| 1. I Cheated Me Right Out Of You |
| 2. It's A Cheating Situation |
| 3. She's Not Really Cheatin' |
| 4. Hank Williams, You Wrote My Life |
| 5. Let's Get Over Them Together |
| 6. I Just Started Hatin' Cheatin' Songs Today |
| 7. Till I'm Too Old To Die Young |
| 8. Just Good Ol'boys |
| 9. Barstool Mountain |
| 10. Two Lonely People |
| 11. Following The Feeling |
| 12. It Was Always So Easy |
Editorial Reviews
Product Description:
12 Tracks Including "it's a Cheating Situation", "it was Always So Easy (To Find an Unhappy Woman", "Let's Get Over them Together" and "Two Lonely People".
Ian Anderson loved to toss red herrings and play games with his listeners -- don't be a sucker and think there is anything haphazard or lightweight about this album.
Well, I will admit "Quiz Kid" stinks. ;)
The album is seen as the "dark horse" of the Tull catalog. Some fans loved it and some hated it. I tend to fall in the "LOVE IT" category.
The album was the band's first album with new bass player John Glascock (whom replaced Jeffrey Hammond who retired after 1975's Minstrel In the Gallery). Glascock joined Tull mastermind/singer/songwriter/flute player Ian Anderson, guitarist Martin Barre, drummer Barriemore Barlow and keyboard player John Evan in time to record an album to a proposed musical which Ian decided not to pursue in the end. The album is a concept album (as illustrated in the cartoon in the album's gatefold) about a rock star named Ray whose career went into obscurity and tried to fit in to society only for his career to resurrect at album's end. This theme is still relevant today as many from the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s generations are trying to feel young again by listening to classic rock, old school metal and grunge on the radio. I'm already trapped in the 1970s considering I am 31!
We open the album to a teaser intro of the album's title cut which then gives way into the superb rocker "Quizz Kid" which features excellent guitar work from Barre and has our hero Ray becoming a game show winner. Next is another great rocker "Crazed Institution" which tells the tale of the glam rock types whom were now the rage. The musicianship is excellent on this track (and the rest of the album is as well). Next is the intricate acoustic guitar number called "Salamander" which is a great piece about a girl that Ray meets. Next is the great bluesy-rocker "Taxi Grab" which is about Ray and his girl he met in the taxi. The track has some tasty guitar work by Barre and harmonica work and vocals by Anderson. Barre and Glascock play here like they were on fire. We end the first half with the ballad "From a Dead Beat To An Old Greaser" with excellent multi-tracked harmonies by Anderson and an excellent sax solo by David Palmer (who would become Tull's second keyboard player in time for this album's tour) and guitar solo by Barre. This is about Ray and a fellow old greaser who meet at a pub whilst Ray waits for his date.
The second half kicks off with the acoustic "Bad Eyed and Loveless" which describes Ray's anger for being stood up. We follow with the great rocker "Big Dipper" which has a very infectious beat supplied by barlow and a superb flute riff by Anderson mimicked by Evan and Barre. Next is the album's title cut which is the album's most famous track and a great piece and tells of Ray's motorcycle ride and crash. Next is the superb "Pied Piper" which has Ray emerging from his coma to find out he is in popularity again. We end the album with the beautiful "The Chequered Flag (Dead Or Alive)". This piece is probably the best Tull album closer and Ray seeing that his life is back on the upswing again.
Too Old to Rock n Roll: Too Young to Die initially reached #14 on the Billboard album charts in 1976 (making it Tull's lowest chart appearance since 1969's Stand Up). Also, this is the only 1970s era Tull album not to be certified Gold. However, the material has withstood the test of time unlike some albums from 1976.
In 2002, this underrated gem was re-released with TWO bonus tracks. First is the acoustic "A Small Cigar" which is hilarious but great. "Strip Cartoon" is also a great track as well.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
With respect to the lineup at this point, Jeffrey Hammond-Hammond left the group after Minstrel in the Gallery (1975), leaving the band without a bassist. The late John Glascock replaced Jeffrey and the tone that John gets out of his Fender Musicman bass is very tight and punchy and the interplay with virtuoso drummer Barriemore Barlow is truly something to behold. Speaking of Barriemore, his drumming during the mid - late 1970's was simply jaw dropping - those of you that need proof are urged to check out his solo on "Conundrum" from the live Bursting Out album (1978). As such, his performances on Too Old to Die: Too Young to Rock n' Roll are excellent, although he does not play on every track. Come to think of it, the performances by all of the band members are all fairly inspired and Ian even plays a solo on a harmonica along with some semi-jazzy riffs on the saxophone. In addition to the core members, string and brass arrangements are featured here and there and Steeleye Span vocalist Maddy Prior provides backing vocals on the title track.Personally, I feel that the subtle changes in instrumentation were a nice addition.
The music on this album is characteristic of the blend of acoustic textures and thunderous prog that started with Minstrel in the Gallery and culminated with albums like Songs from the Wood (1977) and Heavy Horses (1978). One other thing worth mentioning is that the use of melodies increased dramatically on this album and they are actually very nice.
The remastering is superb and features incredibly good sound quality along with loads of band photos, liner notes, pretty good bonus tracks, and restored cover/gatefold art.
All in all, I found this album to be very enjoyable and certainly not nearly as bad as people say it is. Recommended along with the excellent Songs from the Wood and Heavy Horses.
Only a few bad for these chaps,this one is just not their best, but their most "Adventurous "shall we say.
