A Passion Play [Remaster]

Performer: Jethro Tull
Engineer: Robin Black
Producer: Jethro Tull
Distributor: EMI Music Distribution

Notes: Jethro Tull: Ian Anderson (vocals, flute, guitar, saxophone); Martin Barre (guitar); John Evans (keyboards); Jeffrey Hammond-Hammond (bass, vocals); Barriemore Barlow (drums, percussion). This is an Enhanced CD, which contains both regular audio tracks and multimedia computer files. Jethro Tull: Ian Anderson (vocals, guitar, flute, soprano saxophone); John Evan (spoken vocals, organ, synthesizer); Martin Barre (guitar); David Palmer (saxophone, keyboards, synthesizer); Barriemore Barlow (glockenspiel, drums, percussion); Jeffrey Hammond-Hammond (bass instrument, background vocals). Liner Note Author: Ian Anderson . Led by Ian Anderson, Jethro Tull had commercial and (varying) critical success with BENEFIT, AQUALUNG and THICK AS A BRICK. However, it was after 1973's A PASSION PLAY, a musically and thematically bold "concept" album, that the band seemed alarmed by the critics' nibbling little pens. Anderson was reportedly so wearied by critics' vitriol that he announced he would never tour again--but did a year later. (Despite the critical hostility, A PASSION PLAY soared to No. 1 in the U.S.). Musically and lyrically dense, A PASSION PLAY features Anderson's enigmatic lyrics sprinkled with biblical references, and Tull's sprightly mix of minstrel-style English folk with electrified, prog rock overtones. Some may find the CD issue--which doesn't delineate from track to track, implicitly requesting listeners stay the 45-minute course from start to finish--a bit challenging. But those who enjoy vintage Tull recordings will be intrigued by this daring and experimental effort. Led by Ian Anderson, TULL had commercial and (varying) critical success with BENEFIT, AQUALUNG and THICK AS A BRICK. However, it was after 1973's A PASSION PLAY, a musically and thematically bold "concept" album that the band seemed alarmed by the critics' nibbling little pens. Anderson was reportedly so wearied by critics' vitriol that he announced he would never tour again--but did a year later. (Despite the critical hostility, A PASSION PLAY soared to No. 1 in the U.S.) What a difference a quarter-of-a-century makes! A PASSION PLAY has been re-released and it's interesting to note that a) few make records as musically and lyrically dense as this anymore, b) there's probably a reason for this, and c) the reason isn't necessarily because A PASSION PLAY is a poor record--it's just challenging. Without the normal delineation from song to song, rock & roll listeners are implicitly requested to stay with it from 45-minute start to finish. Those who enjoy vintage Tull recordings will be intrigued by this daring and experimental effort.

Led by the charismatic, flute-wielding Ian Anderson, Jethro Tull began as a somewhat Led Zeppelin-like, bluesy hard-rock band. Before long the balance tipped to courtly, Elizabethan-sounding progressive rock tinged with folk and marked by tricky time changes and long suites. Though they were masters of the concept album (THICK AS A BRICK, AQUALUNG), Tull was able to churn out hook-laden hard-rock riffs that guaranteed them a permanent place on classic-rock playlists the world over.

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