Minstrel in the Gallery

Minstrel in the Gallery is the eighth studio album by British band Jethro Tull, recorded in April and released in September 1975. The album goes in a different direction from their previous work War Child (1974), with the orchestration being replaced by a string quartet conducted by David Palmer. The band also return to the blend of electric and acoustic pieces, in a manner closer to their early '70s albums such as Benefit (1970), Aqualung (1971) and Thick as a Brick (1972), and for the first time since their two concept albums of Thick as a Brick and A Passion Play (1973), they recorded a song of more than ten minutes, which occupies almost all of the second side of the record.^[1]^[5]

It would be the last album to feature bassist Jeffrey Hammond, who was replaced by former Carmen bass player John Glascock.

Production

The band recorded in a mobile studio in Monte Carlo - being the first time Jethro Tull recorded an album in such studio. Anderson thought that the band was unfocused in the making of the music, leaving him with more freedom to explore the melodies and themes. Minstrel in the Gallery's lyrics and subject matter do show an introspective and cynical air, possibly the byproduct of Anderson's recent divorce from first wife Jennie Franks and the pressures of touring, coupled with the frustrations of writing for and recording the album in Monaco.^[6]

Musical styles and themes

The album' title refers to the use of a minstrel's gallery in the great hall of castles or manor houses. This analogy was used thematically in the opening spoken words of the title track, "Cold Wind to Valhalla" and "Baker St. Muse" and also in the songs lyrics, always in a first person manner.

Stylistically the album is varied, exemplary of Jethro Tull's best hard rock performances, with long instrumental passages, invested with elements of British folk and archaic, pre-Elizabethan sounds.^[3] Team Rock called Minstrel in the Gallery's musical style a "heavy metal take on the obsessively ornamented style of A Passion Play ".^[7]

Releases

Minstrel in the Gallery was remastered with five additional bonus tracks in November 2002, including incomplete live-in-the-studio renditions of "Minstrel in the Gallery" and "Cold Wind to Valhalla", some tracks that appeared only on maxi-singles ("Pan Dance", "March the Mad Scientist") and "Summerday Sands" which was the B-side of the "Minstrel in the Gallery" single.

In 2015, commemorating the 40th anniversary of Minstrel in the Gallery, it was released a box set with two CDs and two DVDs, named La Grande Edition. The box contains rare and previously unreleased tracks (such as alternate takes from "Requiem", "Grace" and "One White Duck") including new stereo mixes by Steven Wilson and a live presentation, from 1975 in Palais des Sports, remixed by Jakko Jakszyk. Also, an 80-page booklet featuring track-by-track annotations by Ian Anderson, a history of the group and recollections of life on tour by road crew member Kenny Wylie, maintenance engineer Pete Smith and string section musician Liz Edwards.^[8] Heavyweight vinyl and standard CD editions of the album were also announced.^[9]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	^[3]
Rolling Stone	(unfavourable)^[10]
Sounds	(favourable)
Sputnik Music	^[11]

Rolling Stone contemporary review has a negative approach towards Minstrel in the Gallery, stating that "The fact that Ian Anderson and the lads have once again plundered the British secular music tradition signifies little and delivers less." The review recalls the music in terms as "a wash of lugubrious string passages", the "anachronisms of Jeffrey Hammond-Hammond's mechanical bass lines" and "Martin Barre's hysterical electric guitar montages". The lyrics are considered "contrary to the LP's basic concept [...] instantly forgettable".^[12]

AllMusic gave a favourable review, stating that the album is the "most artistically successful and elaborately produced album since Thick as a Brick". Analysing the music, it said: "Martin Barre's attack on the guitar is as ferocious as anything in the band's history, and John Evan's organ matches him amp for amp, while Barriemore Barlow and Jeffrey Hammond-Hammond hold things together in a furious performance. Anderson's flair for drama and melody come to the fore in "Cold Wind to Valhalla," and "Requiem" is the loveliest acoustic number in Tull's repertory, featuring nothing but Anderson's singing and acoustic guitar, Hammond-Hammond's bass, and a small string orchestra backing them".^[1]

Charts

Minstrel in the Gallery received Gold Certification in both the United States and the UK and is the eighth best selling Jethro Tull album.^[13] The album peaked at No. 7 on the Billboard album chart, and at No. 20 in the UK Albums Chart - Songs from the Wood would sell better two years later in the UK.^[14] It also charted in Norway, reaching No. 13, and Austria, where it reached also No. 7, and in Sweden where it reached the No. 50 spot. It fared quite well in Denmark, peaking at No. 8.^[15]

Track listing

1975 Original release

All tracks written by Ian Anderson, except as noted. Arrangements for orchestra were written by David Palmer. All credits derived from the original record pressing.

