Thick as a Brick is the fifth studio album by the British progressive rock band Jethro Tull, released in March 1972. The album consists of one continuous song that spans both sides of the vinyl record, divided into two parts. The lyrics are written by the band’s frontman Ian Anderson, who claimed that they were based on a poem by a fictitious boy genius named Gerald Bostock. The album is a satire of the concept album genre and the pretentiousness of some progressive rock bands. The music is complex and varied, featuring acoustic folk, hard rock, classical, and jazz influences. The album was a commercial and critical success, reaching number one on the US Billboard 200 and number five on the UK Albums Chart. It is widely regarded as one of the best and most influential albums of the 1970s.
Thick as a Brick is now considered one of the most important progressive rock albums of all time. It is praised for its ambitious concept, Anderson’s songwriting, and the band’s performance. The album has been ranked number 706 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.
Personnel
- Ian Anderson – vocals, acoustic guitar, flute, violin, saxophone, trumpet
- Martin Barre – electric guitar, lute
- John Evan – piano, organ, harpsichord
- Jeffrey Hammond (as “Jeffrey Hammond-Hammond”) – bass guitar, spoken word
- Barriemore Barlow – drums, timpani, glockenspiel, marimba
- David Palmer – brass and string arrangements
