My favorite album of all time. It's a classical masterpiece. Too complex and too intellectual for the music critics of the 70s. Despite their attempts to hammer this Lp... it reached NUMBER ONE on the Billboard Charts in the US. A magical and mystical journey into the afterlife full of allegory and metaphor. And Ian's acoustic guitar and sax work is amazing. Plus Ian's voice never sounded better... so majestic.
Every album has weak points. But I have to go by my emotional reaction to music, not scientific analysis. That’s what true art is about. And this album, with Ian’s weighty deep voice and the medieval atmospheres and melodies, effects me more than any other album. That’s what the critics didn’t understand… the visceral impact overall. That's why Justin is so passionate about A Passion Play... he's effected emotionally.
At the time this came out, I was oblivious to the critics and the charts and busy immersing myself in this dense masterwork. Good to know I was not alone in this. Of course, I was usually listening with a few friends while burning some sweet leaves. ;)
This was my very first Jethro Tull concert in 1973 at Boston Garden. There was a big screen at the back of the stage. The lights went out. A small fuzzy white dot appeared on screen and pulsed to the heartbeat, growing larger into a white room where the ballerina lies dead just like the front cover. But then she slowly starts rising up, inch by inch, she gets up and begins twirling and dancing as the music builds. There is a mirror in the room, and she runs and jumps into the mirror which smashes into a million pieces as the stage lights go out. A white spot light shines down on Ian as he sings, "Do you still see me, even here.."
Thank you for acknowledging John Evan. He was a big part of Tull´s music and a fantastic musician. The English classical music magazine "Gramophone" once did a full page just analyzing his intro to "Locomotive breath". So thanks. I love the "Going to the pub and the folkband" comment. This is my absolute favouritepart of the album. This is a great review , one of your best so far.
There are no words in me right now to adress this epic. It was like listening with a friend for the first time. Five stars for the album, and five stars for the review. I think I will have to come back just to hear and watch again. Again, congratulations on reaching this milestone!
You did the WHOLE THING IN ONE VIDEO???? Justin this is brilliant thank you for all the great reactions congrats. Perfect and on the day of my birthday too. Cheers man. My favourite Jethro Tull album
I have been a Tully for over 50 years and still listen to them daily. This is a top 5 album to me. I like the earlier albums most but a couple of the 80s albums sneak in. I think Stand Up is a masterpiece as well as Benefit. I love Broadsword and the Beast. Heavy Horses ranks also. Living in the Past is superlative. Thank you for being open to this very intellectual music I play many instruments and can relate.👍👍
This album seems very dream-like to me. There are motifs that get revisited, there is no constant beat to hang on to in many places, when it's over you can't remember everything. After 30 years of listening to it, I still don't "know" every beat. It surprises me in so many places. I can't imagine what the sheet music must look like. Newt saying "You can, guru, you can." to the kangaroo, (their guru,) is the best wordplay in rock.
OH YEAAAHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The progressive movement in one of its finest hours. To appreciate this record is to speak to the appreciation of the meshing of styles/genres/melodic colors and transitions. Musically so complex. How did they learn this piece and perform it so eloquently?
I just recently discovered this channel. I like the fact that you’re listening to this all the way through without any breaks. That’s the only way to listen to Jethro Tull.
Oh man, It took me about 10 years to LOVE this album, since I had Thick as a Brick memorized prior to giving it a chance...When you've spent hours of time with it, you begin the anticipation of certain sections...It's a masterpiece of prog...Ian's second Magnum Opus...:)...Glad you checked it out...
@@Katehowe3010 I don't necessarily find Minstrel In The Gallery more complex. Less striking yes but I find APP better constructed and coherent whereas in Minstrel, the longer songs are made of different pieces without much relation to each other, and not necessarily interlocking harmoniously. They also contain too many alternating acoustic-electric acoustic-electric passages repeated ad infinitum, there is no variation, it really goes in circles. However, some acoustic passages are very good, but the acoustic/electric mixture does not work. That doesn't mean that I don't like Minstrel In The Gallery, but it doesn't hook me up like A Passion Play did.
I stumbled across this tonight, which is the best review I’ve ever seen! Jethro Tull has been my favorite band for over 40 years, and JustJP is definitely the best reviewer! Wow …. What a thoughtful and insightful perspective on this album…… many Jethro Tull longtime fans consider this their best piece of work and most underrated! Bravo for this wonderful review!
Thank you again for your unique review style. You are one of only two that do a reaction vid that has worth IMHO. There are so many reaction vids, but yours stands out for the fun, sincerity, and willingness to put yourself out there. Passion Play is among my favorites from Jethro Tull (JT), and your (JP) review. JT is not a group easy to define, but with a unique sound and subjects.
There is a guy on youtube, british, "Classic Album Review", who is a huge Tull fan. He did a review of Tull's top 20 albums from 20th to 1st. Passion Play, in his review, was #1. There are a number of Tull fan sites that have gone deep into the interpretation of this story (Inside the album you have the playbill, which explains the four acts), which frankly, when it came out, I was really too young to completely get. Only now, later, has the story come together. There is a video on youtube of the Story of the Hare who lost his spectacles. Ian originally planned this to be a movie. I saw the 2nd live performance of this in the US, (my 1st Tull concert actually), and the movie of the ballerina coming to life and crashing through opens the show, and it was quite something to see. Act 2, the memory bank, is Magus Perde being escorted to have his life review. Act 3, he descends to hell, looks around, repartee with Satan, then decides nope. Act 4, checks out heaven and decides there is not much difference between the two, and decides to return to life cause thats as good as it gets. Or so goes one interpretation. The Fulham road is in London, and there are both cemetaries and hospitals along it and recoring studios. They had recording sessions in France, from which this album and War Child are the remnants of. The sessions in France were problematic for many reasons and scrapped and reconstructed. In listening to this version, I actually heard a difference in "side 2" (Act 3) from the original album, so evidence of a reconstruction from another cut. Regarding the acoustic guitar parts, in one of the reviews I read, it mentioned the Spanish guitarist that Ian was listening to at the time (I can't remember name, he is on YT) who influenced him and made its way into this album. The Story (video and audio) of the Hare who lost his spectacles: th-cam.com/video/H_toN5VfWBo/w-d-xo.html As constructed in the album, this story is essentially an interlude in the intermission between Acts 2 and 3. In the movie, as originally envisioned, it may have had greater meaning. The dancing (in the video) around the maypole is pagan ritual (I believe) and perhaps relevant to this story. This ablum was utterly panned by the critics at the time and I think Ian, has moved on from it, although I really wish he would actually try to bring this to the stage.
I HAVE PUT MY EAR TO THIS ALBUM AT LEAST 1500 TIMES. THIS IS A DIFFERENT RECORDING. YOU ARE CORRECT ABOUT SIDE 2. SEEMS TO BE AN EXTRA MINUTE IN THERE NOT IN THE ORIGINAL.(ABOUT THE 33:18 MARK ON THIS VIDEO). THE SPANISH GUITAR PART IS GORGEOUS.
Dude, that was pretty cool. I'm glad you liked it. I got to see JT perform this whole song/album, in Pasadena, Ca. AFTER they had played all of Thick As A Brick. It was during their Songs From The Wood tour. At the show, Anderson played a lot of the acoustic guitar passages. He had a stand for his saxes, a pouch on his mic stand for his harmonica, and his flute. You should have seen the drums and percussion setup. If you read this, ask me what Ian did with his flute. It was epic.
