1980 Albums

Originally intended to be an Ian Anderson solo album (hence the title), Anderson and guitarist Martin Barre were forced to dump the previous lot of the band in order to present the new lineup that recorded the album as Jethro Tull. Bassist Dave Pegg marks his debut on the record, along with American Mark Craney on drums, who at the time was best known for his work with Tommy Bolin and Jean-Luc Ponty. But the real change is the addition of keyboard and violin wiz Eddie Jobson; fresh from a defunct U.K., who had opened for Tull's previous US tour in 1979.

Longtime rock impresario and Gong manager Giorgio Gomelsky found himself in New York in the late 70s, partially involved with RCA/Utopia records, but also arriving at the beginning of the "no wave" movement. He started the Zu Club; and a young Bill Laswell, along with drummer Fred Maher and keyboardist Michael Beinhorn, formed the house band. At the invitation of Gomelsky, Allen traveled to New York City in 1978 to be part of the Zu Manifestival in October, and enlisted Laswell and friends as his backing group.