Heavy Horses is the eleventh studio album by British progressive rock band Jethro Tull, released on 10 April 1978.

The album is often considered the second in a trio of folk rock albums released by the band at the end of the 1970s, alongside Songs from the Wood (1977) and Stormwatch (1979). In contrast to the British folklore-inspired lyrical content found on Songs from the Wood, Heavy Horses adopts a more realist and earthly perspective of country living; further, the album (and its title track) are dedicated to the "indigenous working ponies and horses of Great Britain". Musically, the album sees the band continuing the combination of folk and progressive rock found on Songs from the Wood, although with an overall darker and more sober sound fitting the changed lyrical content.

Recording

Heavy Horses was the first album recorded by Jethro Tull at the newly constructed Maison Rouge studio in Fulham, London, a custom built recording studio which was funded and owned by Ian Anderson. Much of the album was recorded at night, as Anderson felt that daytime hours at the studio needed to be left open for potential business clients. Keyboardist Dee Palmer recalled her diary entries at the time of recording as saying that "I'd start at 7pm and go home at 7am!"

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Rolling Stones contemporary review was positive, calling the instrumental arrangements lavish and stating that Heavy Horses and the folk genre, as a follow-up to Songs from the Wood, suited Jethro Tull perfectly. The Globe and Mail thought that the band was coasting, but praised "Anderson's enigmatic writing style and his one-of-a-kind voice".

AllMusic calls Heavy Horses one of the prettiest records of the band, praising both Martin Barre's and John Glascock's playing as Robin Black engineering and the special participation of Curved Air violinist Darryl Way.

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Certifications

References

  • Jethro Tull - Heavy Horses (1978) album releases & credits at Discogs.com