George Benson: Breezin’ 1976 (This Masquerade, Breezin’) Vinyl-New $46.99

$46.99

2 in stock

Description

Breezin’ is the fifteenth studio album by jazz/soul guitarist and vocalist George Benson. It is his debut on Warner Bros. Records. It not only was a chart-topper in the Jazz category but also went to #1 on the pop and R&B charts. It was certified triple platinum, making it one of the best-selling jazz albums of all time.

All of a sudden, George Benson became a pop superstar with this album, thanks to its least representative track. Most of Breezin’ is a softer-focused variation of Benson’s R&B/jazz-flavored CTI work, his guitar as assured and fluid as ever with Claus Ogerman providing the suave orchestral backdrops and his crack then-working band (including Ronnie Foster on keyboards and sparkplug Phil Upchurch on rhythm guitar) pumping up the funk element. Yet it is the sole vocal track (his first in many years), Leon Russell‘s “This Masquerade” — where George unveiled his new trademark, scatting along with a single-string guitar solo — that reached number ten on the pop singles chart and drove the album all the way to number one on the pop (!) LP chart. The attractive title track also became a minor hit single, although Gabor Szabo‘s 1971 recording with composer Bobby Womack is even more fetching. In the greater scheme of Benson’s career, Breezin’ is really not so much a breakthrough as it is a transition album; the guitar is still the core of his identity.
Video: George Benson – This Masquerade (1976)

Tracklist:

Side One:
1. Breezin’ Bobby Womack 5:40
2. This Masquerade Leon Russell 8:03
3. “Six to Four” Phil Upchurch 5:06

Side Two:

1.  “Affirmation”            José Feliciano  7:012.
2.  “So This is Love?”  George Benson7:033.
3.  “Lady”Ronnie Foster                       5:49
 
Personnel:

Additional information

Weight 13 oz
Dimensions 13 × 13 × 1 in
Condition

Format