I hold this album in high regard; demonstrating the synergy of all of the band. Strength, tenderness, humour, satire all in the traditional Tull manner. Consider "Baker St. Muse" which certainly continues to carry the candle of earlier and longer great Tull efforts. Listen..and understand. Great reaction as ever.

Barriemore Barlow is one of the greatest rock drummers of all time. To me he's right up there with Bill Bruford, Chester Thompson, Phil Collins, Carl Palmer, Ian Paice, Neil Peart and Terry Bozzio. Underrated indeed!

Barriemore Barlow is definitely an unsung great... His playing is both inventive and distinctive, with a wonderfully elastic sense of time.

Ian has been mentioning many times, that he enjoys watching people in the audience as much as they enjoy watching him - the only difference being that he doesn't need to buy a ticket for that. This song is about it too.

IMO, Tull's finest! It's like Ian and the guys really focused and brought all the right things about the band to the table. It's a masterpiece. And this opening title track condenses it all into one song. Love it! I'm looking forward to watching every song from this one, enjoy JP!

The bass lines on this track is absolutely massive and brilliant. Great Jeffrey Hammond-Hammond.

Some of my favorite JT songs are on this album. Minstrel, Cold Wind, White Duck and Baker St are 10s in my book.

It's a really great album.... Barrymore Barlow is a hugely underrated drummer from this period.... Tull always had superb drummers, Bunker, Barlow & Doane Perry..... glad you enjoyed this one JP.

Been a fan since 1975. I'm 68 and thank you for introducing a newer generation to the best band in the world. The reviewers of the 1970's said the same thing. One of the tightest groups in Rock. Not progressive rock. Your doing great work here so don't stop now, Heavy Horses album next please! The music is beautiful, very pastoral.

Tull's golden era. Albums just don't get much better than this.

Most people miss the structure of the song. Starting with the renaissance beginning, then the middle instrumental is a time warp, until you have the same renaissance lyrics in a hard rock version. It is brilliant.

Martin Barre has an especially blistering guitar section opening the electric portion of this song.

I have been wondering when someone would finally get around to a full album reaction to this masterpiece. One of my all time favorites. Thanks!

Minstrels and troubadours were the newsmen of their day. There was no internet, TV, radio or newspapers to spread happenings nationwide. People were starved for news, gossip, entertainment, anything but farming and taxes. People laugh at "Monty Python and The Holy Grail" where the soldiers want to talk about where coconuts came from, it would have been a topic of great interest, like the invention of a threshing machine or printing press. Anything to relieve the boredom. This is one of my favorite Tull albums, they were on top of their game.

My three favorite Tull albums - 'Thick As A Brick', 'War Child' and 'Minstrel In The Gallery'. I'll wait patiently for 'War Child', and in the meantime we'll all get the great pleasure of 'Minstrel'. A win win for everyone!

When this song hit FM radio that was when I discovered Tull around 1975. I had actually heard them before with songs like Bungle in the Jungle, but didn't know who it was.

I have seen Jethro Tull twice. Once in 1972 and again in 1993.

These expressions of joy in your face - priceless.

This has always been one of my favorite Tull songs.😊

Dude, wait until you make it to Heavy Horses. Their rhythm section has never been better, or better recorded. "...And the Mouse Police Never Sleeeps" is apparently Barlowe's favorite Tull song to play.

Normally, when I watch a reaction video, I write a comment before the end of the song. But, like you, I couldn't and waited till the end. That just shows what a great song Minstrel in the Gallery is, even though I've heard it literally hundreds of times. Tull was right at the peak of their concert performances when this song was written and Ian's confidence really comes through in his singing on this song. I love the coming together of the different staccato rhythms of the drums, organ and electric guitar. It just shows that bursts of music strung together can sound just as good, or even better than, a continuous riff. It really gets my mind interested in what it's hearing. This is the most iconic of Tull's songs IMO, and that's really saying something. If you want to do some more, check out "With You There to Help Me", "Back to the Family" and Aqualung

My favorite Tull album. Baker St Muse is awesome by all accounts

One of my very Favorite Jethro Tull songs Justin !! Tull at their Prog Best !!! JP this is Prog musically from soft acoustics to hard edged Rock and all in between : ) Ian's voice is so great here !! I'm glad you played the long version with the full intro the Acoustic beginning and the Heavy Big Hook groove and ending ! Of course it's Fantastic Live !!!! : D

The Tull song I always come back to. Never get tired of.

