BENEFIT

Benefit was the 3rd album by Tull that I had heard. It was given to me as a present for my 16th birthday. At first it didn't grab me but I will admit after the 5th or 6th play I was hooked.

It is now up there in my top 4 Tull albums of all time and I put it in front of Aqualung (even though I think Aqualung is a five star album as well). You know (i.e. everyone in PA land) the best prog albums are the ones that take a number of listens; and Benefit belongs in that category.

"With You There to Help Me" brings tears to the eyes, a sublime track that introduces John Evan's piano to Tull. An instrument that was not evident on their first 2 albums and the outro dueling between Anderson's flute and Martin Barre's trashing guitar interspersed with rookie Evan's piano make this track an all time favourite. "Nothing to Say" is the most underrated Tull track ever but it's in my Tull top 10 ever....Barre shines.

The Australian release of Benefit, which I first owned omitted "Alive and Well and Living In" (which is found on the UK Benefit) and replaced it with "Teacher". I know Anderson is not too fond of Teacher but this is a Tull track that really demonstrates Anderson's emergence and an innovator of the flute in a rock setting. "Alive and Well and Living In" (was on the Australian "Living In The Past" double LP) is a superb tune.

All the other tracks on Benefit are winners. Just play them a number of times (obviously 5 or 6 times) and see what I mean ........."Son", "Inside", "Play In Time", "To Cry You a Song", "A Time For Everything" and the 2 acoustic numbers "For Michael Collins, Jeffrey and Me" and "Sossity; You're A Woman". Hell, how could anyone give this less than 5 stars?

Share this JETHRO TULL review

Social review comments () BETA

---

---

Review related links

• Send comments to BarryGlibb
• Report this review (#393026)
• Buy JETHRO TULL music online with PA partners
• Show all JETHRO TULL MP3/Stream
• Go to JETHRO TULL page for videos, full discography with ratings, reviews and much more
• Go to Benefit page for more details, where to buy and ratings/reviews
• Search the Forum for JETHRO TULL related discussions