BENEFIT

This is, for me, the best of Jethro Tull, or more accurately, Ian Anderson plus sidemen. Although the original band ended with This Was, that recording wasn't a good enough representation of an excellent band, so Benefit is, to my mind, a dash of the original Jethro laced with the future Anderson band. At times Ian almost breaks into song-writing, Cry me a Song being just about the best of anything he ever wrote (not a performance judgement, please note!). Cornick and Bunker give sterling support, but the guitar of Barre is glaringly competent while devoid of inspiration a la Abrahams. Any defects are quickly made void by Anderson's outstanding arrangements and performance, and the whole thing takes up where Stand Up left off. Thereafter, although interesting at times, the whole project became depressingly formulaic and Captain Anderson ran his ship with a tight helm and three strokes of the lash without the rum.