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In Flight

George Benson - In Flight Audio CD

A fair review of the George Benson "In Flight" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all George Benson reviews here, or go back to the George Benson tabs.

Band: George Benson
Title: In Flight
Rating:

Release Date: 1996-06-11
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Nature Boy 2: Wind and I 3: World Is a Ghetto 4: Gonna Love You More 5: Valdez in the Country 6: Everything Must Change

Benson bends over backwards
And let's be honest; although the instrumental title track of that album was all over the radio too, it was the vocal track "This Masquerade" that was the real big hit. I take the cynical view: After the comparatively phenomenal success of the previous year's Breezin', I believe Benson and the people behind him figured they'd cash by giving the people even more of what they'd concluded they wanted. A Grammy winner, no less.

So this time, Benson goes for not just one vocal track, not just two, not three but a whole FOUR! - "Nature Boy", "The World Is A Ghetto", "Gonna Love You More" and "Everything Must Change" - launching the album (and his career) fully into pop territory. My friend Derek was right in his review some time ago; the balance was all wrong and I heard that a lot of long-established fans went running.

Benson probably drew in some new ones though and in fairness, "Nature Boy" is a brilliant track; the album probably went double platinum on the strength of that song alone. It's pure soul and it's on this track and on this album that he starts to emphasise his trademark - scatting along to his guitar improvisations. Of the other vocal tracks, "The World Is A Ghetto" is my favourite and while the other two are okay, they are nothing really special. The man is a fantastic singer though, it has to be said.

When it comes to the two instrumental tracks, Benson pays homage to his spiritual mentor Donny Hathaway by doing an interesting cover of "Valdez In The Country" (which Hathaway wrote) and Ronnie Foster-penned "The Wind And I" is again, pleasant enough. But this is not 'real' jazz and it's not Benson at his best either. The album's saving grace in the end, is the brilliant contribution by the session band: Phil Upchurch on rhythm guitar, Ronnie Foster on electric piano & mini-moog, Jorge Dalto on clavinet & acoustic piano, Stanley Banks on bass, Harvey Mason on drums and Ralph MacDondald on percussion. Also playing a huge part in elevating this album are Tommy LiPuma's excellent production and Claus Ogerman's lush orchestration. Collectively, everyone involved succeeds in elevating the album to something really special and definitely worth having in spite of its weaknesses. Put it this way: if you take the view that this is a soul/r&b album with jazz influences then it's a five star album all the way.

But, if like me, you view it as a jazz album by a jazz artiste that is bending over a bit too far backwards to appease the masses, then it falls short. Four stars is the best I can do.

Too Short..........
I don't own the CD, as I love the fold out edition available on vinyl. This CD, produced by the great Tommy Lipuma, is way too short.
Things kick off with the excellent 'cover version of' nature Boy, which for me comes into it's own when Mr. Benson's 'scatting' alongside his guitar playing take over when the singing vocals end. Funky & Superb.
'The Wind & I' follow, which is a great instrumental showing the great mans' skills to the fullest, along worth a violin section. Another cover version 'The World is a Ghetto, where once again, Mr. Benson sounds on great form, his guitar even singing( well to me that how good it sounds)
'Gonna Love you more' for me, is one of those sugary songs George always has on an album, and it's my least favorite cut on here.
Another Cover version follows; the Donny Hathaway penned 'Valdez in the Country', which, maybe because this album was released in 1977, sound very funky. Luv it. Things are rounded off my the MORish 'Everything Must Change'.
On reflection this CD is short & sweet, with only two duff songs to boot.
If you enjoy George Benson the Jazz Guitarist, as opposed to the Singer( there are some singing cuts on here, but thankfully not too many) you'll love this. Enjoy.
.

A fitting title for this Star
Coming off of the magic of 1976 this definitely one of George Benson's best albums, second being Give Me The Night (1980). 1977's "In Flight" is a fitting Album title for this Superstar. From beginning to end each song captures and displays each of George's talents with his voice and the guitar. If you like George Benson and really want to get a feel for his work this is the album.

My two all time favorite songs are on this album with Nature Boy and Valdez in the Country. .

Come by "In Flight"
This is the one that made it big but it failed to reach the commerical success of his previous album Breezin'. I actually love this album since I grew up heavily influenced on most album he put out like 1976's Breezin' (one of my favorites), 1977's, '79's or sumthin Livin' Inside Your Love and 1978's Weekend in LA (LIVE). 'Cuz that album Breezin' he put out in '76 which one him his 1st Grammy and definitely became the 1st jazz album 2 go platinum. Yeah Big ol' George be putting some real stuff there. I seriously love every song that he did on this album.

1. Nature Boy- More of a sanctified song with a funky-jazz feel with strings attached to it. George will be doing the singing and scatting on this one along w/ his guitar.

2. Wind & I- Really love the tenderness that's in the song. Reminds me of my favorite of all-time of jazz guitarists, Mr. Norman Brown.

3. The World is a Ghetto- A deep cover from the classic remake from the group WAR which I like. It's real disco and more R&B looking

4. I'm Gonna Love You More- Takes me back aside the different artists I listen to Alicia Keys, Mary J. Blige, Bob James, Musiq, Herbie Hancock, Hubert Laws, Quincy Jones, etc. Love the sound of the flutes and strings that's doing that. Like to say a pure jazz song w/ some feel 2 it.

5. Valdez in the Country- Remake tribute to his idol, the late Donny Hathaway (one of my heroes of all-times, love how he sounds w/ his singing and playing similar to my labelmate Stevie Wonder which I'm a huge fan) who is also that same I told you, disco-funk.

6. Everything Must Change- We all that did that one, my main man Quincy Jones on the album "Body Heat" which I already have on LP but soon get it on CD to carry w/ me. This use to be my favorite songs of all-time b/c the power and the message to it. Makes u feel so spirituality.

Great job on this GB. Wish u all the success. Must-have.

Fly Away With In Flight
With 1977's In Flight, he continues in the Breezin' vein with another sterling collection of jazz-r&b tunes. After the mega success of Breezin', George Benson had a tough act to follow. "Nature Boy" is a solid take on the old standard, but he really shines on the cover of War's "The World Is A Ghetto", in which he places some inspired riffs, and the beautiful "Valdez In The Country". In Flight again brought him into the top ten, but it, of course, failed to match the success of Breezin'.

You can see a complete list of all George Benson discography, or go back to the George Benson tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.