I have lots to say about Passion Play - The death of the young man who is skipping through life without a care to find his life is done and gone -- The silver cord on the ground refers to a cord tying the soul to the physical body -- ( in astral projection they speak of seeing a silver cord connection) The Fulham Road in London is historically where amusements and distractions from the mundane and ordinary and a big part of the young mans lifestyle played out -- His life review and ascent into Heaven ---- his dissatisfaction with being there and request to go to Hell is granted -- only to find it even worse and his decision to be reincarnated and start all over again -- to begin the Passion Play anew -- I love The Hare Who Lost His Spectacles -- I think of it as a piece where as the play was performed they put in this little fable so the plays scenery could be adjusted -- Its mind your own business moral is presented as FB drama long before that was a thing LOL -- I remember seeing a comment on a Tull song some time ago where someone asked if anyone ever noticed how similar Ian Anderson looked to William Shakespeare -- Ian even says Lord of Time in the lyrics -- and now I think of this album as just that -- He is Shakespeare and a Timelord and entertaining us all throughout the ages -- Anyway I love that thought and Im keeping it --- Thanks Justin
I am struck by how well done your review was, commensurate with the quality of the album. Compared to other reaction channels, JustJP consistently delivers interesting and insightful comments. Keep up the great work. We appreciate it!
Maybe, my favourite Jethro Tull album Justin.. Its a mixture of all thats great with Tull.. The singing, the lyrics, amazing.. And the the music.. Wow butty.. Its absolutely top draw. Imho.. This is a masterpiece ❤️. This is Tull pushing themselves progressively.. Lyrically.. Ian Anderson is just a genius, fact.. Acoustic bliss.. Electric wonderment.. Hard as nails lyrics.. Its gotvit all.. Andvto think this album came after Thick as a Brick!!!! ♥️ ♥️ ♥️. Amazing, mind blowing achievement imho. Easily one of the greatest rock bands ever. I do love this album butty. 😊 😊 😊. Wonderful review my friend, You always nail it.. Thanks for making my weekend butty... Heaven and Hell never sounded so good ♥️
To me this album and GG's In A Glass House are sister albums. Both released in 1973, both having a darker mood, a somehow rawer, stripped down sound, many twists and turns, lots of power, yet lots of catchiness too. And the black and white covers fit all that perfectly too. Nice coincidence you're doing both at the same time.
Well seen ! I too have always compared A Passion Play to In A Glass House but for me APP is even more ambitious and convoluted, which makes it even more incredible that the album was written and recorded quickly so much there is richness in it !
Good call! I would also add Cervello's Melos. Each three albums share counterpuntal playfulness and a vaguely eerie atmosphere, perfected by the virtuostic performance of each band member.
Listen at 10:27, for example, and you'll hear influences from Gentle Giant. I saw Tull in concert before Passion Play and their opening band was Gentle Giant. I think they influenced each other's albums.
You can hear the inspiration in the singing of Maynard James Keenan from Tool when you listen to Jethro tulls singer. Also this is really good! First time hearing it.
I agree with you that A Passion Play is way better than Thick As A Brick but 'Brick' is hailed a classic when really A Passion Play was their best work.
Benefit, Stand Up and Aqualung was Jethro Tull’s greatest work. But I do like really Passion Play and saw Tull for the first time performing it in 1973. I remember how Jeffrey Hammond Hammond’s bass line was thundering throughout Cleveland Public Auditorium during the opening sequence. He had a yellow suit on and a Panama Hat.
During the stage performance along with the movie break in the middle of the piece there were prerecorded musical interludes where the stage balled out and the band could catch their collective breath.
I saw this show in Kansas City when they toured promoting the LP. Needless to say, I was once again amazed since had seen the Thick As a Brick tour a year earlier!
this is how tull opened the passion play tour...in its glorious fullness......the played thick as a brick....before treating us with equaling and earlier tunes......a life music changing night.....so happy i got to experience it
My favourite tull album by a large margin. Ian is flawless, the inclusion of saxophone opens up so many dramatic possibilities. Barlow is a monster and martin a master. Everyone in the band is on top form. Unsurpassable.
my top JT album, a brilliant composition, their weirdest and intriguing one for me, very well executed as a metaphysical theater play within our imagination. I have the LP, CD, Live DVD, all the bunch, hahaha, nice to see you discovering such hidden pearls. Can you imagine this masterpiece on stage? Welcome to Tullyland!
The "critics" just werent mentally ready to hear a band with such wit and so advanced that Tull's creative genius was just too far over their heads to appreciate
I was lucky and saw The Passion Play concert it was so cool, I was 17 lol , Ft worth Texas , 73 or 74 , 75 I can’t remember. Great channel sir. I’ve subscribed. Way out in Texas.
My favorite Tull album. My first JT Tull concert was A Passion Play Tour back about 73 at the Providence Civic Center. What a show!!!! I remember like it was yesterday... Minor note,Anderson plays acoustic guitar on PP...
Funny you mention a similar vibe to Gentle Giant at times. Jethro Tull had toured with Giant the previous year, and from what I've heard the bands got along and admired each other.
I saw this performed live at Wembley (2 nights in a row ) . I still listen to it , all these years later :- a complicated but beautiful masterpiece . Well done with this review … Thanks
I love your enthusiasm Justin for this fantastic album. It is my ultimate number one. I've been listening to it regularly since it was released back in the 70's and it always comes up fresh every time. You have some very insightful comments on the musical content - I totally agree with your views on John Evan's brilliant work on the keyboards and of course on Ian's brilliance (including acoustic guitar!).
My favorite review of yours so far J.P. My personal favorite Tull album , when I first heard some people found this album a tough listen I was surprised , I (like you) liked it right away . This and Dark Side were my introduction into prog ( in the 70s ) . I personally prefer this piece over Close to the edge , sorry everyone but I just do . Cheers bro ! Keep up the good work .
Same thing as you, as much for having hooked to the album right away and that it is my favorite Jethro Tull album and also for the fact that I much prefer A Passion Play to Close to the Edge (which is an album which never amazed me anyway).
Ah yes, A Passion Play, the album that almost destroyed Jethro Tull. Ian Anderson temporarily disbanded Tull after all the negative criticism in the music press. They all thought that it was too similar to Thick as a Brick (well they do say, if you can’t do it, criticise it!). You have so many great Tull albums still to review - Stormwatch, A Minstrel in the Gallery, Heavy Horses and Broadsword & the Beast, to name a few of my favourites. Thanks for the video Justin! 😁
Dionisio Iacobelli : Yeah, it turned out that it was a publicity stunt by the band’s management, however Ian was left disillusioned by all the criticism, and has stated that it is one of his least favourite Tull albums.
The critics didn't like Passion Play, which puzzled me - it's as good as Thick As A Brick, and even expands the group's sound. What's interesting is their followup album, War Child, doesn't sound much different than Passion Play, but it was much more successful in sales. Perhaps because War Child's tracks were much easier to play on the radio.
@@kozlorf A mixed bag of things between albums, but some similarities. Both WarChild and Passion Play have Scottish marches near the ending, but Warchild's was done with actual bagpipes.
