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SOUNDS
25 August 1973
TULL RETIRE!
First major feature film
Jethro Tull are to make no further concert appearances.
They shocked the rock world this week with their announcement that they plan "an indefinite retirement." They have cancelled all engagements following the third and final section of their record breaking American tour which ends on September 29. After a month's rest they begin work on their first major feature film which is a musical by Ian Anderson.
Tull's manager Terry Ellis, commenting on the decision, said:
"The group have been working continuously for nearly six years during which time their total break from concerts has not been more than one month. In particular the effort they have put into preparing their concert appearances has been immense.
"The preparation of the music and production of A Passion Play began a year and a half ago and it is, in their opinion, the best thing they have ever done.
"The abuse heaped upon the show by the critics has been bitterly disappointing to the group, and illogical as it may be to identify the opinions of reviewers with those of the public, it has become increasingly difficult for the group to go onstage without worrying whether the audience are enjoying what they are playing. This has been a great burden and in the circumstances — with the film already in the planning stages — the group thought it better to cancel all concert plans and to concentrate on the film and to reconsider the situation after that."
The group will be recording an album featuring mostly songs from the film and that album will be released early next year. Details of the director and other featured actors in the film are yet to be finalised but the probable release date is thought to be September 1974.
This week A Passion Play reaches number 1 in the US album chart and it's been announced that the group has repeated its LA Forum engagement by selling out 70,000 seats for the four New York shows on tour, two shows taking place at Madison Square Gardens and two at Nassau Coliseum.
US Album Chart
1. A Passion Play (Jethro Tull)
2. Chicago VI (Chicago)
3. The Dark Side of the Moon (Pink Floyd)
4. Diamond Girl (Seals & Crofts)
5. Foreigner (Cat Stevens)
6. Made in Japan (Deep Purple)
7. Fresh (Sly & the Family Stone)
8. Touch Me in the Morning (Diana Ross)
9. Now and Then (The Carpenters)
10. Leon Live (Leon Russell)
11. Machine Head (Deep Purple)
12. Fantasy (Carole King)
13. The Captain and Me (Doobie Brothers)
14. Love, Devotion, Surrender (Carlos Santana/Mahavishnu Orchestra)
15. Houses of the Holy (Led Zeppelin)
16. There Goes Rhymin' Simon (Paul Simon)
17. Living in the Material World (George Harrison)
18. Tower of Power (Tower of Power)
19. Call Me (Al Green)
20. Farewell Andromeda (John Denver)