ProGGnosis Logo
Login   |  Register
ProGGnosis Database Quick Search:    





 
Heavy Horses

a Studio Release
Release Year:
1978
Recommend/Like this album on facebook
Added To Proggnosis on: 01 Dec 2000

Track Listing 

  1. …And The Mouse Police Never Sleeps
  2. Acres Wild
  3. No Lullaby
  4. Moths
  5. Journeyman
  6. Rover
  7. One Brown Mouse
  8. Heavy Horses
  9. Weathercock

Performer Credits  


Ian Anderson
lead vocals, flute, acoustic guitar, occasional electric guitars, mandolin
Martin Barre
electric guitar
John Evan piano, organ
Barriemore Barlow
drums, percussion
John Glascock
bass guitar
David Palmer
portative pipe organ, keyboards, orchestral arrangements
Guest:
    Darryl Way
    violin on 'Acres Wild' and 'Heavy Horses'

Reviews


review by: EricYou know, reviewing Jethro Tull, or Pink Floyd or Genesis and Yes are like reviewing The Beatles. We all have the albums. We have read at least a dozen (or more) reviews, thoughts, gripes and opinions on the bands and the more 'bookish' amongst us have at least one tome on any of these bands in our shelves, not to mention a DVD. The music is part of us, we know it and love it and at this point in the history of progressive rock, everything has been said, read and heard from and of the major bands.

So why should I bother reviewing Heavy Horses? Well… first of all I think the ‘Wood’ trilogy of Songs from the Wood, Heavy Horses and Stormwatch is Jethro Tull at its best. At this time, I was just starting to understand what separated Jethro Tull from say The Babys, the absolute cosmic beauty of Pink Floyd’s Meddle and why Disco really ‘sucked’ musically and why my parents hated everything I listened to. Heavy Horses took me away to place of rolling Green hills, Pub Maidens and One Brown Mouse with a Curmudgeon named Ian Anderson who told me he was a Rover with one of the best bands progressive rock had ever seen and heard. Miles away from the suburbs and teenage angst, these three albums hold a special place for me, but more importantly while bands like ELP and Yes seemed to be holding on for dear life, Jethro Tull continued to deliver strong releases.

So there you have it. A bit of a different take on Jethro Tull and Heavy Horses. No, the album didn’t shake the musical world in the same way as Revolver or Blood on the Tracks, but late 70’s Tull sure shook mine.


review by: MJBradyThis period of Tull's music was shrouded in mystique, and madrigalian mirth, which also showed a some of Anderson's most eloquent lyricism. Moving slightly away from the harder rock influences of prior material, they seemed content to build on the similar themes that were present on Thick as a Brick, though here the songs are quite a bit shorter. Again the duo keyboard work of David Palmer, and John Evan is the perfect compliment to Barre's and Anderson's guitars, and Ian's flute also finds a melodic companion with Darryl Way, on violin, working side by side, to give a rootsy feel to the music. I have a strong affinity for most of the Tull music that featured drummer Barriemore Barlow, his expressive playing, and great percussion work was the perfect fit for this modern day minstrel music, he collaborations with John Glascock's fluidly bouncing bass was a huge key to the bands magic. This is a great moment for progressive music also, the tying of traditional English folk musics, with a hint of Celtic music, and some very sophisticated progrock were a perfect marriage, and one that would furthur define the signature Jethro Tull sound. Between the splendor of the renaissance music, the deft complexity of the musics arragements leads the band members through many intricate passages of progressive rock instrumentation, all this whil Ian Anderson clearly expresses the verbal pictures to each song. This was the very music that came so naturally to this band, all of their finely hones skills were harnessed and refined for this unique by product of their bond as musicians. Along with Songs From The Wood, Heavy Horses, is a rewarding listeing experience that many Tull fans know all to well, and if you were fortunate to have seen this tour, you were able to capture what a very theatrical presentation went along with this intriguing music.

review by: NunoContinuing their path of fantastic progressive albums, Heavy Horses comes from Jethro Tull’s era that I like to call “The Farm Years”. That is just because the music presented in this and the prior album was strongly influenced by the medieval folk of the British interior lands. The violin provided by ex-Curved Air Darryl Way, complement the (always) exquisite flute playing of Ian Anderson. Basically, Tull’s music lay upon that tremendous capacity of introducing great flute tunes and solos, but all instruments do tribute that capacity with stellar playing and the rhythm palette (provided by the drums and guitar) defines the structure direction of the songs.
Themes like Moths (simply shivering), Acres Wild, Rover and One Brown Mouse are equal to the task of perpetuating the state of grace achieved with Songs from the Wood. The Mouse Police never Sleeps and Heavy Horses add some diversity and really cool sounds. Journeyman is a more modern song, though its probably the lesser song in this album (nevertheless a view into the new directions the band would take after this album).
The album provides the listener with a strong feeling of the calm country life, and you can picture yourself walking (or horse riding) the green fields of northern England.
Strip yourself from the gray colors of the city and experience the freedom spirit of the country soul.
One of my favorites from this historical band, which explains the fact I consider it essential in any progger’s collection.

ProGGnosis  - Progressive Rock & Fusion
PO Box 27226
Golden Valley, MN 55427-0226
Copyright © 2000 - 2013  where appropriate - All rights reserved.
Comments & Feedback - email:  ProGGnosis Webmaster