A Passion Play

This review is for the new Steven Wilson remixed version of Tull's "A Passion Play." If you're a fan of the album to begin with, this edition trumps all previous CD releases/remasters etc. Wilson has become the go-to guy for remixing classic prog albums, and he does a fantastic job here. Does it sound different from the original mix? Yes, in places. Overall, it all sounds much better; he's tweaked dynamics here and there. The album really comes alive, especially on the DVD mixes. He's also remixed the 1972 so-called "Chateau D'Isaster Tapes," a portion of which first appeared on the "20 Years of Jethro Tull" box set (three tracks) and later on "Nightcap" (the three tracks plus what we thought was all of it). But there was more, around 10 minutes' worth!"The Chateau D'Isaster Tapes," for those of you unfamiliar with them, consist of tracks that Jethro Tull laid down after the release of "Thick as a Brick" in 1972, intended to be for the next album. The accompanying booklet goes into great detail about the recording of these tracks and subsequent abandonment. In short, Tull scrapped the recordings, went back into the studio, and created "A Passion Play" instead. There are motifs and bits from the Chateau recordings that made their way into "PP," as well as two tracks that made it onto "WarChild." When I heard the Chateau tapes on the "Nightcap" album, I was impressed and really liked comparing the genesis of "PP" with the final product. Now, with Wilson's remix, they sound better than ever. The tracks are re-sequenced, and, with the added 10 minutes we've never heard before, it really comes off as a complete, somewhat "new" Jethro Tull album from their most proggy period (1972-1973)! (The new remix is nearly 60 minutes long!)As for "Passion Play," I've always been a fan of the album. It's probably the most controversial Tull recording; it divided fans and the critics pretty much scoured it. Still, it reached #1 in the USA. It is a prog-rock concept album deluxe, released at a time when prog rock was still in vogue. It's easily Tull's most complex, intricate, obtuse, surreal, and literary work. Like "Thick as a Brick," it's one long piece interrupted by the Monty Python-esque "Story of the Hare Who Lost His Spectacles (sniff)". For me it's one of Tull's better albums, certainly in the top ten. I can understand its detractors, for it does slip into pomposity in places, but, hey, that's what prog rock was all about in 1972-75 ("Tales from Topographic Oceans" anyone?).This deluxe package comes with two CDs and two DVDs, one of which contains remastered video of the "Story of the Hare Who Lost His Spectacles" as well as the never-before released Opening and Closing videos used in the 1973 Passion Play tour. The booklet is terrific, which plenty of contemporary photos from the tour, several different essays, interviews, tour schedule, and lyrics (to PP *and* Chateau recordings).If you're a serious Tull fan, this is an essential purchase.

Note that this review is mainly for the 2014 Steven Wilson remix.Being of the camp of JT fans that loves this album, I must say that this is easily my favorite SW work of a Tull album.I only just received it today (the US release date) so I've only listened once to the new SW DTS 5.1 remixes of both the original album and the famed Château d'Hérouville tapes. As the title of this review states, it was like listening to this album for the first time; or at least like listening to an alternate take. As was explained in a Record Collector magazine article from Nov 2013 (reprinted in the liner notes, revised Feb 2014), what SW did (under Ian's direction) was "strip it back to the melody, lyrics, and essential instrumentation..." The result is a very new and, in this reviewer's opinion, very enjoyable listening experience. One added surprise was a couple never-before-heard (by me anyway) lyrical verses (8 more lines, to be precise) in the "The Foot Of Our Stairs" section, right between the lyrics, "...and the devil cries MORE!" and the musical interlude that followed for the past 41 years.As for the Château d'Hérouville tapes, this was another pleasant surprise, and pretty much like listening to a whole new album of outtakes (which is what it is). Much of this material has been released as bonus tracks on various remasters, as well as the Nightcap compilation from the early 90's, but that stuff had been tweaked by Ian, like adding in newly recorded flute parts where lyrics should have ended up going. Wilson opted to remix just the original tapes and (wisely, IMO) leave out the reworkings. So even those familiar with what was released of these sessions, it will still be a very new experience. Even the songs that were released on Warchild are different. On Skating Away for example, the only thing that sounds identical to the final released tune is the lead vocal track.Luckily, I pre-ordered this when it was about 70% of the price it is as of this writing, but even at it's current price tag, I would still highly recommend this to any fan of JT and specifically this album. Again, it is not just the album you know mixed to 5.1 surround. It really is a new experience; and a good one at that.

