The Broadsword and the Beast

The Broadsword and the Beast
Studio album by
Released9 April 1982
Recorded24 March 1981 – 5 February 1982
StudioMaison Rouge Studios, Fulham, London
Genre
Length38:49
LabelChrysalis
ProducerPaul Samwell-Smith
Jethro Tull chronology
A
(1980)
The Broadsword and the Beast
(1982)
Under Wraps
(1984)
Singles from
The Broadsword and the Beast
  1. "Broadsword"
    Released: May 1982 (UK)[1]
  2. "Fallen on Hard Times"
    Released: May 1982 (US)

The Broadsword and the Beast is the 14th studio album by rock band Jethro Tull, released in April 1982 by Chrysalis Records. The album's musical style features a cross between the dominant synthesizer sound of the 1980s and the folk-influenced style that Jethro Tull used in the previous decade. As such, the band's characteristic acoustic instrumentation is augmented by electronic soundscapes. The electronic aspects of this album would be explored further by the band on their next album, Under Wraps (1984), as well as on Ian Anderson's solo album Walk into Light (1983).

Paul Samwell-Smith produced the album, making The Broadsword and the Beast the first and only Jethro Tull album produced by an external producer outside of the band and their management. Early sessions for the album were produced by Keith Olsen, however Olsen was dismissed amid creative differences in December 1981 and did not receive a credit on the album.[2] The album was the first Jethro Tull album to feature Peter-John Vettese on keyboards and Gerry Conway on drums.

  1. ^ Strong, Martin Charles (1995). The Great Rock Discography. p. 434. ISBN 9780862415419.
  2. ^ Webb, Martin (2023). "Bring Me My Boardsword (And a Beast)". The Broadsword and the Beast: The 40th Anniversary Monster Edition. Chrysalis Records.