Jethro Tull - Benefit (Remastered) (1970/2025)

180-gram 45 RPM double LP from Analogue Productions! Mastered by Matthew Lutthans at The Mastering Lab from flat copies of the original U.K. and U.S. analog master tapes Third studio album featured advanced studio recording techniques. Featuring original U.S. tracklisting with bonus track "Alive And Well And Living In" from U.K. release Plated and pressed at Quality Record Pressings. Gatefold old-style tip-on jacket by Stoughton Printing.

"We get the U.K. version, but also with the bonus track the 'Alive And Well' … this, in a way, is a complete version of this alltime, alltime classic. … This is Jethro Tull at its purest, this is Jethro Tull at its best." — Michael Ludwigs, 45 RPM Audiophile, YouTube video.

"I was really glad to see Matt Luthans on board as the mastering engineer. (Analogue Productions) utilitizes all of the great mastering engineers and I think we can count Matt Luthans among them. … How does it sound? Well, I think they have kind of worked a miracle here. … They have been able to draw out the strength of this production, get rid of some of the problems with it, and give us the best-sounding edition of this that I've heard, so far." — Scott Wilson, The Pressing Matters, YouTube video.

"A hybrid of packaging elements taken from various international pressings of Benefit give the Analogue Productions edition a stunning presentation. A live shot of the group featuring a double-exposed Ian Anderson that graced the gatefold of original German pressings is featured. Instead of replicating the 'tan steamboat' label of the original US Reprise pressing, the green Chrysalis label is a tip of the hat to the original UK pressing. … Analogue Productions reissues almost always outdo previous reissue efforts, yet here Matthew Lutthans' cutting work magnifies some of Benefit's quirky sonic characteristics. … Analogue Productions' successful attempt to produce this album's ultimate pressing makes worthwhile revisiting one of Jethro Tull's most underrated albums." — Music = 9/11; Sound = 10/11 — Dylan Peggin, TrackingAngle.com. Read the entire review here.

"… as it relates to this Analogue Productions release it really pulled the blanket off of the recording, it really gave life and vibrance … this is one of those easy, easy comparisons to say that the new one really knocked it out of the park. It brought a lot of the essential nutrients of this album, and the ingredients that were there, a brought them into a fresh listening experience … great job in Salina, Kansas to Chad and the mastering engineers of bringing this one home and giving us a solid reproduction of this classic Jethro Tull Benefit album." — David Bianco, Safe & Sound Texas Audio Excursion YouTube video

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.

This Analogue Productions 45 RPM release, plated and pressed at Quality Record Pressings, gives this historic album the rich sonic presentation it deserves. The dead-quiet double-LP, with the music spread over four sides of vinyl, reduces distortion and high frequency loss as the wider-spaced grooves let your stereo cartridge track more accurately. This release duplicates the gatefold jacket used in the U.K.; it uses the original U.S. song order and track listing, with the addition at the end of LP2 Side B, of the bonus track "Alive And Well And Living In" from the U.K. version.

Benefit stands as a testament to Jethro Tull's pioneering spirit, pushing the boundaries of musical expression and leaving an indelible mark on the landscape of rock music. This reissue is clean, balanced and richly detailed, the way an Analogue Productions reissue should sound.

Tracklist

LP 1 Side A
1. With You There To Help Me
2. Nothing To Say

LP 1 Side B
1. Inside
2. Son
3. For Michael Collins, Jeffrey And Me

LP 2 Side A
1. To Cry You A Song
2. A Time For Everything
3. Teacher

LP 2 Side B
1. Play In Time
2. Sossity; You're A Woman
3. Alive And Well And Living In