Jethro Tull's most divisive album turns 53

Few records split critics and fans like Jethro Tull's 'A Passion Play.'

Released in 1973 on Chrysalis Records, this 53-minute progressive rock opus saw the band abandon conventional song structures for a single continuous suite.

While some praised its ambition, others found it pretentious—Rolling Stone famously called it 'a disaster.'

While some praised its ambition, others found it pretentious—Rolling Stone famously called it 'a disaster.'

Yet the album's theatrical flute solos and labyrinthine lyrics have aged into a peculiar charm, securing its place as a cult favorite among prog devotees.