[Broadsword] -- 40 years ago this weekend – on April 10, 1982 – Jethro Tull released The Broadsword and The Beast. This was the band's 14th studio release and, after a major lineup change, it was a shift to electronic rock. I mean, sure, when compared to the folk rock and progressive rock of prior releases, Broadsword can seem to be too reliant on keyboards and swirling synths, but all the other elements of the band were in place, albeit with some different players. Speaking of the players, apparently the band was split between using "Beastie," the first track on side one, or "Broadsword," the opening track on side two, as the album's title track. As you can see, they ultimately opted for a combined album title, but the band also gave each side of the LP its own title (i.e., the first five tracks are Beastie, and the last five are Broadsword).
Oh, and some critics were harsh, either in 1982 or more recently. A Rolling Stone review anointed this record with two out of five stars, concluding that "...the real beast may be Anderson’s penchant for ponderous sermonizing." Not to be outdone, AllMusic's Bruce Eder singles out two standout tracks ("Broadsword" and "Pussy Willow") but bashes the rest of the album as "little better than tuneless drivel." Kerrang referred to it as "Tull's Lame Beast" and suggested borrowing it from a fan if you weren't a completist. Still, many fans responded well. Sales were good, enough that the album reached #14 in Germany and Norway while peaking at #19 and #27 in the US and the UK respectively. Of the two singles, "Fallen On Hard Times" landed at #20 on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks Chart. And this record still ranks in the top 20 of Tull's best-selling albums of all time.
I bought my own copy of the LP, probably in 1984, or 1983 at the earliest. And I'm pretty sure it was in a discount bin at the time (I also picked up a copy of Jethro Tull's 1979 album, Stormwatch, from that same bin). I was initially struck by that cover image, a watercolor painted by artist Iain McCaig, featuring bandleader Ian Anderson as a fairy creature. McCaig also did the back cover image, a stunning ship with a dragon-headed prow (see below). Louder/Prog published an interview with McCaig about the cover art in 2015. Check it out if you want to know the cool easter eggs he included.
And while that cover art might have lead the younger me to expect fantasy-themed songs in a heavy metal setting (rather than Anderson's musings about early 1980s politics in the UK), there is still just enough metaphor here that this record kind of became my standard soundtrack for Dungeons and Dragons. I mean, for reading D&D materials (modules, Dragon magazine, etc.), not during actual game time. Oh, and Martin Barre's playing on both acoustic and electric guitar is great! In my re-listen for this week's Flashback, I would have to say that my favorite tracks are "Fallen On Hard Times," "Slow Marching Band," "Broadsword," and "Seal Driver," all from the original 1982 release. I have not yet revisited the eight bonus tracks from the 2005 CD reissue.
This week, I'm giving you two options for listening: full album (one embedded video) or individual tracks (embedded playlist). Enjoy!
"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."
Flashback: The Broadsword and the Beast (Full Album)
Flashback: The Broadsword and the Beast (10-Track Playlist)
That's all till next week. Dedicated 80s-philes can find more flashbacks in the Prophet or Madman archives or via Bookended's 80s Flashback tag. As always, your comments are welcome on today's, or any other, flashback post. And if you like what I'm doing here, please share the link with your friends. If, however, you don't like the flashback, feel free to share it with your enemies.
I'll see you in seven!
No comments:
Post a Comment