Great review. This has always been one of my favorite Jethro Tull albums since hearing it in 1976. They're a band where every album is different than the one before until you get to Songs From The Wood, Heavy Horses and Sormwatch.
I am glad you selected Passion Play for review. It IS my favorite Tull album and is very listenable still. I agree with your appreciation of the importance of John Evan, in my view, the best Tull music included him. The only other thing I have to add was the sheer awe and jaw dropping impact the live concert tour of this album and the impression it made on me at age 15, seeing it in the summer of 1973. It was my first J. Tull concert and remains my favorite of more than 12 shows of theirs I have attended. I believe it is a brilliant work and deserves to be remembered as such.
The first time I saw Jethro Tull live was for this album tour. I didn't heard the album before. They played songs from their previous albums as a first part and had an intermission before playing this album as a whole in second part. in the album, when the story about the hare begin, this was in a film and they took a break at that time. After the album, they played Thick as a Brick as an encore. The whole show lasted 3 hours!
Congrats on 20K JP! Well done and well deserved! A Passion Play is my favorite Tull *album*, even though there are many instances of other songs from here and there that I like just as much. Loved your reaction and I could blather on in this comment but I'll keep it relatively short and just mention that as impressed as you obviously are with the Play, you should definitely look into its troubled genesis and get a copy of the Nightcap album, whose first disc has the Chateau sessions that were abandoned but eventually mutated into A Passion Play. Keep up the good work!
Thank you Justin! It was a joy watching you react to this. All those 'what the f....?' moments. It was like listening to it again myself for the first time. I loved watching it. This is my favourite JT album, but it's very controversial. Many JT fans (and Ian Anderson himself and the rest of the band) don't seem to like it at all. It was slated by the critics when it was released. The use of synths (more than just the usual piano and organ) and the extra saxophone give it a completely different sound and feel. I think Ian does most of the acoustic guitars. People don't appreciate it underneath all the singing and flute playing but he is actually my acoustic guitar hero.
Love the poster. I was at the Tull concert at MSG, back in 1972. They did the full TAAB and several Aqualung songs. Great concert, with Roxy Music opening.
I can't believe you did this album!!! I love it. Funny story behind this album. After Tull did a show the previous year in America, Ian Anderson was ready to quit. All the screaming and noise from the fans was ruining, or so he felt, the band's acoustic style of music. So, they ramped up this electronic Passion Play to drown out the noise. Boy, I am glad they did! What an album!!!
I really enjoyed this. As a Tull fan of 50 years, A Passion Play remains at the very top of my list along with Aqualung. It is deep and rich, lyrically interesting and musically brilliant. It combines rock, folk, music hall, pantomime, theatre and jazz. No ordinary album from an extraordinary band. Loved the reaction video, such insight on a first listening.
Congratulations JP! So many others doing reviews get bigger followers #s by reviewing more pop. You follow instincts to listen to music maybe not so mainstream. It seems more of a love of what you’re doing seeking jewels, and putting on your jewelers loop to analyze exactly what you’ve found.
I have caught you out. You are playing the cd version! On side 2 [foot of the stairs) the cd has 2 extra verses which are not on the lp version. Having said that, you are doing an excellent job.well done !1
When I was in high school in 1975, a friend performed/read the Hare Who Lost his Spectacles in front a small crowd in the Library! He dd a wonderful job! And I knew the original then. This is an awesome album! Thanks for posting this!
The split between the "A" side and "B" side of the LP occurs in the middle of "The Hare Who Lost His Spectacles" right after the lyric "And sitting astride a twig of a bush a bee." (A/B, get it?)
My absolute favourite part of this video? You were looking through the sleeve. Looked up. Looked back down at the sleeve. Looked up again. The timing of your facial expression and decision to put the album away, that this is something to LISTEN to. I also love when try to guess sequence of note paths. I do the same thing. I've never heard this one before either. I'm a Genesis guy. I watch your Suppers Ready listen and commentary regularly.
The Hare---was an intermission. Long movies used to have intermissions when you were supposed to fight your way into the toilet trough before the movie started back up. This was another hit on concept LPs, I feel...
I think it's tremendous that you did this in one sitting. I had the immense pleasure of seeing this performance done live at the Chicago Stadium (old building)when I first got out of the service. This is my favorite JT album, even surpassing the incredible Aqualung. ( How dare I) The orchestration and tempo changes and the singing are at peak level. And yes, I sing along, I know every word, including "The hare " The pastoral section is to turn the LP over and refill your wine glass.🤠👍👍👍
It's worth checking out their album of unreleased music, "Nightcap." It's a double album, and the first one is the infamous recordings from the Chateau D'Isaster sessions. You can hear how A Passion Play took form in a loose meandering way, with other themes Ian abandoned for the APP album. Some of the music is repetitive and goes on too long, but much of it is funny and overtly satirical. These were the days of Monty Python and that super-British absurdist sense of humor and Ian was no comic slouch himself. Take a listen, you'll love it.
'Nightcap' doesn't contain the whole Chateau D'Isaster recordings, and those that are there are retouched with flute overdubs. The complete untouched sessions are in the 40th anniversary edition box of 'A Passion Play'
The cast in the "playbill" is the band's alter-egos. Funnily enough, Martin Barre's character is Derek Small, and Harry Shearer's Spinal Tap character is "Derek Smalls." Years later, Ian Anderson called out Harry Shearer on the name and he apparently dodged the question.
I first saw Tull on the tour for this album. Fantastic show. Loved the film that played for The Story of the Hare Who Lost His Spectacles. I think A Passion Play is under rated.
Congrats on 20k Justin ! I can see A Passion Play being part of the curriculum for a college music class in the 2030s. I first heard Edit #9 on my local FM rock station in 1973. Subsequently experiencing a tour date at Cobo Arena (Detroit).....it was the few times in my life that I experienced 'goosebumps' while experiencing a concert. I am STILL (in 2021) discovering bits that amaze me !!
I just Love watching your "Amusement & Confusion' in the many Fantasy worlds of Classic Prog Justin !! Lol You still have long journey ahead of you "Grasshopper" !! : D Enjoy the ride Lol
Great reaction, JP! Some observations: Note how in the theatre programme “The Linwell Theatre” looks like “The Unwell Theatre”… THE Passion Play is, traditionally, the story of Christ’s life and death. This is “a” passion play, the story of an ordinary life and death. A silver cord (chord) is said to link the body to the soul. If it lies on the ground, you dead! The Ice Cream Lady was (is?) a feature of British cinemas and theatres, selling ice cream from a tray in the intermission between shows. She was so excited to see Ronnie Pilgrim’s life shown on screen that she pee’d her pants. The Memory Bank is the place where your life flashes before your eyes at death, represented here like starring in the movie of your own life. The Hare… is a children’s nonsense story in the style of Alice or Winnie The Pooh. Perhaps it’s a memory from Ronnie’s own childhood? Maybe it’s just a bit of fun to break up an otherwise long, intense piece of music that the band knew they had to perform live and would need an intermission. Musically, the album is very experimental, with use of new instruments for Tull, particularly saxophone and the then very unusual and fresh sound of electronic keyboards. Ian says he physically disliked blowing sax and it rarely appeared again in the Tull repertoire, but synths were to become a regular (if at times controversial) addition to the band’s sound.
