Jethro Tull ‎– Benefit -1970 - Folk Rock, Psychedelic Rock, Prog Rock (vinyl)

Jethro Tull ‎– Benefit -1970 - Folk Rock, Psychedelic Rock, Prog Rock (vinyl)

Benefit is the third album by the British rock band Jethro Tull, released in April 1970. It was the first Tull album to include pianist and organist John Evan – though he was not yet a permanent member of the group – and the last to include bass guitarist Glenn Cornick. It was recorded at the same studio of the previous album, but the band experimented with more advanced recording techniques.^[1]

Singer Ian Anderson said that Benefit is a much darker album than the predecessor, Stand Up, owing to the pressures of an extensive U.S. tour and frustration with the music business.^[2]

Production

Guitarist Martin Barre said that Benefit was a lot easier to make than previous albums, as the success of Stand Up allowed the musicians more artistic latitude.^[3]

Bassist Glenn Cornick stated that the band's intention was to capture a more "live" feeling as "I felt the last one sounded like a group of session musicians performing various songs. It was pretty cold."^[4]

Benefit incorporated studio techniques such as reverse recording (flute and piano tracks on "With You There to Help Me"), and manipulating the tape speed (guitar on "Play in Time"). In a 1970 interview Anderson noted that the addition of keyboardist John 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"