Minstrel in the Gallery

Minstrel in the Gallery is the eighth studio album by British rock band Jethro Tull, released in September 1975. The album sees the band going in a different direction from their previous work War Child (1974), returning to a blend of electric and acoustic songs, in a manner closer to their early 1970s albums such as Benefit (1970), Aqualung (1971) and Thick as a Brick (1972).[1][5] Making use of a newly constructed mobile recording studio commissioned and constructed specifically for the band, the album was the first Jethro Tull album to be recorded outside of the UK, being recorded in tax exile in Monte Carlo, Monaco.

Minstrel in the Gallery
Studio album by
Released5 September 1975 (UK)
8 September 1975 (US)
Recorded15 May 1975 – 7 June 1975
StudioMaison Rouge Mobile Studio, Monte Carlo, Monaco
Genre
Length45:02
LabelChrysalis
ProducerIan Anderson
Jethro Tull chronology
War Child
(1974)
Minstrel in the Gallery
(1975)
M.U. – The Best of Jethro Tull
(1976)
Singles from
Minstrel in the Gallery
  1. "Minstrel in the Gallery"
    Released: August 1975 [4]

It was the last Jethro Tull album to feature bassist Jeffrey Hammond, who left the band upon completion of the album's touring in late 1975 and was replaced by former Carmen bass player John Glascock.

Background

In late 1974, upon completion of touring for the band's seventh album War Child, the band returned to the idea of recording outside of the UK with frontman Ian Anderson commissioning the creation of a mobile studio to allow the band to record anywhere they wished. The mobile studio, constructed by engineer Robin Black and Morgan Studios engineer Pete Smith, was christened the Maison Rouge Mobile Studio and was transported in April 1975 to Monte Carlo, Monaco, where the band would record the album in the Prince of Wales Hotel.[6] Anderson rented a home in Los Angeles in December 1974 to finish writing of the album, where he was joined by orchestral arranger (and future Jethro Tull keyboardist) Dee Palmer to assist in finalizing string arrangements for the album.[6]

Recording

Recording began on 15 May 1975, recording "Minstrel in the Gallery", "Cold Wind to Valhalla", "Black Satin Dancer" and "One White Duck" and ended on 7 June 1975, finishing "Requiem". The majority of the album was recorded live by the whole band, with overdubs being added later. Many of the song's backing tracks were completed in a single take.[6] The band made use of novel technical recording developments on the album, such as the Eventide 1745 digital delay processor to create the illusion of double tracked instruments on various tracks.[6] The band originally hired a local Monte Carlo orchestra to record the string material on the album; however, the orchestra's unfamiliarity in working with a rock band made the recording difficult, and as a result a British string quartet which the band had previously worked with on the War Child Tour were used instead.

Anderson believed that the band were undergoing a tense period during the recording of the album and were not getting along well, a recollection that other band members have disagreed with. In particular, Anderson felt that the rest of the band was distracted by the seaside resort setting of Monaco: "I was full of industry and activity, writing songs and working very hard. I think the others felt as though it was a holiday as well as a recording session."[6] Challenging Anderson's recollection, guitarist Martin Barre stated that "However we behaved, we were in a very alien situation, so you can't just think 'we're here to work, nothing else.' But the band got on great, and I don't recall any great frictions at all. It's just that Ian took it all very, very seriously."[6] Drummer Barrie Barlow agreed, describing the time in Monaco as "happy days".[6] Anderson found himself unhappy in Monaco, with his ire drawn mostly from the residents: "It made me sick getting up in the morning and watching all these people lying on the beach with their amazing vanity. Most of them are really ugly people, physically grotesque; the women are unattractive and the men are obscene. And they do nothing. I get very aggressive in that sort of situation because I've got a lot of things to do."[6]

Musical styles and themes

The album's title refers to the use of a minstrel's gallery in the great hall of castles or manor houses, inspired by a balcony in the recording space which is shown in a photo of the band on the back cover of the original LP. The minstrel analogy is used thematically in the lyrics of the title track and "Baker St. Muse". "Cold Wind to Valhalla" is based on elements of Norse mythology, such as the afterlife hall of Valhalla mentioned in the song's title and lyrics. The cover art of the album is an alteration of the 1838 oil painting Twelfth Night Revels in the Great Hall, Haddon Hall, Derbyshire by artist Joseph Nash, depicting a group of minstrels (altered from the original painting to represent the five members of the band) performing to a raucous crowd of revelers at the Haddon Hall country estate.[6]

