Thick as a Brick

Thick as a Brick is the fifth studio album by the British rock band Jethro Tull, released on 3 March 1972 on Chrysalis Records. The album consists of a single continuous piece of music, split across the two sides of the original LP record, and was conceived as a parody of concept albums and the progressive rock genre. Its original packaging took the form of a 12-page newspaper, which presented the album as a musical adaptation of an epic poem by a fictional eight-year-old prodigy named Gerald Bostock, although the lyrics were actually written by the band's frontman Ian Anderson.

The album was recorded in late 1971, featuring music composed by Anderson and arranged with contributions from all band members. It marked the first appearance of drummer Barrie "Barriemore" Barlow, who replaced the band's previous drummer Clive Bunker. Musically, Thick as a Brick features an intricate suite of progressive rock, characterized by complex musical structures and frequent time signature changes, incorporating elements of art rock, folk and classical music. The album's lyrics draw partly on Anderson's childhood experiences and explore coming of age themes including conformity and intergenerational conflict, reflecting anti-establishment perspectives on institutions and authority. The album was promoted with a 1972–1973 world tour during which the band performed the full album live, incorporating theatrical elements and comic interludes.

Upon release, Thick as a Brick received mixed reviews from critics but achieved significant commercial success, becoming the band's first album to reach number one on the US Billboard 200. Today it is regarded as a classic of progressive rock and has received several accolades. Although intended as a parody of the genre, Jethro Tull continued to pursue a progressive rock style throughout the rest of their career, including repeating the continuous album concept for their next studio album A Passion Play (1973). In 2012, Anderson released Thick as a Brick 2, a follow-up album exploring the adult life of the fictional Gerald Bostock, issued as an Anderson solo album rather than under the Jethro Tull name.