Complete List Of Ian Anderson Solo Albums And Songs

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This Complete List Of Ian Anderson Solo Albums And Songs presents the full discography of Ian Anderson Solo studio albums. Ian Anderson was born on August 10, 1947. Ian Anderson hails from the area of Blackpool, Lancashire, England. Most rock fans will recognize the name Ian Anderson as the bandleader of Jethro Tull. Most people used to think that was Ina Anderson’s name. This complete Ian Anderson Solo album discography also includes every single Ian Anderson live album. All these spectacular Ian Anderson albums have been presented below in chronological order. We have also included all original release dates with each Ian Anderson album as well as all original Ian Anderson album covers. Every Ian Anderson album listed below showcases the entire Ian Anderson album tracklisting.

IAN ANDERSON SOLO ALBUMS

Walk Into Light

Released 1983

Ian Anderson, the flutist and vocalist of Jethro Tull, introduced his first solo project with Walk Into Light. The album leans towards the electronic and synthesizer-driven music, quite a departure from the bluesy, progressive rock sounds of his band. This divergence showcased Anderson’s versatility and his willingness to explore different musical realms.

The album was primarily a duo effort, with Ian Anderson and keyboardist Peter-John Vettese sharing writing, performing, and production duties. Anderson provided vocals, flute, guitar, bass, and some additional keyboard parts, while Vettese contributed keyboards, drum programming, and additional vocals. It was recorded and mixed at Ian Anderson’s own studio, Maison Rouge Studio in Fulham, London, during the spring and summer of 1983.

CD Track Listings:

“Fly By Night” – 3:55
“Made in England” – 5:24
“Walk into Light” – 3:12
“Trains” – 3:21
“End Game” – 3:20
“Black and White Television” – 3:10
“Toad in the Hole” – 3:26
“Looking for Eden” – 3:43
“User-Friendly” – 4:03
“Different Germany” – 5:24

Divinities: Twelve Dances with God

Released 1995

“Divinities: Twelve Dances with God” is an instrumental album by Ian Anderson, released in 1995. The album is a collection of twelve instrumentals that explore various styles and dynamics, including jazz, folk, and world music, all tied together with a loose thematic link related to spirituality and divine intervention. The album hit No. 6 on the Billboard Top Classical Crossover Albums list.

Ian Anderson produced the album and played flute, mandolin, and other instruments, alongside a host of musicians including Andrew Giddings on keyboards, Doane Perry on drums, and many others contributing strings, horns, and additional percussions. “Divinities” was recorded at Presshouse Studio, Devon, and Jethro Tull’s studio, Ian Anderson’s personal recording space, during the course of 1994 and early 1995.

CD Track Listings:

“In a Stone Circle” – 3:28
“In Sight of the Minaret” – 3:56
“In a Black Box” – 2:57
“In the Grip of Stronger Stuff” – 2:49
“In Maternal Grace” – 3:22
“In the Moneylender’s Temple” – 3:22
“In Defence of Faiths” – 2:09
“At Their Father’s Knee” – 5:03
“En Afrique” – 2:57
“In the Olive Garden” – 2:51
“In the Pay of Spain” – 4:04
“In the Times of India (Bombay Valentine)” – 8:12

The Secret Language of Birds

Released 2000

This solo album by Ian Anderson was inspired by the natural world, unfolding a gentle and bucolic side to Anderson’s songwriting. The album includes folk and acoustic elements alongside the occasional rock flourish. The title track draws inspiration from the dawn chorus of birds, leading to a thematic undercurrent through the album.

Anderson performed vocals, flute, acoustic guitar, mandolin, percussion, keyboards and was accompanied by Andrew Giddings on keyboards, Martin Barre on electric guitar, and several other musicians. It was recorded at Ian’s own studio and was produced by Ian Anderson himself.

CD Track Listings:

“The Secret Language of Birds” – 4:17
“The Little Flower Girl” – 3:37
“Montserrat” – 3:21
“Postcard Day” – 5:07
“The Water Carrier” – 2:56
“Set-Aside” – 1:29
“A Better Moon” – 3:45
“Sanctuary” – 4:42
“The Jasmine Corridor” – 3:54
“The Habanero Reel” – 4:01
“Panama Freighter” – 3:21
“The Secret Language of Birds, Pt. II” – 3:06
“Boris Dancing” – 3:07
“Circular Breathing” – 3:45
“The Stormont Shuffle” – 3:20

Rupi’s Dance

Released 2003

“Rupi’s Dance,” Ian Anderson’s solo album following “The Secret Language of Birds,” reveals a rich and lush array of tunes, expressing introspection and a profound affinity with nature. The album continues a lyrical and musical narrative tied intimately to the world around him, much like its predecessor. Although it did not reach the same commercial heights as some of Jethro Tull’s earlier work, “Rupi’s Dance” was well-received by fans who appreciated Anderson’s distinctive flute work and the pastoral and reflective quality of his songwriting.

