A Passion Play
Encyclopedia
A Passion Play is a concept album
, and the sixth studio album, released by Jethro Tull
. Apparently concerning the spiritual journey of one man in the afterlife
, it is similar to Thick as a Brick
in that it is one long track split across both sides of the LP vinyl record, save for the interruption of the oddly whimsical spoken-word piece "The Story of the Hare Who Lost His Spectacles" (a section that is very similar to, and probably parodies, Sergei Prokofiev
's Peter and the Wolf
). Upon its release in 1973, it received generally negative reviews; nevertheless, it sold well enough to reach #1 on the charts in the United States. In the United Kingdom, however, it did not do as well, reaching #16.
Script of the concept:
released a CD, which indexed tracks as per the radio-station promo (see below) and in 2003 a remastered CD version with an additional video track was released.
All songs written by Anderson
unless stated otherwise.
Concept album
In music, a concept album is an album that is "unified by a theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, narrative, or lyrical." Commonly, concept albums tend to incorporate preconceived musical or lyrical ideas rather than being improvised or composed in the studio, with all songs contributing...
, and the sixth studio album, released by Jethro Tull
Jethro Tull (band)
Jethro Tull are a British rock group formed in 1967. Their music is characterised by the vocals, acoustic guitar, and flute playing of Ian Anderson, who has led the band since its founding, and the guitar work of Martin Barre, who has been with the band since 1969.Initially playing blues rock with...
. Apparently concerning the spiritual journey of one man in the afterlife
Afterlife
The afterlife is the belief that a part of, or essence of, or soul of an individual, which carries with it and confers personal identity, survives the death of the body of this world and this lifetime, by natural or supernatural means, in contrast to the belief in eternal...
, it is similar to Thick as a Brick
Thick as a Brick
-Differences between various CD releases:By 2011 the album received three major releases on CD: the first release , the MFSL-release , and the 25th Anniversary Edition . Whereas the first release and the MFSL-release run with identical speed, the 25th Anniversary edition runs 0.5% slower...
in that it is one long track split across both sides of the LP vinyl record, save for the interruption of the oddly whimsical spoken-word piece "The Story of the Hare Who Lost His Spectacles" (a section that is very similar to, and probably parodies, Sergei Prokofiev
Sergei Prokofiev
Sergei Sergeyevich Prokofiev was a Russian composer, pianist and conductor who mastered numerous musical genres and is regarded as one of the major composers of the 20th century...
's Peter and the Wolf
Peter and the Wolf
Peter and the Wolf , Op. 67, is a composition written by Sergei Prokofiev in 1936 in the USSR. It is a children's story , spoken by a narrator accompanied by the orchestra....
). Upon its release in 1973, it received generally negative reviews; nevertheless, it sold well enough to reach #1 on the charts in the United States. In the United Kingdom, however, it did not do as well, reaching #16.
Script of the concept:
- Act 1: Ronnie Pilgrim's Funeral: a winter's morning in the cemetery.
- Act 2: The Memory Bank: a small but comfortable theatre with a cinema-screen (the next morning).
- Act 3: The business office of G. Oddie & Son (two days later).
- Act 4: Magus Perdé's drawing room at midnight.
Releases
Subsequent to the original 1973 release, the album was released on CD. Later, in March 1998 Mobile Fidelity Sound LabMobile Fidelity Sound Lab
Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab is a company known as an innovator in the production of audiophile-quality sound recordings. All releases are advertised as being produced from the first-generation analog master recordings, and using proprietary technology, which MFSL claims allows for improved sound...
released a CD, which indexed tracks as per the radio-station promo (see below) and in 2003 a remastered CD version with an additional video track was released.
- On the original release of this album, as well as the original CD release, side one of the album ends in the middle of "The Story of the Hare Who Lost His Spectacles", and side two begins where it left off. However, on the 2003 remastered CD, the second part begins with the full story so that it doesn't get cut off in the middle.
