Author:Ian Anderson
Appearing much later in the year than originally planned due to a combination of Covid, Brexit and the Suez blockage, this is a superbly presented lavish coffee table format book, printed on high quality paper. It’s aim is to provide a definitive record of all of Ian Anderson’s lyrics, Tull and solo, over the last fifty plus years, (including the Zealot Gene album coming next month), rather than to suggest the lyrics can hold their own as stand alone poetry. The lyrics themselves are interspersed with a selection of Anderson’s own photographs, but of course they are missing a couple of vital ingredients – Anderson’s unique delivery and the accompanying music, both essential contributors in bringing the images conjured up to life. For me, the period from Aqualung to Broadsword is the most interesting, with things rather tailing off in the latter phase of the band’s career, and I would have liked more of an insight into the inspiration for the words to shed some light on the creative process. An interesting book to look through nonetheless, with Anderson also including a short introduction to each album, and one that Tull’s diehard fans will enjoy for sure, although » Continue Reading.