George Benson - Talkin' Verve (1997)

As guitarist George Benson morphed from playing with chitlin circuit organ combos to becoming a pop vocalist, these sessions in 1968 formed a transition, and were a prelude to his works for the CTI label. There are five tracks each from the recordings Giblet Gravy and Goodies, featuring horn sections, takes on Top 40 hits, the funky go-go instrumental boogaloo sound of the day, and a slick approach to production values. Included as asides are a lone soul-jazz-blues number with organist Jimmy Smith, a lone jazz standard ("Song for My Father"), and a take on Curtis Mayfield's "People Get Ready" backed by gospel/R&B vocalists the Sweet Inspirations. It's certainly not the best Benson of any era but far from the worst, and does give insight into where he was to go in the commercial music world. –Michael G. Nastos

Tracklist:

01. Sunny 2:52
02. Song For My Father 4:46
03. That Lucky Old Sun (Just Rolls Around Heaven All Day) 3:40
04. Some Of My Best Friends Are Blues 7:54
05. (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman 4:33
06. Thunder Walk 4:39
07. People Get Ready 4:12
08. Low Down And Dirty Blues 8:28
09. Groovin' 2:42
10. Doobie, Doobie Blues 5:09
11. The Windmills Of Your Mind 5:12
12. Giblet Gravy 4:47

Tracks 1, 6, 8, 9 and 12 recorded 1968 at A&R Recording Studios or Capitol Recording Studios, New York City. Tracks 1 and 12 on February 5; tracks 6 and 8 on February 6; track 9 on February 7. Original LP issue: "Giblet Gravy" Verve V6-8749.

Tracks 2, 3, 5, 7, 10 and 11 recorded 1968 at A&R Recording Studios, New York City. Tracks 2, 5 and 7 on November 18; tracks 3, 10 and 11 on November 19. Original LP issue: "Goodies" Verve V6-8771.

Track 4 recorded probably November 1, 1968 at Paschal's La Carousel, Atlanta. Original LP issue: Jimmy Smith "The Boss" Verve V6- 8770.