OK, I took a wild stab that Jethro Tull would have a song with march in it, and I was right. I’ve listened to some of their albums more than others. Minstrel of the Gallery is not one I’ve listened to a ton, but I remember exactly what was going on in my world when the title cut was a hit on the radio.
from wiki:
Minstrel in the Gallery is the eighth studio album by British rock band Jethro Tull, released in September 1975. The album sees the band going in a different direction from their previous work War Child (1974), returning to a blend of electric and acoustic songs, in a manner closer to their early 1970s albums such as Benefit (1970,) Aqualung (1971,) and Thick as a Brick (1972.) Making use of a newly constructed mobile recording studio commissioned and constructed specifically for the band, the album was the first Jethro Tull album to be recorded outside of the UK, being recorded in tax exile in Monte Carlo, Monaco. It was the last Jethro Tull album to feature bassist Jeffrey Hammond, who left the band upon completion of the album’s touring in late 1975 and was replaced by former Carmen bass player John Glascock.
Listening to it, it did not sound familiar, and now I know why: “March The Mad Scientist” appeared only on a Maxi Single. And no, I did not know what a Maxi Single was before today.
Interestingly, in 2015, commemorating the 40th anniversary of Minstrel in the Gallery, it was released as a box set with two CDs and two DVDs, named La Grande Edition. The box contains rare and previously unreleased tracks … including new stereo mixes by Steven Wilson and a live presentation, from 1975 in Palais des Sports, remixed by Jakko Jakszyk. Also, an 80-page booklet featuring track-by-track annotations by Ian Anderson, a history of the group and recollections of life on tour by road crew member Kenny Wylie, maintenance engineer Pete Smith and string section musician Liz Edwards.
I follow Jethro Tull’s YouTube channel and have noticed there have been several of these kinds of re-releases. At the same time, they continue to release new music and music videos. I did learn that Ian Anderson is the only original Tull member left.
March The Mad Scientist, by Jethro Tull
What would you like for Christmas —
a new polarity?
You’re binary, and desperate to deal
in high figures
that lick us with their hotter flame —
lick each and everyone the same.
And March, the mad scientist,
rings a new change
in ever-dancing colours.
He rings it here and he rings it…
but no one stops to see
the change of fate and the fate of change
that slips into his pocket —
so he locks it all away from view
and shares not what he thought you knew.
And April is summer-bound,
And February’s blue.
And no one stops to see the colours.
Written by: Ian Scott Anderson
Glyn is the host of Mixed Music Bag. Glyn says:
Find the word March in the title of a song or in the lyrics.
Tao Talk 
I love the Aqualung album. Title song and Cross Eyed Mary are my favorites. I’m gonna have to expand my Tull horizons.
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In 2021, I did a Jethro Tull song a day in April for A to Z. They have a huge and wonderful catalog of music beyond the stuff you heard on the radio.
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Haha! I featured the same one!
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? Where, Nancy?
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Tomorrow for MMB.
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A Jethro Tull song that’s entirely new to me. I also don’t recall ever having listened to the “Minstrel in the Gallery” album – another indication my knowledge of their music is pretty spotty!
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Christian, I doubt I would have heard it either unless I hadn’t specifically been looking for a JT song with the word march in it. The lyrics are poetry!
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I like it, especially the major-minor key play. I don’t know this album, so no surprise I haven’t heard it before. (K)
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The thing is, it isn’t on the original album, so even if you knew it it isn’t there. It’s an interesting find for sure. Thanks to Glyn. Thanks, Glyn!
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This is a wonderful song. Jethro Tull is a family favourite. ❤️
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Punam very happy your are fans of their music. I feel like I step into another world when I listen to it.
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Love it! Thanks! Martin Barre’s guitar really makes the sound, but it seems Jethro Tull can survive any personnel change as long as Ian Anderson remains.
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Totally agree on personnel changes. He’s the maestro. Glad you enjoyed this song, Steve.
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I’ve put their Minstrel In The Gallery album on my ‘to get’ list
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Glyn, just remember, this song isn’t on the original album…
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Thanks for sharing the history on Jethro Tull. One of my older brothers played them a lot, and they’re in a mass of vinyl I bought from him decades ago when he moved to England for a few years. A decent collection that shrank a little when my oldest son picked up on the music I was playing in his early childhood home… I like that he, a musician, is enjoying the records.
JT is a band I’ve often thought of writing a post on but hesitate, not knowing enough of their repertoire. Thanks for the post and the nice sampling of a great song.
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Your son has good taste :) I did a JT song a day in 2021 and tried to include at least one song from every album. Here is a post with a link to the spotify playlist (which I can’t remember if you have or not?) You can also search for the posts for them from 4/1-4/31/21 to get a lot of info on the albums, place in time, etc.
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Yes, Li, he does have good taste and has turned me onto stuff too.
Cool. No, I have Apple Music.
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https://tao-talk.com/2023/05/07/jethro-tull-a2z-2021-spotify-playlist/
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Every time I hear Tull I want more.
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If any band is a Time Machine, it is Tull.
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not a bad I know much about, thaks for introducing me to their music!
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Happy to introduce you, Carol Anne. They’re good.
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