Bumpers: Various Artists of Island Records

So, as a Jethro Tull fan I used to buy anything that had Jethro Tull stuff on it.  Quite a while ago I did a quick search and this quirky little album showed up.  I filed it away for later and hadn't even really played it since I'd already heard the Tull song on it..  until recently that is when I decided to check out what else was happening in the British music scene back when Tull was getting started.  I pulled out this thing and decided to give it a spin.  The thing is, it's not just a quirky little album, it's a DOUBLE album FULL of some absolutely amazing music I've never heard before.  I'm sure most readers will already know of these bands as most likely you found this post by searching for one or more of them. Welcome to MY awakening!

Aside from Tull and the more blues based off-shoot Blodwyn Pig, other bands on here include Traffic (featuring Steve Winwood's characteristic vocals and organ work), Mott the Hoople (I had always heard of this band but thought it was some 80s punk band... shows what I know... or don't know), King Crimson, Free, Fairport Convention, Fotheringay and Cat Stevens.  Two albums worth of this stuff... just imagine that listening party!  I seriously enjoyed the track on here by the band Renaissance, very baroque classical mixed in a rock style, not exactly in the Tull style, still very cool. The Fotheringay track blew me away.  Can't believe being the big Zeppelin fan that I am I've never found this band formed in part by Sandy Denny.  What amazing, haunting vocals.  Also of note was the track by the band Clouds and the Cat Stevens track.  The latter I have on vinyl but have never listened to it.  It was really cool to hear it in this context.  I've never thought of him as a British musician until he was included on a British compilation.  The track by Free was also of note.  This is a great album to play on a rainy Sunday afternoon if you're stuck inside.

I'm now on the lookout for albums by most of these groups, more specifically Fairport, Fotheringay and King Crimson and Blodwyn Pig.  I'll have to look for the others later.  What a find, what a find.