Thoroughly enjoyed this. The album cover, you may well know, is slightly confusing. There is fictional content all over it, with no credits to the band, until you look at the record label. There it says that Ian Anderson is on acoustic guitars, which really impresses me because there is some nice Spanish Classical style acoustic guitar playing on this album. That, and Ian also plays a soprano sax in addition to his flute!
Ian plays some wonderful acoustic guitar, and yet never seems to acknowledge his own talent. His flute playing obviously dominates his image, but I love it when he brings out his little parlour guitar and produces some amazing textures and phrases. He often says he took up the flute because he’d never be as good on guitar as Clapton but I’ve seen both play live and I’d sooner hear Ian any day!
'The Story of the Hare Who Lost His Spectacles' is told in the style of Alan Bennett who read the Winnie the Pooh stories on the BBC programme Jackanory. According to Wikipedia, these were broadcast in 1968 and 1970.
Wish I could have seen this live! I have been told that it starts with the heartbeat and the cover picture...then you "realize" the Ballerina is moving her fingers!
Probably my favorite Tull album, though there are a few close contenders. I'm in sync with everything you said here. There's a lot going on musically, and the lyrics are rich in wordplay. Even today it sounds fresh to my ears. I love the reaction at 45:37, where the hard rock comes crashing down on the idyllic acoustic passage. Your expression says, "Why did you wake me? I was having the nicest dream!" The section preceding that has some lines I think are key to the interpretation. "Here's the everlasting rub: neither am I good or bad. I'd give up my halo for a horn and the horn for the hat I once had." "Twist my right arm in the dark. I would give two or three for one of those days that never made impressions on the old score." I think he's talking about arbitrary moral constructs that don't add value to life, and how he prefers to just let life unfold naturally -- a sentiment we hear in "Wind Up", as well. "The Story of the Hare Who Lost His Spectacles" presages this as well, where all the other animals, with their efforts to "do good", really weren't doing anything for the hare at all ("...and as for all their tempting ideas, the hare didn't -a-care. The lost spectacles were his own affair...". Live, and let live. Now I need to go and watch the ballet video of The Hare Who Lost His Spectacles again (th-cam.com/video/H_toN5VfWBo/w-d-xo.html).
I would like to add another key to the interpretation/experience - Note - this is all occurs to you, as the listener, in the afterlife through the eyes of the singer.... "the sore thumb screams aloud, echoing out of the Passion Play" specifically references "all of this and some of that's the only way to skin a cat.... and now you lost a skin or two, where you're for us and we for you.... The dressing room is right behind ....We have you taped your in the play,,, How does it feel to be in the play, how does it feel to play the play, How does it feel to be the play" ... This is a direct reference to a blood oath, (your psychic blood) that you were tricked into by the passion of the moment. Up to now it was all a setup of the listener. This is why the "Old dogs howl in madness" because they know and they're back for more. The first half of the LP is the listener's fall from grace (entrapment) while the second half is the redemption of both the listener and the singer up to and including rebirth, there was a hush in the passion play as the baby is born at the end.
Hate to tell abut Ian plays most of the bass part as he did in Thick As a Brick, Jeffery did not play bass for 6 years till Ian called him to be in the band after Ian kicked Glenn out of the band, Jeffery told Ian "I can't play anymore and I never was that good" But Ian knew Jefferywould fall in line with Ian Anderson so he told Jeffery he would do the bass part and you can do some in the studio and just get really to play live when we start to play live
My favorite line from this album is "Here's the everlasting rub, neither was I good nor bad, I'd give up my halo fior a horn and the horn for the hat I once had". Says it all.😎
The double kick work Barrie utilizes in this is just beautiful, clinical! I mean an absolute master class of drumming and how to properly utilize the double bass!!! Powerful, yet graceful... I think his drumming on APP is his most creative and technical and is just flat out perfect!!! I've tried to play it myself and it's an ass kicker! I mean c'mon who does triplet feels on the double bass that fast!!! The time signature is in 3/3 during those parts and his feel is still in 3 despite all that's going on! It's so hard to do because you want to play 4 on the double kick, but you can't because you loose the 3 feel. Each note on the kick is so precise, just phenomenal!!
My favorite album of all time. It's a classical masterpiece. Too complex and too intellectual for the music critics of the 70s. Despite their attempts to hammer this Lp... it reached NUMBER ONE on the Billboard Charts in the US.
A magical and mystical journey into the afterlife full of allegory and metaphor. And Ian's acoustic guitar and sax work is amazing. Plus Ian's voice never sounded better... so majestic.
Every album has weak points. But I have to go by my emotional reaction to music, not scientific analysis. That’s what true art is about. And this album, with Ian’s weighty deep voice and the medieval atmospheres and melodies, effects me more than any other album. That’s what the critics didn’t understand… the visceral impact overall. That's why Justin is so passionate about A Passion Play... he's effected emotionally.
A big fan of Barlow's playing on this album.
Yup! You pretty much nailed it.
At the time this came out, I was oblivious to the critics and the charts and busy immersing myself in this dense masterwork. Good to know I was not alone in this. Of course, I was usually listening with a few friends while burning some sweet leaves. ;)
I love Passion Play. It's my personal favorite as well.
This was my very first Jethro Tull concert in 1973 at Boston Garden. There was a big screen at the back of the stage. The lights went out. A small fuzzy white dot appeared on screen and pulsed to the heartbeat, growing larger into a white room where the ballerina lies dead just like the front cover. But then she slowly starts rising up, inch by inch, she gets up and begins twirling and dancing as the music builds. There is a mirror in the room, and she runs and jumps into the mirror which smashes into a million pieces as the stage lights go out. A white spot light shines down on Ian as he sings, "Do you still see me, even here.."
Thank you for acknowledging John Evan. He was a big part of Tull´s music and a fantastic musician. The English classical music magazine "Gramophone" once did a full page just analyzing his intro to "Locomotive breath". So thanks. I love the "Going to the pub and the folkband" comment. This is my absolute favouritepart of the album. This is a great review , one of your best so far.
There are no words in me right now to adress this epic. It was like listening with a friend for the first time. Five stars for the album, and five stars for the review. I think I will have to come back just to hear and watch again. Again, congratulations on reaching this milestone!
Thank you so much for that Ed! :D
You did the WHOLE THING IN ONE VIDEO???? Justin this is brilliant thank you for all the great reactions congrats. Perfect and on the day of my birthday too. Cheers man. My favourite Jethro Tull album
Happy birthday!!
All the best to you and yours!
Happy Birthday and Happy Holidays!
Hope you had a wonderful birthday Cadan!
And me! 73 today. Huge Tull fan and I bought this on the day of it's release and I'm still wrestling with it! Thanks JP.
@@alantattersall3190 Happy B day to you as well Alan!!!
I have been a Tully for over 50 years and still listen to them daily. This is a top 5 album to me. I like the earlier albums most but a couple of the 80s albums sneak in. I think Stand Up is a masterpiece as well as Benefit. I love Broadsword and the Beast. Heavy Horses ranks also. Living in the Past is superlative. Thank you for being open to this very intellectual music I play many instruments and can relate.👍👍
Thank you for watching Dennis!