Track listing
These titles were provided by Anderson for the 1973 DJ pressing of the LP, though they were not included for the standard pressing. The gold Ultradisc Original Master Recording cd contains cueable tracks for each title, but the standard CD releases contain only one or two tracks, depending on the version.All songs written by Anderson
Ian Anderson (musician)
Ian Scott Anderson, MBE is a Scottish singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, best known for his work as the leader and flautist of British rock band Jethro Tull.-Early life:...
unless stated otherwise.
Side one
- "A Passion Play (Part 1)" – 21:35
- "Act 1"
- "Lifebeats" – 1:14
- "Prelude" – 2:14
- "The Silver Cord" – 4:29
- "Re-Assuring Tune" – 1:11
- "Act 2"
- "Memory Bank" – 4:20
- "Best Friends" – 1:58
- "Critique Oblique" – 4:38
- "Intervals 1"
- "Forest Dance #1" – 1:35
- "Act 1"
Side two
- "A Passion Play (Part 2)" – 23:30
- "Intevals 2"
- "The Story of the Hare Who Lost His Spectacles" (AndersonIan Anderson (musician)Ian Scott Anderson, MBE is a Scottish singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, best known for his work as the leader and flautist of British rock band Jethro Tull.-Early life:...
/ HammondJeffrey HammondJeffrey Hammond sometimes credited as Jeffrey Hammond-Hammond, is a former bass guitar player for the progressive rock band Jethro Tull....
/ EvanJohn EvanJohn Evan , played keyboards for Jethro Tull from April 1970 to June 1980. He was educated at King's College London....
) – 4:18 - "Forest Dance #2" – 1:12
- "The Story of the Hare Who Lost His Spectacles" (Anderson
- "Act 3"
- "The Foot of Our Stairs" – 4:18
- "Overseer Overture" – 4:00
- "Act 4"
- "Flight from Lucifer" – 3:58
- "10:08 to Paddington" – 1:04
- "Magus Perdé" – 3:55
- "Epilogue" – 0:43
- "Intevals 2"
Bonus tracks
- "The Story of the Hare Who Lost His Spectacles"
- The 2003 release includes this additional 7-minute QuickTimeQuickTimeQuickTime is an extensible proprietary multimedia framework developed by Apple Inc., capable of handling various formats of digital video, picture, sound, panoramic images, and interactivity. The classic version of QuickTime is available for Windows XP and later, as well as Mac OS X Leopard and...
video, which was used in the original APP concerts.
- The 2003 release includes this additional 7-minute QuickTime
Chart positions
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Billboard Pop Albums | 1 |
| 1973 | U.K. album charts | 13 |
Personnel
- Ian AndersonIan Anderson (musician)Ian Scott Anderson, MBE is a Scottish singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, best known for his work as the leader and flautist of British rock band Jethro Tull.-Early life:...
– fluteFluteThe flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
, acoustic guitarSteel-string acoustic guitarA steel-string acoustic guitar is a modern form of guitar descended from the classical guitar, but strung with steel strings for a brighter, louder sound...
, saxophoneSaxophoneThe saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
s, VocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments... - Barriemore BarlowBarriemore BarlowBarrie "Barriemore" Barlow is an English musician, best known as the drummer and percussionist for the rock band Jethro Tull, from May 1971 to June 1980....
– drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration... - Martin BarreMartin BarreMartin Lancelot Barre is an English rock musician.Barre has been the guitarist for rock band Jethro Tull since 1969. He has appeared on every Jethro Tull album except their debut This Was...
– electric guitarElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker... - John EvanJohn EvanJohn Evan , played keyboards for Jethro Tull from April 1970 to June 1980. He was educated at King's College London....
– pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, organOrgan (music)The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
, synthesiserSynthesizerA synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
s, vocals, narrator on "The Story of the Hare Who Lost His Spectacles" - Jeffrey HammondJeffrey HammondJeffrey Hammond sometimes credited as Jeffrey Hammond-Hammond, is a former bass guitar player for the progressive rock band Jethro Tull....
– bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, vocals
External links
- An excellent line-by-line annotated interpretation of the lyrics can be found at The Ministry of Information.
- A Passion Play at Ground and Sky.