Broadsword and the Beast

Broadsword and the Beast

Infobox Album
Name = The Broadsword And The Beast
Type = Album
Artist = Jethro Tull


Released = April 10 1982 UK
Recorded =
Genre = Hard rock
folk rock
electronic rock
Length = 38:49
Label = Chrysalis
Producer = Paul Samwell-Smith
Reviews =
* Allmusic Rating|1.5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?P=amg&sql=10:3xfixql5ldde link]
*"Rolling Stone" rating|2|5 [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/jethrotull/albums/album/301893/review/5941596/broadsword__the_beast link]
* George Starostin Rating|4.5|5 [http://starling.rinet.ru/music/tull.htm#Beast link]
Last album = "A"
(1980)
This album = "Broadsword and the Beast"
(1982)
Next album = "Under Wraps"
(1984)

"The Broadsword and The Beast" is an album released by Jethro Tull on April 10, 1982 (see 1982 in music) and according to Ian Anderson in the liner notes of the remastered CD, contains some of Jethro Tull's best music. It mixes electronic sound with acoustic instruments and is a cross between the synthesizer sound of the 1980's and the folk-influenced style that Tull had in the previous decade.

The tour for "Broadsword" was the last one for Tull to be exceedingly theatrical. It included the entire stage being decorated to look like a pirate ship, which Ian Anderson, as he said in the liner notes for the remastered CD, thought was very silly. Extensive notes on the production of the album and subsequent tour can be found at the official Jethro Tull website. [http://www.j-tull.com/news/bbliner.cfm]

Video footage of the 1982 tour to support the album is rare but the song 'Broadsword' can be viewed at (now removed) YouTube [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpW13OIcqFo] and a fan-compiled video of free-to-air German and Italian TV broadcasts attempts to recreate the concert in sequential order. [http://thepiratebay.org/tor/3696568/]

The cover art is by renowned artist Iain McCaig.

The runic symbols around the edge of the cover are from the Cirth rune system used by J.R.R. Tolkien in "The Lord of the Rings". The words are, however, English: the opening lyrics to "Broadsword":

"I see a dark sail on the horizon,"set under a black cloud that hides the sun."Bring me my broadsword and clear understanding. "Bring me my cross of gold as a talisman.

"Cheerio", the final track of the original release, is to this day normally played as the final encore at Jethro Tull concerts. fact|date=November 2007

The 2005 CD reissue of the album was expanded to include eight bonus tracks recorded during the "Broadsword" sessions, but not included in the original 1982 album. The main reason for this was the limitation of the LP album format and to release all the tracks would have meant a double-album, for which their record label had not contracted them.

Band members

* Ian Anderson-vocals, flute, acoustic guitar
* Martin Barre-electric & acoustic guitars
* Dave Pegg-bass guitar, mandolin, vocals
* Peter Vettese-piano, synthesizer, vocals
* Gerry Conway drums and percussion

Track listing

(All songs written by Ian Anderson with additional material Peter-John Vettese)

#"Beastie" – 3:58
#"Clasp" – 4:18
#"Fallen On Hard Times" – 3:13
#"Flying Colours" – 4:39
#"Slow Marching Band" – 3:40
#"Broadsword" – 5:03
#"Pussy Willow" – 3:55
#"Watching Me Watching You" – 3:41
#"Seal Driver" – 5:10
#"Cheerio" – 1:09

Ian Anderson's introductions

Ian Anderson wrote a short introduction for each song:

