Album of the Day

When Jethro Tull released BENEFIT fifty years ago today, it signaled a new, more progressive musical direction for the U.K. band. Their third studio set left behind the blues-based sound of earlier work for English folk textures that would come to define the group, and though there are plenty of driving riffs from guitarist Martin Barre, the addition of John Evans on piano and organ was a pivotal one. “John has added a new dimension musically and I can write more freely now,” said singer-songwriter Ian Anderson. “In fact anything is possible with him at the keyboard.” A Top 10 hit in England (it just missed that status in America), this was Tull's first million seller, and the 2-CD/DVD-Audio Collector’s Edition of the acclaimed album includes newly remastered versions of rare tracks and singles recorded around the same time as BENEFIT, such as “Teacher” and “Sweet Dream” in both stereo and mono.