A Song for Jeffrey
"A Song for Jeffrey" | ||||
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Single by Jethro Tull | ||||
from the album This Was | ||||
B-side | "One for John Gee" | |||
Released | 1968 | |||
Recorded | 1968 | |||
Genre | Folk rock, progressive rock | |||
Length | 3:22 | |||
Label | Island, Reprise | |||
Songwriter(s) | Ian Anderson | |||
Producer(s) | Ian Anderson | |||
Jethro Tull singles chronology | ||||
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"A Song for Jeffrey" is a song recorded by the English progressive rock band Jethro Tull. Despite being released as a single in the U.K., "A Song for Jeffrey" was the B-side to "Love Story" in the U.S.[1] It is written in honor of Ian Anderson's friend and future Jethro Tull bassist Jeffrey Hammond. Another version of the song was recorded for play on BBC radio.[2]
The song starts off with a bass riff by Glenn Cornick before Ian Anderson's flute comes in. It then becomes a psychedelic blues tune, with original guitarist Mick Abrahams playing slide guitar. The lyrics are largely indecipherable.[3] Despite being similar in style to "My Sunday Feeling" and "Beggar's Farm", the instrumental section shows a greater influence of jazz rather than blues.[2]
The song was largely praised by music critics. Allmusic's Bruce Eder called it "a superb example of commercial psychedelic blues" but did not consider it one of the album highlights.[4] George Starostin called it one of the "catchiest ditties the band ever did: the interplay between the bloozy guitar and the poppy harmonica is amazing and promptly digs itself into your memory."[5] Despite the single not reaching the charts, New Musical Express wrote that it was "good enough to have made the Chart".[6]
"A Song for Jeffrey" was ranked the 25th best Jethro Tull song by Rock - Das Gesamtwerk der größten Rock-Acts im Check.[7]
References
- ↑ Strong, Martin C. (2000). The Great Rock Discography (5th ed.). Edinburgh: Mojo Books. pp. 504–506. ISBN 1-84195-017-3.
- 1 2 Nollen, Scott A. (2001). Jethro Tull: A History of the Band, 1968-2001. McFarland. p. 37. ISBN 0786411015.
- ↑ Furgess, Dave. "Jethro Tull - A Song For Jeffrey/One For John Gee". Head Heritage. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
- ↑ Eder, Bruce. "This Was - Jethro Tull review". Allmusic. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
- ↑ Starostin, George. "This Was". Only Solitaire. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
- ↑ "Tull Wrote Own Hit". New Musical Express. TullPress.com. January 11, 1969. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
- ↑ Rehe, Christoph (2013). Rock - Das Gesamtwerk der größten Rock-Acts im Check: alle Alben, alle Songs. Ein eclipsed-Buch (in German). Sysyphus Sysyphus Verlags GmbH. ISBN 3868526463.