Benefit (Steven Wilson 2013 Stereo Mix) Jethro Tull

• 1 With You There to Help Me 06:19
• 2 Nothing To Say 05:22
• 3 Alive And Well And Living In 02:46
• 4 Son 02:53
• 5 For Michael Collins, Jeffrey And Me 03:51
• 6 To Cry You A Song 06:14
• 7 A Time For Everything 02:45
• 8 Inside 03:51
• 9 Play In Time 03:55
• 10 Sossity You're A Woman 04:37
• 11 Singing All Day 03:07
• 12 Sweet Dream 04:05
• 13 17 06:20
• 14 Teacher (UK Single Version) 04:57
• 15 Teacher (US Album Version) 04:04
• Total Runtime 01:05:06

Info for Benefit (Steven Wilson 2013 Stereo Mix)

Tull's third album finds them pulling definitively away from their blues-rock beginnings and heading towards the folk-influenced prog-rock that would become their trademark. It captures a brief, crucial moment in the band's life. They hadn't yet adopted the complex, medieval-oriented approach of their most famous works, but they had progressed enough to record some of Ian Anderson's most unpretentious, personal and affecting songs. Instead of courtly prog-rock or Cream-ish electric blues, „Benefit“ is full of visceral, electrified folk-rock. The light, acoustic-flavored 'With You There to Help Me' and 'Inside' are full of thoughtful passion. The harder-edged 'To Cry You a Song' and 'Teacher' are examples of Tull's ever-present way with a hooky riff. For those distrustful of fancy time signatures and complex song suites, a strong case could be made for „Benefit“ as Tull's most satisfying effort.

'...A steady consolidation of its predecessor....File not alongside Yes or ELP but Fairport Convention and The Crazy World OF Arthur Brown...' (Q Magazine)

Ian Anderson, vocals, guitar, balalaika, flute
Martin Barre, guitar
John Evan, piano, organ
Clive Bunker, drums

Recored at Morgan Studio, London
Produced by Ian Anderson

Digitally remastered

Jethro Tull
formed in February 1968 from the ashes of two unsuccessful blues/rock bands of the era. Ian Anderson brought his unique and innovative style of flute playing to a public raised on the guitar based British bands who courted acceptance at London’s famous Marquee Club.

After their first tentative blues oriented album, titled “This Was,” the group moved through successive records towards a more progressive sound, and with “Aqualung” in 1971 achieved their first real international level of success.

A few hit singles, notably “Living in the Past,” livened up their early career although it was as an album band, with songs of real substance, that the group really took off, both on record and as a major live concert act.

So-called concept albums followed in the early 70’s (“Thick as a Brick” and “A Passion Play”) with the attendant platinum No. 1 album chart sales.

Tull survived the critical backlash of the return-to-basics later 70’s to produce some of their finest creative efforts which, although not quite matching the commercial success of the previous works, established the band as one of the truly creative exponents of progressive music throughout the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s.

They have continued to constantly reinvent themselves, albeit with several personnel changes along the way.

Ian Anderson (flute and vocals) and Martin Barre (guitar) provide to this day the musical and historical backbone of the group, joined by Doane Perry on drums, Andrew Giddings on keyboards, and Jonathan Noyce on bass.

This album contains no booklet.