Critics have described Minstrel in the Gallery's lyrics and subject matter as showing an introspective and cynical air, possibly the byproduct of Anderson's recent divorce from first wife Jennie Franks. However, Anderson has denied the divorce as inspiration for the album, saying that the album's subject matter is "like everything else, you mix a bit of personal stuff with a bit of fantasy."[5]

Stylistically the album is varied, exemplary of Jethro Tull's progressive-influenced hard rock performances, with long instrumental passages, invested with elements of British folk and archaic, pre-Elizabethan sounds.[1] 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 as 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
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[10]
Rolling Stone(unfavourable)[11]
Sounds(favourable)

Rolling Stone gave a negative review to 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 recalled 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". They considered the lyrics "contrary to the LP's basic concept [...] instantly forgettable".[12]

AllMusic ran a favourable retrospective 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 perhaps the loveliest acoustic number in Tull's repertoire, featuring nothing but Anderson's singing and acoustic guitar, Hammond-Hammond's bass, and a small string orchestra backing them".[1] Paul Stump's History of Progressive Rock called the album "a searching and accomplished effort. Diffuseness was now distilled into a sprightly, idiosyncratic collection of powerful numbers." He suggested that Jethro Tull's usage of additive rhythms on this album "proceeds to a level unmatched elsewhere in rock." He also found the music had greater emotional intensity and approved of the use of folksy acoustic guitar throughout.[13]

Cash Box said of the title track that it "is a deft return to the density and meaty substance that characterized earlier works" and that "lots of heavy riffing effectively compliments Anderson’s vocal posturing while his unobtrusive flute runs stab at the periphery."[14]

Track listing

1975 original release

All tracks are written by Ian Anderson, except as noted. Arrangements for string quintet were written by Dee Palmer. All credits derived from the original record pressing

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Minstrel in the Gallery"Anderson, Martin Barre8:13
2."Cold Wind to Valhalla" 4:19
3."Black Satin Dancer" 6:52
4."Requiem" 3:45
Side two
No.TitleLength
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
Total length:45:02
2002 bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
1."Summerday Sands"3:45
2."March The Mad Scientist"1:49
3."Pan Dance"3:26
4."Minstrel In The Gallery (live)"2:12
5."Cold Wind To Valhalla (live)"1:31
Total length:57:45

