“Cliff Richard was trying to dance along, only to realise the song was in 5/4 time and his left foot was where his right foot should be!”: Jethro Tull’s manager asked Ian Anderson to write a hit. He tried not to, but failed

NEWPORT, RI - JUNE 21: Ian Anderson of the English progressive rock band Jethro Tull plays the flute at the Newport Jazz Festival on June 21, 1969 in Newport, Rhode Island. (Photo by Tom Copi/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images).

Jethro Tull’s debut single Sunshine Day was released in 1968, on which the band were erroneously credited as “Jethro Toe.” They followed that with A Song For Jeffrey from debut album This Was, then Love Story – their first single to crack the Top 30, reaching No. 29. The new year brought far more success, with Living In The Past reaching No. 3 in the UK singles charts. When it was released in the US in 1972 it reached No. 11. Ian Anderson told Prog about the song’s creation in 2022.

Where did the inspiration for Living In The Past come from?