War Child - Just Remastered Nov. 2002
After two single-song concept albums, "War
Child"
was a return to the traditional format. The album prominently features
David 
Palmer's string
orchestration across an eclectic musical set. The music is lighter and
more whimsical than the dark "A Passion Play," though
the lyrics still unleash lashing critiques of established society (e.g.,
"Queen and Country," "Bungle in the Jungle" ), religion (e.g., "Two
Fingers"), and critics (e.g., "Only Solitaire").
Much of the music
was written during the latter half of the "Passion
Play" tour. Yet, "War Child" is arguably pre-Passion Play. "Skating
Away," "Bungle in the Jungle," and "Only Solitaire" came
from the aborted
"Chateau D'isaster" tapes preceding"A Passion Play" and "Two
Fingers"
was a rewrite
of a
song left
off "Aqualung."
Despite the seemingly disconnected themes, "War Child" was planned
as a movie soundtrack. The screenplay,
loosely based on "A
Passion Play," featured
the afterlife experiences of a little girl killed during an auto accident.
Anderson had gone so far as
to enlist John Cleese, Sir Frederick Ashton, and Leonard Rossiter for the
project before abandoning it, due mostly to unacceptable Hollywood production
demands.
The front cover catalogs Anderson's debut of his infamous "minstrel"
outfit which, quite arguably, looks much more like a 
jester
than a strolling musician. Some Tull commentators
argue the vestige represents Anderson's identification with the typical sarcastic,
social commenting fools of Shakespeare's plays
and allude to telling references in songs such as "Only Solitaire" (vi.,
"Think I'll sit down and invent some fool...some grand court jester...).
All intellect aside, most fans and critics are more apt to remember the
persona's silver codpiece that it's literary inspirations.
The "War Child" tour featured perhaps Tull's most outlandish costuming: Anderson
as minstrel, Hammond with his black-and-white striped suit and coordinating
instruments, Evan in his baggy ice cream salesman white suit, Barlow in
a lightweight boxer outfit, and Barre's floral, almost Elton
John-like,
suit.
