Featured on Jethro Tull’s 1971 album Aqualung, ‘Locomotive Breath’ is as known for its intricate flute solo as it is for its social commentary on a world quickly headed off the rails and when performed live, singer and flautist Ian Anderson is a human dynamo that embodies the overall feeling of being completely out of control – in the best possible way, of course!
Filmed in 1982, this exclusive concert footage features Jethro Tull performing ‘Locomotive Breath’and to say that it’s a wild ride is an understatement; much like an actual locomotive, the performance starts off slowly with its long, bluesy piano introduction and builds gradually with a blistering guitar solo by Jethro Tull guitarist Martin Barre before reaching its pinnacle as Ian Anderson appears onstage, looking like a man out of time with a story to tell.
It took a few attempts to record this song, as Anderson had to impress on the band that musically, it was supposed to feel like a train on the tracks, not one that goes off and explodes.
If this is what a train going off the tracks sounds like, then sign us up! Jethro Tull, more so than any other progressive rock band, had a tremendous gift for turning their songs into epic stories that when performed live, appealed to you on a visual level; while they weren’t big for flashy displays, Ian’s stage presence is what sells songs like ‘Locomotive Breath,’ and you can’t deny how much fun there is to be had with a band like Jethro Tull!
