The best songwriter of all time, according to Ian Anderson
Jethro Tull bandleader Ian Anderson has always been an enigma. Standing out in an era brimming with colourful leads, the flute-playing, esoteric frontman has established a distinctive back catalogue to which modern prog and folk rock owes a lot. His oeuvre might not be for everybody and be nestled deeply in the niche confines of the musical spectrum, but there can be no doubt that the Dunfermline native has had a consequential impact.
From Rush frontman Geddy Lee openly discussing the importance of the Blackpool band to the strange, short-lived stint of Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi, Anderson and his outfit have had a storied odyssey. It demonstrates just how far their influence stretches that even post-punk poet Nick Cave is an open fan – a strange point given his art’s seemingly antithetical nature to that of Anderson’s.
Apart from the constantly evolving nature of his music and the might of some of his sonic creations, Anderson has consistently stood out from the mass of notable figures his era produced due to his realistic disposition. From denigrating Jethro Tull fan favourites to the time he candidly opened up about his immense regret about a dying Frank Zappa, he espouses the perspicuity of an artist who has achieved unbelievable feats.
Adding an extra layer of fascination is that Anderson openly analyses how his artistry evolved. Forming his unique approach during a period brimming with immense cross-pollination and innovation, like everyone of undisputed artistic value from then, he pulled from a mixture of areas to do so, as the stylistic scope of his back catalogue suggests.
While the uninitiated might expect Anderson to be an ardent follower of the 1960s’ spaciest psychedelic sounds, it was the decade’s folk where he found full sanctuary. Despite his singularity as an artist, like many of his most prominent contemporaries, he deems one man as the greatest songwriter of all time: Roy Harper.
Who is Roy Harper?
Now, for a large chunk of the music-loving population, the name Roy Harper might be obscure. He isn’t quite the mammoth entity like Anderson or his band. But what Harper did with his songwriting skill was to create a deeply affectionate legion of fans.
A true innovator, Harper had a big part to play in the resurgence of folk and it has been an ever-present cultural fixture since. Famed for his unique fingerstyle and extensive lyrics and compositions that draw heavily upon his beloved jazz, he represented the intersection of folk and the American genre. Accordingly, his influence would see the likes of Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, and, of course, Jethro Tull commit to inextricably securing the two once disparate forms.
Although he might be an unknown entity to many younger listeners not alive for his heady heyday, some will have heard his vocals on Pink Floyd’s timeless, ‘Have a Cigar’ from Wish You Were Here. Furthermore, without Harper, there would be no Fleet Foxes or Joanna Newsom.
How did Harper influence bands?
Songwriting is a unique skill that few have been able to deliver with the same veracious tenacity as Harper. Powerfully poetic without ever leaning into contrived creation, Harper’s ability to delicately balance the personal and the unversal has made him a quiet folk icon.
In proper form, Anderson has discussed Harper’s luminance numerous times and has even described him as his “primary influence” in songwriting and guitar playing. While that might be quite the praise for Harper – who by this point will no doubt be used to such reverence – indeed, Anderson’s most gilded tribute came when speaking to Classic Rock in 2023, and he described him as simply the finest songwriter of all time.
He said: “Roy Harper. From 1968 to 1970 I bought his records, and he stood apart from other songwriters of the era, because he covered a lot of range, from political and social issues through to plain and simple, stoned love songs. I’m always drawn back to Come Out Fighting Genghis Smith [’68]. I’d just moved to London myself, and it resonated with me. So hats off to Roy Harper, as Led Zeppelin once said.”
Despite his long list of esteemed and vociferous disciples, it remains one of music’s greatest mysteries how Roy Harper has remained one of the most overlooked musical forces by the mainstream. Perhaps it’s to do with the fact that folk has always been an intrinsically counterculture force; just ask Ian Anderson.
