album is a rarity from these veteran rockers. It’s a mix of traditional Christmas carols and Tull originals, all given the typically lush treatment fans have come to expect from this band.

The album opens with “A Christmas Song,” a gentle instrumental featuring acoustic guitar, flute, and bells. This is followed by “Another Christmas Song” (not to be confused with the first song), which is sung by keyboardist Andrew Giddings. On this track, drummer Doane Perry used only brushes to keep the song’s simple rhythm. The third song on the album is “Ring Out These Bells,” again featuring Giddings on vocals and Tull frontman Ian Anderson on acoustic guitar. A flute solo gives way to powerful guitars and drums, and Giddings sings the first verse a cappella before the flute returns. “The Man at the Window” begins with a folkish guitar pattern and conga drumming by Dave Mattacks (substituting for Perry).

Don’t miss “Last Man at the Party…it’s very reminiscent of “The Whistler” from Songs from the Wood.

It is a rarity from these veteran rockers. It’s a mix of traditional Christmas carols and Tull originals, all given the typically lush treatment fans have come to expect from this band. The album opens with “A Christmas Song,” a gentle instrumental featuring acoustic guitar, flute, and bells. This is followed by “Another Christmas Song” (not to be confused with the first song), which is sung by keyboardist Andrew Giddings. On this track, drummer Doane Perry used only brushes to keep the song’s simple rhythm.

The third song on the album is “Ring Out These Bells,” again featuring Giddings on vocals and Tull frontman Ian Anderson on acoustic guitar. A flute solo gives way to powerful guitars and drums, and Giddings sings the first verse a cappella before the flute returns. “The Man at the Window” begins with a folkish guitar pattern and conga drumming by Dave Mattacks (substituting for Perry).

The fourth track, “Christmas Bells,” is one of three original songs on this album written by Anderson. It’s a slow, gentle ballad with acoustic guitar and strings. “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” is next, and it features the brass section of the band prominently. “We Three Kings” has a reggae beat, with Steve Hackett (of Genesis fame) on lead guitar. The album closes with “Silent Night,” a gentle, traditional song that features flute and strings.

All in all, this is a very nice album for fans of Jethro Tull or Christmas music. The arrangements are lush and complex, and the performances are top-notch. It’s not something that will get you in the Christmas spirit quite as much as, say, Bing Crosby’s White Christmas, but it’s a nice change of pace. If you’re a fan of Jethro Tull, or just looking for something different this Christmas, I recommend picking up a copy of The Jethro Tull Christmas Album.

You can find the album on Amazon.com.