Jahrelang war ich der abstrusen Meinung, dass die „Chateau-Tapes“ lediglich eine misslungene Abmischung von „Passion Play“ seien.Wurde es doch seinerzeit in einschlägigen Musik-Gazetten so kolportiert, als dieses überragende JT-Opus heraus kam.Aus diesem Grunde verweigerte ich bis zu heutigen Tage der CD1 von "Nightcap", wie hinlänglich bekannt Aufnehmen aus dem „Chateau d’Isaster“-Studio, meine Aufwartung. „Zu kostbar die Zeit für Demo-Musik“, mein sturer Ansatz.Nun die Kehrtwende: das Wilson-Paket gekauft und, aufgrund überwiegend positiver Rezensionen, neugierig-aufgeregt die Château d’Hérouville-Scheibe (CD1) reingezogen. Was für eine großartige Überraschung. Hier wird mitnichten eine Demo-Version von PP abgenudelt. Es ist vielmehr, obgleich Sequenzen übernommen wurden, ein eigenständiges Werk. So eine Art „Passion Play-Part Two“.Und außerdem befinden sich darauf zu meiner persönlichen Freude, zwei äußerst originelle Versionen von „Skating Away…..“ und „Solitaire“.Also Erfolg auf der ganzen Rille und meine unbedingte 5-Sterne-Empfehlung für alle eingeschworenen Tullies.Die Aufnahmequalität ist beachtlich gut und weit entfernt von „Demo-Tape-Abmischungen“.Apropos Aufnahmequalität. Man möge mich dafür ans Kreuz nageln, aber meiner Meinung nach kommt die PP Abmischung auf CD2, trotz Steven Wilsons redlichen Bemühungen, nicht an die 45 (!) Jahre alte Vinyl-Ausgabe ran.Sorry an alle Digi- und Streaming- und HiRes-Nerds.So ...fertsch.... und jetzt zieh ich mir Nightcap rein

bien reçu!merci, je ne me souvenais plus de cet album, certes ce n'est pas mon peréféré mais bon,le travail de steven Wilson est tellement bon!

After releasing the excessive classic Thick As A Brick in 1972, the boys in Jethro Tull thought they would take the theatrics to a whole new level. The result is the often criticised and under looked record, A Passion Play.Since I became a fan of Jethro Tull, I have always found A Passion Play to be an interesting album. I love the fact that it continues down the same complex theatrical road as Thick As A Brick as an album featuring two lengthy songs (A Passion Play pt. 1 and 2), both of which have a similar theme and a lyrical concept that brings the whole thing together. The way the band pull this off whilst creating some of their most complex music is impressive and I reckon it works a lot better than some people want to give it credit for.As a whole, A Passion Play is a fantastic album that (in my opinion) flows beautifully from track to track, that is until you hit the one fatal flaw. To satisfy the band's desire for off the hook English humour, they stuck in a track titled, The Story of the Hare Who Lost His Spectacles at the start of A Passion Plat pt 2 as an interlude. This interlude is suppose to act as some comical relief between the two parts, unfortunately no matter how much I hear it, I just don't understand it. It doesn't matter how much I love the likes of Monty Python, the odd ball humour of this track goes right over my head and a vast majority of people who hear the album.There is also a matter of lack of rock hooks, the kind found through out Thick As A Brick. This album is considerably more melodic and almost jazz like in the band's approach to song writing. The lyrics are witty, the music is melodic but lacks the memorable hooks found on A Passion Play's predecessor or the albums that followed. Thankfully, the record is superbly produced and sounds great after all these years. Even better is the Steve Wilson mix of the record. This new edition cleans up the tapes and gives each instrument more room to breathe bringing new life to an old record.For those out there who want the most out of this album, the previously mentioned Steve Wilson mix is the way to go. If you can locate the box-set that features The Château d'Hérouville Sessions, you're in for a real treat. These sessions are for a double album the band worked on but sadly abandoned for whatever reason. In my honest opinion, the more rock driven songs from these sessions is exactly what A Passion Play lacks and to have two cracking albums in one box is money very well spent.But if we exclude that second disc for a moment, you'll find that A Passion Play is not the best place to start if you're getting into Jethro Tull. It is best to acquire the more accessible records first and then dive head first into this oddity. Technically speaking, this record is fantastic and I love it. But I can't help but feel that the interlude drags the record down a bit. It is certainly a momentum killer and the record flows beautifully when it is removed. If you fancy checking out this album, the An Extended Performance box-set is the way to go.Published by Steven Lornie of Demonszone

I returned this as I was given a copy before I got a chance to cancel it. However the price was higher than I saw on other Amazon sites, which is strange it's the same company and almost 30 dollars more, so even if I had not been given the copy I would have returned it due to the price. As for the discs themselves this is a stunning set of music. A Passion Play has long been my favourite Tull album and The Chateau recordings are up to the same quality if not better in some respects. Therefore having a stereo CD of each and the 5.1 DVD as well makes this a fabulous listen and with 2 surround sound systems wired together it is an amazing experience. For Tull fans young and old - do not miss this and it does sell through Amazon as low as 23 dollars, so shop wisely; Thanks for the heads up DC.

Caja de edición especial con libreto, fotos, 2 dvds y 2 cds. Llegó en el tiempo indicado y en perfecto estado.Se recibió en un embalaje adecuado para proteger el envío. Ninguna queja, imposible poner pegas. Una presentación estupenda, el contenido en perfecto estado... La única forma de mejorarlo hubiese sido que llegase en dos o tres días. No hubo necesidad de contactar con el vendedor en ningún momento. Recomendable para fans de buena música y rock progresivo.