Artist: JETHRO TULL
Album: THE BROADSWORD AND THE BEAST REMASTERED (CD)

Year: 1982/ 2005
Media type: CD

The Broadsword and The Beast is an album released by Jethro Tull on April 10, 1982 and according to Ian Anderson in the liner notes of the remastered CD, contains some of Jethro Tull's best music. It mixes electronic sound with acoustic instruments and is a cross between the synthesizer sound of the 1980's and the folk-influenced style that Tull had in the previous decade.

The tour for Broadsword was the last one for Tull to be exceedingly theatrical. It included the entire stage being decorated to look like a pirate ship, which Ian Anderson, as he said in the liner notes for the remastered CD, thought was very silly. Extensive notes on the production of the album and subsequent tour can be found at the official Jethro Tull website.

Video footage of the 1982 tour to support the album is rare but the song 'Broadsword' can be viewed at (now removed) YouTube and a fan-compiled video of free-to-air German and Italian TV broadcasts attempts to recreate the concert in sequential order.

The cover art is by renowned artist Iain McCaig. The runic symbols around the edge of the cover are from the Cirth rune system used by J.R.R. Tolkien in The Lord of the Rings. The words are, however, English: the opening lyrics to Broadsword:

I see a dark sail on the horizon, set under a black cloud that hides the sun. Bring me my broadsword and clear understanding. Bring me my cross of gold as a talisman.

Cheerio, the final track of the original release, is to this day normally played as the final encore at Jethro Tull concerts

The 2005 CD reissue of the album was expanded to include eight bonus tracks recorded during the Broadsword sessions, but not included in the original 1982 album. The main reason for this was the limitation of the LP album format and to release all the tracks would have meant a double-album, something their record label had not contracted them for.

All songs written by Ian Anderson with additional material Peter-John Vettese.

TRACKLIST :

"Beastie" – 3:58
"Clasp" – 4:18
"Fallen On Hard Times" – 3:13
"Flying Colours" – 4:39
"Slow Marching Band" – 3:40
"Broadsword" – 5:03
"Pussy Willow" – 3:55
"Watching Me Watching You" – 3:41
"Seal Driver" – 5:10
"Cheerio" – 1:09

The remastered CD added bonus tracks (which had been on the 20 Years of Jethro Tull box-set) and extensive liner notes:

"Jack Frost and the Hooded Crow" – 3:22
"Jack A Lynn" – 4:40
"Mayhem Maybe" – 3:06 (with vocals recorded circa 1988)
"Overhang" – 4:29
"Rhythm in Gold" – 3:08
"I Am Your Gun" – 3:19
"Down At the End of Your Road" – 3:31

LINE-UP :

Ian Anderson-vocals, flute, acoustic guitar
Martin Barre-electric & acoustic guitars
Dave Pegg-bass guitar, mandolin, vocals
Peter Vettese-piano, synthesizer, vocals
Gerry Conway drums and percussion