2015 40th Anniversary: La Grande Édition

CD 1: Steven Wilson stereo remix of the album and associated recordings
No.TitleLength
1."Minstrel in the Gallery"8:17
2."Cold Wind to Valhalla"4:18
3."Black Satin Dancer"6:54
4."Requiem"3:43
5."One White Duck / 010 = Nothing at All"4:40
6."Baker St. Muse: Baker St. Muse"5:09
7."Baker St. Muse: Pig-Me and the Whore"1:30
8."Baker St. Muse: Nice Little Tune"1:09
9."Baker St. Muse: Crash-Barrier Waltzer"3:09
10."Baker St. Muse: Mother England Reverie"5:46
11."Grace"0:37
12."Summerday Sands"3:42
13."Requiem" (Early Version)3:43
14."One White Duck" (Take 5)2:26
15."Grace" (Take 2)0:41
16."Minstrel in the Gallery" (BBC Version)8:27
17."Cold Wind to Valhalla" (BBC Version)4:22
18."Aqualung" (BBC Version)8:01
CD 2: Jakko Jakszyk stereo remix of the Live at The Palais des Sports, Paris, 5 July 1975 concert
No.TitleLength
1."Introduction (The Beach Part II)"0:54
2."Wind Up"3:02
3."Critique Oblique"4:05
4."Wondr'ing Aloud"5:16
5."My God including God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen / Bourée / Quartet / Living in the Past / Thick as a Brick / My God (reprise)"11:35
6."Cross-Eyed Mary"4:05
7."Minstrel in the Gallery"9:24
8."Skating on the Thin Ice of the New Day"4:39
9."Bungle in the Jungle"3:17
10."Aqualung"9:41
11."Guitar Improvisation"3:29
12."Back-Door Angels"6:07
13."Locomotive Breath with improvisation and including Hard-Headed English General / Back-Door Angels (reprise)"11:51
DVD 1: Steven Wilson 5.1 surround and stereo mixes and flat transfer of the original stereo and quadrophonic mixes of the album and associated recordings
No.TitleLength
1."Minstrel in the Gallery" (5.1 Surround Mix)8:17
2."Cold Wind to Valhalla" (5.1 Surround Mix)4:18
3."Black Satin Dancer" (5.1 Surround Mix)6:54
4."Requiem" (5.1 Surround Mix)3:43
5."One White Duck / 010 = Nothing at All" (5.1 Surround Mix)4:40
6."Baker St. Muse: Baker St. Muse" (5.1 Surround Mix)5:09
7."Baker St. Muse: Pig-Me and the Whore" (5.1 Surround Mix)1:30
8."Baker St. Muse: Nice Little Tune" (5.1 Surround Mix)1:09
9."Baker St. Muse: Crash-Barrier Waltzer" (5.1 Surround Mix)3:09
10."Baker St. Muse: Mother England Reverie" (5.1 Surround Mix)5:46
11."Grace" (5.1 Surround Mix)0:37
12."Summerday Sands" (5.1 Surround Mix)3:42
13."Requiem" (Early Version) (5.1 Surround Mix)3:43
14."Minstrel in the Gallery" (2015 Stereo Mix)8:17
15."Cold Wind to Valhalla" (2015 Stereo Mix)4:18
16."Black Satin Dancer" (2015 Stereo Mix)6:54
17."Requiem" (2015 Stereo Mix)3:43
18."One White Duck / 010 = Nothing at All" (2015 Stereo Mix)4:40
19."Baker St. Muse: Baker St. Muse" (2015 Stereo Mix)5:09
20."Baker St. Muse: Pig-Me and the Whore" (2015 Stereo Mix)1:30
21."Baker St. Muse: Nice Little Tune" (2015 Stereo Mix)1:09
22."Baker St. Muse: Crash-Barrier Waltzer" (2015 Stereo Mix)3:09
23."Baker St. Muse: Mother England Reverie" (2015 Stereo Mix)5:46
24."Grace" (2015 Stereo Mix)0:37
25."Summerday Sands" (2015 Stereo Mix)3:42
26."Requiem" (Early Version) (2015 Stereo Mix)3:43
27."One White Duck" (Take 5) (2015 Stereo Mix)2:26
28."Grace" (Take 2) (2015 Stereo Mix)0:41
29."Minstrel in the Gallery" (BBC Version) (2015 Stereo Mix)8:27
30."Cold Wind to Valhalla" (BBC Version) (2015 Stereo Mix)4:22
31."Aqualung" (BBC Version) (2015 Stereo Mix)8:01
32."Minstrel in the Gallery" (Original Stereo Mix)8:17