*Beastie: "All of us have some kind of private fear that we don't like to talk about, and this song is about those fears. When I was a boy growing up in Scotland, we called anything that was particularly nasty that we didn't like a beastie."
*The Clasp: "A song about people who shy away from physical contact. The word 'clasp' is used in the sense of a handshake, and the song is just exploring some of the ideas and attitudes behind the embrace of shaking hands, and saying wouldn't it be amusing and perhaps a little profitable to go up to a complete stranger and shake hands with him and say, "Hello, how are you, pleased to meet you." Ironically the handshake, when it is offered, is very often a forced gesture, far removed from its origin which was a way of demonstrating that you had no weapon in your hand and that you were offering your open hand to someone in peace."
*Fallen On Hard Times: "This song is not meant to be a political statement, but merely expresses the disillusionment that most people feel at some time or other with our political masters. The tune is a Scottish folk melody in essence, but it is given a slightly funky rock 'n' roll treatment which gives it a light-hearted feel."
*Flying Colours: "This song came about after witnessing several couples who were going through a bad patch with their relationships, taking delight in showing each other up in public. I'm sure we've all come across them in some sort of social gathering; they revel in digging up the dirt in front of an audience."
*Slow Marching Band: "I don't write many songs about human relationships in the boy-girl context, but this is one that deals with the sadness of parting. But I hope it contains a hint of optimism!"
*Broadsword: "Set in historical times, lyrically as well as musically, this song is about a man's responsibility to protect the family unit."
*Pussy Willow: "A song about a girl in an unrewarding job who fantasises about a more romantic, ideal sort of existence, but she still has to face the reality of catching the train to work in the morning."
*Watching Me Watching You: "The dilemma of people in the public eye! A song about the claustrophobic feeling of being watched all the time."
*Seal Driver: "This song is deliberately ambiguous. It could be about a boat, or it could be about a girl, but since ships and boats are always female, it seems quite a nice fitting sort of analogy."
*Cheerio: "A closing song - perhaps 'au revoir' or 'auf wiedersehen' would be appropriate!"

Bonus tracks

The remastered CD added bonus tracks (which had been on the "20 Years of Jethro Tull" box-set) and extensive liner notes:

  1. "Jack Frost and the Hooded Crow" – 3:22
  2. "Jack A Lynn" – 4:40
  3. "Mayhem Maybe" – 3:06 (with vocals recorded circa 1988)
  4. "Too Many Too" - 3:28
  5. "Overhang" – 4:29
  6. "Rhythm in Gold" – 3:08
  7. "I Am Your Gun" – 3:19
  8. "Down At the End of Your Road" – 3:31
Further tracks from the same sessions (and not included on the remastered CD) are "Motoreyes" (from the 20 Years box) and several from the compilation album Nightcap.

External links

*
* (bonus tracks)


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Broadsword And The Beast — Album par Jethro Tull Sortie 10 avril 1982 (Royaume Uni) Durée 38:49 Genre(s) Rock Producteur(s) Ian Anderson …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Broadsword and the beast — Album par Jethro Tull Sortie 10 avril 1982 (Royaume Uni) Durée 38:49 Genre(s) Rock Producteur(s) Ian Anderson …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Broadsword and the Beast — Album par Jethro Tull Sortie 10 avril 1982 (Royaume Uni) Durée 38:49 Genre Rock Producteur Ian Anderson …   Wikipédia en Français

  • The Broadsword and the Beast — Álbum de Jethro Tull Publicación 10 de abril de 1982 Grabación N/A Género(s) Rock, rock progresivo …   Wikipedia Español

  • The Beast Strikes Back — Discographie pirate d Iron Maiden Le groupe de heavy metal traditionnel britannique Iron Maiden est sans doute l un des groupes disposant d une discographie pirate des plus impressionnantes. La majorité des enregistrements sont faits par des fans …   Wikipédia en Français

  • The Jethro Tull Christmas Album — Album par Jethro Tull Sortie 30 septembre 2003 Genre rock Producteur Ian Anderson Label RandM (Royaume Uni) Fuel 2000 (États Un …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Timeline of progressive rock and progressive metal — This is a list of events, artists, and albums constituting a timeline of major developments in progressive rock and progressive metal.Contents1962 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 …   Wikipedia

  • Minstrel in the Gallery — Studio album by Jethro Tull Released 5 Septemb …   Wikipedia

  • Nothing Is Easy: Live at the Isle of Wight 1970 — Live album DVD by Jethro Tull Released 2 November 2004 Rec …   Wikipedia

  • Living in the Past — Album par Jethro Tull Sortie 23 juin 1972 Durée 1:27:28 Genre rock progressif, folk rock Producteur Ian Anderson, Terry Ellis …   Wikipédia en Français

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”