Heavy Horses

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Editorial reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
Although both albums share a marked sense of rural enchantment and find Jethro Tull at the very apex of their folky prog-rock ingenuity, 1978's IHeavy Horses/I is often unfairly portrayed, by fans and critics alike, as a thematic follow-up to its immediate studio predecessor ISongs from the Wood/I. Both offerings are excellent, but they do deserve to be appreciated in isolation. While ISongs from the Wood/I evokes a magical atmosphere of mysterious nature-worshipping spirituality, IHeavy Horses/I is far more earthly, a nostalgic glance at agricultural realism with a Cornish pasty--not a book about fairies--in its back-pocket. p Indeed, on the progressive, nine-minute-long title-track--a most poetic ode to the English countryside's traditional ploughing beasts of burden--Ian Anderson almost sings with the sorrow of an old-time farmhand witnessing the combine harvesters and crop-sprayers coming over the horizon for the first time. One can even forgive him the rather randy line "Let me find you a filly for your proud stallion seed, to keep the old line going". Sure, there's plenty of prattle about drinking afternoon tea with mice, but tracks like "Moths" and "Acres Wild"--the latter a Scottish-jig flavoured homage to Ian Anderson's salmon-farming locale of Skye--mark IHeavy Horses/I out as a must-own in the Jethro Tull canon. Somehow, they were never quite as good, as often, again. I--Kevin Maidment/I

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Customer reviews

review by: date: 2009-06-26 rating:
Return of the Native
After the bucolic "Songs from the Wood" album, Tull returned in 1978 with another rural classic which could easily be the soundtrack to a Thomas Hardy novel. Close your eyes, and you are transported back to the Victorian countryside; the farm cat stalking its prey, the shire horses toiling in the fields, and the moths fluttering round the lantern, all under the gaze of the mystical,climate-controlling weathercock. br / br /The two best things about this album are the music and the lyrics. Folk instrumentation a-plenty, but always with a hint of Tull's previous prog days, via Martin Barre's quirky guitar work, and Barriemore Barlow's frenzied percussion. This is particularly evident on the title track - a slow start which builds into a galloping middle section, taking you on a journey with the heavy horses as they finish their work and head home to the stable. As noted by several reviewers, "Moths" is a genuine joy. Acoustic guitar and flute embellished with orchestral passages, creating a sound totally in keeping with the bitter-sweet tone of the lyrics. You have to hear it. br / br /Ah-the lyrics. No,actually, this is poetry. Just reading the words to these songs gives me goosebumps, conveying Ian Anderson's passion for all things rural. How about "In the dark, townsfolk lie sleeping /As the heavy horses thunder by/ To wake the dying city/With the living horesman's cry" (Heavy Horses). Or "Do you fight the rush of Winter/Do you hold snowflakes at bay/Do you lift the dawn sun from the fields/And help him on his way?" (Weathercock). Simple, beautiful, passionate words to accompany some of the finest music I have heard in a long time. br / br /I bought the LP back in '78, and should really have added the CD to my collection a long time ago. So should you. Buy it.

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review by: date: 2009-02-20 rating:
Totally Brilliant
Not knowing a huge about 70's music apart from what my Dad blasts out, I confess to not being an expert on Jethro Tull. This allows me to be completely objective in saying that this album is absolutely fantastic - if you like your music with a folky yet soulful feel - e.g. fairport convention, nick drake and latterly waterboys, hothouse flowers, pogues then this is for you. I have heard songs from the wood which i also like very much but I prefer this if only because 3 or 4 of the songs are as good as anything i have ever heard.

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review by: date: 2009-02-18 rating:
Magnificent Moths
Got into Jethro Tull in the early 80's on the back of this, Stormwatch and Songs from the wood (the so called folk trilogy) - I picked up all the back cat over the yrs and although I'm not big on the drawn out slighty self indulgent prog rock albums like Thick as.... and Passion Play, this is wonderful stuff and is the shining light in Tull's most relevant and exciting period. Sexy and stirring in equal measures. Moths, HH, Acres Wild, Weathercock - four of the very best on a flawless album. The Stand Up and Benefit albums are pretty damn fine also if your looking to expand your listening pleasure.

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review by: date: 2009-02-17 rating:
A heavyweight in every sense!
To readdress the imbalance caused by C.James from Belfast who's ill considered comments on this true 5 star masterpiece have lost it half a star in it's overall rating. Why would one base their rating on listening to 30 second download samples and utterly fail to recognise the breadth and diversity of the J.Tull musical cannon. Folky it might be (but unmistakenly JT), as has been much their output, but second rate Fairport - No way. br / br /Easily the equal of Songs From The Wood, and depending on how you prefer your Tull, as good as anything else in their distinguished career. Others have noted the qualities of this album eloquently enough already - Personally, I think it's an astonishing piece of pastoral progressive folk rock that doesn't falter right from the sublime opener 'Mouse Police' through to the magical 'Weathercock'. A Richer and fuller soundscape than it's brilliant predecessor, it's quite like nothing I've heard before or since. For sheer 'hairs on the back of the neck' moments, this album for me is untouchable and adequately demonstrates the incredible and unique song writing genius of Ian Anderson and the extraordinary musical talents of Martin Barre John Evan. br / br /Album No'11 in a series of 12 stunning 70's releases, this is my absolute fave and well deserving of your hard earned cash. Essential (but then they all are, for one reason or another!) Buy now!


review by: Welsh Wizard date: 2007-09-06 rating:
The very best of Tull
This is absolutely brilliant folk/prog rock. Every track here stands up on its own and each complements the others forming a flawless whole. There is not one thing that could be improved on. As usual, Ian Anderson's songs are not just good tunes but intelligently worked melodic structures incorporating trademark Tull changes of pace and rhythm, and the band do them justice. The playing and interplaying is breathtaking. I know these people are rock virtuosos but I cannot believe this was put together without a huge amount of development and rehearsal - that is to say, hard work. Listen closely and you will be amazed at the number of parts on some of the tracks; tricky drum and bass patterns dovetailing seamlessly with honking guitar and growling flute on a bed of acoustic rhythm; this is a rock orchestra in action and Ian's inspiration, Ludwig Van, would have been hard pressed to score it better. The lyrics too are exceptional, charming pastoral images and metaphors but also some wry and poignant observations on more modern times. br /This is far and away the best thing I have heard from Tull, or anyone else for that matter, and an album I would enter a burning building to save. br /

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