| Nightcap: The Unreleased Masters 1973–1991 | |
| Type: | compilation |
| Longtype: | of outtakes |
| Artist: | Jethro Tull |
| Cover: | JethroTull_Nightcap.jpg |
| Released: | 22 November 1993 (UK) 11 January 2000 (US) |
| Recorded: | 1972 – 1991 at various locations |
| Genre: | |
| Length: | 120:39 |
| Label: | Chrysalis |
| Producer: | Ian Anderson |
| Prev Title: | The Best of Jethro Tull - The Anniversary Collection |
| Prev Year: | 1993 |
| Next Title: | Roots to Branches |
| Next Year: | 1995 |
Nightcap: The Unreleased Masters 1973–1991 is a double compilation album by British rock band Jethro Tull, released on 22 November 1993. It contains much of the band's previously unreleased material.[1]
The first disc contains material recorded in August 1972, much of which was re-recorded and re-arranged for the band's sixth album, A Passion Play (the lyrics of "Critique Oblique" and "Scenario" actually refer to the "passion play" in question). The songs "Scenario", "Audition" and "No Rehearsal" initially appeared on the 20 Years of Jethro Tull box set as a single track entitled "The Chateau d'Isaster Tapes". This humorous title is also used on Nightcap as the title of the entire first disc. The material on the first disc was mixed and arranged as the aforementioned three tracks were on the 20 Years box set with numerous flute overdubs by Ian Anderson, but excludes the songs "Big Top" and "Sailor".
All "Chateau d'Isaster" material apart from "The Story of the Hare Who Lost His Spectacles", which had been cut into the album A Passion Play in 1973, was included as part of the 2014 re-release of A Passion Play, remixed by Steven Wilson and without any overdubs. For this release, several titles were corrected to the titles given on the original tape boxes (see below) and the order was also restored to the originally planned three LP sides, which are basically reversed on Nightcap.
In 2024, the most complete version of the original sessions so far was released as a double vinyl album and on download and streaming services, simply titled The Chateau D'Herouville Sessions 1972. This includes the same mixes as on the A Passion Play book set but with a stripped down version of "The Story of the Hare Who Lost His Spectacles" inserted in its original position. The fourth side of the album was filled with the 20 Years mix and the 1973/1974 mixes of "Only Solitaire", "The Story of the Hare Who Lost His Spectacles" and "Skating Away On The Thin Ice of the New Day".
The second disc of Nightcap contains unreleased material recorded between 1974 and 1991, in particular extra songs from the sessions for The Broadsword and the Beast. Many of the songs on this disc also appear as bonus tracks on CD reissues of Jethro Tull studio albums.
The album was produced in limited quantities with proceeds going to charity.