I see this album constantly get the absolutely trashed by Tull fans. I never got the hate, I've always enjoyed this album. I think it's almost if not just as good as its predecessor Thick as a Brick (though I prefer the two albums before these two to be honest but we're splitting hares here). Anyone else a fan of this album? I remember reading that Steve Harris of Iron Maiden was a big fan of this album so at least I'm not the only one so far that enjoys this much maligned album.
It's probably a top five Tull album for me. I love it. Tull is a top five band for me, too, so that says something about my admiration for this album. It's generally seen as a more bombastic, elongated, and more difficult version of Thick as a Brick and, perhaps, that's true, but I've always really, really liked this album. The ideas and musicianship is absolutely stellar.
Tull are my favorite 70's band. My top three albums in order are, TAAB, Aqualung and APP. To my ears, APP is one of the foremost creative (both conceptually and musically), melodically rich Rock albums of the 70's and well beyond. As a kid very seriously obsessively into music and with friends, likewise, I found the following; the casual Tull fans weren't too nuts about it. But those who were diehards and were musicians to boot, thought it was brilliant. I personally feel this way to this day.
I love that LP and bought it the day it was released in 1973. John Evan shines throughout. Saw them twice on that tour, Madison Square Garden and Nassau Coliseum.
I never really got into it until I got the Steve Wilson remix. Now it’s in my Tull top 5 and easily surpasses anything that came out after the 70’s. Barry Barlow’s drumming has always been mesmerizing, but he really shines on this album.
A Passion Play is one of my favorite Tull albums (disclaimer: a lot of their albums are among my favorites). Beautiful intricate music and an interesting story line. The only minus is "The Story Of The Hare...", which is great hearing it for the first few times, but then it quickly wears off its welcome. As I said on a different thread a week or so ago, I edited it out and it's perfect. The parts immediately following "The Hare" are among my very favorite Tull moments.
My favourite Tull album and my #2 of all time, just behind Topographic Oceans (apparently I have a thing for the 'dense, challenging, step-too-far' albums ). Passion Play takes you on a journey, and has some absolutely dazzling moments IMO. The Wilson remix set is brilliant with the restored bit and the complete Chateau tapes without the 90s overdubs. Hard to believe Wilson had to convince Anderson to not skip over that album in the remix series (as he had suggested)!
it’s both densely liturgical and stunning in execution but with that said it’s still a tough to listen too unless really in a mood besides a self flagellating one
I actually think this is my least favorite remix of all Wilson's Tull remixes (which I think are generally excellent). Especially on "side 2" ("Overseer" part) he left certain things out of the remix that I find baffling. I can therefore only listen to the original stereo mix. Agree with you on Topographic Oceans. One of my favorite albums as well (can't say THE favorite, but it's up there). And Steven Wilson did a fantastic job with the remix.
I love the album and I don't quite get Ian's oft-stated regret for using the soprano and sopranino saxophones. (They bug me a lot less than the tenor sax that saturates just about every other record from the early 1970s.) The album is a little dense and self-indulgent, but that was de rigeur in 1973. "Hare" is their wink to the audience, signaling that they don't take themselves too seriously. Wilson's remix is definitive, and the presence of the abandoned Château tapes enhances the package. There is some great material on the scrapped first draft, and the finished album is all the more impressive when you realize it's a hasty rewrite, racing to beat the deadline of an impending tour.
i havent heard it in a while, but always found it an interesting and challenging record- i love thick as a brick and need to spend some more time with passion play. i just recently ordered the cd version 'an extended performance' - a one cd release that i think is the steve wilson remix? havent' recieved it yet, but looking forward to skipping 'story of the hare' (which as someone mentioned, is fun a few times but then not so much) and listening to it hare-less straight thru and having fun. (my present copy of the album is just banded side one and side two, as i rmeember) one thing about that record I remember (and to a lesser extent, on warchild as well) is that Ian Anderson does a lot of saxophone playing, which is an interesting dynamic and sound for the band. Note really commented on a lot as far as i know. wish i had the big 40th anniv box, tho its way expensive these days.
I think it was really just the hip rock critics and latter-day Prog scoffers who don't like this album. All of my JT fanatic friends really like this album quite a lot. It's inventive, well played and arranged. Its not as "light" and good-humored as Thick As A Brick, but it's a different album! And.... The "Magus Perde" edit part rocks along nicely! A great guitar riff; and when it slows down slightly at the very end, to me, it's thrilling! Not to mention the inspirational lyrics in the middle section: "Break the circle/Stretch the line/ Call upon the Devil/ Bring the god's/ the god's own fire/In the conflict, revel!" One of their greatest pieces as far as I'm concerned.
It took me a little while to enjoy the artistic merits and creative drive within this truly "conceptual" piece. But I do love it and I feel that even though the original "Chateau" tapes would've made for an interesting alternative as was originally the intention, re-doing the record turned out to be a happy "Di'saster"(haha)....I remember some 20 odd years ago getting a bit organic with some fungus one night and listened to this album quite intently. Needless to say, it was quite the rewarding experience....
Even though I've been a Tull fan since the 70s, I have only recently started listening to it. At first, I wasn't that crazy about it. But after a few spins, I'm really liking it.
HDTracks has a CD-resolution download of the 2CD stereo mix. HDtracks No booklet or surround mix but you do get all 105 minutes of music from the box set for $19.
I can't say that I prefer one Tull album to another. They're all at the absolutely top position here and A Passion Play makes no difference. I love it since I first heard it.
I was the World's Biggest Tull Fan in 1972, and when "A Passion Play" came out I thought it was awful. I still regard it as the biggest musical disappointment in my life. Over time I've come to enjoy a couple of sections of it but I still think it's pretty bad. I now understand that due to the Château D'Isaster sessions they had to record it quickly due to an already-scheduled tour -- but that doesn't make it a better album than it is. Plus his sax tone sucks... should have stuck with flute. They didn't hit bottom like this for me until the album "A" was released.
I've always liked A Passion Play though I do find it to be a slight step down from Thick As A Brick. Still, the music is stellar, and Ian laid down some of his best vocals on this odd little album. I too don't get Ian's hate for the saxophone. It's a wonderful instrument. As for Steven Wilson's remix, I consider it more of a sidestep than an improvement on the original--which was never considered lacking by anyone I know. The old MFSL gold CD sounds great.