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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
48 of 48 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This was the album that turned me on to Jethro Tull back in 1970. It was a time when progressive rock was really getting in to its stride and Tull were supreme exponents. Benefit was an album of superb songs, musicianship and production. Ian Anderson's ethereal flute in the opening bars of 'With You There To Help Me,' grabbed my attention. By the end of the track, with his maniacal, echoing laughter, I was hooked.
There's not a bad track on the album, but high points for me are; 'To Cry You A Song.' - Fades in with Martin Barre's double-tracked lead guitar hook, followed by Ian's processed double tracked vocal. Martin's lead breaks between verses, not only double tracked, but then two complementary melodies in the left and right channels, finally coming together in harmony just before the next verse and then triple tracked toward the end. There's a lot going on here, if you take the time to listen to it carefully. 'Play In Time.' - featuring reverse guitar, reverse piano, it seems there's reverse everything at times, swirling around the stereo soundscape in organised anarchy.
These weren't rock 'n' rollers bashing out a few three chord tunes, these were consummate musicians taking their time to craft an album of intricate rhythms and melodies using the best recording techniques of the time. Every member of the band contributed to a complex jigsaw that fitted together perfectly, not forgetting John Evans' (or Evan as he was credited on the original sleeve) essential contribution on keyboards.
Over thirty years later I can still listen to this album and enjoy every second of it. It just doesn't seem dated to me at all. If I could award more than five stars I wouldn't hesitate to do so.
21 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
When I first discovered Tull's Benefit in 1974 I thought it must be some obscure live bootleg but over the years it has given me more satisfaction than most of Tull's other albums. The songs are uniformly well written, arranged and played - the production is much tighter than Stand Up and with John Evan making his first major contribution this was arguably Tull's strongest ever line-up. Anderson's flute takes a bit of a back seat for most of the ride - more subtle and melodic, with only a few sporadic wild breathless outbursts and it is very much a multi-layered guitar album. Anderson's acoustic guitar work is superb - listen to Sossity and Michael Collins and his singing was maturing into that distinctively melodious voice which is such a feature of Jethro's best work. Cornick and Bunker were a fantastic rhythm section, tidy, inventive but solid. Barre's solos are controlled and excellent but there are lots of little flourishes and tasty accompaniment which is just as important. Stand out songs, apart from those mentioned are With You There to Help Me, Alive & Well & Living In (replaced by Teacher on the US release) and Inside, although they are all good. Benefit is a class album, ranking along with Stand Up and Thick As A Brick as my Tull favourites. Essential really.
20 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
After hearing a few Jethro Tull tracks (and obviously loving them from the start!) I decided to purchase an album and chose Benefit purely on the simplicity of the cover. I'm so glad this was my first proper introduction to Tull - I LOVE THIS ALBUM! Every song is simply amazing and beautifully well written. I especially like 'Play In Time' , 'With You There To Help Me' and the suitably placed last track 'Teacher'. 'To Cry You A Song' always makes me think of the wonder that is mushrooms! Having purchased Songs from the Wood, Stormwatch, and Minstrel in the Gallery since (all bloody great albums!), Benefit still remains my firm favourite and is a must have for all Jethro Tull fans.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
The beginning of greatness...
Ian Anderson was able to stretch his versatile creativity on "Benefit" and the production quality improved dramatically. He has an uproarious time on flute and acoustic guitar. Read more
Published 1 month ago by S Tuffnell
benefit
A truly great album as you would expect from Jethro Tull and a must for all fans of that era. I would definitely recommend it.
Published 2 months ago by Mr. A. Reynolds
Tull's 5th Best Album
I used to love the band when I was a teenager. The albums I heard most were Stand Up, Thick As a Brick, This Was: Remastered, Aqualung: 25th Anniversary Edition and this one. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Numinous Ugo
Tull's Best
I have always thought Benefit to be Tull's high water mark - with Stand Up close behind. The song writing is tight, inventive and deeply evocative - and the musicianship,... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Greenlight Boulder
Teacher is not the UK mix!
My gripe with this re-issue, is that I originally bought it purely on the basis that Teacher was the original UK single version. It isn't. Read more
Published 8 months ago by C. S. Grant
One for real Tull introspectives and many fans favourite
Hard to categorise this one and I suspect Ian Anderson probably doesn't rate it too highly. I think you have to be a real Jethro Tull fan of the early years to get the full depth... Read more
Published 18 months ago by Mr. Philip Baird
Lacking in sparkle.
'Benefit' is usually regarded as one of Jethro Tull's classic albums in amongst 'Stand Up', 'Aqualung' and 'Thick as a Brick'. Read more
Published 21 months ago by MR K J DOWNING
Jethro tull Benefit the album
i have bought the vinyl version of this album many years ago and it was always kept as part of my collections until i have moved house and somehow mislead this fantastic... Read more
Published 22 months ago by myMusic
benefit
My first Tull LP (vinyl for all you modern types)and still my favourite. Must admit to not being particulary fond of 'Sossity' at first but it must be an age thing as the older I... Read more
Published on 30 April 2010 by Mr. Paul Allen
Perfect musical balance.
The addition of John Evan's piano and organ to the Jethro Tull mix, produced an album of musical excellance that has not dimished the the 40 intervening years. Read more
Published on 9 Feb 2010 by Labsmgr9
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