Jethro Tull - Benefit (vinyl)

Harry

It was on repeat last night (CD version) and I too have changed my mind. I still think in a couple of places it is a touch over-dynamic but overall it really is transformed. Totally agree re the bass lines, also the muti-tracked vocals and guitar. 'To Cry You A Song' is just a totally different beast that flies from the first note.

It struck me first time as being a bit raw and 'live' but actually I would just call it fresh and you can hear the recording effects and the craft and musicianship so much better. IA's voice is more forward (or just clearer) but not forced. I actually picked out lyrics I did not know before.

I've always liked Benefit as an album, felt a bit 'different' to the rest of the canon but felt it was a bit flat and one-dimensional in some ways. I think a lot of that was the original  recording, and the shock of this new version is because so much needed doing to bring it to life. I now appreciate the craft much more and the best songs are a joy.

The liner notes are quite fun too

I have not even got to the CD extras yet.

JT fans-a definite tick I would say.

Bruce

I'm not surprised you mention that. One of many memorable moments, but doesn't this track kick ass now? Who'd have thought it had so much in it in terms of information, multi tracking and spirited, sweaty playing. 

This is no good. I've got to go and play it through again.

And I've still got to do my Lou Reed night.

TTFN.

With apologises to Steve J who is still awaiting impressions on the vinyl version, here’s my view on the CD. My comparison is against digital remaster on the Chrysalis label which I’ve always thought pretty good.

I’ve only played Disc 1 so far. From the off I thought there was more depth to the soundstage and a lowering in harshness. The acoustic guitar on Nothing to Say  had better definition. Vocals on Alive and well and living in seemed less shouty and I noticed for the first time the tambourine being played. Son was again less harsh and there seemed to be more echo around IA’s voice. For Michael Collins, Jeffrey and me the presentation was more delicate and the bass guitar lines were easily identified and followed. Similar effects with the lovely track To cry you a song on which I also noticed the better definition of the kick drum.  That followed through tracks 7 and 8.  The final track, Sossity: you’re a woman, my favourite, was softer, airier and with more depth than on my Chrysalis CD, the latter having more bite and arguably excitement.  I’ll have to play this track A/B some more as on the Steve Wilson remaster the acoustic guitars seem to be played in a loving, relaxed way whereas on my Chrysalis they sound they are really strumming with gusto! Both enjoyable, though.

If I had to give a brief impression of the Steve Wilson remaster I’d say it has more warmth, sounding less digital and more analogue.  I enjoyed it. Now where are those other two discs?

MDS

Apologies accepted MDS. I'm surprised nobody has posted on the vinyl yet. 

Steve

Harry - please forgive my novice question but how do you get the 24bit version off the DVD and into your NDS? I'm not too bothered about playing the 5.1 audio disc through my Home Theatre system but I'd love to be able to get the 24bit file onto a USB so I could play through my nDAC.  I've got access to PCs and MACs which conceivabely could copy the data from the DVD across to a USB but apart from the rare download from the Naim site to a USB, this streaming lark is very new to me.

MDS 

I use DVD Audio Extractor on a Win7 PC. I ripped all titles which has 2 channel PCM components (one at a time) into its own directory on my PC and it was not difficult (although I got it wrong in the first instance) to ascertain which was the remix and the flat transfer.  I got a good graphic of the album cover and put it in each directory as folder.jpg for tagging. The extras are in other titles lower down the list. The remix is obvious when you listen to it and a DR analysis and spectral analysis also shows the remix as having a higher DR (although not brick walled) and more information to and to some extent above above 30KHz.

I then used dBpoweramp to tag the files and copied them (including the cover art) them to my NAS HR Music share in two directories, one for flat transfer and one for remix including extras. I then quickly rechecked the tags in their remote location. Telling the HDX to refresh all shares had them showing up in nStream. Having listened to the flat transfer one and a half times and the remix three times, I have now deleted the flat transfer from the NAS. I won't be bothering with that again but as a collector it's nice to have.

Ditto the observation above on the kick drum. particularly on Side 2, sorry, from "To Cry You A Song". Old habits die hard. Plus on many tracks, Anderson's multi tracked vocals really stand out and add to the musical enjoyment. On some tracks the production really did blend them well together to sound like one voice with rich tones and harmonics. It's only now that I can hear all the strands.

I'd like to propose Steve Wilson for cloning. Comparatively young as he is, there's too much stuff begging for his touch for one lifetime!

Many thanks for the advice, Harry.  I think I'll have a dabble at this sorcery and see if I can get some music.

MDS 

If you can get the first Title at the top of the list off the disc you'll have the remaster of the album (10 tracks). After that it's itty bitty.

I've decided to buy the vinyl just to see what it's like. I will compare with my first press. There is room for improvement on the original even though it's in excellent condition. I just hope it's better than Steven Wilson's last attempt with TAAB. I'm afraid I don't share Harry's adulation as I've found some of his output patchy.

We'll see.

Steve

I'm glad to have it Steve, but no, I wouldn't put TAAB up for Pope. I'd put Benefit in the same league as Aqualung for a good job done, although I can't speak for the vinyl on either. I have an original UK release of Benefit on vinyl. Haven't played it since the mid 80s but I do remember it being a good LP.

Hi Steve,

I too was bitterly disappointed with the TAAB Wilson remix. Virtually unlistenable. It turns out it wasn't his fault. He never uses much compression in his remixes and is very sympathetic to the original feel. He delivered a good flat mix which was then butchered by Peter Mew in mastering for LP. Apparently Wilson was unhappy with the result. Such a pity. So I await news of this LP with interest also.

Cheers

David

I didn't think the TAAB CD mix was completely dreadful, but I found it far less revelatory than Benefit and Aqualung. With these latter two it felt like genuine re-discovery. TAAB seemed more obviously compromised by the original.

Bruce

Agree with that David. The vinyl should be arriving today so I'll post what I think of it. I didn't mind paying £14 for it unlike the Aqualung reissue which only came as a package. I didn't buy that as I already had the Classics Records 45rpm version which, ironically, was cheaper.

Steve