This song reminds me of when I was a kid in the mid-70s. My dad (a big jazz fan) played this loud over and over. My parents were fighting hard and would soon divorce. I think my dad was trying to send a message with this song, that their marriage had become a masquerade. It was a sad, painful time on my life yet I loved hearing this song just the same. I had total appreciation for how good it was, his vocals and guitar, the piano etc. It sounded so wonderful and still does today.
dog george killed it with this song he was an established guitarist best jazz player then he starts singing and history was made he smashed the charts jazz and pop sold millions of albums try him on a song called the world is a ghetto
Great songwriter, who also wrote, 'A Song For You' which Donny Hathaway took to another level. Herbie Hancock's recording with Christina Aguilera singing it....smokin! I believe Brenda Russell was married to Leon, & she's quite the songwriter herself: If Only For One Night; Piano in the Dark; Get Here (Oleta Adams version killin)
Hi @@jessebrown8574 I’m late to the party and you may have your answer above in the comments. This was written by the late Mr. Leon Russell as was “A song for you” that become a signature song for Mr. Donny Hathaway. ✌🏽🙂🎸🎹🎼🎶
He sounds like Donny because most great singers treat their voice as an instrument and sing along with the lead instrument with clarity and good diction
GB is one of those guys like Nat King Cole. Both could've not sang a single word and gone down as some of the best musicians ever at their respective instruments. When they sang, it added a whole new dimension to their arsenal of talent. I remember when this album came out as a kid because the song "Breezin" off of this album was played for some sports show as their theme song, and someone in my family played that and this song over and over. Great song, from a great artist! A master.
This track is fire. Everything is good here, the vibe, the voice, the lyrics, music arrangement, harmony, the emotion, solo instruments. Thank you for reminding about this masterpiece!
I bought this album just for this song. A gorgeous and stunning rendition. You're right about the production. It's perfect. Sometimes songs don't have the right production to make them fully realized. This song is fully realized and beyond. I found it kind of seductive.
Beautiful choice! Gotta shout out the late Argentinian pianist, Jorge Dalto playing acoustic piano, & the beautiful solo. He was the 1st person to show me a cd..🤣. I ran into him on 48th st. In NYC, where there were a ton of music stores. He said this is my new album. In my head I was like,, ‘ Yo is he playin me or what!’ Jorge was an amazing musician & person, his life cut short by some type of cancer. The drummer on this, Harvey Mason, is one of most sought after studio drummers, probably one of the most recorded, & is a member of the smooth jazz group, 4 Play. The bass player, Stanley Banks, still lives in Brooklyn & makes his way throughout the city to see & support other artists hittin in clubs, when he’s not out on the road with George often. You would enjoy George’s Weekend in L.A., a live recording with this band. Ralph MacDonald is also on this cut & the live joint as well.
Also, his superior guitar playing is directly inspired by Wes Montgomery. Listen to Wes Montgomery also you will hear it. This five piece band he had here was a great lineup for his first 3-4 commercial chart-topping albums.
Fantastic Leon Russell song being performed by a wonderful singer, masterful musician and song stylist! And that next level production is by Creed Taylor, a genius level producer.
He did a duet with Aretha Franklin called Love All the Hurt Away, which I still play. Their voices together were so smooth. You gotta hear it. Don't know if you did the title of the album yet but it is soooo smooth, great guitar instrumental. Love how he always sang the instrumental runs with that guitar that he played. Truly an accomplished underrated artist, period!
This was a great slow dance song. I was never a good dancer but I remember that when a live group would play this, I would get the nerve up to look around for someone to dance with. :)
GREETINGS. GEORGE BENSON.......MASTER GUITARIST.......SUPERB TECHNICAL ABILITY as well as an unmistakable tone. BEAUTIFUL piece of music. GEORGE BENSON is without doubt, one of the best guitarists in america. EVERYTHING IS IN DIVINE ORDER.
George Benson a great jazz guitarist as most of us jazz fans know him, but also a treat that he is a great jazz vocalist too. Watch some of his concerts on youtube. I've seen him a few times in concert. The man is the consummate entertainer. Look for a concert clip of him singing Nat King Cole's....That Sunday, that Summer. Almost as if the spirit of Nat King Cole coming out of George's mouth.
This album was a pivotal moment in George Benson's career. I don't believe he sang on any of his previous albums which were mainly Jazz instrumentals. His career literally blew up with this classic album. This masquerade written by Leon Russell was also a hit for The Carpenters but George Benson took it to a whole new level.🎸🎶🎸
Breezin...great cross-over album Jazz, Pop, R & B ...CLASSIC!! Also, "Breezin" one of the all-time cruising song. Of course, the 70s, with acoustics and strings!!
George Benson came on the radio with what seemed like just a few hit songs, then I didn't hear any new songs released by him but I was waiting- & wanting to hear more George Benson. He played with Miles Davis & was playing different venues, I was just to young to be going😕
George is also the ultimate in scat singin what he plays, & being on point. Many can do it, but George is kind of the smoothest with the most fire doin it. Also the string arranger is amazing! I believe it's Claus Ogerman, who also has done work with Earl Klugh, who you have listened to as well.