Ian Anderson on this album not only provides his iconic flute and vocal work but also performs on a variety of other instruments, providing a warm, richly textured backdrop to his evocative lyrics. Notably, the track “A Raft of Penguins” becomes a canvas on which his virtuosic flute work is especially prominent.

Ian Anderson played the flute, guitar, bass guitar, bouzouki, mandolin, percussion, and keyboards, accompanied by Leslie Mandoki on drums, James Duncan on additional drums, Ossi Schaller on guitar, John O’Hara on accordion and keyboards, and others. The album was recorded at Presshouse Studio, Devon, in early 2003 and produced by Ian Anderson himself.

CD Track Listings:

“Calliandra Shade (The Cappuccino Song)” – 5:02
“Rupi’s Dance” – 3:00
“Lost In Crowds” – 5:37
“A Raft of Penguins” – 3:34
“A Week of Moments” – 4:27
“A Hand of Thumbs” – 4:02
“Eurology” – 3:14
“Old Black Cat” – 3:40
“Photo Shop” – 3:20
“Pigeon Flying Over Berlin Zoo” – 4:17
“Griminelli’s Lament” – 2:56
“Not Ralitsa Vassileva” – 4:45
“Two Short Planks” – 4:00

Thick as a Brick 2 (TAAB2)

Released 2012

“Thick as a Brick 2,” often referred to as TAAB2, is Ian Anderson’s follow-up to Jethro Tull’s 1972 album, “Thick as a Brick.” “Thick as a Brick 2” explores the imagined, divergent life paths of Gerald Bostock, the fictional boy poet of the original album. The sequel presents five alternative musical scenarios that unravel Gerald’s life through divergent paths, which contemplate what might have happened to him over the ensuing 40 years. Anderson taps into themes of the effects of fate on our lives, the roles that formative early experiences can play, and the potentialities of different life choices.

Musically, the album seeks to connect with the stylistic constructions of the original, blending folk, rock, and classical influences, all underpinned by Anderson’s trademark flute work and distinctive vocals. Although some Tull enthusiasts find that TAAB2 doesn’t capture the same magic as its predecessor, others appreciate the effort to build on the thematic and conceptual material of the original.

Ian Anderson is present with his flute, acoustic guitar, and vocals, supported by John O’Hara on keyboards, David Goodier on bass, Florian Opahle on guitar, Scott Hammond on drums, and Ryan O’Donnell on additional vocals. TAAB2 was recorded at Presshouse Studio, Devon, in the later months of 2011, produced by Ian Anderson, and mixed by Porcupine Tree’s Steven Wilson who we simply love.

CD Track Listings:

“From a Pebble Thrown” – 3:06
“Pebbles Instrumental” – 3:46
“Might-have-beens” – 0:50
“Upper Sixth Loan Shark” – 1:13
“Banker Bets, Banker Wins” – 4:28
“Swing It Far” – 3:28
“Adrift and Dumfounded” – 4:25
“Old School Song” – 3:07
“Wootton Bassett Town” – 3:44
“Power and Spirit” – 1:59
“Give Till It Hurts” – 1:12
“Cosy Corner” – 1:25
“Shunt and Shuffle” – 2:12
“A Change of Horses” – 8:04
“Confessional” – 3:09
“Kismet in Suburbia” – 4:17
“What-ifs, Maybes and Might-have-beens” – 3:36

Homo Erraticus

Released 2014

Ian Anderson’s solo album “Homo Erraticus” was released on April 14, 2014. It leans heavily on the progressive rock elements that characterized Jethro Tull’s musical journey. Ian Anderson stepped into the character of Gerald Bostock once again, the fictional child poet of “Thick as a Brick.” Bostock, now grown, is said to discover an old historical manuscript which gives the foundation to the lyrics of “Homo Erraticus”. The album is divided into three distinct parts: “Chronicles,” “Prophecies,” and “Revelations,” each painting different scenarios drawn from the extrapolated history and future predictions based on the discovered manuscript.

The music integrates complex progressive rock structures and folk elements, providing a reminiscent yet forward-looking lens into Anderson’s iconic style. The album navigates through a sea of intricate instrumental passages, soaring flute solos, and thought-provoking lyrics that explore topics from migration and history to future speculation.