33."Cold Wind to Valhalla" (Original Stereo Mix)4:18
34."Black Satin Dancer" (Original Stereo Mix)6:54
35."Requiem" (Original Stereo Mix)3:43
36."One White Duck / 010 = Nothing at All" (Original Stereo Mix)4:40
37."Baker St. Muse: Baker St. Muse" (Original Stereo Mix)5:09
38."Baker St. Muse: Pig-Me and the Whore" (Original Stereo Mix)1:30
39."Baker St. Muse: Nice Little Tune" (Original Stereo Mix)1:09
40."Baker St. Muse: Crash-Barrier Waltzer" (Original Stereo Mix)3:09
41."Baker St. Muse: Mother England Reverie" (Original Stereo Mix)5:46
42."Grace" (Original Stereo Mix)0:37
43."Summerday Sands" (Original Stereo Mix)3:42
44."Minstrel in the Gallery" (Original Quadrophonic Mix)8:17
45."Cold Wind to Valhalla" (Original Quadrophonic Mix)4:18
46."Black Satin Dancer" (Original Quadrophonic Mix)6:54
47."Requiem" (Original Quadrophonic Mix)3:43
48."One White Duck / 010 = Nothing at All" (Original Quadrophonic Mix)4:40
49."Baker St. Muse: Baker St. Muse" (Original Quadrophonic Mix)5:09
50."Baker St. Muse: Pig-Me and the Whore" (Original Quadrophonic Mix)1:30
51."Baker St. Muse: Nice Little Tune" (Original Quadrophonic Mix)1:09
52."Baker St. Muse: Crash-Barrier Waltzer" (Original Quadrophonic Mix)3:09
53."Baker St. Muse: Mother England Reverie" (Original Quadrophonic Mix)5:46
54."Grace" (Original Quadrophonic Mix)0:37
55."Summerday Sands" (Original Quadrophonic Mix)3:42
DVD 2: Jakko Jakszyk 5.1 surround and stereo remixes of the Live at The Palais des Sports, Paris, 5 July 1975 concert and Minstrel in the Gallery promo clip with new remixed audio
No.TitleLength
1."Introduction (The Beach Part II)" (5.1 Surround Mix)0:54
2."Wind Up" (5.1 Surround Mix)3:02
3."Critique Oblique" (5.1 Surround Mix)4:05
4."Wondr'ing Aloud" (5.1 Surround Mix)5:16
5."My God including God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen / Bourée / Quartet / Living in the Past / Thick as a Brick / My God (reprise)" (5.1 Surround Mix)11:35
6."Cross-Eyed Mary" (5.1 Surround Mix)4:05
7."Minstrel in the Gallery" (5.1 Surround Mix)9:24
8."Skating on the Thin Ice of the New Day" (5.1 Surround Mix)4:39
9."Bungle in the Jungle" (5.1 Surround Mix)3:17
10."Aqualung" (5.1 Surround Mix)9:41
11."Guitar Improvisation" (5.1 Surround Mix)3:29
12."Back-Door Angels" (5.1 Surround Mix)6:07
13."Locomotive Breath with improvisation and including Hard-Headed English General / Back-Door Angels (reprise)" (5.1 Surround Mix)11:51
14."Introduction (The Beach Part II)" (Stereo Mix)0:54
15."Wind Up" (Stereo Mix)3:02
16."Critique Oblique" (Stereo Mix)4:05
17."Wondr'ing Aloud" (Stereo Mix)5:16
18."My God including God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen / Bourée / Quartet / Living in the Past / Thick as a Brick / My God (reprise)" (Stereo Mix)11:35
19."Cross-Eyed Mary" (Stereo Mix)4:05
20."Minstrel in the Gallery" (Stereo Mix)9:24
21."Skating on the Thin Ice of the New Day" (Stereo Mix)4:39
22."Bungle in the Jungle" (Stereo Mix)3:17
23."Aqualung" (Stereo Mix)9:41
24."Guitar Improvisation" (Stereo Mix)3:29
25."Back-Door Angels" (Stereo Mix)6:07
26."Locomotive Breath with improvisation and including Hard-Headed English General / Back-Door Angels (reprise)" (Stereo Mix)11:51
27."Minstrel in the Gallery promo clip from the Palais des Sports, Paris, 6 July 1975 concert with new 5.1 surround and stereo remixed audio" 