"Quizz Kid" starts out mellow and slow with strings and an easy electric guitar riff. However, indicative of the punk age of the time, bass and electric guitar riffs push themselves to the front, and this song sounds like a punk-influenced hard rock song. The lyrics are about going on a game show with the hopes of winning big.
"Crazed Institution" is rock from beginning to end. When you hear this song you could be under the impression that Ian Anderson was striving for a harder edge on this album as compared to Tull's earlier folk-flavored offerings. The lyrics in this song are about celebrity and fame and the insanity that such status causes in a person's life.
"Salamander" provides the first real flavor of Jethro Tull's style as it was up to that time. Clever acoustic guitar picking takes you halfway through the piece until a heavily echoed Ian Anderson brings on the vocals. The contrast between the acoustic and folk-flavored music and the echoed voice is interesting and makes me wish that Ian had explored this song in greater depth.
From a lyrical viewpoint "Taxi Grab" is a relatively lightweight offering and is not a fan favorite. From a musical viewpoint, this song is a rocker, bass and harmonica driven, a blues-flavored hard rock song. The music is pretty good, but the weak lyrics detract a bit.
"From a Dead Beat to an Old Greaser" begins in a traditional Tull style, dirge-like and acoustic. The lyrics tell a story of someone sinking further and further into the depths, perhaps becoming the character of Aqualung. The music remains acoustic until the end, keeping the dirge-like tune, though a saxophone-flavored bridge gives the song an interesting style.
"Bad-Eyed and Loveless" gives you the viewpoint of a woman as an old man thinks he would have seen her as a young man. The instruments backing this song are minimal, principally an acoustic guitar. This song continues the theme of someone who has degraded into the character of Aqualung; you have to wonder how much deeper into the depths this person can go.
"Big Dipper" shakes off acoustics and allows the electric guitars their licks once more. There are interesting percussion effects in this song as well as an instrument that I believe was a Vako Orchestron, a type of synthesizer. The musical effects are unique. The lyrics are all about fun and sex; the theme is deceptively lightweight, perhaps hiding a sinister undertone.
I enjoy "Too Old to Rock `N' Roll: Too Young to Die." This song is bombastic, and perhaps the only song on this CD that shows much progressive rock influence. The instruments are dramatic and strident, punctuating the notes in harmony rather than any extensive counterpoint. Lyrically this song is about aging rockers when they get too old for the perceived style of rock that has historically emphasized youth, and of course they have many years left to live. I wonder what Ian Anderson thinks of this song today.
"Pied Piper" has just a touch of folk-rock flavoring mixed into a rock beat. The Vako Orchestron makes an easily discerned appearance, providing an unusual musical voice. Because of the synthesizer sound, this song makes me think that perhaps Wendy Carlos, who created "Switched-On Bach" and several other synthesizer albums, influenced Ian Anderson. Lyrically, the character that sank to the depths of despair has been patched up and made anew, and now eyes young girls lasciviously.
The album finishes with "The Chequered Flag," a song that provides some soaring music and vocals and yet is a bitter-sweet ending to this CD. The lyrics are about the incompletion of life; the unfinished symphonies, the unread books, the tasks imagined and never satisfactorily accomplished. The music is mellow, synthesizer and strings providing the core sound.
While Jethro Tull has historically combined folk and rock, this album is more a product of its time. You can hear a synthesizer in several songs. Several songs are hard rock. The Jethro Tull of "Thick as a Brick," "Aqualung" and "Songs from the Wood" has temporarily taken on the mantle of contemporary rocker. If Tull had not created the other albums for comparison, some listeners might readily enjoy this one. However, even Tull with their eclectic style moved too much to center in this album for many fans and perhaps lost a few fans as a result. However, this album is, while not comparable to the best of Tull, a good 70s rock album. While I am unable to strongly recommend this album, for Tull fans it is a must own. For casual listeners, I recommend the albums I mentioned above, along with others that have a strong folk-rock and progressive influence.
There are several versions of this album that exist. You may wish to survey the availability of these versions and their price to see which version best meets your needs.
Enjoy!
Now that comparsisons are out of the way, let's get on with a short review of "Too Old to RockNRoll"....
This is indeed a mellow album; and indeed there are LOTS of acoustic guitars. But, why is that bad? Must EVERY rock album we buy offer the same intensity of a Metallica, or Dream Theater?!
I rarely, if ever, come on line to bash other people. But when I read some of the reviews below I had to laugh out loud! One reviewer said that the album was boring and that it had too much acustic(sic) guitars!
C'mon folks, get over it. This was OBVIOUSLY intended to be a very mellow recording. Take it for what it's worth. The musicians, especially Ian Anderson, probably set out to make a recording exactly as this one came out. Tull's catalog is FULL of heavy, prog stuff. So what's one mellow one in the mix?
To conclude I will say that the musicianship is very good on this recording. In particular the acoustic guitar playing on Salamander. It kicks ass!
Heck, you can probably buy this one used for about $3-4. Get it and you won't regret it.
After saying that anyone who reads this may wonder why i only gave it four stars. Well as good as it is, it has to weak spots, "From a Dead Beat to and Old Greaser" and "Bad Eyed and Lovevless". The first is...well...dead would be a good way to describe it. Don't get me wrong, i enjoy soft, calm songs, but this is beyond calm, it's comatose, with the exception of the sax parts. The second on i jst don't care for.