This album seems very dream-like to me. There are motifs that get revisited, there is no constant beat to hang on to in many places, when it's over you can't remember everything. After 30 years of listening to it, I still don't "know" every beat. It surprises me in so many places. I can't imagine what the sheet music must look like. Newt saying "You can, guru, you can." to the kangaroo, (their guru,) is the best wordplay in rock.
I think of it as a stream of consciousness style. Kind of like Monty Python
"Bee...began:"
"Owl...scOWLing"
"Kangaroo...hopping mad"
"Newt kNEW Too much..."
The wordplay just keeps coming. I love all of it!
"Here's the sheet music" *hands over a binder*
Ha. I've heard it so many times, I figured I could play drums along with it. That ended after about 30 seconds.
@@rsm3tnewt knew , too ❤
OH YEAAAHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The progressive movement in one of its finest hours. To appreciate this record is to speak to the appreciation of the meshing of styles/genres/melodic colors and transitions. Musically so complex. How did they learn this piece and perform it so eloquently?
Yep, this album is sublime… incredible… leaves me speechless every time… ♥️♥️♥️
John Evan's keyboard work on this is astounding!
This along with TAAB and Warchild he is sensational.
I agree! All of John Evans keyboard work is astounding.
Favourite Tull Album 💿 ❤
I just recently discovered this channel. I like the fact that you’re listening to this all the way through without any breaks. That’s the only way to listen to Jethro Tull.
Oh man, It took me about 10 years to LOVE this album, since I had Thick as a Brick memorized prior to giving it a chance...When you've spent hours of time with it, you begin the anticipation of certain sections...It's a masterpiece of prog...Ian's second Magnum Opus...:)...Glad you checked it out...
One of my favorite Tull albums...and arguably the most complex. Thanks for the listen!
@@Katehowe3010 I don't necessarily find Minstrel In The Gallery more complex. Less striking yes but I find APP better constructed and coherent whereas in Minstrel, the longer songs are made of different pieces without much relation to each other, and not necessarily interlocking harmoniously. They also contain too many alternating acoustic-electric acoustic-electric passages repeated ad infinitum, there is no variation, it really goes in circles. However, some acoustic passages are very good, but the acoustic/electric mixture does not work. That doesn't mean that I don't like Minstrel In The Gallery, but it doesn't hook me up like A Passion Play did.
When I saw the tour for this album, they did a whole costumed theatrical thing for the Hare Who Lost His Spectacles. The whole night was magical.
Two things won me over to Tull - Martin Barr's unique riffs 🎸and Ian Anderson's awesome magnetic voice; powerful..
the voice of the gods.
I stumbled across this tonight, which is the best review I’ve ever seen! Jethro Tull has been my favorite band for over 40 years, and JustJP is definitely the best reviewer! Wow …. What a thoughtful and insightful perspective on this album…… many Jethro Tull longtime fans consider this their best piece of work and most underrated! Bravo for this wonderful review!
Thank you so much Rick, I really appreciate that
Incredible live band!
Thank you again for your unique review style. You are one of only two that do a reaction vid that has worth IMHO. There are so many reaction vids, but yours stands out for the fun, sincerity, and willingness to put yourself out there. Passion Play is among my favorites from Jethro Tull (JT), and your (JP) review. JT is not a group easy to define, but with a unique sound and subjects.
There is a guy on youtube, british, "Classic Album Review", who is a huge Tull fan. He did a review of Tull's top 20 albums from 20th to 1st. Passion Play, in his review, was #1. There are a number of Tull fan sites that have gone deep into the interpretation of this story (Inside the album you have the playbill, which explains the four acts), which frankly, when it came out, I was really too young to completely get. Only now, later, has the story come together. There is a video on youtube of the Story of the Hare who lost his spectacles. Ian originally planned this to be a movie.
I saw the 2nd live performance of this in the US, (my 1st Tull concert actually), and the movie of the ballerina coming to life and crashing through opens the show, and it was quite something to see.
Act 2, the memory bank, is Magus Perde being escorted to have his life review.
Act 3, he descends to hell, looks around, repartee with Satan, then decides nope.
Act 4, checks out heaven and decides there is not much difference between the two, and decides to return to life cause thats as good as it gets. Or so goes one interpretation.
The Fulham road is in London, and there are both cemetaries and hospitals along it and recoring studios.
They had recording sessions in France, from which this album and War Child are the remnants of. The sessions in France were problematic for many reasons and scrapped and reconstructed. In listening to this version, I actually heard a difference in "side 2" (Act 3) from the original album, so evidence of a reconstruction from another cut.
Regarding the acoustic guitar parts, in one of the reviews I read, it mentioned the Spanish guitarist that Ian was listening to at the time (I can't remember name, he is on YT) who influenced him and made its way into this album.
The Story (video and audio) of the Hare who lost his spectacles: th-cam.com/video/H_toN5VfWBo/w-d-xo.html
As constructed in the album, this story is essentially an interlude in the intermission between Acts 2 and 3. In the movie, as originally envisioned, it may have had greater meaning. The dancing (in the video) around the maypole is pagan ritual (I believe) and perhaps relevant to this story.
This ablum was utterly panned by the critics at the time and I think Ian, has moved on from it, although I really wish he would actually try to bring this to the stage.
I HAVE PUT MY EAR TO THIS ALBUM AT LEAST 1500 TIMES. THIS IS A DIFFERENT RECORDING. YOU ARE CORRECT ABOUT SIDE 2. SEEMS TO BE AN EXTRA MINUTE
IN THERE NOT IN THE ORIGINAL.(ABOUT THE 33:18 MARK ON THIS VIDEO). THE SPANISH GUITAR PART IS GORGEOUS.
Dude, that was pretty cool.
I'm glad you liked it.
I got to see JT perform this whole song/album, in Pasadena, Ca.
AFTER they had played all of Thick As A Brick.
It was during their Songs From The Wood tour.
At the show, Anderson played a lot of the acoustic guitar passages. He had a stand for his saxes, a pouch on his mic stand for his harmonica, and his flute. You should have seen the drums and percussion setup. If you read this, ask me what Ian did with his flute.
It was epic.
I also saw JT on the Passion Play tour. It was amazing.
I have lots to say about Passion Play - The death of the young man who is skipping through life without a care to find his life is done and gone -- The silver cord on the ground refers to a cord tying the soul to the physical body -- ( in astral projection they speak of seeing a silver cord connection) The Fulham Road in London is historically where amusements and distractions from the mundane and ordinary and a big part of the young mans lifestyle played out -- His life review and ascent into Heaven ---- his dissatisfaction with being there and request to go to Hell is granted -- only to find it even worse and his decision to be reincarnated and start all over again -- to begin the Passion Play anew -- I love The Hare Who Lost His Spectacles -- I think of it as a piece where as the play was performed they put in this little fable so the plays scenery could be adjusted -- Its mind your own business moral is presented as FB drama long before that was a thing LOL -- I remember seeing a comment on a Tull song some time ago where someone asked if anyone ever noticed how similar Ian Anderson looked to William Shakespeare -- Ian even says Lord of Time in the lyrics -- and now I think of this album as just that -- He is Shakespeare and a Timelord and entertaining us all throughout the ages -- Anyway I love that thought and Im keeping it --- Thanks Justin
Wonderfully written and sensitive analysis!