Another great reaction, Justin: intelligent and perceptive and - most importantly - you save your comments till the end. I SO hate it when others continually hit the pause button to give us their pearls of wisdom.

I love Barrymore Barlows drumming. As far as the 70's go, nobody works the double kick quite as well as he did. Criminally underrated drummer if you ask me.

Finally, I been dying for you to do this. My favorite album of their vast collection. This album has it all!

Hello Justin, you know how I feel about Jethro Tull and Ian. Oh so happy!! Thanks again for your reactions, you have good insight and appreciation when you describe your thoughts and feelings about the music you're hearing for the first time. I've gone back and watched you're earlier videos because they are so good. The My God one especially.

This tune is the way JTull shows their their band is tight and skilled. I love the self-reference and IAnderson's unique voice. What an under-sung band. Thanks for this one.

I got this album when released and it stands the test of time. A little Monty Pythonesque at the beginning and it is funny. The riff is massive. The drumming is great, and the vocals (catch the “hey, hey” from Ian). This album is great overall. I luv the cover. It is a complete work. So glad you are covering this. The lyrics bring you to the minstrel in the gallery. The album is story telling poetry. Enjoy the rest. Some beautiful songs coming up.

Yay!!! And it just gets better! This song has a great way of using two stylistics, a renaissance minstrel into a thundering modern minstrel. And A PASSION PLAY is my very favorite Tull LP. It's ingenius.

I agree Justin. A PASSION PLAY is my favorite Tull album. As for MINSTREL… I love it. You will too. Great reaction video!!!

One of their best songs IMHO, so great, so complex, many transitions and time signatures, each member shines, love Tull 🤘

A big thumbs up about Barlow's drumming skills. 👍Tull was working in Monte Carlo as tax exiles at the time. They had moved into a hotel and set up in the gallery with the mobile recording truck outside (see the back cover photo). Ian was hard at work and felt that the others thought they were on holiday riding their motorbikes around town etc. The lyrics reflect what Ian observed about the fat cats vacationing at the nearby resorts. He wasn't impressed to say the least. You should react to the live video of Velvet Green. Barriemore trotting out his portable Medieval kit. You'll wonder how Ian manages those guitar parts while singing.

My fav Tull offering. Baker St. Muse should be introduced to Middle School music classes everywhere ? People actually playing instruments.....who wouldathunkit ?

Thanks, JP! This is my favorite album from my favorite band! I thought you would do the whole album. You will LOVE the rest too, maybe even more than the opening track.

Imagine, if you will, this song without vocals. Now, if you were the songwriter, what melody line would you go with to accompany the lyrics? Who in their wildest imagination would conjure up a melody line as the one Ian Anderson came up with? And who else could sing it like he does? This one is mind-blowing! It’s one of my top Tull songs for sure! Great job JP!

i love this album , i dont think that there is a single mediocre song in here, and even though i also like War Child i am really excited that you skipped it to listen to this instead

I always liked this song. There is a great live video of them doing this.

Hi JP! Dipping back into my favorite band (66 yo 171#). Us boomers are such music snobs. This album and War Child closes out an amazing period of production for them. Change is on the horizon....Cheers, Chicago Ray

Great song. One of my favorites of theirs for sure.

Finally!! A reviewer who doesn’t stop the song every 20 seconds to comment!! Thank you. I appreciate your style. 😎

When I was in college I was a huge Jethro Tull fan (still am). I'll never forget playing Minstrel in the Gallery in my dorm room. About one minute into the song, a friend of mine who had a room next to mine, said to me, "What is that horrible boring music? Turn it off!" I told him, "Bro, give it a few minutes." Well, when the song was over 6 minutes later he came back into my room and said (and I kid you not), "DUDE, THAT SONG IS AWESOME!!! Who is that?" I told him it was Jethro Tull. I think the next day he bought a couple of their albums. Minstrel in the Gallery. Gotta love it!

I kind of thought Mr. Tull didn’t really write Thick as a Brick. So I agree. But Minstrel in the Gallery is a landmark. And the duality in how it is presented is epic. Glad to hear it again!

Passion Play was one of the very few Prog albums to hit #1 on billboard, so you were not alone. The only others that i can think of are several Pink Floyd and maybe a Moody Blues.