The rest of the album is wonderful however. "Quizz Kid" is interesting, it's not the best on the album, but it's bearable."Crazed Institution" is excellent, espicially it's repeating section of "you can ring a crown of roses 'round your cranium..." "Salamander" is very good, although at 2:49 it's too short. "Taxi Grab" is very good, probably the hardest rocking track on the album. "Big Dipper" is a great song, very catchy. The title track is one of the best songs on the cd, one that really makes this album great. "Pied Piper" is...unique, it's good, but you have to listen to it a few times to really appriciate it. The last song, "The chequered flag" is one of the high points, if not the highest on the album. Everything on it is great, the lyrics, the music. It really has no relevence to the rest of the albums theme of a washed-up old rocker, but that doesn't change how great it is.
So if you want a great Jethro Tull album try this one. It's songs may not make the radio as often as "Aqualung" or "Bungle in the Jungle", but it's best songs are right up there with these songs.
"Quizz Kid" starts out mellow and slow with strings and an easy electric guitar riff. However, indicative of the punk age of the time, bass and electric guitar riffs push themselves to the front, and this song sounds like a punk-influenced hard rock song. The lyrics are about going on a game show with the hopes of winning big.
"Crazed Institution" does not try to mislead you. From the very beginning the beat of this song speaks rock. By this song you are under the impression that Ian Anderson was striving for a harder edge on this album as compared to Tull's earlier folk-flavored offerings. The lyrics in this song are about celebrity and fame and the insanity that such status causes a person's life.
"Salamander" provides the first real flavor of Jethro Tull as the group had been known up to this time. Clever acoustic guitar picking takes you halfway through the piece until a heavily echoed Ian Anderson brings on the vocals. The contrast between the acoustic and folk-flavored instruments and the echoed voice is interesting and makes me wish that Ian had explored this song in greater depth.
From a lyrical viewpoint, "Taxi Grab" is a relatively lightweight offering, and is not a fan favorite. From a musical viewpoint, this song is a rocker, bass and harmonica driven, a blues-flavored hard rock song. The music is pretty good, but the weak lyrics detract a bit.
"From a Dead Beat to an Old Greaser" begins in a traditional Tull style, dirge-like and acoustic. The lyrics tell a story of someone sinking further and further into the depths, perhaps becoming the character of Aqualung. The music remains acoustic until the end, keeping the dirge-like tune, though a saxophone-flavored bridge gives the song an interesting style.
"Bad-Eyed and Loveless" gives you the viewpoint of a woman as an old man thinks he would have seen her as a young man. The instruments backing this song are minimal, principally an acoustic guitar. This song continues the theme of someone who has degraded into the character of Aqualung; you have to wonder how much deeper into the depths this person can go.
"Big Dipper" shakes off the acoustics and allows the electric guitars to stretch their licks once more. There are interesting percussion effects in this song as well as an instrument that I believe was a Vako Orchestron, a synthesizer. The musical effects are unique. The lyrics are all about fun and sex, the theme deceptively lightweight, hiding perhaps a sinister undertone.
I enjoy "Too Old to Rock `N' Roll: Too Young to Die". This song is bombastic, and perhaps the only song on this CD that shows much progressive rock influence. The instruments are dramatic and strident, punctuating the notes in harmony rather than any extensive counterpoint. Lyrically this song is about aging rockers when they get too old for the perceived style of rock that has historically emphasized youth, and of course they have many years left to live. I wonder what Ian Anderson thinks of this song today.
"Pied Piper" has just a touch of folk-rock flavoring mixed into a rock beat. The Vako Orchestron makes another easily discerned appearance, providing an unusual musical voice. Because of the synthesizer sound, this song makes me think that perhaps Ian Anderson was influenced by Wendy Carlos, who created "Switched-On Bach" and several other all synthesizer albums. Lyrically, the character that sank to the depths of despair has been patched up and made anew, and now eyes young girls lasciviously.
The album finishes with "The Chequered Flag", a song that provides some soaring music and vocals, and yet is a bitter-sweet ending. The lyrics are about the incompletion of life. The unfinished symphonies, the unread books, the tasks imagined and never satisfactorily accomplished. The music is mellow, synthesizer and strings providing the core sound.
While Jethro Tull has historically combined folk and rock, this album is more a product of its time. A synthesizer is clearly heard in several songs. Several songs are hard rock. The Jethro Tull of "Thick as a Brick", "Aqualung" and "Songs from the Wood" has temporarily taken on the mantle of contemporary rocker. If Tull had not created the other albums for comparison, a listener might readily enjoy this one. However, even Tull with their eclectic style moved too much to center for many fans, and perhaps lost a few fans as a result. However, this album is, while not comparable to the best of Tull, a good 70s rock album. While I am unable to provide a strong recommendation for this album, for Tull fans it is a must own. For casual listeners, I recommend the previously mentioned albums, along with others that have a strong folk-rock and progressive influence.
12 Tracks Including "it's a Cheating Situation", "it was Always So Easy (To Find an Unhappy Woman", "Let's Get Over them Together" and "Two Lonely People".
Too Old to Die Young,Moe Bandy,Pegasus,Country/Bluegrass
Average customer rating: 
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Too Old to Rock: Too Young To Die
Jethro Tull Manufacturer: Capitol ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD  General
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General
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Progressive Rock
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ASIN: B00006JKOM Release Date: 2002-11-05 |
Tracks:
- Quiz Kid
- Crazed Institution
- Salamander
- Taxi Grab
- From A Dead Beat To AN Old Greaser
- Bad-Eyed And Loveless
- Bug Dipper
- Too Old To Rock 'N' Roll: Too Young To Die!
