Jethro Tull
A Passion Play
A Passion Play: the concept album critics called excessive nonsense
Released in the United Kingdom on 6 July 1973 on Chrysalis Records, A Passion Play was Jethro Tull's sixth studio album and the follow-up to Thick as a Brick. A contemporary hostile review, alongside chart results with their dates.
The verdict at the time
Joel Vance reviewed A Passion Play for Stereo Review in November 1973. He found the record 'shapeless and sprawling', criticised its affected stream-of-consciousness lyrics and 'artsy-craftsy' production, and concluded it was clever but too often buried under mannerism. The verdict is Vance's and Stereo Review's, not Echo Mandala's.
Chart peaks
European positions are listed by country. Later chart entries are labelled separately.
Sources & context
Joel Vance reviewed the album for Stereo Review in November 1973, calling it 'shapeless and sprawling' and 'artsy-craftsy'; other critics dismissed it as excessive nonsense. A Passion Play reached number one in the United States and number 16 in the United Kingdom. Its reputation later steadied, and PopMatters ranked it among the best classic progressive rock albums.
