Locomotive Breath

Song_infobox
Name = Locomotive Breath


SorA = album
Artist = Jethro Tull
Album = Aqualung
Released = March 19, 1971
track_no = 10
Recorded = December 1970 - February 1971 at Island Studios, London
Genre = Progressive rock
Length = 4:23
Writer = Ian Anderson
Composer =
Label = Reprise (original US)
Chrysalis/Capitol (US re-issue)
Producer = Ian Anderson and Terry Ellis
Chart position =
prev = "Slipstream"
prev_no = 9
next = "Wind Up"
next_no = 11

"Locomotive Breath" is a song by the English progressive rock band Jethro Tull from their 1971 album, "Aqualung". One of the song's highlights is its flute solo by rock flute master Ian Anderson. The lyrics, although open to interpretation, may be about a train wreck or, alternatively, about a man's life falling apart. The song receives frequent airplay on classic rock radio stations. It was covered by W.A.S.P on the reissue of their 1989 album "The Headless Children" (as a bonus track) and by Helloween on their 1999 album "Metal Jukebox".

It is notable for a long piano introduction, particularly during live performances.

Production

"Locomotive Breath" was recorded in a rather unusual manner: The entire track was pieced together from overdubs; most of the parts of the song were recorded separately. Ian Anderson did his normal flute and vocal parts in addition to bass drum, hi-hat, acoustic guitar and some electric guitar parts. Then John Evan's piano parts were recorded; Clive Bunker added the rest of the drums and Martin Barre finished the electric guitar parts. All of these recordings were then overdubbed onto each other. This occurred because Anderson was finding it difficult to communicate his musical ideas about the song to the other band members.

Other Than "Aqualung"

"Locomotive Breath" has been featured on many albums other than "Aqualung":
*"Living in the Past"
*"M.U. - The Best of Jethro Tull"
*"Bursting Out" (Live)
*"A Classic Case"
*"20 Years of Jethro Tull"
*"Rock Island" (Only as a bonus track on the 2006 remastered edition)
*"Live at Hammersmith '84" (Live)
*"Original Masters"
*"Through the Years" (Live)
*"A Little Light Music" (Live)
*"Living with the Past" (Live)
*""
*"The Extended Versions"
*"36 All-Time Greatest Hits"
*"The Best of Jethro Tull"
*"The Very Best of Jethro Tull"
*"Aqualung Live"

It is also on the video "Slipstream".

This list only includes non-bootleg Jethro Tull albums.

References

Jethro Tull. "Aqualung". CD-ROM. 1998. Chrysalis Records. Originally released as an LP 1971; Remastered with more material 1998.