Side one
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Minstrel in the Gallery" (Anderson, Martin Barre)	8:13
2.	"Cold Wind to Valhalla"	4:19
3.	"Black Satin Dancer"	6:52
4.	"Requiem"	3:45

Side two
No.	Title	Length
1.	"One White Duck / 0¹⁰ = Nothing at All"	4:37
2.	"Baker St. Muse" a) "Pig-Me and the Whore" b) "Nice Little Tune" c) "Crash Barrier Waltzer" d) "Mother England Reverie"	16:39
3.	"Grace"	0:37

2002 Remaster

The 2002 remaster added five bonus tracks:
No.	Title	Length
8.	"Summerday Sands"	3:45
9.	"March the Mad Scientist"	1:49
10.	"Pan Dance"	3:26
11.	"Minstrel in the Gallery" (Live)	2:12
12.	"Cold Wind to Valhalla" (Live)	1:31

All five bonus tracks originally appeared on the 20 Years of Jethro Tull box-set.

2015 La Grande Edition

Minstrel in the Gallery
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Minstrel in the Gallery" (Anderson, Martin Barre)	8:13
2.	"Cold Wind to Valhalla"	4:19
3.	"Black Satin Dancer"	6:52
4.	"Requiem"	3:45
5.	"One White Duck / 0¹⁰ = Nothing at All"	4:37
6.	"Baker St. Muse (including...)"	5:09
7.	"Baker St. Muse: II. Pig-Me and the Whore"	1:30
8.	"Baker St. Muse: III. Nice Little Tune"	1:09
9.	"Baker St. Muse: IV. Crash Barrier Waltzer"	3:09
10.	"Baker St. Muse: V. Mother England Reverie"	5:45
11.	"Grace"	0:37
12.	"Summerday Sands"	3:41
13.	"Requiem (Early Version)"	3:43
14.	"One White Duck (take 5)"	2:28
15.	"Grace (Take 2)"	0:40
16.	"Minstrel in the Gallery (BBC version)"	8:29
17.	"Cold Wind to Valhalla (BBC version)"	4:22
18.	"Aqualung (BBC version)"	8:02

Live at The Palais Des Sports, Paris, July 5, 1975 (2015 Jakko Jakszyk Stereo Mix)
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Introduction (The Beach Part 11)"	0:54
2.	"Wind Up"	3:02
3.	"Critique Oblique"	4:05
4.	"Wond'ring Aloud"	5:17
5.	"My God a) "Flute Solo Including: God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen/Bouree/Quartet" b) "Living In The Past" c) "My God (Reprise)""	11:35
6.	"Cross-Eyed Mary"	4:05
7.	"Minstrel In The Gallery"	9:24
8.	"Skating Away On The Thin Ice Of The New Day"	4:39
9.	"Bungle In The Jungle"	3:17
10.	"Aqualung"	9:42
11.	"Guitar Improvisation"	3:29
12.	"Back-Door Angels"	6:07
13.	"Locomotive Breath with improvisation and including Hard Headed English General and Back-Door Angels (Reprise)"	11:51

Personnel

Credits are adapted from Minstrel in the Gallery liner notes.^[16]

Jethro Tull

Ian Anderson – flute, acoustic guitar, vocals
Martin Barre – electric guitars
John Evan – piano and organ
Jeffrey Hammond – bass guitar and string bass
Barriemore Barlow – drums, percussion

Additional personnel

David Palmer – orchestral arrangements and conduction
- Rita Eddowes, Elizabeth Edwards, Patrick Halling and Bridget Procter - violins
- Katharine Tullborn - cello
Brian Ward - photographs
Ron Kriss and J.E. Garnett - front cover, based on a print by Joseph Nash
Robin Black - sound engineering

References

1 2 3 Bruce Eder. "Minstrel in the Gallery - Jethro Tull | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2015-05-01.
↑ "Review: "Jethro Tull: Minstrel in the Gallery (Remaster)" - Sea of Tranquility - The Web Destination for Progressive Music!". Seaoftranquility.org. 2002-11-17. Retrieved 2015-05-01.
1 2 3 Eder, Bruce. Album review Jethro Tull Minstrel in the Gallery at AllMusic. Retrieved 14 December 2011.
↑ vanderb0b. "Minstrel in the Gallery". Retrieved 2015-05-07.
↑ "Minstrel in the Gallery". Jethrotull.com. 1975-09-05. Retrieved 2015-05-01.
↑ "Minstrel in the Gallery". Jethrotull.com. 1975-09-05. Retrieved 2015-05-01.
↑ http://www.teamrock.com/reviews/2015-04-17/jethro-tull-minstrel-in-the-gallery-40th-anniversary-la-grande-ed?identifier=726576696577-552f84482581f5.01551846
↑ "Jethro Tull unveil Minstrel 40th anniversary edition - Prog". Prog.teamrock.com. Retrieved 2015-05-01.
↑ "Minstrel In The Gallery – 40th Anniversary La Grande Edition". Jethrotull.com. Retrieved 2015-05-01.
↑ Costa, Jean-Charles (6 November 1975). "Album review Jethro Tull Minstrel in the Gallery". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 14 December 2011.
↑ "Jethro Tull - Minstrel in the Gallery (album review 2)". Sputnikmusic.com. 2008-07-02. Retrieved 2015-05-01.
↑ Menconi, David (1975-11-06). "Jethro Tull Minstrel In The Gallery Album Review". Rollingstone.com. Retrieved 2015-05-01.
↑ "Album artist 51 - Jethro Tull". Tsort.info. Retrieved 2015-05-01.
↑ "UK Chart history of Jethro Tull Minstrel in the Gallery". www.chartstats.com. Retrieved 14 December 2011.
↑ http://danskehitlister.dk/?song_id=2297
↑ (1975). "Ministrel in the Gallery liner notes". In Ministrel in the Gallery [Album cover]. Chrysalis.

