George Benson Give Me the Night

180g High Quality Pressing! Pressed at Pallas in Germany! Re-mastering by Ray Staff at Air Mastering!
This is the peak of George Benson's courtship of the mass market - a superbly crafted and performed pop album with a large supporting cast... and wouldn't you know that Quincy Jones, the master catalyst, is the producer. Quincy's regular team, including the prolific songwriter Rod Temperton and the brilliant engineer Bruce Swedien, is in control, and Benson's voice, caught beautifully in the rich, floating sound, had never before been put to such versatile use. On "Moody's Mood," Benson really exercises his vocalese chops and proves that he is technically as fluid as just about any jazz vocalist, and he becomes a credible rival to Al Jarreau on the joyous title track.
On "Moody's Mood" Benson shows his vocal skills and proves that he is technically as fluent as hardly any other jazz singer, and on the cheerful title track he becomes a credible rival of Al Jarreau. Benson's guitar only plays a minor role — only two of the ten tracks are instrumental pieces — but Q lets him play great fills behind the vocals and in the gaps, and the technique gives his tone a variety of flashy, new, full-sounding timbres. The instrumental pieces themselves are wonderful: "Off Broadway" is driving and danceable, and Ivan Lins' "Dinorah, Dinorah" becomes more and more seductive with each run. Benson should have worked with Jones from that point on, but this remains their only album together. - By Richard S. Ginell/AMG

Features:

• 180g Vinyl
• Pressed at Pallas in Germany
• Re-mastering by Ray Staff at Air Mastering, Lyndhurst Hall, London
• Gatefold Jacket

Selections:

Side A
1. Love X Love
2. Off Broadway
3. Moody's Mood
4. Give Me The Night
Side B
1. What's On Your Mind
2. Dinorah, Dinorah
3. Love Dance
4. Star of a Story (X)
5. Midnight Love Affair
6. Turn Out The Lamplight