- Pied Piper
- The Chequered Flag (Dead Or Alive)
- A Small Cigar
- Strip Cartoon
Album Description
24-bit digitally remastered reissue of 1976 album with 2 added bonus tracks 'A Small Cigar' & 'Strip Cartoon'. Capitol. 2002.Album Details
Digitally Remastered Edition of the Jethro Tull Classic Album that was Released around the Time that Punk was Rumbling in England. Dismissed by Many Critics at the Time, Many Now Say it is One of the Highlights of the Tull Catalog. Gone were the Side Long Mammoths of "Thick as a Brick" and "Passion Play" and the Haze that Had Set in their Wake. The Band Got Back to Basics and Joined the Lot on the Street in Playing Blazing Rock N Roll, featuring Some of Martin Barre's Best Guitar Wizardry Yet Recorded. Steeleye Span Singer Maddy Prior Makes a Cameo Appearance on the Album's Title Track.Customer Reviews:
An Excellent Album.......2007-03-15
Ian Anderson loved to toss red herrings and play games with his listeners -- don't be a sucker and think there is anything haphazard or lightweight about this album.
Well, I will admit "Quiz Kid" stinks. ;)
Tull's underrated concept album about an aging rocker STILL HOLDS UP over 30 years later.......2007-02-13
The album is seen as the "dark horse" of the Tull catalog. Some fans loved it and some hated it. I tend to fall in the "LOVE IT" category.
The album was the band's first album with new bass player John Glascock (whom replaced Jeffrey Hammond who retired after 1975's Minstrel In the Gallery). Glascock joined Tull mastermind/singer/songwriter/flute player Ian Anderson, guitarist Martin Barre, drummer Barriemore Barlow and keyboard player John Evan in time to record an album to a proposed musical which Ian decided not to pursue in the end. The album is a concept album (as illustrated in the cartoon in the album's gatefold) about a rock star named Ray whose career went into obscurity and tried to fit in to society only for his career to resurrect at album's end. This theme is still relevant today as many from the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s generations are trying to feel young again by listening to classic rock, old school metal and grunge on the radio. I'm already trapped in the 1970s considering I am 31!
We open the album to a teaser intro of the album's title cut which then gives way into the superb rocker "Quizz Kid" which features excellent guitar work from Barre and has our hero Ray becoming a game show winner. Next is another great rocker "Crazed Institution" which tells the tale of the glam rock types whom were now the rage. The musicianship is excellent on this track (and the rest of the album is as well). Next is the intricate acoustic guitar number called "Salamander" which is a great piece about a girl that Ray meets. Next is the great bluesy-rocker "Taxi Grab" which is about Ray and his girl he met in the taxi. The track has some tasty guitar work by Barre and harmonica work and vocals by Anderson. Barre and Glascock play here like they were on fire. We end the first half with the ballad "From a Dead Beat To An Old Greaser" with excellent multi-tracked harmonies by Anderson and an excellent sax solo by David Palmer (who would become Tull's second keyboard player in time for this album's tour) and guitar solo by Barre. This is about Ray and a fellow old greaser who meet at a pub whilst Ray waits for his date.
The second half kicks off with the acoustic "Bad Eyed and Loveless" which describes Ray's anger for being stood up. We follow with the great rocker "Big Dipper" which has a very infectious beat supplied by barlow and a superb flute riff by Anderson mimicked by Evan and Barre. Next is the album's title cut which is the album's most famous track and a great piece and tells of Ray's motorcycle ride and crash. Next is the superb "Pied Piper" which has Ray emerging from his coma to find out he is in popularity again. We end the album with the beautiful "The Chequered Flag (Dead Or Alive)". This piece is probably the best Tull album closer and Ray seeing that his life is back on the upswing again.
Too Old to Rock n Roll: Too Young to Die initially reached #14 on the Billboard album charts in 1976 (making it Tull's lowest chart appearance since 1969's Stand Up). Also, this is the only 1970s era Tull album not to be certified Gold. However, the material has withstood the test of time unlike some albums from 1976.
In 2002, this underrated gem was re-released with TWO bonus tracks. First is the acoustic "A Small Cigar" which is hilarious but great. "Strip Cartoon" is also a great track as well.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
Isn't it grand to be playing to the stand?.......2006-07-27
Much, much better than I was led to believe.......2006-06-18
With respect to the lineup at this point, Jeffrey Hammond-Hammond left the group after Minstrel in the Gallery (1975), leaving the band without a bassist. The late John Glascock replaced Jeffrey and the tone that John gets out of his Fender Musicman bass is very tight and punchy and the interplay with virtuoso drummer Barriemore Barlow is truly something to behold. Speaking of Barriemore, his drumming during the mid - late 1970's was simply jaw dropping - those of you that need proof are urged to check out his solo on "Conundrum" from the live Bursting Out album (1978). As such, his performances on Too Old to Die: Too Young to Rock n' Roll are excellent, although he does not play on every track. Come to think of it, the performances by all of the band members are all fairly inspired and Ian even plays a solo on a harmonica along with some semi-jazzy riffs on the saxophone. In addition to the core members, string and brass arrangements are featured here and there and Steeleye Span vocalist Maddy Prior provides backing vocals on the title track.Personally, I feel that the subtle changes in instrumentation were a nice addition.
