This artwork was created after Iain McCaig had a talk with Ian Anderson, and tried to capture the concept of the music. To the delight of fans, he intentionally drew hidden “easter eggs” in the album art.
The runic symbols around the edge of the cover are from the Cirth rune system and are the opening lyrics to
Broadsword: "I see a dark sail on the horizon, set under a black cloud that hides the sun. Bring me my broadsword and clear understanding. Bring me my cross of gold as a talisman."
The album was going to be called
Beastie, responding to the first track on side one. But during production the band deliberated over the preference between
Beastie and
Broadsword, the first track on side two. In the end they decided (as on
Aqualung) to give each side its own title and thus its own identity, and this time to combine both in the album title. As the artwork also puts much more emphasis on
Broadsword, many owners and fans also refer to it as the "
Broadsword" album.
Collector's Notes:
This piece is available as a set with its counterpart
Jethro Tull, The Broadsword and the Beast, Album Back Cover, 1982. Please contact us for details.
17.5" x 17.5" Artwork Size
Mixed-media, Watercolor painting on board
Signed, Original Artwork - Available