Jethro Tull's Thick as a brick: geared toward the exceptional rather than the average

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, British progressive rock bands such as Yes, Genesis, and Jethro Tull were imbuing their music with a broadened harmonic palette, large-scale classical structures, polyphonic textures, avant-garde sensibilities, virtuoso technique, and the use of the latest advances in instrument and studio technology. All of these ingredients are in abundance on Jethro Tulls Thick as a Brick (1972). The album consists of one continuous forty-three minute song comprised of fourteen short songs interspersed with nineteen instrumental passages. The complex yet accessible music, the utterly perplexing lyrics, and the original LP packaging as a twelve page newspaper full of Monty Pythonesque humor make it one of the most creative and original albums in the history of rock music. This thesis provides a context for the album, examines its packaging and lyrics, and analyzes its music with a focus on form and thematic development.