Personnel

Credits are adapted from Minstrel in the Gallery liner notes.[15]

Jethro Tull
Additional personnel
  • Dee Palmer – string quintet arrangements and conducting
    • Rita Eddowes, Elizabeth Edwards, Patrick Halling and Bridget Procter – violin
    • 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

Charts

Chart (1975) Peak
position
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)[16] 20
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[17] 7
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[18] 45
Danish Albums (Tracklisten[19] 8
Finnish Albums (The Official Finnish Charts)[20] 28
French Albums (SNEP)[21] 15
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[22] 14
Italian Albums (Musica e Dischi)[23] 20
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[24] 23
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[25] 13
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[26] 50
UK Albums (OCC)[27] 20
US Billboard 200[28] 7
Chart (2015) Peak
position
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[29] 88
Italian Albums (FIMI)[30] 37
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[31] 58

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[32] Gold 50,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[33] Silver 60,000^
United States (RIAA)[34] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. Bruce Eder. "Jethro Tull - Minstrel in the Gallery (1975) album review, credits & releases at AllMusic.com". AllMusic. Retrieved 1 May 2015.
  2. "Jethro Tull – Minstrel in the Gallery (1975/2002 Remaster) album review by Keith "Muzikman" Hannaleck at Sea of Tranquility – The Web Destination for Progressive Music!". SeaOfTranquility.org. 17 November 2002. Retrieved 1 May 2015.
  3. vanderb0b. "Jethro Tull - Minstrel in the Gallery (1975/2002 Remaster) album review at SputnikMusic.com". Retrieved 7 May 2015.
  4. "Jethro Tull singles".
  5. "Jethro Tull – Minstrel in the Gallery (5 September 1975)". JethroTull.com. 5 September 1975. Retrieved 1 May 2015.
  6. Webb, Martin (2015). "The Full Monte". Minstrel in the Gallery: 40th Anniversary - la Grande Edition. Chrysalis Records.
  7. Jethro Tull – Minstrel in the Gallery (1975/2015 La Grande Edition) album review by Mike Barnes at TeamRock.com
  8. "Jethro Tull unveil Minstrel 40th anniversary edition". lucshop.com. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  9. "Jethro Tull – Minstrel in the Gallery (1975/2015): 40th Anniversary La Grande Edition". JethroTull.com. Retrieved 1 May 2015.
  10. Larkin, Colin (2007). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (4th ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0195313734.
  11. Costa, Jean-Charles (6 November 1975). "Jethro Tull – Minstrel in the Gallery (1975) album review". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 14 December 2011.
  12. Menconi, David (6 November 1975). "Jethro Tull Minstrel In The Gallery Album Review". Rollingstone.com. Retrieved 1 May 2015.
  13. Stump, Paul (1997). The Music's All that Matters: A History of Progressive Rock. Quartet Books Limited. pp. 211–2. ISBN 0-7043-8036-6.
  14. "CashBox Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. 16 August 1975. p. 26. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  15. (1975). "Ministrel in the Gallery liner notes". In Ministrel in the Gallery [Album cover]. Chrysalis.
  16. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  17. "Austriancharts.at – Jethro Tull – Minstrel in the Gallery" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
  18. "Top RPM Albums: Issue 4041a". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
  19. Danish Albums Chart at DanskeHitLister.dk
  20. Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
  21. "Le Détail des Albums de chaque Artiste – Y". Infodisc.fr (in French). Archived from the original on 22 October 2014. Retrieved 9 June 2012. Select Jethro Tull from the menu, then press OK.
  22. "Offiziellecharts.de – Jethro Tull – Minstrel in the Gallery" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
  23. "Classifiche". Musica e Dischi (in Italian). Retrieved 20 April 2023. Set "Tipo" on "Album". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Jethro Tull".
  24. "Charts.nz – Jethro Tull – Minstrel in the Gallery". Hung Medien. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
  25. "Norwegiancharts.com – Jethro Tull – Minstrel in the Gallery". Hung Medien. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
  26. "Swedishcharts.com – Jethro Tull – Minstrel in the Gallery". Hung Medien. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
  27. "Jethro Tull | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
  28. "Jethro Tull Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
  29. "Dutchcharts.nl – Jethro Tull – Minstrel in the Gallery" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
  30. "Italiancharts.com – Jethro Tull – Minstrel in the Gallery". Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
  31. "Spanishcharts.com – Jethro Tull – Minstrel in the Gallery". Hung Medien. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
  32. "Warner /Elektra /Atlantic Sets Canada's AII- Time,12 -Month Sales Record - 44 Gold and Platinum Albums:Gold-Album" (PDF). Billboard. 2 October 1976. p. 63. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  33. "British album certifications – Jethro Tull – Minstrel in the Gallery". British Phonographic Industry.
  34. "American album certifications – Jethro Tull – Minstrel in the Gallery". Recording Industry Association of America.
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