There is quite some Tull listening going on on my favourite channels at the moment. This is pleasantly unexpected. 'Minstrel in the Gallery' is definitely amongst my absolute favourite albums by them!

One of my very favorites, especially this title track. Thanks for reviewing it! I was lucky to have seen them on the tour that introduced this album and the group was ALL OVER IT, lucky it was in a smaller fieldhouse and just one of the best shows I've ever seen, and I've seen a lot of shows and artists.

Now this is what was needed this afternoon, nice one!

I've been waiting years for this.

Love it... Great reaction JP! I graduated high school in '77, so you can imagine our cars blasting Tull back then! (Eight track or cassette...can't remember) Peace☮️

Good story about how you listen to Passion Play many times. Lots of people have the same story but with different music, nobody was wrong.

Each time I listen to it, I discover a new kick drum roll or pattern. They all seem to be slightly different nad soo inventive...

Jethro Tull is just....JT there is no one like them. Their music is so diverse and unique. They started doing the Blues/Jazz on their first album. Then, they grew from there and escalated their effect to many very dedicated fans. One of my top 5 bands inn terms of GOAT.

Tull at some of their finest. Thanks.

First time I have heard the full version of this, I have heard the single version before.

Minstrels were the eleven o clock news for their time. They were nomadic travelers that expressed story from afar.

Haven't listened to this in ages, but it's SO good! Great choice to check this whole album out, Justin.

Yes, another great Tull track! I think you're going to love the rest of the album too.

Enjoy the uniqueness of Tull. No other band can pull this type of music off.

This song is a wonderful start to a gem of an album, one of my favorites. I can't wait to hear your take on the rest of the album -- I'd list specific songs, but really they are all wonderful so I'd just end up listing the whole album.

It’s been a very long time since I’ve heard this song/album. There is a lot going on in this first track. Oh I loved it btw. Thanks JP great reaction

Over the moon you're doing more Tull..and Minstrel in the Gallery.. awesome song Justin.. awesome album imo. It's heavy..it's proggie..it's subtle, beautiful too...ilove this album butty..great review,as usual...what a great start to the weekend Justin.. hope you are well ?? Maybe Camel's"Rain Dances" one day . Or "Nude"....what an album that is by the way

YESSSS! MitG is such an amazing masterpiece yet it sadly flies under the radar for the most part. You're in for a ride, Justin.

This album is right at or neat the top of my favorite Tull albums. I still remember the day this came in the mail from the old Columbia House Record Club. If you like Barrie Barlows drumming, check out the first Yngwie album Rising Force!

Me too JP -- Love Passion Play -- Now this song to me is a study of how it would have sound performed "Back in the Day" {1500s LOL} and how it sounds in modern times - fun song

Extremely happy to hear that you are in the same space as me when it comes to Passion Play. Minstrel is another fine offering from JT. I don't recall a bad tune on it. Baker Street Muse should be your next endeavor.🤠👍

When this one kicks in, it KICKS ASS.

(Edit: Thanks for giving J Tull your time and enthusiam. This IS a great album.) I would stack the 1970s J. Tull up against any GOAT bands anybody would dare to bring forward. This level of music complexity needs a team and all the members to be at the top of their game. When Tull changed members the first thing I noticed was the drums. The other losses meant J Tull had some good songs but the days of front to back great albums was gone for me. I think I own every vinyl up to and including 'Under Wraps.'

The best album of jethro tull in my opinion.

Cool. One of my faves with Tull. Thanks for doing this one.

How I love this album! The best of everything of JT is on it. On this track I love Ian‘s vocals which are as hard and sharp as Martin‘s guitar playing - jet as soft and gentle at the beginning. A perfect opener - and the best is still waiting for you.

Love this song, very reminiscent of the Benefit era, to me.

You're in for a treat. Every track on this album is solid.

The change from the earlier folksy part to the middle part of heavy bass and drums, along with Martin's rhythmic guitar, is so cool! And it's not Jeffrey coming in on organ. It's Jeff on bass, and John Evan on keyboards.

Let's give Martin Barre his due! To me he is a genius and guitar god

If you notice the minstrel in the gallery version of the song at the start has different melodica patterns and then when it gets to the Rock Park it's more like a blues sort of Melody it's just completely written differently well of course that's the Brilliance of these crazy blokes from Blackpool

So glad you enjoyed "A Passion Play". A favorite of mine. I always thought Tull had reached their zenith, their apogee, with "A Passion Play", "Warchild" and this one. Jethro Tull at their very best.

