Τα solo άλμπoυμ του Ian Anderson, δεν αποτελούν τα πιο ένδοξα κεφάλαια της καριέρας του, η χρυσή εποχή της οποίας είχε ήδη παρέλθει όταν ηχογραφήθηκε το πρώτο από αυτά.
Δεν παύουν να περιέχουν κάποια γοητευτικά στιγμιότυπα, όπως το ‘The Jasmine Corridor’, από το The Secret Language Of Birds με το οποίο ο IA καλωσόρισε το νέο millennium.
Ian Anderson’s solo albums are not the most glorious chapters of his career, the golden age of which was already over when the first one was recorded.
There are always some charming moments, though, such as ‘The Jasmine Corridor’, from the Secret Language Of Birds with which IA welcomed the new millennium.
In all my lives, I never knew anyone like you before
Woke up one day, swore I heard the sound of heaven knocking on my door
And after all these years long passing
Time to reflect, no time for wasting
Walking down the jasmine corridor
Reflecting echoes of quiet laughter
In all my life, I was never better served than I was served by you
And in my way, hope you agree I tried to serve you too
Out on the headland I stepped once unsteady
You there to catch me , I breathe more freely
Hand in mine down the jasmine corridor
Through all my life, I chased flitting illusions at a faster pace
Never stopped to think: the moment was for seizing, had myself to face
You made my bed to lie in, stately
Mad cats, grandchildren, here more often lately
The final view from the jasmine corridor
This is a pretty song. I like it!
It’s written for his lady.
Ahh! Lucky lady.
I have to admit I’ve never felt the urge to listen to Jethro Tull but your recent posts on their music has given me a prod that I really do need to listen to some of their albums. I was intrigued by your criticism of Ian Anderson’s solo albums especially as this piece you’ve chosen is actually so nice. So I went and listen to the album. I don’t have his other albums to compare but I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed it!
I also find it enjoyable, as a matter of fact it must be his best yet. But I don’t find it fascinating, as is the case with each and every Jethro Tull album up to “A” [1980].
And even the ones after that, are steadily above his solo efforts, imho.
A strange thing with [almost] all rock luminaries : great inspiration seems to abandon them after 30. Could it be the “substances”, could it be the life on the road, could it be the “youth culture” element and fashion changes that make them feel irrelevant, God only knows.
That’s an interesting point – I wonder if there are many exceptions? I would put forward Sting as one whose first solo album didn’t come into he was into his thirties. His albums after his forties however, not so great.
Sting also tried his luck with …Dowland songs in the middle ’00s. I was prepared for the worst, but [maybe because of that] I didn’t find it so bad after all.
Frank Zappa was an exception. Lennon, Neil Young, Kate Bush, Joni Mitchell, Bowie, Scott Walker were / are some others. I’m always talking about pop musicians more or less. Jazz is a different story, not to mention “classical” [Verdi wrote his Falstaff at 80!]