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Stand Up (Jethro Tull album)

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Untitled

Stand Up is the second album by Jethro Tull released in 1969; it quickly went to number 1 in the UK charts while a single, "Sweet Dream", rose to number 5.[1] Before Stand Up, the band's original guitarist Mick Abrahams resigned because of musical differences with Ian Anderson; Abrahams wanted to stay with the blues-rock sound of This Was, while Anderson wished to add other musical influences such as folk rock. The result was an eclectic album with various styles appearing in its songs, yet an album which remained broadly in the blues-rock mould, which would be the last such album from Jethro Tull.

Stand Up represents the first album project on which Anderson was in full control of the music and lyrics. It also marks the first appearance of guitarist Martin Barre, who appeared on every Jethro Tull album from this point on.

Production

The band began recording the album on 17 April 1969, starting with "A New Day Yesterday", "Back to the Family", "Fat Man", "Jeffrey Goes to Leicester Square" (referring to Anderson's schoolmate Jeffrey Hammond), "Nothing Is Easy", and "Bourée". Most of the songs were recorded at Morgan Studios in North London, but "Bourée" was recorded at Olympic Studios in South London because Morgan Studios was already booked for 24 April. The general routine was that the band would arrive at the studio at 9 am to work on one or two songs which would be finished by 4 or 5 pm.[2] Recording engineer Andy Johns tried some new techniques, for instance on "A New Day Yesterday" he achieved a swirling, stereo-shifting guitar effect by swinging an expensive Neumann U67 microphone on its cable in wide circles around the studio.[3] The song "Bourée" proved the most difficult session, with Anderson and the band unsatisfied with any of the takes they recorded. The final version was compiled later from several takes, with more touches added by Anderson.[4][5]

Two more songs were recorded on 1 May 1969: "For A Thousand Mothers" and "We Used to Know".[6] In August, the band returned to the studio to finish the record.[3]

Album cover

The design of the album started with a visit to New Haven, Connecticut, during a concert tour in late February 1969. Under the direction of producer Terry Ellis, the band met a woodcarver named James Grashow who followed them for a week in order to properly represent them in wood.[2] The resulting gatefold album cover, in a woodcut style designed by Grashow, originally opened up like a children's pop-up book, so that a cut-out of the band's personnel stood up—evoking the album's title. Stand Up won New Musical Express's award for best album artwork in 1969.

Musical style

The album still shows a great influence of blues, like in the first track "New Day Yesterday". The song "Fat Man" shows an interest in unusual instrumentation, as Ian Anderson played mandolin, one of the first times the instrument had been used by a rock band. The acoustic pieces, like "Reasons for Waiting" already shows Anderson influence of Roy Harper. The instrumental "Bourée" (one of Jethro Tull's popular concert pieces) is a jazzy re-working of "Bourrée in E minor" by Johann Sebastian Bach.

Ian Anderson has said that the chord progression in "We Used to Know" was picked up subconsciously by the Eagles when they toured together in 1971 or 1972 and used in their song "Hotel California".[7] However, Don Felder, who wrote the music for "Hotel California", did not join the Eagles until 1974.

Themes

Although not a concept album, Stand Up lyrically is filled with references to Anderson's relationship with his parents (a subject continued on Benefit), especially in "Back to the family" and "For a Thousand Mothers". Observational poetry could also be found, as in "Fat Man" and "Jeffrey goes to Leicester Square". The difficult life before the band's success were described in "We used to know" – remembering the hard life Anderson and bassist Glenn Cornick had at the beginning of the group.[8][9]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[10]
Rolling Stone[11]
Disc and Music Echo(Very favourable)[12]
Robert ChristgauB−[13]
Sputnik Music4/5[14]

Stand Up was the first album of Jethro Tull to receive good reviews as a whole, for the production and musicianship.

The Rolling Stone review was quite positive, stating that the album "has a fairly low raunch quotient, true to form, but it is quite marvelous... As I've said, the album is not really funky; rather, it is a meticulously crafted work (no sterility implied) which deserves careful listening. At a time when many of the established stars are faltering, it is a particular pleasure to hear an important new voice."[11]

AllMusic review was positive, saying that the band had "solidified their sound" with the album, bringing an "English folk music" influence to several of the songs, atop an overall blues rock foundation.[15]

Releases

The album was re-issued in 1973 by Chrysalis Records.

In 1989, an MFSL remaster was released.

Again the album was re-issued in 2001 as a digital remaster.

The album was reissued on 5 October 2010 as a deluxe edition including six bonus tracks on disc one, and two additional discs: a disc of live material recorded at Carnegie Hall on 4 November 1970, and a disc with a DTS surround mix. The material was mixed by Peter Mew at the Abbey Road studios.[16]

Track listing

Standard (CD and LP version)
(1973 cassette version has same track order, but on opposite sides.)[17][18]

All songs written by Ian Anderson unless otherwise indicated. (Original LP album states "All titles written by Ian Anderson").

