Jethro Tull Benefit Hybrid Stereo SACD

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Jethro Tull's 1970 classic Benefit was their third studio album in as many years, following the successes of This Was (1968) and Stand Up (1969).

For Benefit, Ian Anderson (flute, guitars, vocals), Martin Barre (guitars), Glenn Cornick (bass), and Clive Bunker (drums) were joined by John Evan on piano and organ. Evan would go on to play on all of Jethro Tull's albums throughout the '70s. It was also the last to include Cornick, who was fired from the band upon completion of touring for the album.

Recorded at Morgan Studios, where the band recorded Stand Up, the album featured more advanced studio techniques, such as a backward-recorded flute on ""With You There to Help Me"" and a sped-up guitar on "Play in Time." Frontman Ian Anderson said Evan had changed the band's style: "John has added a new dimension musically and I can write more freely now. In fact anything is possible with him at the keyboard."

Compared to Stand Up, although containing a similar mix of bluesy hard-rockers and melodic acoustic numbers, Benefit had, as Ian Anderson put it, a "harder, slightly darker feel" compared to previous material. The eclectic fusion of folk, rock, and progressive elements creates a sonic tapestry unlike any other.

Anderson's virtuosic flute playing intertwines with Barre's electrifying guitar work, weaving intricate melodies that transport listeners to a world of introspection and imagination. From the hauntingly beautiful "With You There to Help Me" to the whimsical energy of "To Cry You a Song," each track invites exploration of both the inner self and the world beyond.