Too Old to Rock 'n' Roll: Too Young to Die!

Jethro Tull

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Too Old to Rock 'n' Roll: Too Young to Die! Review

by Dave Sleger

This album was summarily dismissed by reviewers, who universally invoked their handbooks of hackneyed "critic speak." Cop-out terms like "indulgent" and "pretentious" were bandied about, employing the popular critics' method of simply discrediting an album due to its concurrent release with the arrival of punk rock -- as if that were an intellectually sound critique given the virtually unrelated style of Jethro Tull's music. The main knock on this album is the ill-conceived concept involving an aging rock star. That is a valid observation, but what rock concept albums are deserving of literary accolades? Precious few, if any. Lyrical themes notwithstanding, Too Old to Rock 'n' Roll is a fine collection of independent rock songs that marked a return to the classic Tull style carved out on Aqualung and Benefit. Absent here are the muddled epic-length pieces synonymous with Thick as a Brick and A Passion Play, the pop leanings of War Child, and the complexity of Minstrel in the Gallery. So despite being the target of disparaging reviews, this album achieved modest chart success and boasted several quality rockers like "Quizz Kid," "Taxi Grab," and "Big Dipper." Martin Barre's unheralded lead guitar style remains a force, rescuing a couple of tracks from the doldrums. David Palmer's orchestral arrangements are, at times, a bit overblown, but this album is far from the colossal disaster it's been portrayed as. Jethro Tull's third bassist, John Glascock, made his debut on this record, and Maddy Prior makes a guest appearance on the title track.

Track Listing

Title/Composer Performer Time Stream
1
Quizz Kid
Ian Anderson
Jethro Tull 05:10 SpotifyAmazon
2
Crazed Institution
Ian Anderson
Jethro Tull 04:48 SpotifyAmazon
3
Salamander
Ian Anderson
Jethro Tull 02:51 SpotifyAmazon
4
Taxi Grab
Ian Anderson
Jethro Tull 03:56 SpotifyAmazon
5
From a Dead Beat to an Old Greaser
Ian Anderson
Jethro Tull 04:07 SpotifyAmazon
6
Bad-Eyed 'N' Loveless
Ian Anderson
Jethro Tull 02:12 SpotifyAmazon
7
Big Dipper
Ian Anderson
Jethro Tull 03:37 SpotifyAmazon
8
Too Old to Rock 'N' Roll: Too Young to Die
Ian Anderson
Jethro Tull 05:42 SpotifyAmazon
9
Pied Piper
Ian Anderson
Jethro Tull 04:34 SpotifyAmazon
10
The Chequered Flag (Dead or Alive)
Ian Anderson
Jethro Tull 05:26 SpotifyAmazon
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Too Old to Rock 'n' Roll: Too Young to Die!

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