If you read some of the music reviews by a few of the music critics from that period you will see what Anderson was referring to. They either panned the music, his rehearsed onstage persona, or the shows in general, the little praise was delivered via in very transparent backhanded compliments.
It's been verified that the Steve mentioned in the end is music critic Steve Peacock from Sounds magazine.
My take on the last line and the song's namesake "Steve, you see, it's only solitaire" is Ian Anderson's clever little obloquy response "I'm just up there playing with myself".
Ian Anderson always looked at himself not just as an singer musician, but as an entertainer, a minstrel. His exaggerated movements and gestures were always carefully planned, not to entertain the first 20 rows, but whole audience. Saw them three times in the 70s and they always put on a great show.
Here are links to a couple of the reviews that he was referring to.
http://www.tullpress.com/s11mar72.htmhttp://www.tullpress.com/s1apr72.htm
If you read some of the music reviews by a few of the music critics from that period you will see what Anderson was referring to. They either panned the music, his rehearsed onstage persona, or the shows in general, the little praise was delivered via in very transparent backhanded compliments.
It's been verified that the Steve mentioned in the end is music critic Steve Peacock from Sounds magazine. My take on the last line and the song's namesake "Steve, you see, it's only solitaire" is Ian Anderson's clever little obloquy response "I'm just up there playing with myself".
Ian Anderson always looked at himself not just as an singer musician, but as an entertainer, a minstrel. His exaggerated movements and gestures were always carefully planned, not to entertain the first 20 rows, but whole audience. Saw them three times in the 70s and they always put on a great show. Here are links to a couple of the reviews that he was referring to. http://www.tullpress.com/s11mar72.htm http://www.tullpress.com/s1apr72.htm
@frank10071 Unfortunately this site doesn't take links. Read Steve Peacock's review by googling - Sounds, 11 March 1972 - Jethro Tull Press
@frank10071 Unfortunately this site doesn't take links. Read Steve Peacock's review by googling - Sounds, 11 March 1972 - Jethro Tull Press
Read critic Martin Hayman's review by searching Sounds, 1 April 1972 - Jethro Tull Press
Read critic Martin Hayman's review by searching Sounds, 1 April 1972 - Jethro Tull Press