Jethro Tull: Ian Anderson (vocals, flute, guitar, saxophone); Martin Barre (guitar); John Evans (keyboards); Jeffrey Hammond-Hammond (bass, vocals); Barriemore Barlow (drums, percussion).

This is an Enhanced CD, which contains both regular audio tracks and multimedia computer files.

Jethro Tull: Ian Anderson (vocals, guitar, flute, soprano saxophone); John Evan (spoken vocals, organ, synthesizer); Martin Barre (guitar); David Palmer (saxophone, keyboards, synthesizer); Barriemore Barlow (glockenspiel, drums, percussion); Jeffrey Hammond-Hammond (bass instrument, background vocals).

Liner Note Author: Ian Anderson .

Jethro Tull's second album-length composition, A Passion Play is very different from -- and not quite as successful as -- Thick as a Brick. Ian Anderson utilizes reams of biblical (and biblical-sounding) references, interwoven with modern language, as a sort of a rock equivalent to T.S. Eliot's The Wasteland. As with most progressive rock, the words seem important and profound, but their meaning is anyone's guess ("The ice-cream lady wet her drawers, to see you in the Passion Play..."), with Anderson as a dour but engaging singer/sage (who, at least at one point, seems to take on the role of a fallen angel). It helps to be aware of the framing story, about a newly deceased man called to review his life at the portals of heaven, who realizes that life on Earth is preferable to eternity in paradise. But the music puts it over successfully, a dazzling mix of old English folk and classical material, reshaped in electric rock terms. The band is at its peak form, sustaining the tension and anticipation of this album-length piece across 45 minutes, although the music runs out of inspiration about five minutes before it actually ends. ~ Bruce Eder

Led by Ian Anderson, Jethro Tull had commercial and (varying) critical success with BENEFIT, AQUALUNG and THICK AS A BRICK. However, it was after 1973's A PASSION PLAY, a musically and thematically bold "concept" album, that the band seemed alarmed by the critics' nibbling little pens. Anderson was reportedly so wearied by critics' vitriol that he announced he would never tour again--but did a year later. (Despite the critical hostility, A PASSION PLAY soared to No. 1 in the U.S.).

Musically and lyrically dense, A PASSION PLAY features Anderson's enigmatic lyrics sprinkled with biblical references, and Tull's sprightly mix of minstrel-style English folk with electrified, prog rock overtones. Some may find the CD issue--which doesn't delineate from track to track, implicitly requesting listeners stay the 45-minute course from start to finish--a bit challenging. But those who enjoy vintage Tull recordings will be intrigued by this daring and experimental effort.

Led by Ian Anderson, TULL had commercial and (varying) critical success with BENEFIT, AQUALUNG and THICK AS A BRICK. However, it was after 1973's A PASSION PLAY, a musically and thematically bold "concept" album that the band seemed alarmed by the critics' nibbling little pens. Anderson was reportedly so wearied by critics' vitriol that he announced he would never tour again--but did a year later. (Despite the critical hostility, A PASSION PLAY soared to No. 1 in the U.S.)

What a difference a quarter-of-a-century makes! A PASSION PLAY has been re-released and it's interesting to note that a) few make records as musically and lyrically dense as this anymore, b) there's probably a reason for this, and c) the reason isn't necessarily because A PASSION PLAY is a poor record--it's just challenging. Without the normal delineation from song to song, rock & roll listeners are implicitly requested to stay with it from 45-minute start to finish. Those who enjoy vintage Tull recordings will be intrigued by this daring and experimental effort.