BENEFIT

This 1970 release, the band's third album, is the first of the early Tull recordings that, to my taste, merits a 5-star rating. By this time, the group's sound had jelled into what most fans would say typifies classic Tull: less blues-rooted than its (excellent) predecessor, with Anderson's unique flute and Martin Barre's hard-edged guitar to the fore. There's not a single weak track, and the absolutely essential "Inside" and "Teacher" (one of my all-time favourite Tull songs) appear here.

This disc is a must for followers of the early Jethro Tull!