
Rate it!
Avg: 3.5 (28 ratings)
- Date Released: March 28, 2006
- Genre: Jazz
- Label: Columbia/Legacy
- Copyright: Originally released 1963, 1964. All rights reserved by Prestige Records. Originally released 1966, 1967, 1968, 1971. All rights reserved by SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT. (P) 1976, 1977, 1978 Warner Bros. Records, Inc., 1972, 1973, 1974, 1977, 1978, 1
-
They Say...
The Essential George Benson covers 28 years and spans two discs, so it lives up to its claim of having the widest scope of all the Benson compilations that surfaced before it. While it's impressive that Columbia/Legacy didn't merely mine Columbia and CTI dates, and licensed material from Warner Bros. and Prestige as well (the brief Verve period is unrepresented), you could also say that the label also spread itself thin, with several crucial moments in Benson's career unable to fit. If Columbia/Legacy were honest, they'd position this as more of a sampler with a few curve balls. No matter what era you prefer, you're going to come up short, and it's not as if most people who are curious about Benson are going to be open-minded enough to appreciate both "Clockwise" and the vastly different "Give Me the Night." Some of the surprise selections, which almost outnumber the obvious ones, include an alternate take of "Ode to a Kudu," "Hip Skip" (from Tony Williams' late-'70s Joy of Flying), "Rock Candy" (from Brother Jack McDuff Live!), and "Paraphernalia" (a bizarre pick for any form of anthology, from Miles Davis' Miles in the Sky). Even casual fans won't have to think too hard about essential cuts that aren't here -- "Durham's Turn," "Nature Boy," "The World Is a Ghetto," "Love X Love," and on and on, but the majority of what's here cannot be challenged. This is a way to begin -- not wrap up -- your fascination with Benson. It is representative of the breadth of his career from 1963 through 1980, but it could have just as easily been done a dozen other ways. The sound is vibrant, and Benson's track-by-track commentary adds a nice touch.
“ The indie iTunes — Hardcore music fans are migrating to eMusic, the iTunes Music Store's cheaper, cooler cousin.”
Rolling Stone
This album includes one or more tracks available only with a full album download.
eMusic Tip
Paid downloads are counted towards an album discount but free downloads are not.
COMPLETE FOR FREE!
You can download the rest of the tracks from this album for free! Just click the Complete Album button.
We’re sorry this album can only be downloaded using paid subscription download credits.
We recommend you Save it for Later by clicking the Save for Later button shown just above this message. For a list of related albums you can download right now, check out these recommendations.
We'll give you 24 additional free credits to download this album and start your paid subscription.
Get 24 bonus credits on us if you download this album. Sweet!
11 Total Tracks, 72:48 Total Length
This album includes one or more tracks available only with a full album download.
eMusic Tip
Paid downloads are counted towards an album discount but free downloads are not.
COMPLETE FOR FREE!
You can download the rest of the tracks from this album for free! Just click the Complete Album button.
We’re sorry this album can only be downloaded using paid subscription download credits.
We recommend you Save it for Later by clicking the Save for Later button shown just above this message. For a list of related albums you can download right now, check out these recommendations.
We'll give you 24 additional free credits to download this album and start your paid subscription.
Get 24 bonus credits on us if you download this album. Sweet!
10 Total Tracks, 75:41 Total Length
Loading...

![]()
Playlists If you like George Benson, check out these member playlists
Explore music recommended by George Benson fans
Credits
- Patti Austin - Vocals (Background) // Patti Austin - Vocals (Background) // George Benson - Guitar // George Benson - Guitar // George Benson - Guitar // George Benson - Guitar // George Benson - Guitar // George Benson - Guitar // George Benson - Vocals // George Benson - Vocals // George Benson - Vocals // George Benson - Vocals // George Benson - Vocals // George Benson - Vocals // George Benson - Interviewee // George Benson - Interviewee // George Benson - Interviewee // George Benson - Interviewee // George Benson - Interviewee // George Benson - Interviewee // Phil Bodner - Clarinet // Phil Bodner - Flute // Phil Bodner - Flute (Alto) // Phil Bodner - Horn (Baritone) // Phil Bodner - Horn (English) // Phil Bodner - Oboe // Phil Bodner - Piccolo // Michael Brecker - Sax (Tenor) // Michael Brecker - Sax (Tenor) // Ron Carter - Bass // Ron Carter - Bass // Ron Carter - Bass // Ron Carter - Bass // Ron Carter - Bass // Ronnie Cuber - Sax (Baritone) // Ronnie Cuber - Sax (Baritone) // Jorge Dalto - Piano // Jorge Dalto - Piano // Jorge Dalto - Keyboards // Jorge Dalto - Keyboards // Jorge Dalto - Piano (Electric) // Jorge Dalto - Piano (Electric) // Jorge Dalto - Clavinet // Jorge Dalto - Clavinet // Jorge Dalto - Soloist // Jorge Dalto - Soloist // Miles Davis - Trumpet // Miles Davis - Trumpet // Miles Davis - Trumpet // Miles Davis - Trumpet // Miles Davis - Trumpet // Miles Davis - Trumpet // Miles Davis - Trumpet // Miles Davis - Trumpet // Miles Davis - Trumpet // Jack DeJohnette - Drums // Jack DeJohnette - Drums // Jon Faddis - Trumpet // Jon Faddis - Trumpet // Ronnie Foster - Keyboards // Ronnie Foster - Piano (Electric) // Ronnie Foster - Mini Moog // Dexter Gordon - Sax (Tenor) // Jan Hammer - Keyboards // Herbie Hancock - Piano // Herbie Hancock - Piano // Herbie Hancock - Piano (Electric) // Herbie Hancock - Piano (Electric) // Red Holloway - Sax (Tenor) // Red Holloway - Sax (Tenor) // Red Holloway - Sax (Tenor) // Quincy Jones - Producer // Quincy Jones - Producer // Quincy Jones - Producer // Earl Klugh - Guitar // Hubert Laws - Flute // Hubert Laws - Flute (Alto) // Hubert Laws - Piccolo // Wayne Shorter - Sax (Tenor) // Wayne Shorter - Sax (Tenor) // Lonnie Liston Smith - Organ // Lonnie Liston Smith - Piano (Electric) // Cedar Walton - Piano // Cedar Walton - Piano // Warren Covington - Trombone // Phil Upchurch - Bass // Phil Upchurch - Guitar // Phil Upchurch - Guitar (Rhythm) // Joe Dukes - Drums // Pee Wee Ellis - Arranger // Jay Berliner - Guitar (Acoustic) // Ralph MacDonald - Percussion // Dave Matthews - String Arrangements // Dave Matthews - String Arrangements // Jocelyn Brown - Vocals (Background) // Steven Berkowitz - A&R // Percy Heath - Bass // Ronnie Boykins - Bass // Airto Moreira - Percussion // Airto Moreira - Percussion // Airto Moreira - Percussion // Airto Moreira - Vocals // Airto Moreira - Vocals // Airto Moreira - Vocals // Gloria Agostini - Harp // Wayne Andre - Trombone // Wayne Andre - Horn (Baritone) // Tom Bahler - Vocals (Background) // Stanley Banks - Bass // Seymour Barab - Cello // Kenny Barron - Piano // Kenny Barron - Piano // Kenny Barron - Piano // Kenny Barron - Piano // Ray Beckinstein - Clarinet // Ray Beckinstein - Flute // Ray Beckinstein - Horn (English) // Art Blakey - Drums // Art Blakey - Drums // Art Blakey - Drums // Art Blakey - Drums // Art Blakey - Drums // Michael Boddicker - Synthesizer // Garnett Brown - Trombone // Claus Ogerman - Conductor // Claus Ogerman - Orchestral Arrangements // Billy Cobham - Drums // Billy Cobham - Drums // Butch Cornell - Organ // Paulinho Da Costa - Percussion // Paulinho Da Costa - Percussion // Michael Cuscuna - Producer // Don Sebesky - Arranger // Paul Faulise - Trombone (Bass) // Jim Fishel - Producer // Frank Foster - Sax (Tenor) // John Frosk - Trumpet // John Frosk - Flugelhorn // Lew Futterman - Producer // Steve Gadd - Drums // John Gatchell - Trumpet // Jim Gilstrap - Vocals (Background) // Diva Gray - Vocals (Background) // Dick Griffin - Trombone // Freddie Hubbard - Trumpet // Freddie Hubbard - Trumpet // Freddie Hubbard - Trumpet // Freddie Hubbard - Trumpet // Freddie Hubbard - Trumpet // Freddie Hubbard - Trumpet // Jerry Hey - Trumpet // Jerry Hey - Horn Arrangements // Jerry Hey - String Arrangements // Kim Hutchcroft - Saxophone // James Isaacs - Interviewer // Paul Jackson - Bass // Billy Kaye - Drums // Gary King - Bass // Phil Kraus - Percussion // Phil Kraus - Vibraphone // Abraham Laboriel - Bass // Richard Landrum - Conga // Will Lee - Bass // Jesse Levy - Cello // Tommy LiPuma - Producer // Jimmy Lovelace - Drums // Harold Mabern - Piano (Electric) // Teo Macero - Producer // George Marge - Clarinet // George Marge - Flute // George Marge - Flute (Alto) // George Marge - Horn (English) // George Marge - Oboe // Harvey Mason, Sr. - Drums // Charles McCracken - Cello // Jack McDuff - Organ // Jack McDuff - Organ // Jack McDuff - Organ // Clarence Palmer - Organ // Peter Paul - Producer // Romeo Penque - Clarinet // Romeo Penque - Clarinet (Bass) // Romeo Penque - Flute (Alto) // Romeo Penque - Horn (English) // Romeo Penque - Oboe // Waymon Reed - Trumpet // Albert Regni - Clarinet // Albert Regni - Flute // Albert Regni - Horn (English) // Lee Ritenour - Guitar // Lee Ritenour - Guitar // Margaret Ross - Harp // Alan Rubin - Trumpet // Alan Rubin - Flugelhorn // Richard Seidel - Compilation Producer // Alan Shulman - Cello // Vernon Smith - Photography // Vernon Smith - Tray Photo // Creed Taylor - Producer // Jane Taylor - Bassoon // Richard Tee - Synthesizer Bass // Rod Temperton - Vocal Arrangement // Brooks Tillotson - French Horn // Gerald Chamberlain - Trombone // Chuck Stewart - Photography // Chuck Stewart - Cover Photo // Paul Tobias - Cello // Frank Levy - Cello // Joe Shepley - Trumpet // Don Hunstein - Photography // Seth Rothstein - Project Director // Howard Fritzson - Art Direction // John "4 Daddman" Robinson - Drums // Tony Ruption Williams - Drums // Tony Ruption Williams - Producer // Mark Unterberger - Packaging Manager // Woody Pornpitaksuk - Digital Remastering // Jim Buffington - French Horn // Larry E. Williams - Flute // Sabeen Ahmad - Photo Research // John F. Hammond - Producer // Mongego Joe - Drums
-
Composers
Don Sebesky -
Performers
Art Blakey played Drums // Larry Williams played Flute // Dexter Gordon // Frank Foster played Sax (Tenor) // Ron Carter played Bass (Vocal) // Stanley Turrentine // Jon Faddis played Trumpet // Kenny Barron played Piano // Red Holloway played Sax (Tenor) // Various played Drums // Airto Moreira played Percussion // Harold Mabern played Piano // Cedar Walton played Piano // Miles Davis // Wayne Shorter played Sax (Tenor) // Ronnie Cuber played Sax (Baritone) // Paulinho Da Costa played Percussion // Billy Cobham played Drums // Freddie Hubbard played Trumpet // Jack DeJohnette played Drums // Michael Brecker played Sax (Tenor) // Herbie Hancock played Piano // Lee Ritenour played Guitar // Tony Williams played Drums // Phil Upchurch played Guitar // Paul Jackson played Bass (Vocal) // Earl Klugh played Guitar // Hubert Laws played Flute // Jan Hammer played Keyboards // John Robinson played Drums // Wayne Andre played Trombone // RONNIE FOSTER played Keyboards // Phil Bodner played Flute // Abraham Laboriel played Bass (Vocal) // Steve Gadd played Drums // Jorge Dalto played Piano // Jimmy Lovelace played Drums // Wayne Dockery played Bass (Vocal) // Harvey Mason played Drums // John Frosk played Trumpet // Will Lee played Bass (Vocal) // Miles Davis & His Orchestra played Trumpet // Ralph Mac Donald played Percussion // Kim Hutchcroft played Saxophone // Jerry Hey played Trumpet // Garnett Brown played Trombone // Michael Cameron played Percussion // Percy Heath played Bass (Vocal) // Lonnie Smith played Organ // Gary King played Bass (Vocal) // Brother Jack McDuff played Organ // Joe Dukes played Drums // Alan Rubin played Trumpet // Romeo Penque played Flute // Ray Beckenstein played Flute // Phil Kraus played Percussion // Billy Kaye played Drums // Jr. Lonnie L. Smith played Piano // Butch Cornell played Organ // Joe Shepley played Trumpet // George Marge played Flute // The George Benson Quartet // Marion Booker played Drums // John Gatchell played Trumpet // George Bensen played Guitar // Andy Newmark played Drums // Marvin Chappell played Drums // Randy Armando played Percussion // Johnny Griggs played Percussion // Clarence Palmer played Organ // Albert Nicholson played Percussion // Waymon Reed played Trumpet // Mobutu played Percussion // Gerald Chaimberlain played Trombone // Dick Griffen played Trombone // Stanley Banks played Bass (Vocal) -
Other Details
- Instruments:
- Organ //
- Flute //
- Guitar //
- Percussion //
- Piano //
- Trombone //
- Trumpet //
- Bass (Vocal) //
- Drums //
- Guitar (Electric) //
- Keyboards //
- Saxophone //
- Sax (Baritone) //
- Sax (Tenor)
Choose from over 7 million
music downloadseMusic features legendary and emerging artists in every genre: classic rock to classical,indie to international, soundtracks to spiritual, jazz to country and many more.
MP3 downloads work on any digital media player
With eMusic, you OWN your music without any restrictions. Burn music to a CD, play it on your computer, mobile phone or any digital media player - including iPod®, Zune® and Walkman®.
Songs available for 50¢ or less
eMusic subscriptions start at just $11.99 a month for 24 downloads - that's just 50¢ per song! And it gets better from there - our plans go as low as 42¢ per song!
Music Discovery
eMusic is about discovery. We make finding new music fun again with music recommendations from our award-winning team of music experts, member playlists and new music features.
Cancel anytime
With all the great music and site features we're pretty sure you will love eMusic. If not, no problem. You can cancel at any time and keep the music you have downloaded.


Post Album to Facebook
