Ian Anderson Defends Jethro Tull's Polarizing 'Under Wraps' on 40th Anniversary

Ian Anderson, frontman of Jethro Tull, revisits the band's controversial 1984 album 'Under Wraps' for its 40th anniversary reissue. The album, a departure from Tull's folk/progressive rock toward electronic rock, was initially polarizing among fans. Anderson admits the electronic drum machine he programmed was a letdown, but he remains proud of the lyrics and melodies. For the anniversary, a 5-CD/1-Blu-Ray box set titled 'The Unwrapped Edition' was released, featuring two new remixes by Bruce Soord with new drum samples, plus Anderson's 1983 solo album 'Walk Into Light' and a 1984 concert. Anderson considered using a live drummer but opted for higher-quality drum samples. The album's lyrics drew from Cold War-era spy novels by John Le Carré, Graham Greene, and Ian Fleming. The single 'Lap of Luxury' was written for radio play but is now considered the weakest track. The 1984 tour caused vocal damage that never fully healed, leading to a hiatus until 1987's 'Crest of a Knave.' Anderson now feels the new remix gives the album a 'sparkling and new' sound.