The music on this album is characteristic of the blend of acoustic textures and thunderous prog that started with Minstrel in the Gallery and culminated with albums like Songs from the Wood (1977) and Heavy Horses (1978). One other thing worth mentioning is that the use of melodies increased dramatically on this album and they are actually very nice.
The remastering is superb and features incredibly good sound quality along with loads of band photos, liner notes, pretty good bonus tracks, and restored cover/gatefold art.
All in all, I found this album to be very enjoyable and certainly not nearly as bad as people say it is. Recommended along with the excellent Songs from the Wood and Heavy Horses.
Some good songs ,some really bad ones.......2006-06-14
Only a few bad for these chaps,this one is just not their best, but their most "Adventurous "shall we say.
Average customer rating:
|
Too Old to Rock 'N' Roll: Too Young to Die!
Jethro Tull Manufacturer: Capitol ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General
| Alternative Rock
| Styles
| Music
General
| Rock
| Styles
| Music
Progressive Rock
| Progressive
| Rock
| Styles
| Music
General
| Hard Rock & Metal
| Styles
| Music
Hard Rock
| Hard Rock & Metal
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Pop Rock
| Pop
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Album-Oriented Rock (AOR)
| Classic Rock
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ASIN: B000008H22 Release Date: 2000-09-12 |
Tracks:
- Quizz Kids
- Crazed Institution
- Salamander
- Taxi Grab
- From A Dead Beat To An Old Greaser
- Bad-Eyed 'N' Loveless
- Big Dipper
- Too Old To Rock 'N' Roll: Too Young To Die!
- Pied Piper
- The Chequered Flag (Dead Or Alive)
Customer Reviews:
An Unsusual Album for Jethro Tull.......2006-10-27
"Quizz Kid" starts out mellow and slow with strings and an easy electric guitar riff. However, indicative of the punk age of the time, bass and electric guitar riffs push themselves to the front, and this song sounds like a punk-influenced hard rock song. The lyrics are about going on a game show with the hopes of winning big.
"Crazed Institution" is rock from beginning to end. When you hear this song you could be under the impression that Ian Anderson was striving for a harder edge on this album as compared to Tull's earlier folk-flavored offerings. The lyrics in this song are about celebrity and fame and the insanity that such status causes in a person's life.
"Salamander" provides the first real flavor of Jethro Tull's style as it was up to that time. Clever acoustic guitar picking takes you halfway through the piece until a heavily echoed Ian Anderson brings on the vocals. The contrast between the acoustic and folk-flavored music and the echoed voice is interesting and makes me wish that Ian had explored this song in greater depth.
From a lyrical viewpoint "Taxi Grab" is a relatively lightweight offering and is not a fan favorite. From a musical viewpoint, this song is a rocker, bass and harmonica driven, a blues-flavored hard rock song. The music is pretty good, but the weak lyrics detract a bit.
"From a Dead Beat to an Old Greaser" begins in a traditional Tull style, dirge-like and acoustic. The lyrics tell a story of someone sinking further and further into the depths, perhaps becoming the character of Aqualung. The music remains acoustic until the end, keeping the dirge-like tune, though a saxophone-flavored bridge gives the song an interesting style.
"Bad-Eyed and Loveless" gives you the viewpoint of a woman as an old man thinks he would have seen her as a young man. The instruments backing this song are minimal, principally an acoustic guitar. This song continues the theme of someone who has degraded into the character of Aqualung; you have to wonder how much deeper into the depths this person can go.
"Big Dipper" shakes off acoustics and allows the electric guitars their licks once more. There are interesting percussion effects in this song as well as an instrument that I believe was a Vako Orchestron, a type of synthesizer. The musical effects are unique. The lyrics are all about fun and sex; the theme is deceptively lightweight, perhaps hiding a sinister undertone.
I enjoy "Too Old to Rock `N' Roll: Too Young to Die." This song is bombastic, and perhaps the only song on this CD that shows much progressive rock influence. The instruments are dramatic and strident, punctuating the notes in harmony rather than any extensive counterpoint. Lyrically this song is about aging rockers when they get too old for the perceived style of rock that has historically emphasized youth, and of course they have many years left to live. I wonder what Ian Anderson thinks of this song today.
"Pied Piper" has just a touch of folk-rock flavoring mixed into a rock beat. The Vako Orchestron makes an easily discerned appearance, providing an unusual musical voice. Because of the synthesizer sound, this song makes me think that perhaps Wendy Carlos, who created "Switched-On Bach" and several other synthesizer albums, influenced Ian Anderson. Lyrically, the character that sank to the depths of despair has been patched up and made anew, and now eyes young girls lasciviously.
The album finishes with "The Chequered Flag," a song that provides some soaring music and vocals and yet is a bitter-sweet ending to this CD. The lyrics are about the incompletion of life; the unfinished symphonies, the unread books, the tasks imagined and never satisfactorily accomplished. The music is mellow, synthesizer and strings providing the core sound.
While Jethro Tull has historically combined folk and rock, this album is more a product of its time. You can hear a synthesizer in several songs. Several songs are hard rock. The Jethro Tull of "Thick as a Brick," "Aqualung" and "Songs from the Wood" has temporarily taken on the mantle of contemporary rocker. If Tull had not created the other albums for comparison, some listeners might readily enjoy this one. However, even Tull with their eclectic style moved too much to center in this album for many fans and perhaps lost a few fans as a result. However, this album is, while not comparable to the best of Tull, a good 70s rock album. While I am unable to strongly recommend this album, for Tull fans it is a must own. For casual listeners, I recommend the albums I mentioned above, along with others that have a strong folk-rock and progressive influence.