External links

Minstrel in the Gallery (1975) at AllMusic
Minstrel in the Gallery (2002) at AllMusic (bonus tracks)
Minstrel In The Gallery at Progressive World

Jethro Tull

Ian Anderson Clive Bunker Glenn Cornick Mick Abrahams Tony Iommi Martin Barre John Evan Jeffrey Hammond Barriemore Barlow John Glascock David (Dee) Palmer Dave Pegg Mark Craney Eddie Jobson Peter-John Vettese Gerry Conway Paul Burgess Doane Perry Don Airey Maartin Allcock Andrew Giddings Dave Mattacks Jonathan Noyce David Goodier John O'Hara

Studio albums	This Was Stand Up Benefit Aqualung Thick as a Brick A Passion Play War Child Minstrel in the Gallery Too Old to Rock 'n' Roll: Too Young to Die! Songs from the Wood Heavy Horses Stormwatch A The Broadsword and the Beast Under Wraps Crest of a Knave Rock Island Catfish Rising Roots to Branches J-Tull Dot Com The Jethro Tull Christmas Album

Live albums	Bursting Out Live at Hammersmith '84 A Little Light Music Jethro Tull in Concert Living with the Past Nothing Is Easy: Live at the Isle of Wight 1970 Aqualung Live Live at Montreux 2003 Live at Madison Square Garden 1978 Live at Carnegie Hall 1970

Compilations	Living in the Past M.U. – The Best of Jethro Tull Repeat – The Best of Jethro Tull – Vol II Original Masters 20 Years of Jethro Tull: Highlights Nightcap The Best of Jethro Tull – The Anniversary Collection Through the Years The Very Best of Jethro Tull The Best of Acoustic Jethro Tull The Essential

Boxed sets	20 Years of Jethro Tull 25th Anniversary Box Set

Videos	Slipstream 20 Years of Jethro Tull 25th Anniversary Video Living with the Past A New Day Yesterday Nothing Is Easy: Live at the Isle of Wight 1970 Live at Montreux 2003 Jack in the Green Live at Madison Square Garden 1978 Live at AVO Session Basel Around the World Live (Jethro Tull)

Singles / EPs	"Sunshine Day"/"Aeroplane" "A Song for Jeffrey"/"One for John Gee" "Love Story"/"Christmas Song" "Living in the Past"/"Driving Song" "Sweet Dream"/"Reasons for Waiting" "Bourée"/"Fat Man" "The Witch's Promise"/"Teacher" "Inside"/"Alive and Well and Living In" (UK)/"A Time for Everything" (US) "Hymn 43"/"Mother Goose" "Life Is a Long Song"/"Up the Pool"/"Doctor Bogenbroom"/"From Later"/"Nursie" "A Passion Play" (Edit #8)/"A Passion Play" (Edit #9) "A Passion Play" (Edit #6)/"A Passion Play" (Edit #10) "Bungle in the Jungle"/"Back-Door Angels" "Skating Away (On the Thin Ice of the New Day)/"Sealion" "Minstrel in the Gallery"/"Summerday Sands" "Living in the Past"/"Requiem" (UK)/"Christmas Song" (US) "Too Old to Rock and Roll, Too Young to Die"/"Rainbow Blues" (UK)/"Bad-Eyed and Loveless" (US) "Locomotive Breath"/"Fat Man" "The Whistler"/"Strip Cartoon" "Moths"/"Life Is a Long Song" "A Stitch in Time"/"Sweet Dream" "North Sea Oil"/Elegy" "Home"/Warm Sporran" "Working John, Working Joe"/Fylingdale Flyer" "Beastie"/"Pussy Willow" "Fallen On Hard Times"/Broadsword" "Lap of Luxury"/Astronomy" "Living in the Past"/"Cross-Eyed Mary" "Coronach"/"Jack Frost and the Hooded Crow" "Farm on the Freeway"/"Said She Was a Dancer" "Steel Monkey"/"Down at the End of Your Road" "Said She Was a Dancer"/"Dogs in the Midwinter" "Part of the Machine" (Edit)/"Stormy Monday Blues"/"Lick Your Fingers Clean"/"Minstrel in the Gallery" "Kissing Willie"/"Heavy Water" "Another Christmas Song"/"Intro - A Christmas Song" "Rocks on the Road"/"Rocks on the Road" (Live)/"Bouree" (Live)/"Jack-A-Lynn"/"Night in the Wilderness"/"Jump Start" "Living in the (Slightly More Recent) Past" "Bends Like a Willow"/It All Trickles Down"

Tours	Too Old to Rock 'n' Roll Tour Heavy Horses Tour Stormwatch Tour

Related	Discography A Billion Hands Concert The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus A Classic Case Thick as a Brick 2

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