GEORGE BENSON: Weekend in L.A 2LP. (double gatefold) jazz guitar monster. Check video

Description

GEORGE BENSON Weekend in L.A LP

George Benson – Weekend In L.A.
Label: Warner Bros. Records
Catalog#: K 66074
Format: 2 x Vinyl, LP
Country: UK
Released: 1978

Tracklist
A1 Weekend In L.A. 7:21
A2 On Broadway 9:55
B1 Lady Blue 3:30
B2 We All Remember Wes 5:37
B3 We As Love 6:43
C1 Its All In The Game 3:50
C2 Windsong 7:17
C3 Ode To A Kudu 6:04
D1 Down Here On The Ground 4:57
D2 California P.M. 6:59
D3 The Greatest Love Of All 5:23

Recorded live at the Roxy in Hollywood, Sept. 30th, Oct.1st & 2nd – 1977. Recorded and mixed by Al Schmitt.

5.0 out of 5 stars genius.
mr benson signed his first record deal when he was ten. yes ten years old.this live album is a magical snapshot of him when he was just about to get more commercial. the charisma that he puts into his performance on stage is something to behold. get to see him live if you can. the mood on this album is upbeat from the start. from the opener through his cover of the drifters “on broadway” and a wonderful rendition of “the greatest love of all”. then the stand out track- ode to a kudu
you might never hear better jazz guitar work than this.
like i said- genius

5.0 out of 5 stars Bensons great live album,
Benson followed “In Flight” with this live album, recorded at The Roxy in Hollywood on the 30th of September, 1st of October and 2nd of October 1977. Everyone who played on the previous album is here on this one and its a great collection of 11 songs, again produced by Tommy LiPuma. The standout for me, is the hit “On Broadway” with its memorable beat break served up by Harvey Mason and Ralph MacDonald.

Bensons version here of “Down Here On The Ground” is another personal favourite of mine, as is “Lady Blue”, and he also does a live version of “The Greatest Love Of All”, the original version of which was a huge hit for Benson in 1977, off the soundtrack to the Muhammad Ali movie “The Greatest”. Personally, I prefer the studio version (availble on “The George Benson Collection”) but as anyone whos tried it will know, it is not an easy song to sing and Benson manages to make it sound easy.

Regarding the instrumental tracks, while still firmly aimed at the pop end of the market (I guess what we would call smooth jazz’ today), he does manage to be a bit more adventurous on the guitar, but only a little. The title track, along with others like “California P.M.”, “Windsong”, “Ode To A Kudu”, the funky “We All Remember Wes” (I defy anyone to sit still while listening to that one) and “We As Love” are all very interesting but nothing like what he gave us on earlier albums like “Beyond the Blue Horizon” or “Bad Benson” or even on “Breezin'”.

Still, it was another platinum seller for Benson and it set him off on a path, on which he eventually abandoned all real jazz pretensions in order to achieve true commercial/pop success. I’m not sure he ever returned.

This was another nostalgia-driven vinyl…..must-have for me.