Yeah! ✊🥳✊ So glad you're tackling this album, man. This is def one of their best! Then again I could say that about most 70's Tull albums... 😅 I remember you said during your Stand Up listen that you wanted more Barre and I instantly thought of this track. Well, did it suffice? 😆🎸🔥 Whenever I put this song on the next day I always have a sore throat due the extreme singing/screaming along, then I feel sorry for my neighbors 😅

Jethro Tull - the ultimate measurement of time.

A five star masterpiece…Baker Street Muse is a must listen!

YEAH AND NOT EVENNNN 10 YEARS INTO THEIR CAREER YET, I LOVE I THAT! CERTAINLY GETTING BARRIEMORE TO REPLACE CLIVE CHANGED ALOTTTTT! :)

JP,i bought this album,Freehand by Gentle Giant,Renaissance-Scheherazade and Other Love Songs,One Size Fits All by Frank Zappa and The Mothers Of Invention and Chocolate Kings by PFM at the same time for $4.98 each at the end of August at EJ Korvettes department store in the Bronx when i was 16.Remember it like yesterday.Still listening to the same great bands 47 years later!

Oh, and I agree...Passion Play to me is as good as Thick as a Brick and maybe better. Love all the sax stuff Anderson did in that.

Seems like the contrast between the medieval aspect of Minstrels and Strolling players is being contrasted with descriptions of modern day jobs and attitudes.

Nightcap aka The Best Music inexplicably not chosen for A Passion Play is a must have. In fact the Steven Wilson Box Set includes even more gems.

It is the Bass. Jeffery Hammond really is a star of the rocking meat these 70's albums hand out.

Great review of this wonderful song and band..

I love this album which for me is one of my favourite Tull albums. Love the artwork, the music and the lyrics. Its just top notch to me although it seems to get by-passed by many in mentions and comments. This track especially is a real band effort too when it comes to the performance. Love it

I think Tull is a bit like you, always a rewarding experience. And yes there is so much more to look forward to, War Child has some catchy tues on it. I look forward to more reviews from you Sir.

Tull's best album....really....you are in for a masterful progressive treat.

You know it's funny I think the first time I heard Jethro Tull was the album benefit I was over at my friend the bass player Rob checking he played it on his brothers 8-track player and yeah it changed my life

I was lucky enough to see them on the tour after this album... the show was simply stunning....!!!

I have always held the same opinion and preference for A Passion Play. When Mistrel came out it was shockingly good at the time, as it was late in the prog heyday when some prog bands were fizzling out. This to me might be one of their best albums, and it followed the more commercial War Child which many prog fans hated. The bass line in this song is insanely good. Baker St. Muse is another stellar track off this album. Great reaction!

You might enjoy knowing a bit about the album cover for Minstrel in the Gallery: Christmas-revels-haddon-hall-joseph-nash-mansions-1839 The lithograph has several alternate names, all sharing a yuletide theme: Christmas is Coming Christmas Revels, Hadden Hall Twelfth Night Revels in the Great Hall When published in The Mansions of England in the Olden Time in 1912 it bore the caption seen above, perhaps suggesting that they revelled like this not just for Christmas, but the whole year round. The artist, Joseph Nash [1809 - 1878] was an Englishman who, in addition to being a lithographer, was a painter of watercolours. His architectural works, often enlivened by people occupying the spaces, were very popular.

Heavy handed? Try Heavy Horses…. The Mouse Police Never Sleeps, Lullaby, and One Brown Mouse. So good and your reaction to Minstrel was really, really good. You were in the ZONE today! Keep havin’ fun doin’ what you do!

My favorite Tull album! Minstrel, Aqualung, Songs From the Wood, Heavy Horses, Broadsword and the Beast, plus, i love "A"...give me some Jobson w/ they synths/violin.

Best JT album for me.

No one hardly talks about Barriemore Barlow, such an underrated amazing drummer, he played for Robert Plant too, among others 🥁 (btw I hadn't finished the video when I wrote this but I guess by your moves that you enjoy the drumming, Justin 😉)

"You can blah blah blah" = Alex Lifeson's speech at Rush's induction at the RRHOF 🤣

“Ye Can Blah Blah Blah, But I Hope Ya Ha Ha Ha” is my favorite XTC song.