There are several versions of this album that exist. You may wish to survey the availability of these versions and their price to see which version best meets your needs.
Enjoy!
A GOOD Tull recording that every Tull fan should have.......2006-01-28
Now that comparsisons are out of the way, let's get on with a short review of "Too Old to RockNRoll"....
This is indeed a mellow album; and indeed there are LOTS of acoustic guitars. But, why is that bad? Must EVERY rock album we buy offer the same intensity of a Metallica, or Dream Theater?!
I rarely, if ever, come on line to bash other people. But when I read some of the reviews below I had to laugh out loud! One reviewer said that the album was boring and that it had too much acustic(sic) guitars!
C'mon folks, get over it. This was OBVIOUSLY intended to be a very mellow recording. Take it for what it's worth. The musicians, especially Ian Anderson, probably set out to make a recording exactly as this one came out. Tull's catalog is FULL of heavy, prog stuff. So what's one mellow one in the mix?
To conclude I will say that the musicianship is very good on this recording. In particular the acoustic guitar playing on Salamander. It kicks ass!
Heck, you can probably buy this one used for about $3-4. Get it and you won't regret it.
"Born in the sun-kissed flame".......2003-04-26
A great album, an excellent band.......2002-06-02
After saying that anyone who reads this may wonder why i only gave it four stars. Well as good as it is, it has to weak spots, "From a Dead Beat to and Old Greaser" and "Bad Eyed and Lovevless". The first is...well...dead would be a good way to describe it. Don't get me wrong, i enjoy soft, calm songs, but this is beyond calm, it's comatose, with the exception of the sax parts. The second on i jst don't care for.
The rest of the album is wonderful however. "Quizz Kid" is interesting, it's not the best on the album, but it's bearable."Crazed Institution" is excellent, espicially it's repeating section of "you can ring a crown of roses 'round your cranium..." "Salamander" is very good, although at 2:49 it's too short. "Taxi Grab" is very good, probably the hardest rocking track on the album. "Big Dipper" is a great song, very catchy. The title track is one of the best songs on the cd, one that really makes this album great. "Pied Piper" is...unique, it's good, but you have to listen to it a few times to really appriciate it. The last song, "The chequered flag" is one of the high points, if not the highest on the album. Everything on it is great, the lyrics, the music. It really has no relevence to the rest of the albums theme of a washed-up old rocker, but that doesn't change how great it is.
So if you want a great Jethro Tull album try this one. It's songs may not make the radio as often as "Aqualung" or "Bungle in the Jungle", but it's best songs are right up there with these songs.
Fine, underrated album.......2002-05-14
The album has received some criticism because the songs were apparently planned for use in a dramatic production that was ultimately abandoned. But if a 'concept' album that tells a cohesive story is your cup of tea, at least this one is far more consistent than many other rock concept albums (e.g., Bowie's masterpiece `Ziggy Stardust'). Besides, in my humble opinion, 'concept' albums and rock and roll are rarely a perfect match. As two rock icons noted in `Spinal Tap', there's a fine line between stupid and clever. (We could charitably substitute `silly' for `stupid'.)
So I was surprised at how good the album is, with its abundance of beautiful melodies, well-crafted songs, and even a cohesive story of sorts. I'm amazed at Ian Anderson's gift of melody and inventiveness as a songwriter. Only one or two rather slow - and I wouldn't necessarily say 'dull' - moments. The blend of acoustic and electric sounds is, to my ear, finely balanced. The musical showmanship by everyone is imaginative and at the same time focused. The intricate arrangements display variety, richness, depth, listenability, and a sense of humor. Songs aren't played `as-is'. What Tull does often enough is to take well-crafted songs and add depth, complexity and playfulness to the arrangements; that skill is in evidence here (Taxi Grab's shifting rhythms, Pied Piper's baroque stylings, etc.)
Anyway, that's my two cents.
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Too Old to Die Young: BBC Live 1972-1976
Kevin Ayers Manufacturer: Hux ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General
| Rock
| Styles
| Music
Progressive Rock
| Progressive
| Rock
| Styles
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Progressive Rock
| Live Albums
| Rock
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Pop Rock
| Pop
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Progressive
| Rock
| Indie Music
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Rock
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ASIN: B00004C4MC Release Date: 1998-11-01 |
Tracks:
- Lady Rachel
- May I
- Clarence In Wonderland
- Whatevershebringswesing
- There Is Loving
- Margaret
- Colores Para Dolores
- Crazy Gift Of Time
- Why Are We Sleeping?
Tracks:
- Didn't Feel Lonely
- Observations
- Stranger In Blue Suede Shoes
- Interview
- Farewell Again
- Shouting In A Bucket Blues
- If You Want To Be A Star
- Love's Gonna Turn You Around
- Mr. Cool
- Ballad Of Mr. Snake
- Blue
Album Details
Double CD Set featuring Three BBC Concerts, Recorded 1972, '75 and '76. Disc One features Mike Oldfield on Guitar. Disc Two Has Andy Summers (Ex Police). Liner Note by Kevin Ayers.
