Minstrel In The Gallery

What a fantastic album... not many people mention this album, instead they go on an on about Thick As a Brick and A Passion Play, and to some extent, Aqualung.....all those albums are fine albums.....but perhaps the TRUE jewel in the Tull pot is Minstrel In The Gallery. It is what I would call a perfect album, or near perfect in any respect. Marvelous writing, beautiful arrangments, cleverly written lyrics with thought provoking attributes, wonderful acoustic guitar playing (I assume from Mr. Anderson), and fantastic singing.

 Ian Anderson, along with Peter Hammill, Peter Gabriel, and Jon Anderson are among my favorite lyricists. However, Ian Anderson, along with Peter Hammill is one of my favorite vocalists. I love his voice, and much like Hammill, it is the way he sings which strikes me. His sense of time is remarkable, he's always right in the pocket.

In any case...the MITG, is a fabulous album. Perhaps, I dare say, even more effective than TAAB, and APP.

Yea I love that album.

It's in my top three Tull with Thick as a Brick and Songs from the Wood.

Also, I forgot to write this, I see Minstrel as the album to make everyone happy. After Thick as a brick many fans (and Tull itself) wanted to go further with their prog style, so they did A passion play, which didnt get such a good response, which made them do a more simple album, and they did Warchild, which is kinda weak as an album. But there where also the fans who wanted to see or hear more of Ian´s acoustic guitars and folish style. So...they made Minstrel, which has a long epic (Baker St muse), some good shorter songs (Cold wind to Valhalla) and the folk (Requiem). Im not saying they did this album in order to sell more...but I do think they had this in mind while making it!

Still an excellente album...and this thread made me want to hear it, which Im doing!!!

NetsNJFan wrote: Excellent album, but it doesnt come close to TAAB, a lot more padded.

Actually I would describe TAAB as the album with the MOST padding. There is no padding in Minstrel In The Gallery.

Minstrel is their best album

                                          WAR CHILD

Minstrel In The Gallery is one of the most classic Tull albums. More introvert and sad sounds than the previous one. It shows the band in a transitional period but, as always, in good form.

Lesser work for John Evan than the War Child album. More for David Palmer and his orchestra.