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:

11. "Jack Frost and the Hooded Crow" – 3:22
12. "Jack A Lynn" – 4:40
13. "Mayhem Maybe" – 3:06 (with vocals recorded circa 1988)
14. "Too Many Too" - 3:28
15. "Overhang" – 4:29
16. "Rhythm in Gold" – 3:08
17. "I Am Your Gun" – 3:19
18. "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)