And yes, George made scatting “Popular” in that they played the hell out of this great song on all popular radio stations. Brilliant crossover. Thanks for the request. I mentioned it in my comment for Hathaway’s “A Song For You.” Now I don’t have to request it myself. Lol. 🤪
He had a complete career (3 or 5 albums) in jazz before he did this album and "crossed over" into the R&B and Pop charts. The jazz purists called this "sell-out jazz". Few people knew he could even sing before this. When you finally get around to listening to Miles Davis and jazz cuts; don't forget that George is a serious cat. He's scat singing the notes along with the guitar. Plays an electric Gibson hollow-body guitar a lot with his thumb for that Wes Montgomery sound of fat, clean notes. This was a bigger band than i thought: , George on guitar, and Phil Upchurch 2nd guitar, Piano by J. Dalto, Electric keyboards Ronnie Foster, Stanly Banks on Bass, Harvey Mason on drums and Ralph McDonald on percussion. All hall of fame level musicians.
How do you spell George Benson? L-E-G-E-N-D! Lol. This is my go to when I want to just lay back and chill. I was only five when it came out, but I still listen to it to this very day! I'm glad you had a chance to experience this flawless masterpiece!
Donny Hathaway wrote a tune called "Valdez in the Country" and I love George Benson's version. (it's instrumental). For contrast, check out Little Beaver's (Willie Hale) guitar work on "Party Down". Some say he influenced George. George is one of Jehovah's Witnesses and has surprised a few when knocking at their door.
I remember reading about that. Could you imagine never hearing that voice if they got their way??? We would've been robbed of something really special.
He grew up playing & singin on the corner. Pretty sure there’s a live concert George played & sang Summertime, wit a crazy guitar & scat solo, that was actually recorded long before the Breezin album.
Cool you mentioned Donny Hathaway. Donny & George both did excellent covers of songs written by the same songwriter- Leon Russell (“This Masquerade” and “A Song for You.”). And they both Nailed those covers. But what brilliant songwriting too.
Thank you for reacting to some more George Benson - an amazing jazz guitarist, who has an equally amazing singing voice. This song showcases him being the best at both...
My first GB record. Bought it on the recommendation of a store employee at Peaches Records and Tapes. Still have it. The whole album is awesome. This song is so special.
Great song! His voice is amazing Loving the instrumental in the background & George getting down with his guitar so beautifully. On Broadway is another awesome song by him. Very talented artist.
Glad you're reacting to this version, the shorter versions are missing so much, this song is so beautifully arranged and the piano along with Benson's signature singing/guitar, classic
You're so right, Benson's voice is strongly reminiscent of Donny Hathaway! I would also recommend his "Greatest Love of All" from 1977 which was later covered by Whitney Houston.
This is the cut!!! You gotta check out his duets with Mary J Blige (7 Days) and Aretha Franklin (Love All the Hurt Away) . Now that you say that JJ, I kind of see it.
Thanks, Jammin! -- This is my favorite by GB - I first heard it as a teenager in the midwest - so you know I was only listening to top-40 and pop radio - that's kind of all we had -- I remember liking the song, but thinking it was weird how he was "doodly-singing" with his own guitar - too young and ignorant to recognize the jazz influence and the musical talent -- but I got better :) (also from this era, loved Bill withers... used to hear "Ain't no Sunshine" at the local skating rink, and I was forever disappointed that they always dimmed the lights & made it a "couples' skate" so I never got to skate to it - lol) --Also, loved Donny Hathaway (w/Roberta Flack, too) - RIP Donny...
This album was my introduction to smooth jazz, thanks to my uncle who gifted me this album. It's also the first album Benson sang on. Also, the album namesake was a number one hit on the jazz charts of the time. There was a publication at the time named Downbeat Magazine that kept the times various jazz genres abreast of the jazz scenes of the times.
I’m surprised you’re just getting around to this one, love ❤️ this beautiful song. Miki Howard did a really nice cover of this song 💚☘️ also in my current playlist. Masterpiece ✨
This entire album is a masterpiece. Please check out six to four, it's a straight up banger. Also, check out "Turn out the lamplight", it's an underrated song of his. George Benson deserves a deep dive.
You hit the nail on the head! I have always believed that George Benson, who was previously only known for his guitar work,'s success as a vocalist with a Donny Hathaway-like voice, led to Donny's decision to commit suicide! But what he didn't realize was there are room for two singers with similar voices, just as Teddy Pendergrass found success in spite of the fact that he sounded so much like Marvin Junior of The Dells, as did R Kelly, who sounded like Aaron Hall and Charlie Wilson. Since you've already explored George's "Love x Love" and "Turn Your Love Around", you should check out his "Breezin"" (instrumental): ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-G1QjyskJ9jw.html, "On Broadway": ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Pu0PT5YLGdQ.html (from his live "Weekend in L.A." album), his original version of "The Greatest Love of All": ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Y_QZG6KweKg.html.
Great version of this song by Benson. Check out his version of "Greatest love of all" (off Weekend in LA album) - it's much better than Whitney Houston's cover.
