Jethro Tull – Benefit

1. With You There To Help Me 
2. Nothing To Say
3. Inside 
4. Son 
5. For Michael Collins, Jeffrey And Me
6. To Cry You A Song 
7. A Time For Everything 
8. Teacher
9. Play In Time 
10. Sossity; You're A Woman 
11. Alive And Well And Living In (UK Bonus Track)

Jethro Tull’s 1970 classic “Benefit” was the British rock band’s third studio album. On this record, Ian Anderson — flute, guitar and vocals — Martin Barre — guitar — Glenn Cornick — bass — and Clive Bunker — drums — were joined by John Evan on piano and organ. At the same time, “Benefit” was the last album to feature Cornick, who was dismissed from the band after the subsequent tour had ended. “Benefit” became Jethro Tull’s first album to be awarded Gold and developed into a major success worldwide. Entering the LP charts at number 7, it brought Ian Anderson and his bandmates the long-awaited breakthrough in the United States. In the United Kingdom, the album charted at number 3. The “Benefit” tour also included an appearance at the Isle of Wight Festival in 1970, where Jethro Tull performed in front of 600,000 (!) people.

“Benefit” was recorded at Morgan Studios in London, where the band had also recorded its previous LP, “Stand Up”. The sessions made use of highly advanced studio techniques, such as a backward-recorded flute on “With You There To Help Me” and a tempo-accelerated guitar on “Play In Time”. Frontman Ian Anderson said that Evan had changed the band’s style: “John has added a new musical dimension, and I can now write more freely. With him on keyboards, almost anything is possible.” Compared with “Stand Up”, “Benefit” features a similar blend of bluesy hard rock songs and melodic acoustic pieces, yet, as Ian Anderson put it, it has a “harder, slightly darker touch” than the earlier material. The eclectic fusion of folk, rock and progressive elements creates a unique tapestry of sound. Anderson’s virtuosic flute playing intertwines with Barre’s electrifying guitar work, creating complex melodies that transport the listener into a fantastic sonic world. The Analogue Productions reissue contains the original U.S. running order and track listing, supplemented by the bonus track “Alive And Well And Living In” from the UK LP version.

The Hybrid SACD — DSD — from Analogue Productions gives this historic album the rich, detailed, vivid and brilliant sound it deserves, thanks to the superb remastering by Matthew Lutthans of The Mastering Lab, who used the original master tapes for the project. “Benefit” is a testament to Jethro Tull’s pioneering spirit, expanding the boundaries of musical expression and leaving a lasting mark on rock music.