Album of the Day

Snot running down his nose, greasy fingers smearing shabby clothes – the title character of Jethro Tull's AQUALUNG might not have been very appealing, but the album itself proved quite popular. The band's fourth studio set was their most successful with more than 7 million copies sold worldwide, and it propelled the U.K. quintet to arena status and a longstanding place on FM radio playlists. The collection endures for good reason; this classic combination of British folk and progressive rock marks the point where frontman Ian Anderson found his voice as a songwriter (“Locomotive Breath,” “Cross-Eyed Mary” and more) and where Martin Barre mastered the art of the riff. As the iconic album turns 50 this month, we'll have a seat on the park bench with AQUALUNG!