I first purchased Breezin in 1979 on cassette, then album, Cd and now original MP3s album including the bonus track' Shark Bite' and I still play Breezin every month. My favourite track is 'Lady' written by Ronnie Foster. These guys are real talent hence the reason why I don't listen to commercial radio, MTV crap and any music wannabies and talentless shows. RIP Jorge Dalto (July 7, 1948 - October 27, 1987) and the great Ralph MacDonald (March 15, 1944 - December 18, 2011) and thanks!!
I'm not sure of your age, however, when I read a comment like yours it gives hope to me that music will not die or be killed by what is commonly issued to and heard on the radio. My first experience with George Benson was as a child of about 7 when "In Flight" came out after Breezin'. His version of "The World is a ghetto" is arguably the most important song in my life.
On this day in 1976 {July 2nd} George Benson performed "Breezin'" on the NBC-TV program 'The Midnight Special'... Three months later on October 16th it entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart; eventually it peaked at #63 and spent 6 weeks on the Top 100... It reached #55 on Billboard's Hot R&B Singles chart... Won the Grammy Award for 'Best Pop Instrumental Performance'... Mr. Benson celebrated his 70th birthday four months ago on March 22nd...
GB is such an underrated talent. Those who know him know he's not underrated, but in the grand scheme of things in regards to the music world, not enough people know how talented he is.
I totally disagree 10 Grammys and numerous hits. I really don't know anyone that doesn't remember Breezin', On Broadway, etc. If that's underrated that's what I want to be as a musician
ive only discovered this album in the last year. though i had heard the songs on it before i had never heard it in its entirety. its been in the CD player of my car for 4 straight months!! and i always get people asking "whats that music?" ive even had to burn copies for some of my friends that normally wouldnt like this kind of music. its a fantastic album! its going on the sound track to my life =]
I used to have a Emerson portable 8 track cassette player that I carried everywhere in 1976. I was 14. A friend of my mom gave me the Breezin' cassette to put in it and said, "This is music you want to hear". At the time, I was into Earnie Isley and what he was doing with guitar. From that point on for about 5 months, it was all I would play on it. Thank you George! It was then I decided to take music, and being in a band seriously.
Dear ***** THANK YOU!!!!!!!!! I love that record and "in Flight" and to hear the whole band that I also love talking about how they came together is just PURE LOVE. I feel so happy after seeing this. THANK YOU AGAIN!!!!! If there is a longer version anywhere I will gladly buy it!
How do you make a nine minute thirty second video about George Benson playing Breezin' and you don't mention Bobby Womack (or Gabor Szabo) came to that? Beats me.
Well, there’s no telling what was actually edited out of this video. No, George didn’t sell his soul, and I can pretty much guarantee that Bobby Womack was far from mad about this cover. This album came out just when Bobby’s own career was headed into a not-so-successful period. I’m sure he cried himself all the way to the bank since this album did HUGE business. If anyone lost out, it probably WAS Gabor Szabo. I was about three or four years old when my dad brought home this album, and I distinctly remember the first time he played it. I was about THIRTY when I heard Szabo’s original version which, unfortunately, has become a footnote and answer to trivia in music history. George took a great song and added an extremely memorable riff at the beginning of the song on top of that newly created bass riff and the rest is history. Szabo’s is the original, but Benson’s is the definitive version.
Wonder if Al still has his 2002 BMW? lol He is a great guy and I was always glad to see him at BOB SMITH BMW where I was a Service Writer. Very inspiring and humble man considering how accomplished he was. I told Donn Landy he was a customer and he told me alot about his hero. COOL!
George sold his soul, the original here......and no word here about the true creaTorsm shame on them..... ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-XetYKshzUac.html
Fantastic video! Super important. This details the players behind one of the most important jazz albums of all time. And truly one of my top five favorites. Thank you very much for uploading this. My congratulations to all the participants.
Trying to find the documentary of this x as it mentions Rod Temperton who is insanely talented x and wrote tunes for heatwave, Michael jackson, George Benson, and countless others x
It's about George and his version.i understand Gabor detested George's version.Woman is primary writer.many artists don't mention original composers.to it's bensons skill but I love the drumming artistry of Harvey Mason and his cymbal work.The whole band and orchestra is airtight!
lol...Harvey Mason will literally give you the shirt off his back. Now that's what I call cool. Incidentally, while George Benson's guitar style was influenced by Wes Montgomery, his singing inspiration was Nat King Cole.
I didn't understand the b flat part around 3:47, was he trying to say that everybody should be concise and play the same thing or that the keyboard players were going apeshit on harmonies and stuff?
I'd love to know the bass rig Stanley banks used on breezin chasing that bass tone , and about the shitty mic they used on this masquerade you can hear how crappy it is in the recording especially with headphones
In order of: Gabor Szabo / Bobby Womack 1971, Sammy Gordon & The Hip Huggers 1972, George Benson 1976 Source is unknown, on the internet Szabo said: "During a 1977 engagement at the Catamaran Hotel in San Diego, he complained to the audience about George Benson's success with Breezin' (composer, Bobby Womack). He indicated that he had recorded that song before Benson and that Benson had basically stolen the arrangement from him. His version can be heard on the High Contrast album with Bobby Womack."
In what context should he have mentioned it? Songwriting credits and previous recordings weren’t mentioned for any of the tracks. The subject of the video was the band and recording session. Pretty sure he didn’t forget.
@@lauraveney1412 In George's autobiography he talks about inviting Womack into the studio for the recording to provide input. Szabó didn't even like the song that much. He thought it was too simple, and had his name removed from it.