I was going to post a ton of stuff to this reaction but you've pretty much covered everything I had to say and more eloquently. Great reply.
There is lots of echoes of Dante's Divine Comedy (esp. Inferno) and John Milton's Paradise Lost as well.
I can see that.... Ian Anderson, Shakespeare.... Yes I can see that. I decided decades back that Zappa was Mozart come back to entertain and shock us.
You said it!❤
I am struck by how well done your review was, commensurate with the quality of the album. Compared to other reaction channels, JustJP consistently delivers interesting and insightful comments. Keep up the great work. We appreciate it!
Maybe, my favourite Jethro Tull album Justin.. Its a mixture of all thats great with Tull.. The singing, the lyrics, amazing.. And the the music.. Wow butty.. Its absolutely top draw. Imho.. This is a masterpiece ❤️.
This is Tull pushing themselves progressively.. Lyrically.. Ian Anderson is just a genius, fact.. Acoustic bliss.. Electric wonderment.. Hard as nails lyrics.. Its gotvit all.. Andvto think this album came after Thick as a Brick!!!! ♥️ ♥️ ♥️. Amazing, mind blowing achievement imho.
Easily one of the greatest rock bands ever.
I do love this album butty. 😊 😊 😊.
Wonderful review my friend,
You always nail it.. Thanks for making my weekend butty... Heaven and Hell never sounded so good ♥️
Congrats! One of my favourite JT albums!
To me this album and GG's In A Glass House are sister albums. Both released in 1973, both having a darker mood, a somehow rawer, stripped down sound, many twists and turns, lots of power, yet lots of catchiness too. And the black and white covers fit all that perfectly too. Nice coincidence you're doing both at the same time.
Well seen ! I too have always compared A Passion Play to In A Glass House but for me APP is even more ambitious and convoluted, which makes it even more incredible that the album was written and recorded quickly so much there is richness in it !
A Passion Play is anything but stripped down lol
Good call, I thought of In A Glass House too. Pawn Hearts, The Lamb and Brain Salad also fit into that darker mood category.
Good call! I would also add Cervello's Melos. Each three albums share counterpuntal playfulness and a vaguely eerie atmosphere, perfected by the virtuostic performance of each band member.
Listen at 10:27, for example, and you'll hear influences from Gentle Giant. I saw Tull in concert before Passion Play and their opening band was Gentle Giant. I think they influenced each other's albums.
You can hear the inspiration in the singing of Maynard James Keenan from Tool when you listen to Jethro tulls singer. Also this is really good! First time hearing it.
Yes! The segment starting at 19:57 could be a Tool song.
Ian Anderson .
I agree with you that A Passion Play is way better than Thick As A Brick but 'Brick' is hailed a classic when really A Passion Play was their best work.
Benefit, Stand Up and Aqualung was Jethro Tull’s greatest work. But I do like really Passion Play and saw Tull for the first time performing it in 1973. I remember how Jeffrey Hammond Hammond’s bass line was thundering throughout Cleveland Public Auditorium during the opening sequence. He had a yellow suit on and a Panama Hat.
During the stage performance along with the movie break in the middle of the piece there were prerecorded musical interludes where the stage balled out and the band could catch their collective breath.
I saw this show in Kansas City when they toured promoting the LP. Needless to say, I was once again amazed since had seen the Thick As a Brick tour a year earlier!
this is how tull opened the passion play tour...in its glorious fullness......the played thick as a brick....before treating us with equaling and earlier tunes......a life music changing night.....so happy i got to experience it
my default answer to the question of " favorites " is what ever I am listening to at the time
My favourite tull album by a large margin. Ian is flawless, the inclusion of saxophone opens up so many dramatic possibilities. Barlow is a monster and martin a master. Everyone in the band is on top form. Unsurpassable.
The lyrics are brilliant and meaningful. It just takes time or someone who knows to explain it
my top JT album, a brilliant composition, their weirdest and intriguing one for me, very well executed as a metaphysical theater play within our imagination. I have the LP, CD, Live DVD, all the bunch, hahaha, nice to see you discovering such hidden pearls. Can you imagine this masterpiece on stage? Welcome to Tullyland!
If you listen to it 2 more times ,it will be your favorite album
@@Katehowe3010 I'll leave it to you Christian, I'll keep A Passion Play !
The critics tore this album to pieces,they hated it,it's my favorite Tull album hands down!
The "critics" just werent mentally ready to hear a band with such wit and so advanced that Tull's creative genius was just too far over their heads to appreciate
I was lucky and saw The Passion Play concert it was so cool, I was 17 lol , Ft worth Texas , 73 or 74 , 75 I can’t remember.
Great channel sir. I’ve subscribed. Way out in Texas.
The fact that you get the organ and sax and syncopation with the flute and drums is geeking me out.
My favorite Tull album. My first JT Tull concert was A Passion Play Tour back about 73 at the Providence Civic Center. What a show!!!! I remember like it was yesterday... Minor note,Anderson plays acoustic guitar on PP...
Funny you mention a similar vibe to Gentle Giant at times. Jethro Tull had toured with Giant the previous year, and from what I've heard the bands got along and admired each other.
I saw this performed live at Wembley (2 nights in a row ) .
I still listen to it , all these years later :- a complicated but beautiful masterpiece .
Well done with this review …
Thanks
Jeffrey Hammond …(bass player) a friend of Ian’s from school …told the story of the ‘ Hare ‘
Today Jeffrey is a accomplished artist !
I love your enthusiasm Justin for this fantastic album. It is my ultimate number one. I've been listening to it regularly since it was released back in the 70's and it always comes up fresh every time. You have some very insightful comments on the musical content - I totally agree with your views on John Evan's brilliant work on the keyboards and of course on Ian's brilliance (including acoustic guitar!).
My favorite review of yours so far J.P. My personal favorite Tull album , when I first heard some people found this album a tough listen I was surprised , I (like you) liked it right away . This and Dark Side were my introduction into prog ( in the 70s ) . I personally prefer this piece over Close to the edge , sorry everyone but I just do . Cheers bro ! Keep up the good work .
Same thing as you, as much for having hooked to the album right away and that it is my favorite Jethro Tull album and also for the fact that I much prefer A Passion Play to Close to the Edge (which is an album which never amazed me anyway).
Thank you so much Barry! Appreciate that
Ah, my anticipation finally rewarded!!
One of their best LP's.
Ah yes, A Passion Play, the album that almost destroyed Jethro Tull. Ian Anderson temporarily disbanded Tull after all the negative criticism in the music press. They all thought that it was too similar to Thick as a Brick (well they do say, if you can’t do it, criticise it!). You have so many great Tull albums still to review - Stormwatch, A Minstrel in the Gallery, Heavy Horses and Broadsword & the Beast, to name a few of my favourites. Thanks for the video Justin! 😁
Actually Ian has said that he never said he was retiring from touring. That it was his management that said it.
Dionisio Iacobelli : Yeah, it turned out that it was a publicity stunt by the band’s management, however Ian was left disillusioned by all the criticism, and has stated that it is one of his least favourite Tull albums.
The critics didn't like Passion Play, which puzzled me - it's as good as Thick As A Brick, and even expands the group's sound. What's interesting is their followup album, War Child, doesn't sound much different than Passion Play, but it was much more successful in sales. Perhaps because War Child's tracks were much easier to play on the radio.
