“War Child” is the seventh studio album by Jethro Tull,
released in October 1974. It was released almost a year and a half after the
release of “A Passion Play”. The turmoil over criticism of the previous album
surrounded the production of “War Child”, which obliged the band to do press
conferences and explain their plans for the future.
Much of the music derived from past recording sessions of the band. "Only
Solitaire" and "Skating Away on the Thin Ice of the New Day"
were left over from the summer 1972 writing sessions for what was to have been
the follow-up to “Thick as a Brick” (1972). The basic tracks and lead vocals
for those two songs were recorded during September 1972 sessions in France.
"Bungle in the Jungle" also shares some elements with material
recorded in September 1972. Ian Anderson told Songfacts: "It was actually
late '72 or early '73 when I was in Paris recording an album that never got
released, although one or two of the tracks made it out in 1974, but that was
at a time when I was writing an album that was exploring people, the human
condition, through analogies with the animal kingdom." "Two
Fingers" is a rearrangement of "Lick Your Fingers Clean", a
track from the “Aqualung” (1971) recording sessions that was not included on
that album's original release.
“War Child” este al saptelea album de studio al trupei
Jethro Tull, lansat in octombrie 1974. A fost lansat la aproape un an si
jumatate dupa “A Passion of Play”. Zarva critica a precedentului album a
inconjurat productia pentru “War Child’, ceea ce a obligat trupa sa faca multe
conferinte de presa si sa explice planurile lor de viitor.
Mare parte din muzica albumului deriva din inregistrari anterioare ale trupei. “Only
Solitaire” si “Skating Away on the Thin Ice of the New Day” erau ramase de la
sesiunea de compunere din 1972 pentru albumul “Thick as a Brick” (1972).
Melodiile de baza si vocea pentru aceste doua cantece au fost inregistrate in
sesiunile din septembrie 1972, din Franta. “Bungle in the Jungle” are de
asemenea elemente comune cu acele sesiuni. Ian Anderson a spus pentru
Songfacts:”Era spre sfarsitul lui 1972 sau inceputul lui 1973 cand am fost la
Paris pentru inregistrarea unui album care nu a fost scos niciodata, desi una
sau doua melodii au reusit asta in 1974, dar a fost un timp in care scriam un
album care explora oamenii, conditia umana, prin analogii cu regatul animalelor”.
“Two Fingers” este un rearanjament pentru “Lick Your Fingers Clean”, o piesa de
pe sesiunea de inregistrare de la “Aqualung” (1971), piesa ce nu a fost inclusa
in acel album.
List of tracks
All music is composed by Ian Anderson, except where
noted.
Side 1
1. "War
Child" 4:35
2. "Queen
and Country" 3:00
3. "Ladies" 3:17
4. "Back-Door
Angels" 5:30
5. "Sealion" 3:37
Side 2
6. "Skating
Away on the Thin Ice of the New Day" 4:09
7. "Bungle
in the Jungle" 3:35
8. "Only
Solitaire" 1:38
9. "The
Third Hoorah" 4:49
10. "Two
Fingers" 5:11
Personnel
Jethro Tull
Ian Anderson – vocals, flute, acoustic guitar, saxophone
Martin Barre – electric guitar, Spanish guitar
John Evan – piano, organ, synthesizers, accordion
Jeffrey Hammond – lead vocals and spoken word (on
"Sealion II"), bass guitar, string bass
Barriemore Barlow – drums, percussion
Additional personnel
Dee Palmer – orchestral arrangements
Robin Black – sound engineer
Terry Ellis – executive producer
.jpg)
