Ian Anderson’s favourite Jethro Tull songs

Jethro Tull frontman Ian Anderson has shared some of his favourite songs by the band, offering listeners a guide to a catalogue that spans far more than its well-known flute-led sound. His choices include familiar classics and less widely known tracks, reflecting the group’s shifts across styles including blues, folk, jazz, prog and electronic rock.

Among the selections, Anderson describes ‘Aqualung’ as one of the band’s greatest songs and says its focus on homelessness and inequality remains relevant. He also recalls writing ‘A Christmas Song’ alone in a studio with a mandolin; a string quartet and sleigh bells were added later. Other tracks mentioned include ‘A New Day Yesterday’, ‘Songs From The Wood’ and ‘Budapest’.