Length 38:49 Artist Jethro Tull Label Chrysalis Records | The Broadsword and the Beast
(1982) Under Wraps
(1984) Release date 10 April 1982 Producer Paul Samwell-Smith | |
 | ||
Released 10 April 1982 (UK)
19 April 1982 (US) Recorded Winter 1981 at Maison Rouge Studios, Fulham, London Genres Rock music, Progressive rock, Folk rock, Hard rock, Art rock, Electronics in rock music Similar Jethro Tull albums, Progressive rock albums | ||
The Broadsword and the Beast is the 14th studio album by Jethro Tull, released on 10 April 1982 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, provided by Peter-John Vettese (a characteristic that would be explored further on the next album Under Wraps), with acoustic instruments. The album is a cross between the synthesiser sound of the 1980s and the folk-influenced style that Tull had in the previous decade.
Contents
Cover and name
The cover art is by renowned artist Iain McCaig, long time fan of Jethro Tull. The art was made after a talk with Ian Anderson, and tried to capture the concept of the music. McCaig has stated that he intentionally drew hidden "easter eggs" in the album art.
The runic symbols around the edge of the cover are from the Cirth rune system and are 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.
The album was going to be called Beastie, responding to the first track on side one. But during production the band deliberated over the preference between Beastie and Broadsword, the first track on side two. In the end they decided (as on Aqualung) to give each side its own title and thus its own identity, and this time to combine both in the album title. As the artwork also puts much more emphasis on Broadsword, many owners and fans also refer to it as the Broadsword album.
Releases
In 1984, Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab issued a half-speed mastered edition of the album (MFSL 1-092). It was a minor seller at the time, but has since become highly collectible.
The 2005 CD reissue of the album was heavily expanded to include eight bonus tracks recorded during the Broadsword sessions, but not included in the original 1982 album.
Live performance
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.
In a 1982 concert review, Chris Welch reported: "Squire Anderson waved a huge broadsword dangerously near Martin's nether extremities during songs from their latest album (The Broadsword And The Beast), and punted huge exploding balloons out into the audience. But it was the roar of the band as they got into their heaviest moments that ultimately captivated an audience who seemed evenly mixed between 14-year-old novice Tull freaks and silver-haired rock business veterans. [...] Tull have a vast library of music to perform. They could have played on for another two hours and the audience would have been with them, cheering all the way."
"Cheerio", the final track of the original release, was for some years played as the final encore at Jethro Tull concerts.
Critical reception
Kerrang! review was ambiguous, calling the album tracks "emotional pieces of composition depending on how much attention you are prepared to give" but overall stated that "If you're a fan, buy it, it may have some pleasant surprises. If, like me, you're not, borrow it from someone who is. You might be surprised too". Rolling Stone magazine, in their two stars review stated: "There's nothing wrong with living in the past, perhaps. Indeed, Ian Anderson can make the wisdom of the ages seem preferable to the rootless philandering of the present day. But on The Broadsword and the Beast, the real beast may be Anderson's penchant for ponderous sermonizing." AllMusic review, by Bruce Eder was not too impressed with the album. Recalling the production and the music overall, he stated that "this time in the hands of ex-Yardbird Paul Samwell-Smith, is smoother, less heavy, and more thinly textured than their past work, and there are times -- most especially on "Flying Colours"—where they could almost pass for the latter-day Moody Blues, something the band never would have permitted in earlier days".
The Broadsword and the Beast is one of Steve Hackett's favorite albums.
The Broadsword and the Beast sales were better than A and Stormwatch, charting in Germany and Norway, with the Nº 14, in UK with the Nº 27 and Nº 19 in the United States, while the single "Fallen on Hard Times" was a modest hit, reaching No. 20 on the US charts.
Cover versions
Track listing
All tracks written by Ian Anderson with additional material by Peter-John Vettese.
Personnel
Songs
1Beastie3:59
2Clasp4:18
3Fallen on Hard Times3:16