Jethro Tull - A Passion Play (Full album 1973)

“A Passion Play” is the sixth studio album by Jethro Tull, released in July 1973 in both UK and US. Like its predecessor, “Thick as a Brick” (1972), it is a concept album comprising individual songs arranged into a single continuous piece of music (which is split into two parts on the original vinyl LP release). The theme of the concept is apparently the spiritual journey of one man (Ronnie Pilgrim) in the afterlife. In the original tour to support the album, three videos were used: one for the intro of the "play", a second for "The Story of the Hare Who Lost His Spectacles", and a final short segment to conclude the act. The whole of the concert was the high water mark of Jethro Tull's elaborate stage productions.
Despite initially receiving generally negative reviews, with many critics comparing it unfavourably to “Thick as a Brick”, “A Passion Play” became Jethro Tull's second No. 1 album in the United States.

“A Passion Play” este al saselea album de studio al trupei Jethro Tull, lansat in iulie 1973, atat in Marea Britanie, cat si in Statele Unite. La fel ca predecesorul sau “Thick as a Brick”, este un album de conceptie, continand cantece individuale aranjate intr-o singura piesa muzicala, continuu (pe albumul original de vinil are  doua parti). Tema conceptului pare a fi calatoria spirituala a unui barbat (Ronnie Pilgrim) in viata de dupa moarte. In turneul initial de promovare a albumului au fost folosite trei clip-uri video: unul pentru introducerea la piesa, al doilea pentru “The Story of the Hare Who Lost His Spectacles” si un segment scurt dde final pentru a inchide actul. Intregul spectacol a fost un apogeu al productiei de scena a lui Jethro Tull. In ciuda faptului ca initial s-au primit recenzii negative, cu multe critici ce-l comparau nefavorabil cu “Thick as a Brick”, “A Passion Play” a devenit al doilea album Jethro Tull de locul 1 in Statele Unite.

List of tracks

Side 1

1."A Passion Play, part I

I. "Act 1: Ronnie Pilgrim's funeral — a winter's morning in the cemetery"

I. "Lifebeats" (instrumental)

II. "Prelude" (instrumental)

III. "The Silver Cord"

IV. "Re-Assuring Tune" (instrumental)

II. "Act 2: The Memory Bank — a small but comfortable theatre with a cinema-screen (the next morning)"

I. "Memory Bank"

II. "Best Friends"

III. "Critique Oblique"

IV. "Forest Dance #1" (instrumental)

III. "Interlude: The Story of the Hare Who Lost His Spectacles"

      I."The Story of the Hare Who Lost His Spectacles" (Ian Anderson, Jeffrey    Hammond, John Evan)"

Side 2

2."A Passion Play, part II

I. "Interlude: The Story of the Hare Who Lost His Spectacles"

I. "The Story of the Hare Who Lost His Spectacles" (Anderson, Hammond, Evan)

II. "Act 3: The business office of G. Oddie & Son (two days later)"

I. "Forest Dance #2" (instrumental)

II. "The Foot of Our Stairs"

III. "Overseer Overture"

III. "Act 4: Magus Perdé's drawing room at midnight"

I. "Flight from Lucifer"

II. "10:08 to Paddington" (instrumental)

III. "Magus Perdé"

IV. "Epilogue""

Personnel

Jethro Tull

Ian Anderson – lead vocals, flute, acoustic guitar, soprano and sopranino saxophone

Martin Barre – electric guitar

John Evan – backing vocals, piano, organ, synthesizer

Jeffrey Hammond – bass guitar, spoken word (on "The Story of the Hare Who Lost His Spectacles")

Barriemore Barlow – drums, percussion, timpani, glockenspiel, marimba

Additional personnel

Dee Palmer – orchestral arrangements

Robin Black – sound engineer

Terry Ellis – producer

Brian Ward – photography