40. Jethro Tull: “Heavy Horses” (Heavy Horses)
Meanwhile, back in 1978… It’s an embarrassing commentary on how close-minded so many folks are that they probably have never even heard this song. Of course, the professionals who write most often about rock music in the 1970s are not known for their fondness of multisyllabic words and material that obliges a modest understanding of world history. Back to basics? How about back to the 18th century? That is the vibe Jethro Tull was emanating circa 1978. The band that dropped not one but two single-song album suites had evolved into a proficient troupe of professionals that incorporated strings, lutes, fifes, and harpsichords into their repertoire.
To put it more plainly, in the same years the Clash, the Ramones, and the Sex Pistols were establishing a radically new and brazen rock aesthetic, Ian Anderson appeared on an album cover flanked by two Clydesdales. The title track is a typically literate — and unironic — tribute to the working horses of England that, much like progressive rock, were soon to step aside, their demise having less to do with trends and tastemakers than technology.