Jethro Tull: Aqualung - CD

The first part of the CD (Aqualung) contains a series of six character sketches, including sketches of two people of dubious reputation (the eponymous Aqualung and Cross-Eyed Mary) and the autobiographical "Cheap Day Return", written by bandleader Ian Anderson after returning from a visit from his seriously ill father. On the other hand, the texts give an overall impression of being pro-God but anti-Church, suggesting that organized religion can actually limit a person's connection to God instead of fostering it. However, Anderson rejected any attempts to label this album as a concept album.

The album Aqualung was released at a time of great popularity of the pop concept of Christianity and its symbols, such as. in the musical Jesus Christ Superstar. Jethro Tull, however, took a completely opposite stance on this religious fashion. They have portrayed the issue of belief in God not as a spectacular spectacle, but from the perspective of an ordinary person wracked with doubt. In doing so, they managed to reach out to a younger generation of listeners who, in "that strange time" between hippies and punk, were asking similar questions to the ones the band expressed on this record.

In particular, the title song, whose title refers to the charitable organization in which Anderson's wife served, became one of the most successful hits of the 1970s. The favorable reception of the songs was also helped by the hard-rock performance, which further emphasized the urgency of their message. It is in terms of content that the band, or rather Anderson, has made a big step forward compared to previous albums.