Average customer rating:
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Too Old to Die Young: BBC Live 1972-1976
Kevin Ayers Manufacturer: Hux ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General
| Rock
| Styles
| Music
Progressive Rock
| Progressive
| Rock
| Styles
| Music
Progressive Rock
| Live Albums
| Rock
| Styles
| Music
General
| Live Albums
| Rock
| Styles
| Music
Pop Rock
| Pop
| Styles
| Music
Rock
| Imports
| Stores
| Music
Pop
| Imports
| Stores
| Music
ASIN: B0000089QN Release Date: 1998-11-01 |
Tracks:
- Lady Rachel
- May I
- Clarence In Wonderland
- Whatevershebringswesing
- There Is Loving
- Margaret
- Colores Para Dolores
- Crazy Gift Of Time
- Why Are We Sleeping?
Tracks:
- Didn't Feel Lonely
- Observations
- Stranger In Blue Suede Shoes
- Interview
- Farewell Again
- Shouting In A Bucket Blues
- If You Want To Be A Star
- Love's Gonna Turn You Around
- Mr. Cool
- Ballad Of Mr. Snake
- Blue
Album Description
Three live concerts recorded by the BBC in 1972, 1975 &1976 on two CDs. Two of the shows are previously unreleased.The first disc features the classic 'Whole World' band withMike Oldfield on guitar; the second features ex-Policeguitarist Andy Summers. 20 tracks total. Also contains aneight page booklet with photos, full recording details andliner notes written by Ayers himself. Double slimlinejewel case. 1998 Hux Records release.
Average customer rating: 
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Too Old to Rock 'N Roll: Too Young to Die!
Jethro Tull Manufacturer: Alliance ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General
| Rock
| Styles
| Music
Progressive Rock
| Progressive
| Rock
| Styles
| Music
General
| Hard Rock & Metal
| Styles
| Music
Hard Rock
| Hard Rock & Metal
| Styles
| Music
Album-Oriented Rock (AOR)
| Classic Rock
| Styles
| Music
General
| Classic Rock
| Styles
| Music
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ASIN: B000005JER Release Date: 1997-02-26 |
Tracks:
- Quizz Kid
- Crazed Institution
- Salamander
- Taxi Grab
- From A Dead Beat To An Old Greaser
- Bad-Eyed 'N' Loveless
- Big Dipper
- Too Old Rock 'N' Roll: Too Young To Die
- Pied Piper
- The Chequered Flag (Dead Or Alive)
Customer Reviews:
Not Typical Tull.......2005-04-26
"Quizz Kid" starts out mellow and slow with strings and an easy electric guitar riff. However, indicative of the punk age of the time, bass and electric guitar riffs push themselves to the front, and this song sounds like a punk-influenced hard rock song. The lyrics are about going on a game show with the hopes of winning big.
"Crazed Institution" does not try to mislead you. From the very beginning the beat of this song speaks rock. By this song you are under the impression that Ian Anderson was striving for a harder edge on this album as compared to Tull's earlier folk-flavored offerings. The lyrics in this song are about celebrity and fame and the insanity that such status causes a person's life.
"Salamander" provides the first real flavor of Jethro Tull as the group had been known up to this time. Clever acoustic guitar picking takes you halfway through the piece until a heavily echoed Ian Anderson brings on the vocals. The contrast between the acoustic and folk-flavored instruments and the echoed voice is interesting and makes me wish that Ian had explored this song in greater depth.
From a lyrical viewpoint, "Taxi Grab" is a relatively lightweight offering, and is not a fan favorite. From a musical viewpoint, this song is a rocker, bass and harmonica driven, a blues-flavored hard rock song. The music is pretty good, but the weak lyrics detract a bit.
"From a Dead Beat to an Old Greaser" begins in a traditional Tull style, dirge-like and acoustic. The lyrics tell a story of someone sinking further and further into the depths, perhaps becoming the character of Aqualung. The music remains acoustic until the end, keeping the dirge-like tune, though a saxophone-flavored bridge gives the song an interesting style.
"Bad-Eyed and Loveless" gives you the viewpoint of a woman as an old man thinks he would have seen her as a young man. The instruments backing this song are minimal, principally an acoustic guitar. This song continues the theme of someone who has degraded into the character of Aqualung; you have to wonder how much deeper into the depths this person can go.
"Big Dipper" shakes off the acoustics and allows the electric guitars to stretch their licks once more. There are interesting percussion effects in this song as well as an instrument that I believe was a Vako Orchestron, a synthesizer. The musical effects are unique. The lyrics are all about fun and sex, the theme deceptively lightweight, hiding perhaps a sinister undertone.
I enjoy "Too Old to Rock `N' Roll: Too Young to Die". This song is bombastic, and perhaps the only song on this CD that shows much progressive rock influence. The instruments are dramatic and strident, punctuating the notes in harmony rather than any extensive counterpoint. Lyrically this song is about aging rockers when they get too old for the perceived style of rock that has historically emphasized youth, and of course they have many years left to live. I wonder what Ian Anderson thinks of this song today.
"Pied Piper" has just a touch of folk-rock flavoring mixed into a rock beat. The Vako Orchestron makes another easily discerned appearance, providing an unusual musical voice. Because of the synthesizer sound, this song makes me think that perhaps Ian Anderson was influenced by Wendy Carlos, who created "Switched-On Bach" and several other all synthesizer albums. Lyrically, the character that sank to the depths of despair has been patched up and made anew, and now eyes young girls lasciviously.