1969 Original release

Side one
No.TitleLength
1."A New Day Yesterday"4:10
2."Jeffrey Goes to Leicester Square"2:12
3."Bourée" (instrumental, J. S. Bach arr. Anderson)3:46
4."Back to the Family"3:48
5."Look into the Sun"4:20
Side two
No.TitleLength
6."Nothing is Easy"4:25
7."Fat Man"2:52
8."We Used to Know"4:00
9."Reasons for Waiting"4:05
10."For a Thousand Mothers"4:13
2001 Digital Remaster
No.TitleLength
11."Living in the Past"3:23
12."Driving Song"2:44
13."Sweet Dream"4:05
14."17"3:07

2010 3 Disc Collectors Edition

CD 1: Original album (Remaster) + Bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
1."A New Day Yesterday" (2001 Digital Remaster)4:07
2."Jeffrey Goes to Leicester Square" (2001 Digital Remaster)2:09
3."Bourée" (2001 Digital Remaster)3:44
4."Back to the Family" (2001 Digital Remaster)3:48
5."Look into the Sun" (2001 Digital Remaster)4:18
6."Nothing is Easy" (2001 Digital Remaster)4:22
7."Fat Man" (2001 Digital Remaster)2:49
8."We Used to Know" (2001 Digital Remaster)3:58
9."Reason for Waiting" (2001 Digital Remaster)4:03
10."For a Thousand Mothers" (2001 Digital Remaster)4:13
11."Living in the Past" (2001 Digital Remaster)3:19
12."Driving Song" (2001 Digital Remaster)2:38
13."Sweet Dream" (2001 Digital Remaster)4:01
14."17" (2001 Digital Remaster)6:09
15."Living in the Past" (Original Mono Single Version; 2001 Digital Remaster)3:22
16."Bourée" (John Peel Session, 16 June 1969)3:57
17."A New Day Yesterday" (John Peel Session, 16 June 1969)4:13
18."Nothing is Easy" (John Peel Session, 16 June 1969)5:03
19."Fat Man" (John Peel Session, 16 June 1969)2:53
20."Stand Up (US Radio Spot #1)" (2010 Digital Remaster)1:02
21."Stand Up (US Radio Spot #2)" (2010 Digital Remaster)0:51
CD 2: Live at Carnegie Hall, NY 1970
No.TitleLength
1."Nothing is Easy"5:43
2."My God"12:43
3."With You There to Help Me" / "By Kind Permission of" (Ian Anderson/John Evan)13:34
4."A Song for Jeffrey"5:25
5."To Cry You a Song"6:03
6."Sossity, You're a Woman" / "Reasons for Waiting" / "Sossity, You're a Woman"5:28
7."Dharma for One" (Ian Anderson / Clive Bunker)13:37
8."We Used to Know"3:41
9."Guitar Solo" (Martin Barre)8:24
10."For a Thousand Mothers"4:43
DVD: Live at Carnegie Hall [DTS Surround Mix, No Video]
No.TitleLength
1."Introduction"1:26
2."Nothing is Easy"7:41
3."My God"14:34
4."With You There to Help Me" / "By Kind Permission of"15:26
5."A Song for Jeffrey"7:07
6."To Cry You a Song"6:43
7."Sossity, You're a Woman" / "Reasons for Waiting" / "Sossity, You're a Woman"8:53
8."Dharma for One"23:20
9."We Used to Know"4:03
10."Guitar Solo"8:23
11."For a Thousand Mothers"4:50
12."Interview with Ian Anderson, London 2010" 

Chart positions

The album reached No. 1 on the British charts, also selling well in the United States, where it reached No. 20. In the Norwegian charts (where the band toured along with Jimi Hendrix), the album was the first to chart there, at No. 5.

Chart Year Peak
position
UK Albums Chart[19] 1969 1
Preceded by UK Albums Chart number-one album
9 August 1969 – 30 August 1969 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
From Elvis in Memphis
by Elvis Presley
 UK Albums Chart number-one album
6 September 1969 – 20 September 1969 		Succeeded by

Personnel

Jethro Tull
Additional personnel

References

  1. ^ Rabey, Brian (2013). A Passion Play: The Story Of Ian Anderson & Jethro Tull. Soundcheck Books. p. 57. ISBN 9780957144248.
  2. ^ a b Rabey 2013, p. 52.
  3. ^ a b Nollen, Scott Allen (2001). Jethro Tull: A History of the Band, 1968–2001. McFarland. p. 44. ISBN 9780786411016.
  4. ^ Nollen 2001, p. 48.
  5. ^ Rabey 2013, pp. 52–3.
  6. ^ Rabey 2013, p. 53.
  7. ^ "Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull : Songwriter Interviews". Songfacts.com. Retrieved 1 May 2015.
  8. ^ Klemen Breznikar (13 December 2011). "It's Psychedelic Baby Magazine: Glenn Cornick interview about Jethro Tull, Wild Turkey". Psychedelicbaby.blogspot.com.br. Retrieved 1 May 2015.
  9. ^ "Stand Up". Jethrotull.com. 1 August 1969. Retrieved 1 May 2015.
  10. ^ "Stand Up". AllMusic. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
  11. ^ a b Gerson, Ben (13 December 1969). "Jethro Tull Stand Up Album Review". Rollingstone.com. Retrieved 1 May 2015.
  12. ^ 2 August 1969
  13. ^ "CG: jethro tull". Robert Christgau. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
  14. ^ "Jethro Tull - Stand Up (album review )". Sputnikmusic.com. 7 August 2010. Retrieved 1 May 2015.
  15. ^ Bruce Eder. "Stand Up - Jethro Tull | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 1 May 2015.
  16. ^ http://www.discogs.com/Jethro-Tull-Stand-Up/release/2620113
  17. ^ "Jethro Tull – Stand Up Cassette". Amazon.com. Retrieved 13 December 2012.
  18. ^ "Jethro Tull - Stand Up (Cassette, Album)". Discogs.com. Retrieved 1 May 2015.
  19. ^ "Chart Stats – Jethro Tull – Stand Up". chartstats.com. Archived from the original on 29 July 2012. Retrieved 6 June 2011.
  20. ^ "Glenn Cornick interview about Jethro Tull, Wild Turkey". Klemen Breznikar. Retrieved 13 December 2011.
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