Jethro Tull: Ian Anderson (vocals, acoustic guitar, mandolin, flute, whistles); Martin Barre (electric guitar, lute); John Evans, David Palmer (keyboards); Barriemore Barlow (marimba, glockenspiel, drums, bells, nakers, tabor); John Glascock (bass, background vocals).
Personnel: Ian Anderson (vocals, acoustic guitar, mandolin, flute, whistle); John Glascock (vocals, bass guitar); Martin Barre (electric guitar, lute); John Evans , David Palmer (piano, organ, synthesizer); Barriemore Barlow (marimba, glockenspiel, drums, nakers, tabor, bells).
Audio Remixer: Steven Wilson.
Recording information: Lansdowne Studio A (04/1976); Morgan Studios, London (04/1976); Ridge Farm Studio (04/1976); The Maison Rouge Mobile Studio (04/1976); Lansdowne Studio A (05/26/1976); Morgan Studios, London (05/26/1976); Ridge Farm Studio (05/26/1976); The Maison Rouge Mobile Studio (05/26/1976); Lansdowne Studio A (09/1976-11/1976); Morgan Studios, London (09/1976-11/1976); Ridge Farm Studio (09/1976-11/1976); The Maison Rouge Mobile Studio (09/1976-11/1976); Lansdowne Studio A (10/23/1976); Morgan Studios, London (10/23/1976); Ridge Farm Studio (10/23/1976); The Maison Rouge Mobile Studio (10/23/1976).
Photographers: Charles Kenney; Chris Fenger; Carrie Ohne.
Arranger: Jethro Tull.
In terms of rustic, tights-wearing, elf-loving, flute-heavy, British/Celtic folk-tinged '70s prog-rock, SONGS FROM THE WOOD is the most Tull of all Jethro Tull albums. By 1977 the band had ventured far enough from its heavy blues-rock beginnings to create a completely unique, idiosyncratic sound, filled with European folk mythology, rural imagery and an endearing combination of art-rock and British folk-rock. Elaborate synthesizer fanfares mix with delicate acoustic guitar tapestries, complex arrangements and odd time signatures. SONGS FROM THE WOOD strikes the perfect balance between the proggie ambition of THICK AS A BRICK, the storytelling style of AQUALUNG and the courtly, medieval air of MINSTREL IN THE GALLERY.
Professional Reviews
Uncut (6/03, p.138) - 4 stars out of 5 - "...There's no doubting the band's ability to combine awesomely complex time signatures and effete fife-tabor-mandolin-and-bells effects while rocking out..."