@@bobholtzmann Nah, it was the accordion ;)
@@kozlorf A mixed bag of things between albums, but some similarities. Both WarChild and Passion Play have Scottish marches near the ending, but Warchild's was done with actual bagpipes.
Great review. This has always been one of my favorite Jethro Tull albums since hearing it in 1976. They're a band where every album is different than the one before until you get to Songs From The Wood, Heavy Horses and Sormwatch.
Incredible
Justin nailed it.
Ian’s voice greatly matured on A Passion Play over the previous albums.
It has so much weight and gravitas.
I am glad you selected Passion Play for review. It IS my favorite Tull album and is very listenable still. I agree with your appreciation of the importance of John Evan, in my view, the best Tull music included him. The only other thing I have to add was the sheer awe and jaw dropping impact the live concert tour of this album and the impression it made on me at age 15, seeing it in the summer of 1973. It was my first J. Tull concert and remains my favorite of more than 12 shows of theirs I have attended. I believe it is a brilliant work and deserves to be remembered as such.
My favorite as of now as well :)
The first time I saw Jethro Tull live was for this album tour. I didn't heard the album before. They played songs from their previous albums as a first part and had an intermission before playing this album as a whole in second part. in the album, when the story about the hare begin, this was in a film and they took a break at that time. After the album, they played Thick as a Brick as an encore. The whole show lasted 3 hours!
Great reaction, thanks! This is an underestimated masterpiece!😎👍
Congrats on 20K JP! Well done and well deserved! A Passion Play is my favorite Tull *album*, even though there are many instances of other songs from here and there that I like just as much. Loved your reaction and I could blather on in this comment but I'll keep it relatively short and just mention that as impressed as you obviously are with the Play, you should definitely look into its troubled genesis and get a copy of the Nightcap album, whose first disc has the Chateau sessions that were abandoned but eventually mutated into A Passion Play. Keep up the good work!
Thank you Justin! It was a joy watching you react to this. All those 'what the f....?' moments. It was like listening to it again myself for the first time. I loved watching it.
This is my favourite JT album, but it's very controversial. Many JT fans (and Ian Anderson himself and the rest of the band) don't seem to like it at all. It was slated by the critics when it was released. The use of synths (more than just the usual piano and organ) and the extra saxophone give it a completely different sound and feel. I think Ian does most of the acoustic guitars. People don't appreciate it underneath all the singing and flute playing but he is actually my acoustic guitar hero.
Those acoustic guitar passages are played by Ian Anderson. The guy is an amazing guitar player.
Love the poster. I was at the Tull concert at MSG, back in 1972. They did the full TAAB and several Aqualung songs. Great concert, with Roxy Music opening.
I can't believe you did this album!!! I love it. Funny story behind this album. After Tull did a show the previous year in America, Ian Anderson was ready to quit. All the screaming and noise from the fans was ruining, or so he felt, the band's acoustic style of music. So, they ramped up this electronic Passion Play to drown out the noise. Boy, I am glad they did! What an album!!!
I was 10 years old when I first listen to this and I have carried it with me for life always coming back to it to find myself.
wow, a Tull + Roxy Music posture? That's very cool. 70's meet the 80's
I was listening to Roxy music in the 70s.
They released their eponymous album in 1972. Only 4 years after “This Was” , Tull’s first album.
This album blows my mind
Now, THIS is the way to wake up in the morning!
Congratulations on the 20K!
Love the channel.
Thank you very much!
I really enjoyed this. As a Tull fan of 50 years, A Passion Play remains at the very top of my list along with Aqualung. It is deep and rich, lyrically interesting and musically brilliant. It combines rock, folk, music hall, pantomime, theatre and jazz. No ordinary album from an extraordinary band. Loved the reaction video, such insight on a first listening.
Congratulations JP! So many others doing reviews get bigger followers #s by reviewing more pop. You follow instincts to listen to music maybe not so mainstream. It seems more of a love of what you’re doing seeking jewels, and putting on your jewelers loop to analyze exactly what you’ve found.
Haven't heard this since I was 15.......52 now. Forgot how great it is. Thanks for reintroducing me to it. Great channel.
I have caught you out. You are playing the cd version! On side 2 [foot of the stairs) the cd has 2 extra verses which are not on the lp version. Having said that, you are doing an excellent job.well done !1
When I was in high school in 1975, a friend performed/read the Hare Who Lost his Spectacles in front a small crowd in the Library! He dd a wonderful job! And I knew the original then. This is an awesome album!
Thanks for posting this!
The split between the "A" side and "B" side of the LP occurs in the middle of "The Hare Who Lost His Spectacles" right after the lyric "And sitting astride a twig of a bush a bee." (A/B, get it?)
There’s also a little musical flutter after that that was missing in the full digital play through.
Lol i never understood that...
My absolute favourite part of this video? You were looking through the sleeve. Looked up. Looked back down at the sleeve. Looked up again. The timing of your facial expression and decision to put the album away, that this is something to LISTEN to. I also love when try to guess sequence of note paths. I do the same thing. I've never heard this one before either. I'm a Genesis guy. I watch your Suppers Ready listen and commentary regularly.
:)
The Hare---was an intermission. Long movies used to have intermissions when you were supposed to fight your way into the toilet trough before the movie started back up. This was another hit on concept LPs, I feel...
I think it's tremendous that you did this in one sitting. I had the immense pleasure of seeing this performance done live at the Chicago Stadium (old building)when I first got out of the service. This is my favorite JT album, even surpassing the incredible Aqualung. ( How dare I) The orchestration and tempo changes and the singing are at peak level. And yes, I sing along, I know every word, including "The hare "
The pastoral section is to turn the LP over and refill your wine glass.🤠👍👍👍
I've been waiting for someone to do this. Thank you.
It's worth checking out their album of unreleased music, "Nightcap." It's a double album, and the first one is the infamous recordings from the Chateau D'Isaster sessions. You can hear how A Passion Play took form in a loose meandering way, with other themes Ian abandoned for the APP album. Some of the music is repetitive and goes on too long, but much of it is funny and overtly satirical. These were the days of Monty Python and that super-British absurdist sense of humor and Ian was no comic slouch himself. Take a listen, you'll love it.
'Nightcap' doesn't contain the whole Chateau D'Isaster recordings, and those that are there are retouched with flute overdubs. The complete untouched sessions are in the 40th anniversary edition box of 'A Passion Play'
@@Herod9 Oh sweet! Thanks for clarifying.
Yes. I do feel better listening to this and to YOU Bro. 👋😎👍
Oh yes. Been waiting for this.. First listen and its so good.. Try. LOVE, Set the scene 👍
The cast in the "playbill" is the band's alter-egos. Funnily enough, Martin Barre's character is Derek Small, and Harry Shearer's Spinal Tap character is "Derek Smalls." Years later, Ian Anderson called out Harry Shearer on the name and he apparently dodged the question.
I first saw Tull on the tour for this album. Fantastic show. Loved the film that played for The Story of the Hare Who Lost His Spectacles. I think A Passion Play is under rated.
I just came upon this. As a Tull fan who loves a Passion Play, I think this is an excellent discussion.