The album finishes with "The Chequered Flag", a song that provides some soaring music and vocals, and yet is a bitter-sweet ending. The lyrics are about the incompletion of life. The unfinished symphonies, the unread books, the tasks imagined and never satisfactorily accomplished. The music is mellow, synthesizer and strings providing the core sound.
While Jethro Tull has historically combined folk and rock, this album is more a product of its time. A synthesizer is clearly heard in several songs. Several songs are hard rock. The Jethro Tull of "Thick as a Brick", "Aqualung" and "Songs from the Wood" has temporarily taken on the mantle of contemporary rocker. If Tull had not created the other albums for comparison, a listener might readily enjoy this one. However, even Tull with their eclectic style moved too much to center for many fans, and perhaps lost a few fans as a result. However, this album is, while not comparable to the best of Tull, a good 70s rock album. While I am unable to provide a strong recommendation for this album, for Tull fans it is a must own. For casual listeners, I recommend the previously mentioned albums, along with others that have a strong folk-rock and progressive influence.
One of Tull's Classics.......2002-08-01
This is the first album after the departure of bassist Jeffrey Hammond-Hammond, who was replaced by John Glascock. He joined Ian Anderson (vocals, flute, acoustic guitar, harmonica), Martin Barre (lead guitar), John Evan (keyboards), and Barriemore Barlow (percussion) in what was arguably Tull's greatest ensemble.
As for the music, the style is the quintessential Ian Anderson brilliance, with a mixture of brassy, compact, fast-paced pieces like "Quizz kid", "Crazed Institution", and "Taxi Grab", with lyrical acoustic pieces like "Salamander" and "From a deadbeat to an Old Greaser". The title song, "Too old to rock and roll, Too young to die" has for years been the subject of controversy among Tull fans, some believing it to be too slow and even dull, others saying it is representative of the remarkable mixture of styles that characterizes not only the Album but all of Jethro Tull.
Most fans and connoisseurs would agree that "Big Dipper" and especially "Pied Piper" are among Tull's most carefree, playful, lighthearted creations. Ian Anderson was always a master at varying and adjusting moods even within a coherent, thematic album like "Too Old to rock and roll, Too Young to die".
Typically excellent Tull release........1999-09-09
Not so good Tull.......1999-08-27
It should be pointed out that this is a kind of concept album in which the hero gets steadily older and more wasted and the music reflects this. In 'Bursting Out', the live JT album, Ian amused us with the comment that people assumed that the Too Old track was talking about him, but that in fact he was "talking about some other bastard". Great days, but disappointing effort.
EXCELLENT, BUT OFTEN OVERLOOKED TULL.......1999-05-31
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War Child / Too Old To Rock 'N' Roll: Too Young To Die!
Jethro Tull Manufacturer: CD Maximum ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General
| Classic Rock
| Styles
| Music
ASIN: B000P82CP8 |
Product Description
European import. Two albums on one CD.
Average customer rating:
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Too Old to Die Young
Moe Bandy Manufacturer: Pegasus ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General
| Contemporary Country
| Country
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General
| Country
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Honky-Tonk
| Country
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General
| Bluegrass
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Contemporary
| Bluegrass
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ASIN: B0007WBEDI Release Date: 2005-03-28 |
Tracks:
- I Cheated Me Right Out Of You
- It's A Cheating Situation
- She's Not Really Cheatin'
- Hank Williams, You Wrote My Life
- Let's Get Over Them Together
- I Just Started Hatin' Cheatin' Songs Today
- Till I'm Too Old To Die Young
- Just Good Ol'boys
- Barstool Mountain
- Two Lonely People
- Following The Feeling
- It Was Always So Easy
Album Details
12 Tracks Including "it's a Cheating Situation", "it was Always So Easy (To Find an Unhappy Woman", "Let's Get Over them Together" and "Two Lonely People".Customer Reviews:
To old to die young.......2007-04-03
Don't buy this one!.......2006-07-15
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Average customer rating:
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Too Old to Die Young: BBC Live 1972-1976
Kevin Ayers Manufacturer: Hux ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General
| Rock
| Styles
| Music
Progressive Rock
| Progressive
| Rock
| Styles
| Music
Progressive Rock
| Live Albums
| Rock
| Styles
| Music
General
| Live Albums
| Rock
| Styles
| Music
Progressive
| Rock
| Indie Music
| Stores
| Music
ASIN: B00005Y8M4 Release Date: 1998-11-01 |
Tracks:
- Lady Rachel
- May I?
- Clarence in Wonderland
- Whatevershebringswesing
- There Is Loving
- Margaret
- Colores Para Dolores
- Crazy Gift Ot Time
- Why Are We Sleeping?
Tracks:
- Didn't Feel Lonely Till I Thought of You
- Obesrvations
- Stranger in Blue Suede Shoes
- Interview
- Farewell Again (Another Dawn)
- Shouting in a Bucket Blues
- If You Want to Be a Star
- Love's Gonna Turn You Around
- Mr. Cool
- Ballad of Mr. Snake
- Blue
Music Album:
- Trouble Is a Lonesome Town
- Very Best of Freddy Weller
- Waitin' on Sundown/Hard Working Man/Brand New Man
- Western Swing Chronicles, Vol. 4
- 11 #1 Hits
- 1st Recorded Live Concert [Live]
- 20th Century Gospel: From Hymns to Blackwood Brothers Tribute to Christian Country
- 4 Country Living Legends
- 50 Years of Bluegrass Hits, Vol. 2
- A country christmas 1994
