Stormwatch (album)

Stormwatch
Studio album by Jethro Tull
Released 14 September 1979 (UK) / (United States)
Recorded Spring/summer 1979, Maison Rouge Mobile and Maison Rouge Studio, Fulham, London
Genre Folk rock, progressive rock, hard rock
Length 45:42 (original release)
59:38 (2004 remastered edition with bonus tracks)
Label Chrysalis
Producer Ian Anderson
Robin Black
Jethro Tull chronology

Bursting Out
(1978)		 Stormwatch
(1979)		 A
(1980)
Singles from
Stormwatch
  1. "North Sea Oil"
    Released: 1979
  2. "Home"
    Released: 1979
  3. "Something's on the Move"
    Released: 1979
  4. "Dark Ages"
    Released: 1979
  5. "Warm Sporran"
    Released: 1979
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic
(original release)[1]
Allmusic
(re-release)[2]

Stormwatch (1979) is the twelfth studio album by the rock group Jethro Tull. It is considered the last in the trilogy of folk-rock albums by Jethro Tull (although folk music influenced virtually every Tull album). Among other subject-matter, the album touches heavily on the problems relating to the environment, oil and money.

In 2004, a remastered version of Stormwatch was released with four bonus tracks.

This is the last Tull album to feature the classic line-up of the 1970s. Bassist John Glascock, suffering at this point from the effects of a cardiac infection that eventually led to his death, is only featured on three tracks ("Flying Dutchman", "Orion", and "Elegy"). Ian Anderson played bass elsewhere on the album while Dave Pegg played on the subsequent tour.

The instrumental piece "Elegy" was written by David Palmer.

Content

Dun Ringill is the historic site of an Iron Age fort on the Isle of Skye, which served as the original seat of the Clan MacKinnon. Anderson once owned and lived in nearby Kilmarie House, until he sold the estate in 1994. A sporran is a type of pouch traditionally worn with a kilt.

Other tracks allude to the constellation of Orion and the legend of the Flying Dutchman.

It is sometimes rumoured that "Elegy" was a homage to John Glascock – who was very ill at the time due to a congenital heart defect, and would die shortly after the album's release. Actually, it is an elegy to David Palmer's father, and is one of the few tracks on which Glascock plays.

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Ian Anderson except where noted. 

Side one
No. Title Length
1. "North Sea Oil"   3:12
2. "Orion"   3:58
3. "Home"   2:46
4. "Dark Ages"   9:13
5. "Warm Sporran" (instrumental) 3:33
Side two
No. Title Length
1. "Something's on the Move"   4:27
2. "Old Ghosts"   4:23
3. "Dun Ringill"   2:41
4. "Flying Dutchman"   7:46
5. "Elegy" (instrumental, David Palmer) 3:38

Bonus tracks

Personnel

Jethro Tull
Additional personnel

References

  1. ↑ Eder, Bruce. Stormwatch (1979) at AllMusic
  2. ↑ Ruhlmann, William. Stormwatch (2004) at AllMusic