Saturday 10pm the complete and groovy recording by George Benson: Benson Burner

Benson Burner is a 2CD compilation of recordings from 1966-1967 for Columbia Records. We will be playing CD #2 in its entirety. 

When guitarist George Benson’s Warner Bros. debut Breezin’ was issued in March 1976, it immediately became a hit; indeed one of the largest hits jazz has ever known. Guided by the successful hit single “This Masquerade” (Leon Russell’s 1972 original, previously covered by Helen Reddy and The Carpenters), Breezin’ went on to win three Grammy awards and become a triple platinum success, an unprecedented feat in jazz and one that was bettered by very few in the pop-music world at the time.

Any label that ever had anything whatsoever to do with Benson prior to Breezin’ scrambled to get out something with the guitarist’s name on it in order to capitalize on the newfound and rather unbelievable fame George Benson immediately acquired in 1976.

One of these releases was Columbia’s double-album compilation, cleverly titled Benson Burner, released in December 1976, and featuring over 100 minutes of little-known music and, in a lot of cases, previously unissued music.

Personnel on the recording includes Lonnie Smith (organ), Ronnie Cuber (baritone sax), Blue Mitchell (trumpet) and more. It is a barn burner of a session with lots of funk, groove and soul. Let's have some fun!

 

Tune in at 10pm Saturday for The Listening Party with host Roxane Gagne.