Jethro Tull "Minstrel in the Gallery" (1975)

2002 Remaster

Minstrel in the Gallery
release date: Sep. 5, 1975
format: digital (2002 remaster)
[album rate: 2,5 / 5]
producer: Ian Anderson
label: Chrysalis Records - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 1. "Minstrel in the Gallery" 3 / 5) - 2. "Cold Wind to Valhalla" (3 / 5) - 4. "Requiem" (3,5 / 5) - 7. "Grace" (3,5 /5 )

8th studio album by Jethro Tull. After Thick as a Brick (1972) Jethro Tull released another conceptual album A Passion Play (1973) consisting of only one track, which received mixed to negative reviews, except from in the US where the band sold better than in the UK - both the '72 and the '73 album ended up on top of the charts in the US album but 'only' reaching number #5 and #13 respectively in the UK. After that, the band released War Child (1974), which apparently is more ordinarily composed with 10 tracks.

Minstrel in the Gallery is yet again an album of Jethro Tull blend of progressive rock and hard rock with influences from folk and classical. I don't find it as great as their '71 or '72 album nor as fine as the '77 and '78 albums. I think, it's like a more closed and narrow album for the enlightened few.
[ allmusic.com 4 / 5, Sputnik Music 4,5 / 5 stars ]

org. vinyl cover