All my listings over the next few weeks are from my own private collection which have not been played since 1973 when I moved to University in London.

Many of them will be very rare first cuttings and some hardly played on my Linton Amp System which I owned at the time.

I will use the grading system below to describe them and give you any extra information inscribed in the runoff area and any other peculiarities about the sleeves etc.

Jethro Tull Aqualung

Cat No:- ILPS 9145   Year 1971 ( 43 years old )

Matrices A1U/B3U

Vinyl....EX ( small scuffs on both sides )

Sleeve....EX ( green Chrysalis label with gothic script print & Basing St address, textured gatefold picture sleeve complete with lyric inner )

Lyric inner has some age browning........Original press cutting included.

Aqualung is the fourth studio album by the rock band Jethro Tull. Released in 1971, Aqualung, despite the band's disapproval, is regarded as a concept album featuring a central theme of "the distinction between religion and God".[1] The album's "dour musings on faith and religion" have marked it as "one of the most cerebral albums ever to reach millions of rock listeners".[2] Aqualung's success marked a turning point in the band's career, who went on to become a major radio and touring act.

Recorded at Island Records' studio in London, it was their first album with John Evan as a full-time member, their first with new bassist Jeffrey Hammond and last album featuring Clive Bunker on drums. Something of a departure from the band's previous work, the album features more acoustic material than previous releases; and—inspired by photographs of homeless people on the Thames Embankment taken by singer Ian Anderson's wife Jennie—contains a number of recurring themes, addressing religion along with Anderson's own personal experiences.

Aqualung has sold over 7 million units worldwide according to Anderson, and is thus Jethro Tull's best selling album. The album was generally well-received critically, and has been included on several music magazine best of lists. The album spawned one single, "Hymn 43".

Aqualung (Jethro Tull album)     After an American tour in 1970, bass player Glenn Cornick was fired from the band,[3] and was replaced with Jeffrey Hammond, an old friend of Ian Anderson's.[4] Aqualung would be the first recording Hammond would do with the band. It would also mark the first time John Evan had recorded a full album with the band, as his only prior involvement was to overdub several keyboard parts on the previous album, Benefit. The album was one of the first to be recorded at the newly opened studios of Island Records in Basing Street, London. Led Zeppelin were recording their untitled fourth album at the same time. In an interview on the 25th anniversary edition of the album, Tull's bandleader Ian Anderson said that trying to record in their studio was very difficult, because of its "horrible, cold, echoey" feel.[5] There were two recording studios at the location; Led Zeppelin worked in the smaller studio while Tull got the larger,[6] which was the main body of a converted church. The orchestrals were arranged by David Palmer, who had worked with the band since 1968's This Was, and would later join as a keyboard player. Aqualung would be the last Jethro Tull album to include Clive Bunker as a band member, as he retired shortly after recording to start a family.[5]

Record Collectors Grading System

M - Mint: The record itself is in brand new condition with no surface marks or deterioration in sound quality. The cover and any extra items such as the lyric sheet, booklet or poster are in perfect condition.

EX - Excellent: The record shows some signs of having been played, but there is very little lessening of sound quality. The cover and packaging might have slight wear and / or creasing.

VG - Very Good: The record has obviously been played many times, but displays no major deterioration in sound quality, despite noticeable surface marks and the occasional light scratch. Normal wear and tear on the cover or extra items, without any major defects, is acceptable.

G - Good: The record has been played so much that the sound quality has noticeably deteriorated, perhaps with some distortion and mild scratches. The cover and contents suffer from folding, scuffing of edges, spine splits, discolouration etc..

F - Fair: The record is still just playable but has not been cared for properly and displays considerable surface noise: it may even jump. The cover and contents will be badly damaged or partly missing.

P - Poor: The record will not play properly due to scratches, bad surface noise etc.. The cover and contents will be badly damaged or partly missing.

B - Bad: The record is unplayable or might even be broken, and is only of use as a collection filler.