Ian Anderson played the flute, acoustic guitar, and provided vocals. He was joined by musicians John O’Hara on keyboards, Florian Opahle on guitar, David Goodier on bass, Scott Hammond on drums, and Ryan O’Donnell providing additional vocals. The album was recorded at Ian’s own studio and was produced by him.

CD Track Listings:

“Doggerland” – 4:20
“Heavy Metals” – 1:29
“Enter the Uninvited” – 4:12
“Puer Ferox Adventus” – 7:11
“Meliora Sequamur” – 3:32
“The Turnpike Inn” – 3:08
“The Engineer” – 3:12
“The Pax Britannica” – 3:05
“Tripudium Ad Bellum” – 2:48
“After These Wars” – 4:28
“New Blood, Old Veins” – 2:31
“In for a Pound” – 0:36
“The Browning of the Green” – 4:05
“Per Errationes Ad Astra” – 1:33
“Cold Dead Reckoning” – 5:28

IAN ANDERSON LIVE ALBUMS

Ian Anderson Plays the Orchestral Jethro Tull

Released 2005

Ian Anderson Plays the Orchestral Jethro Tull is a live album and DVD released in 2005 by Ian Anderson, featuring the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra. The Orchestra is conducted by John O’Hara, and the album represents a notable divergence from the characteristic rock vibe of Jethro Tull, as Anderson and the ensemble delve into the symphonic reinterpretations of classic Tull tracks.

The performance is a unique melding of rock and classical worlds, maintaining the distinct flute melodies and vocal stylings Anderson is known for while enveloped in lush, orchestrated arrangements. It’s a journey through the Jethro Tull catalog like never before, providing fans with a new perspective on the tracks they’ve come to love over decades.

Musicians featured in this performance include Ian Anderson on flute, vocals, acoustic guitar, mandolin; James Duncan on drums; David Goodier on bass guitar, glockenspiel; John O’Hara on keyboards, accordion; Florian Opahle on guitar; along with the orchestral accompaniment provided by the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra. The performance took place at the Rosengarten in Mannheim, on 8th December 2004.

CD Track Listings:

Disc One:

“Eurology”
“Calliandra Shade”
“Skating Away on the Thin Ice of the New Day”
“Up the Pool”
“We Five Kings”
“Life is a Long Song”
“In the Grip of Stronger Stuff”
“Wond’ring Aloud”
“Griminelli’s Lament”
“Cheap Day Return”
“Mother Goose”
“Boureé”
“Boris Dancing”
“Living in the Past”

Disc Two:

“Pavane”
“Aqualung”
“God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen”
“My God”
“Thick as a Brick”
“America”
“A Christmas Song”
“Locomotive Breath”

Thick as a Brick – Live in Iceland

Released 2014

“Thick as a Brick – Live in Iceland” is a live album by Ian Anderson (known primarily for his work with Jethro Tull). This live album was released in 2014 and consists of a robust performance of his legendary album “Thick as a Brick” in its entirety, as well as its sequel, “Thick as a Brick 2.” The performance was recorded in Harpa Concert Hall, Reykjavik, Iceland in 2012. It was released on CD, DVD, and Blu-ray, providing fans multiple formats to enjoy this spirited live performance.

Ian Anderson delivers a mesmerizing performance, enveloping audiences in the musical mastery and complex compositions found within the “Thick as a Brick” albums. The performance in Iceland sees him revitalize the enigmatic and intricate melodies from the original 1972 concept album and its 2012 sequel, providing fans a trip down memory lane while also introducing them to newer material.

Musicians on the live album include Ian Anderson (flute, vocals, guitar), David Goodier (bass), Scott Hammond (drums), Ryan O’Donnell (vocals), John O’Hara (keyboards), and Florian Opahle (guitar). Together, they create a rich, enthralling sound that captivates the audience from start to finish, as they transition through the complex, multifaceted tracks of both albums.

CD Track Listings:

Disc One:

“Thick as a Brick” (part one)
“Thick as a Brick” (part two)

Disc Two:

“From a Pebble Thrown”
“Pebbles Instrumental”
“Might-have-beens”
“Upper Sixth Loan Shark”
“Banker Bets, Banker Wins”
“Swing It Far”
“Adrift and Dumfounded”
“Old School Song”
“Wootton Bassett Town”
“Power and Spirit”
“Give Till It Hurts”
“Cosy Corner”
“Shunt and Shuffle”
“A Change of Horses”
“Confessional”
“Kismet in Suburbia”
“What-ifs, Maybes and Might-have-beens”

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