George Benson - The Essential George Benson

Title: The Essential George Benson Artist: George Benson Release Date: 3/28/2006 Label: Legacy Recordings Album Type(s): Greatest Hits UPC: 696998521520 Genre: Jazz Styles: Hard Bop, Jazz-Pop, Contemporary Jazz, Crossover Jazz, Jazz Instrument, Guitar Jazz Moods: Elegant, Intimate, Laid-Back/Mellow, Refined/Mannered, Soothing, Sophisticated, Amiable/Good-Natured, Gentle, Reserved, Stylish, Earthy, Energetic, Playful, Rollicking, Romantic Total Copies: 0 Members Wishing: 1 Number of Discs/SwapaCD Credits: 2

1. Rock Candy [Live]
2. Shadow Dancers
3. Clockwise
4. Willow Weep for Me
5. A Foggy Day
6. The Borgia Stick
7. Paraphernalia
8. Sugar
9. So What
10. Ode to a Kudu [Alternate][Alternate Take]
11. California Dreamin'

1. White Rabbit
2. Body Talk
3. Take Five
4. Summertime [Live]
5. Breezin'
6. This Masquerade
7. On Broadway [Live]
8. Give Me the Night
9. Hip Skip
10. Gotham City

Year Type Label Catalog # 2006 CD Legacy Recordings 85215

No other editions were found for this album.

The Essential George Benson covers 28 years and spans two discs, so it lives up to its claim of having the widest scope of all the Benson compilations that surfaced before it. While it's impressive that Columbia/Legacy didn't merely mine Columbia and CTI dates, and licensed material from Warner Bros. and Prestige as well (the brief Verve period is unrepresented), you could also say that the label also spread itself thin, with several crucial moments in Benson's career unable to fit. If Columbia/Legacy were honest, they'd position this as more of a sampler with a few curve balls. No matter what era you prefer, you're going to come up short, and it's not as if most people who are curious about Benson are going to be open-minded enough to appreciate both "Clockwise" and the vastly different "Give Me the Night." Some of the surprise selections, which almost outnumber the obvious ones, include an alternate take of "Ode to a Kudu," "Hip Skip" (from Tony Williams' late-'70s Joy of Flying), "Rock Candy" (from Brother Jack McDuff Live!), and "Paraphernalia" (a bizarre pick for any form of anthology, from Miles Davis' Miles in the Sky). Even casual fans won't have to think too hard about essential cuts that aren't here -- "Durham's Turn," "Nature Boy," "The World Is a Ghetto," "Love X Love," and on and on, but the majority of what's here cannot be challenged. This is a way to begin -- not wrap up -- your fascination with Benson. It is representative of the breadth of his career from 1963 through 1980, but it could have just as easily been done a dozen other ways. The sound is vibrant, and Benson's track-by-track commentary adds a nice touch. ~ Andy Kellman, All Music Guide

Name Credits Abraham Laboriel Bass Airto Moreira Vocals, Percussion Alan Rubin Flugelhorn, Trumpet Alan Shulman Cello Albert Regni Horn (English), Clarinet, Flute Art Blakey Drums Billy Cobham Drums Billy Kaye Drums Brooks Tillotson French Horn Butch Cornell Organ Cedar Walton Piano Charles McCracken Cello Chuck Stewart Photography, Cover Photo Clarence Palmer Organ Claus Ogerman Orchestral Arrangements, Conductor Creed Taylor Producer Dave Matthews String Arrangements Dexter Gordon Sax (Tenor) Dick Griffin Trombone Diva Gray Vocals (Background) Don Hunstein Photography Don Sebesky Arranger Dr. Lonnie Smith Organ Earl Klugh Guitar Frank Foster Sax (Tenor) Frank Levy Cello Freddie Hubbard Trumpet Garnett Brown Trombone Gary King Bass George Benson Interviewee, Guitar, Vocals George Marge Oboe, Clarinet, Horn (English), Flute (Alto), Flute Gerald Chamberlain Trombone Gloria Agostini Harp Harold Mabern Piano (Electric) Harvey Mason, Sr. Drums Herbie Hancock Piano (Electric), Piano Howard Fritzson Art Direction Hubert Laws Piccolo, Flute, Flute (Alto) Jack DeJohnette Drums Jack McDuff Organ James Isaacs Interviewer Jan Hammer Keyboards Jane Taylor Bassoon Jay Berliner Guitar (Acoustic) Jerry Hey Trumpet, Horn Arrangements, String Arrangements Jesse Levy Cello Jim Buffington French Horn Jim Fishel Producer Jim Gilstrap Vocals (Background) Jimmy Lovelace Drums Jocelyn Brown Vocals (Background) Joe Dukes Drums Joe Shepley Trumpet John "4 Daddman" Robinson Drums John F. Hammond Producer John Frosk Flugelhorn, Trumpet John Gatchell Trumpet Jon Faddis Trumpet Jorge Dalto Clavinet, Piano, Soloist, Keyboards, Piano (Electric) Kenny Barron Piano Kim Hutchcroft Saxophone Larry E. Williams Flute Lee Ritenour Guitar Lew Futterman Producer Lonnie Liston Smith Organ, Piano (Electric) Margaret Ross Harp Mark Unterberger Packaging Manager Michael Boddicker Synthesizer Michael Brecker Sax (Tenor) Michael Cuscuna Producer Miles Davis Trumpet Mongego Joe Drums Patti Austin Vocals (Background) Paul Faulise Trombone (Bass) Paul Jackson Bass Paul Tobias Cello Paulinho Da Costa Percussion Pee Wee Ellis Arranger Percy Heath Bass Peter Paul Producer Phil Bodner Piccolo, Horn (English), Flute (Alto), Clarinet, Oboe, Horn (Baritone), Flute Phil Kraus Vibraphone, Percussion Phil Upchurch Bass, Guitar, Guitar (Rhythm) Quincy Jones Producer Ralph MacDonald Percussion Ray Beckinstein Clarinet, Flute, Horn (English) Red Holloway Sax (Tenor) Richard Landrum Conga Richard Seidel Compilation Producer Richard Tee Synthesizer Bass Rod Temperton Vocal Arrangement Romeo Penque Clarinet, Oboe, Horn (English), Clarinet (Bass), Flute (Alto) Ron Carter Bass, Bass (Upright) Ronnie Boykins Bass Ronnie Cuber Saxophone, Sax (Baritone) Ronnie Foster Piano (Electric), Keyboards, Mini Moog Sabeen Ahmad Photo Research Seth Rothstein Project Director Seymour Barab Cello Stanley Banks Bass Steve Gadd Drums Steven Berkowitz A&R Teo Macero Producer Tom Bahler Vocals (Background) Tommy LiPuma Producer Tony Ruption Williams Drums, Producer Tony Williams Drums Vernon Smith Tray Photo, Photography Warren Covington Trombone Waymon Reed Trumpet Wayne Andre Horn (Baritone), Trombone Wayne Shorter Sax (Tenor) Will Lee Bass Woody Pornpitaksuk Digital Remastering