Thank you so much nalbizo! Love this album
Congrats on 20k Justin ! I can see A Passion Play being part of the curriculum for a college music class in the 2030s. I first heard Edit #9 on my local FM rock station in 1973. Subsequently experiencing a tour date at Cobo Arena (Detroit).....it was the few times in my life that I experienced 'goosebumps' while experiencing a concert. I am STILL (in 2021) discovering bits that amaze me !!
Ty so much Chris!!
This album is simply AWESOME!
So many people did spew much hate on this album, piece of music.... I loved it from my first listen on day 1. What a magic Masterpiece! Love it still!
I just Love watching your "Amusement & Confusion' in the many Fantasy worlds
of Classic Prog Justin !! Lol
You still have long journey ahead of you "Grasshopper" !! : D
Enjoy the ride Lol
Great reaction, JP!
Some observations:
Note how in the theatre programme “The Linwell Theatre” looks like “The Unwell Theatre”…
THE Passion Play is, traditionally, the story of Christ’s life and death. This is “a” passion play, the story of an ordinary life and death.
A silver cord (chord) is said to link the body to the soul. If it lies on the ground, you dead!
The Ice Cream Lady was (is?) a feature of British cinemas and theatres, selling ice cream from a tray in the intermission between shows. She was so excited to see Ronnie Pilgrim’s life shown on screen that she pee’d her pants.
The Memory Bank is the place where your life flashes before your eyes at death, represented here like starring in the movie of your own life.
The Hare… is a children’s nonsense story in the style of Alice or Winnie The Pooh. Perhaps it’s a memory from Ronnie’s own childhood? Maybe it’s just a bit of fun to break up an otherwise long, intense piece of music that the band knew they had to perform live and would need an intermission.
Musically, the album is very experimental, with use of new instruments for Tull, particularly saxophone and the then very unusual and fresh sound of electronic keyboards. Ian says he physically disliked blowing sax and it rarely appeared again in the Tull repertoire, but synths were to become a regular (if at times controversial) addition to the band’s sound.
Congrats on reaching 20K JP and also on deciding to do this in one video. Such a great record. Great reaction.
One of the best albums ever recorded
@@Katehowe3010
I appreciate your opinion, but I'm sorry, I can't agree with you either. For me, this is a work of art.
@@milosshomi80 I agree ! A real gem. their best to me (although I also really like Thick As A Brick, War Child, Heavy Horses and A).
Thoroughly enjoyed this. The album cover, you may well know, is slightly confusing. There is fictional content all over it, with no credits to the band, until you look at the record label. There it says that Ian Anderson is on acoustic guitars, which really impresses me because there is some nice Spanish Classical style acoustic guitar playing on this album. That, and Ian also plays a soprano sax in addition to his flute!
Ian plays some wonderful acoustic guitar, and yet never seems to acknowledge his own talent. His flute playing obviously dominates his image, but I love it when he brings out his little parlour guitar and produces some amazing textures and phrases.
He often says he took up the flute because he’d never be as good on guitar as Clapton but I’ve seen both play live and I’d sooner hear Ian any day!
'The Story of the Hare Who Lost His Spectacles' is told in the style of Alan Bennett who read the Winnie the Pooh stories on the BBC programme Jackanory. According to Wikipedia, these were broadcast in 1968 and 1970.
I like almost everything Tull has produced but A Passion Play is my favourite - a masterpiece.
Wish I could have seen this live! I have been told that it starts with the heartbeat and the cover picture...then you "realize" the Ballerina is moving her fingers!
Probably my favorite Tull album, though there are a few close contenders. I'm in sync with everything you said here. There's a lot going on musically, and the lyrics are rich in wordplay. Even today it sounds fresh to my ears.
I love the reaction at 45:37, where the hard rock comes crashing down on the idyllic acoustic passage. Your expression says, "Why did you wake me? I was having the nicest dream!"
The section preceding that has some lines I think are key to the interpretation. "Here's the everlasting rub: neither am I good or bad. I'd give up my halo for a horn and the horn for the hat I once had." "Twist my right arm in the dark. I would give two or three for one of those days that never made impressions on the old score." I think he's talking about arbitrary moral constructs that don't add value to life, and how he prefers to just let life unfold naturally -- a sentiment we hear in "Wind Up", as well. "The Story of the Hare Who Lost His Spectacles" presages this as well, where all the other animals, with their efforts to "do good", really weren't doing anything for the hare at all ("...and as for all their tempting ideas, the hare didn't -a-care. The lost spectacles were his own affair...". Live, and let live.
Now I need to go and watch the ballet video of The Hare Who Lost His Spectacles again (th-cam.com/video/H_toN5VfWBo/w-d-xo.html).
I would like to add another key to the interpretation/experience - Note - this is all occurs to you, as the listener, in the afterlife through the eyes of the singer.... "the sore thumb screams aloud, echoing out of the Passion Play" specifically references "all of this and some of that's the only way to skin a cat.... and now you lost a skin or two, where you're for us and we for you.... The dressing room is right behind ....We have you taped your in the play,,, How does it feel to be in the play, how does it feel to play the play, How does it feel to be the play" ... This is a direct reference to a blood oath, (your psychic blood) that you were tricked into by the passion of the moment. Up to now it was all a setup of the listener. This is why the "Old dogs howl in madness" because they know and they're back for more. The first half of the LP is the listener's fall from grace (entrapment) while the second half is the redemption of both the listener and the singer up to and including rebirth, there was a hush in the passion play as the baby is born at the end.
Oh and as for my take on "The Hare That Lost His Spectacles" - it is simply what goes down on Fulum Rd.
Congrats on the 20K JP. Love the Passion Play, even the hare.
Ian Anderson played the acoustic guitar. Martin Barre played the electric guitar.
Hate to tell abut Ian plays most of the bass part as he did in Thick As a Brick, Jeffery did not play bass for 6 years till Ian called him to be in the band after Ian kicked Glenn out of the band, Jeffery told Ian "I can't play anymore and I never was that good" But Ian knew Jefferywould fall in line with Ian Anderson so he told Jeffery he would do the bass part and you can do some in the studio and just get really to play live when we start to play live
So glad you used the remixed version which has the 2 extra verses on The Foot Of Our Stairs section!!!!!
Yes that surprised me me as I know the album note for note.😱
My favorite line from this album is "Here's the everlasting rub, neither was I good nor bad, I'd give up my halo fior a horn and the horn for the hat I once had". Says it all.😎
The double kick work Barrie utilizes in this is just beautiful, clinical! I mean an absolute master class of drumming and how to properly utilize the double bass!!!
Powerful, yet graceful... I think his drumming on APP is his most creative and technical and is just flat out perfect!!! I've tried to play it myself and it's an ass kicker!
I mean c'mon who does triplet feels on the double bass that fast!!! The time signature is in 3/3 during those parts and his feel is still in 3 despite all that's going on! It's so hard to do because you want to play 4 on the double kick, but you can't because you loose the 3 feel. Each note on the kick is so precise, just phenomenal!!
Congrats on 20K JP.... Can't wait for another 5 and 10K more!! Doing "The Wall" will be mucho entertainment!!! Your content is wonderful!!
Ty Stevey!
Utterly brilliant work of art.
Outstanding album, great review and congratulations for your achievement of 20k subscribers!
Best concert I ever saw.
Very cool album. Got it when it came out.