A (Jethro Tull album)

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A
Studio album by Jethro Tull
Released	29 August 1980
Recorded	16 May – 6 June 1980
Studio	Maison Rouge Studios, Fulham, London Maison Rogue Mobile, Radnage
Genre	Electronic rock progressive rock folk rock
Length	42:30
Label	Chrysalis
Producer	Ian Anderson Robin Black
Jethro Tull chronology
Stormwatch (1979) A (1980) The Broadsword and the Beast (1982)
Singles from A
"Fylingdale Flyer" / "Working John, Working Joe" Released: 10 October 1980[1]

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[2]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music	[3]

A is the 13th studio album by British rock band Jethro Tull. It was released on 29 August 1980 in the UK and 1 September of the same year in the United States.

The album was initially written and recorded with the intention of being frontman Ian Anderson's debut solo album (hence the album's title: the master tapes were marked "A" for Anderson during recording), however the album was eventually released as a Jethro Tull album after pressure from Chrysalis Records. Anderson has since stated that he regrets allowing the album to be released under the Jethro Tull name.

Musically, the album was a departure from prior Tull works, adopting more of an electronic rock sound with heavy use of synthesizers, although still retaining the band's trademark folk influence and Anderson's flute playing. Lyrically, the album saw a similar departure from the fantasy and folklore themes of previous Tull work, instead emphasizing contemporary matters such as the Cold War. The album was the first Tull album released following a large lineup change which saw drummer Barrie "Barriemore" Barlow and keyboardists John Evan and Dee Palmer departing the band in 1980 while bassist John Glascock had died from heart complications the previous year. The album instead features Glascock's touring replacement Dave Pegg on bass in his first recorded appearance with the band, Mark Craney on drums and Eddie Jobson on keyboards (with Jobson credited as a "special guest") and electric violin.