Crest of a Knave - Ian's Reflections

Yes – the album that won the Grammy for Best Hard Rock/Metal!

Said She Was A Dancer? Hard Rock? Farm On The Freeway? Metal? Well, hardly, chaps, but thanks for the accolade to the voting members of the National Academy Of Recording Arts And Sciences who voted for Tull in the (practically speaking) category of Best Nice Bunch Of Guys Who Haven’t Won A Grammy Before.

Not exactly stirring the hostile and bilious juices of the media for being nominated in the category in the first place, I can only suppose that no-one – including our record Company, Chrysalis Records – thought there was even a remote chance that we would actually win the wretched thing. But poor old Alice Cooper, accepting the prize on our behalf since Chrysalis felt unable to shell out for the airfares for us to come to the awards, had to endure the chorus of boos and sneers from media and Metallica fans alike as the winner was announced.

The hard work and dedication from Chrysalis promo guy, Kevin Sutter, had paid off with a certified gold album and two heavy rotation videos on the fledgeling MTV. Steel Monkey, with its passing nod to the great ZZ Topsters, opened the album with its rapid-fire sequenced piano intro, while the best Classic Tull song ever – Budapest – provided both brain and brawn on record and subsequent live performance alike.

The first Tull record to be mastered on digital media, Crest combined the best of Martin’s guitar and my flute in the harmony and unison phrasing evident in songs like Farm On The Freeway and Jumpstart.

Doane Perry made his drumming debut here – not on the whole album – but on a couple of tracks – while Gerry Conway returned briefly to the fold for some drum additions elsewhere.

The keyboards were all mine on this record and were (necessarily) kept simple and atmospheric. Apart from two tracks the record was recorded and mixed in my home studio with Matin Barre playing most of the guitar parts and searing solos through a 15 Watt single 12’” speaker Marshall mini combo amp. Very Metal touch, that……

The album cover artwork was by an Heraldic design artist specializing in creating crests and seals for eminent gentlepersons bent upon consigning themselves to posterity with a personal touch to decorate the mantle or letterhead. With tongues in cheek, we invented some motifs more suitable to the task. Black cat, flute and other emblems made up the crest and gave us a nice tour T-shirt too.

Many years later, Crest Of A Knave remains one of my personal favourite albums and with pleasure, I dedicate this remaster to Martin Barre, longstanding Tull guitar player whose brilliant playing gives this record so much of its special qualities.

Ian Anderson
2004

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> Broadsword
> Under Wraps
> Crest of a Knave

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> Broadsword
> Under Wraps
> Crest of a Knave