Intersting e-mail exchange with Glenn Cornick - Jethro Tull

Skel · #1 02-12-2006, 04:15 PM

I was reading some threads on Gibson basses yesterday and Glenn Cornick's name was mentioned. I found his website, and I thought he was the guy who played bass on the song "Aqualung". I think about the only thing better than Martin Barre's guitar solo is the bass work underneath it (for classic rock stuff, of course). So, there was a place to e-mail Glenn Cornick, and I did - talking about this particular song. Before he could e-mail me back, I learned that it was actually Jeffrey Hammond who played bass on this - Glenn had been replaced by Jeffrey Hammond. Glenn was really cool though, he replied back, and told me that it wasn't him...that he had been fired from the band just before "Aqualung". Not sure exactly why he got "fired".

Anybody agree with me - that the bass guitar work on this song is amazing? Back then, these guys had really low-tech equipment, but man could they make it sound good!

Skel

Dave Grossman · #2 02-12-2006, 04:18 PM

Glenn was a great bassist and a big influence not just on my playing but also Steve Harris (Iron Maiden). Steve's signature rapid fire 32nds at the end of many Maiden tunes may have been inspired by Glenn's similar endings on at least one early Tull song.

- Dave

Skel · #3 02-12-2006, 04:33 PM

Dave - did Glenn play primarily with a pick or fingers?

Thanks - Skel

Dave Grossman · #4 02-12-2006, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skel

Dave - did Glenn play primarily with a pick or fingers?

Thanks - Skel

I just checked his site: http://www.cornick.org/

Based on the images I saw, looks like he generally used his fingers.

- Dave

Herman · #5 02-12-2006, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skel

Anybody agree with me - that the bass guitar work on this song is amazing?Skel

It can't be amazing since I'm able to play it.

It is one of my favorites, though - especially during the guitar solo.

Skel · #6 02-12-2006, 07:21 PM

I guess I mean "amazingly tasteful". I can play it as well, but there is no way I would have been able to come up with most of the stuff I can copy. I can play the bass line from Pink Floyd's "Money", but to create that line, even in its simplicity, is amazing. I guess that's what I mean.

Skel

Matt Till · #7 02-12-2006, 08:57 PM

You mentioned a lo fi sound... I prefer the production on that album to the modern sound. It's strange, I love old school production... post mono/huge reverb... but 70s classic (especially prog) rock had the best tonality out of all albums ever.

Skel · #8 02-12-2006, 09:53 PM

Strange? No. +1 to that sound!

Skel

brianrost · #9 02-13-2006, 06:33 AM

Glenn played live with fingers but used a pick in the studio.

I was never impressed with Jeffrey HH, he was taught to play by Ian Anderson and it shows, esp. on Aqualung. His playing seems stiff, as if he's playing by rote.

The reason for Cornick's firing seems simple enough to me...Anderson was slowly rebuilding the band with players more willing to follow his lead. Jeffrey had been a close friend for years (each of the first 3 Tull albums used his name in a song title!) and Anderson was willing to make the same call many of us do: sacrificing killer chops for the right personality.

Starting with "Stand Up" one by one the founding members of the band were all fired. After Aqualung it was drummer Clive Bunker's turn. Unsurprisngly, the whole direction of the band shifted dramatically from riffy blues-rock into prog-rock with "Thick A A Brick". I never cared much for Tull after that.

Skel · #10 02-13-2006, 11:20 AM

Well, that all makes sense to me - Anderson must have been a control freak, but I'm still impressed as hell with the bass playing on Aqualung....maybe Anderson wrote the entire bass line and taught it to Hammond, or even played the bass himself on the recording. I need to listen to something earlier than Aqualung to hear Glenn Cornick, and I've never done that to this point. BTW - why is it "Hammond Hammond", instead of just "Hammond"?

Skel

**petch** · #11 02-13-2006, 11:22 AM

WHen I think of Glen I hear "To Cry You A Song" (Benefit). Great riff, fine bass. Wish I still had a copy...

oldrocker · #12 02-14-2006, 05:30 PM

GC was great, Stand Up and Benefit have great bass lines that I still enjoy listenning to today.

Glen and Clive Bunker were great togehter.

I still like Jethro Tull, I really liked the JTull.Com CD but JT was never that same after Glen and Clive left.