Rock Island

by Jethro Tull

Rock Island cover art
  • Type: Album
  • Released: August 1989
  • Label: Chrysalis
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Length: 1:00:33
  • Community rating: 2.69/5 from 2 ratings

Artists on this release: Martin Allcock, Ian Anderson, Doane Perry, Dave Pegg

Album Notes & Community Reviews

Following their controversial Grammy win for its predecessor, 'Rock Island' finds Ian Anderson continuing to navigate the band's hard-rock phase while retaining their trademark flute-driven flourishes. The songwriting addresses themes of alienation and modern urban isolation, occasionally slipping into heavy-handed stylistic detours. It represents a solid, if safe, continuation of their late-80s commercial resurgence.

Genres

Tracklist

  1. Kissing Willie (3:32)
  2. The Rattlesnake Trail (4:01)
  3. Ears of Tin (4:55)
  4. Undressed to Kill (5:23)
  5. Rock Island (6:54)
  6. Heavy Water (4:12)
  7. Another Christmas Song (3:31)
  8. The Whaler's Dues (7:53)
  9. Big Riff and Mando (5:59)
  10. Strange Avenues (4:13)
  11. A Christmas Song (3:06)
  12. Cheap Day Return / Mother Goose (3:09)
  13. Locomotive Breath (3:38)

Credits

  • Jethro Tull - primary artist
  • Dave Pegg - bass guitar, acoustic bass, mandolin
  • Doane Perry - drums
  • Anton Morris - illustration [colour illustration by]
  • Jim Gibson - illustration [line illustration by]
  • Martin Allcock - keyboards
  • Peter John Vettese - keyboards [additional]

More from Jethro Tull: full discography