Editing A (Jethro Tull album) (section)

== Overview ==
''A'' was recorded as an intended [[Ian Anderson (musician)|Ian Anderson]] solo album before Tull's record label, [[Chrysalis Records|Chrysalis]], asked that it become credited to the group.<ref>{{cite web |last=Kovarsky |first=Jerry |title=Interview: Eddie Jobson |url=https://www.keyboardmag.com/artists/interview-eddie-jobson |website=[[Keyboard Magazine]] |access-date=28 July 2019 |date=November 17, 2016}}</ref> This is the reason for the album's title, as the tapes were marked "A" for "Anderson". It is noted for its more synthesiser-based sound, a fact which created controversy among many of the band's fans.{{citation needed|date=October 2018}} On the other hand, it features a folk-influenced piece, "The Pine Marten's Jig".

''A'' features a dramatically different line-up of Tull from the band's previous album, ''[[Stormwatch (album)|Stormwatch]]'' (1979). Former keyboardist [[John Evan]] and organist [[Dee Palmer]] were fired from the group, while drummer [[Barriemore Barlow]] left the band due to depression over the death of [[John Glascock]] as well as plans to start his own band.

The only members of Tull to appear on both ''Stormwatch'' (1979) and ''A'' (1980) are Ian Anderson and [[Martin Barre]]. This is also bassist [[Dave Pegg]]'s first appearance on a Tull studio recording, but he had become a member of the band during the ''Stormwatch'' tour in 1979, replacing the deceased Glascock. Conflicting reasons have been given for the line-up change. Anderson has stated that he wanted to take the band in a different direction from the folk rock and progressive rock of the 1970s.<ref>''A New Day Yesterday: The 25th Anniversary Collection, 1969–1994''</ref>

Barriemore Barlow was unhappy with the direction the band was taking and later stated that he would have left anyway. However, biographer David Rees reports in his book ''[[Minstrels in the Gallery: A History of Jethro Tull]]'' (2001) that Anderson had never intended to replace Jethro Tull's previous line-up with the musicians who recorded ''A'', but was forced by Chrysalis Records, which had decided to release his 'solo' album under the name Jethro Tull.<ref name="Minstrels in the Gallery">{{cite book | title=Minstrels in the Gallery | year=1998 | author=David Rees | pages= 224}}</ref> This claim was further evidenced by Anderson's note in the 2003 re-release of the album.

A 40th anniversary box set was released in April 2021, featuring the album remixed by [[Steven Wilson]].  It includes some bonus tracks, a DVD of [[Slipstream (video)|''Slipstream'']], and audio of a concert in [[Los Angeles]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://jethrotull.com/jethro-tull-a-40th-anniversary-edition/|title=Jethro Tull 'A' 40th Anniversary Edition|date=17 February 2021|website=Jethrotull.com|access-date=19 May 2021}}</ref>