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George Benson - Songs and Stories Audio CD

A fair review of the George Benson "Songs and Stories" 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.

George Benson Band: George Benson
Title: Songs and Stories
Rating:
Release Date: 2009-08-25
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight 2: Family Reunion 3: Show Me The Love 4: A Telephone Call Away 5: Someday We'll All Be Free 6: Nuthin' But A Party 7: Come In From The Cold 8: Exotica 9: Rainy Night In Georgia 10: One Like You 11: Living In High Definition 12: Sailing

Still great
One or two notes are enough to recognize his style. George Benson is back again, with his great voice and his magical touch on the guitar. The 3rd track, Show me the love, features David Paich and Steve Lukather, from TOTO. .


Great Service . . .
Prompt communication, delivery and great product. Wonderful CD. Exactly as described. Great Seller.


Lacking in originality
But this album stops at just being "good" and not great. Mr Benson can't make a bad album if he tried. In my humble opinion, making an album containing covers is a tough act when the originals are already so great. Furthermore, I don't feel that he has added any creative twists or new perspectives to put the original songs in a whole new light. The other songs, newly penned by Mr Benson's favourite composers for the album, are nice. . . but do they stand out from the crowd? Are they slated to be evergreen hits to linger in our memory. Sadly, no.

After his long absence from the scene, I was hoping for some new direction in his efforts. His amazing, unique voice is still present, though lacking a bit in fire now compared to his legendary "Give Me The Night" or Rod Temperton masterworks like "In Your Eyes".

Finally, after repeated analysis of the session musicians' contribution to the laid-back album, I fail to sense any of the greatness usually demonstrated by greats like David Paich, Lee Ritenour, Patti Austin or Steve Lukather.

I tried really hard to love Songs and Stories, but despite the Emperor's trumpeted new clothes, my ears tell me he really isn't fully clothed.


George Benson's Songs & Stories


Songs & Stories is one of the most subtle cd's George Benson has ever recorded. As far as I'm concerned George Benson never makes a bad album!
He has shown marvelous consistency over his many years of recording!
With the release of Songs & Stories, George Benson showcases his stellar singing and guitar playing on a few originals and well worn pop standards we've heard many times over of the years!

I am particularly fond of Nuthin' But A Party (Featuring Norman Brown), Family Reunion, Exotica and Living in High Definition. The tunes have nice changes which I think gives this effort its legs. The vocals are solid but not memorable! The guitar playing is typical yet excellent!

I give Songs & Stories four stars out five. It is as well produced project which yields some exciting results. However, I strongly feel that Benson has yet to record his ultimate!


p. s. Several years ago, I met Norman Brown. I have mentioned to Norman on a couple of occasions that I think he and George should do an album together. It's great that we finally get a glimpse of these two incredible guitar players on Songs & Stories. .


HE SET THE STANDARD AND KEEPS IT HIGH 30+ YEARS LATER
Approximately 33 1/3 years later his new CD "Songs And Stories" proves he is still the master of the form and is still in top form both instrumentally and vocally. Although well-known and respected prior, George Benson's 1976 million-selling album "Breezin'," with its Record Of The Year Grammy Award winning cover of Leon Russell's "This Masquerade," almost single-handedly created the genre of contemporary/smooth jazz.

Flawlessly produced and brilliantly recorded, "Songs And Stories" presents us with tunes by great writers such as James Taylor ("Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight,") Rod Temperton of Heatwave and "Thriller" fame ("Family Reunion"), Bill Withers ("A Telephone Call Away",) Tony Joe White ("Rainy Night In Georgia"), Smokey Robinson ("One Like You") and Christopher Cross ("Sailing"), all with those special, smooth George Benson vocals and guitar.

If George's presence alone is not enough for you, he has surrounded himself with a "who's who" of studio musicians and vocalists including co-producer Marcus Miller on bass, Greg Phillinganes and Rod Temperton on keyboards, Tom Scott and Gerald Brown on saxophones, Wah Wah Watson and Norman Brown on guitars, Paulinho Da Costa on perccussion and Lalah Hathaway and Patti Austin on featured and background vocals. Not surprisingly everyone is at the top of their game and George Benson is not afraid to step back and let them shine.

There is not a weak cut on the CD but my special favorites are "Show Me The Love" in which, for all intents and purposes, George becomes a member of Toto, the truly soulful rendition of Donny Hathaway's "Someday We'll All Be Free," the wonderful horn arrangement from Tom Scott on "Come In From The Cold," and the extended swinging tour-de-force "Living In High Definition" with its perfect cooling down successor "Sailing. "

George Benson invented the formula and could just phone it in as some of his fellow smooth jazz artists sadly do and it would still work. But this is a vivid, engaging, energizing and delicious musical confection. Still breezin' after all these years - and we the listeners are the better for it.


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.

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