Give Me the Night is an album recorded and released August 9, 1980 by American jazz guitarist on and singer George Benson.
Released in the summer of 1980, Give Me the Night was produced by Quincy Jones and released on Jones’s start-up label Qwest Records, in conjunction with Warner Bros. Records. It charted at number one on both the Top Soul Albums and Jazz Albums Chart as well as number three on the Billboard Pop Albums charts.
The album’s success was due mainly to its lead single, also titled “Give Me the Night,” which rose all the way to the number one single on the Soul Singles chart. Another selection on the album, “Moody’s Mood,” was recorded with R&B singer Patti Austin. Certified Platinum by the RIAA, Give Me the Night was the only album Quincy Jones produced for Benson.
This album won Benson three Grammy Awards in 1981; Best Male R&B Vocal Performance, while “Moody’s Mood” received Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Male and “Off Broadway” received Best R&B Instrumental Performance. Quincy Jones and Jerry Hey also won the Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Arrangement for the song “Dinorah, Dinorah.”
- “Love X Love” – 4:45
- “Off Broadway” – 5:23
- “Moody’s Mood” – 3:24 (featuring Patti Austin)
- “Give Me the Night” – 5:01
- “What’s on Your Mind” – 4:02
- “Dinorah, Dinorah” – 3:39
- “Love Dance” – 3:18
- “Star of a Story (X)” – 4:42
- “Midnight Love Affair” – 3:31
- “Turn Out the Lamplight” – 4:43
George Benson – lead vocals, backing vocals (1, 3, 4, 5, 7-10), guitar (1-5, 8, 9, 10), lead guitar (6), scat (6)
Lee Ritenour – guitar (2, 4, 5, 8, 9), acoustic guitar (7), rhythm arrangements (7), electric guitar (10)
Greg Phillinganes – keyboards (1, 2, 3, 10), synthesizers (2, 3), Fender Rhodes (6)
Michael Boddicker – synthesizers (4, 5, 8)
Herbie Hancock – electric piano (4), synthesizers (6, 7, 9), synthesizer programming (6, 8, 9), Fender Rhodes (7, 8)
Richard Tee – synthesizer bass (4), electric piano (5), synthesizers (8, 9, 10)
Clare Fischer – Yamaha CS30 (6), acoustic piano (6), Fender Rhodes (6)
George Duke – keyboards (9)
Louis Johnson – bass guitar (1, 2, 6, 10)
Abraham Laboriel – bass guitar (1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8)
John Robinson – drums (1-6, 8, 10)
Carlos Vega – drums (7, 9)
Paulinho da Costa – percussion (1, 2, 4, 5–8, 10)
Kim Hutchcroft – saxophone and flute (1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 9)
Larry Williams – saxophone and flute (1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 9)
Jerry Hey – trumpet (1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 9), horn arrangements (1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 9), string arrangements (1, 2, 4, 5, 6)
David Foster – string arrangements (1)
Quincy Jones – rhythm arrangements (2-10), vocal arrangements (5, 8, 9), synthesizer arrangements (8)
Rod Temperton – rhythm arrangements (2, 4), vocal arrangements (4)
Marty Paich – string arrangements and conductor (3, 8)
Sid Sharp – concertmaster (1-6, 8)
Patti Austin – backing vocals (1, 4, 6, 8, 10), lead vocals (3)
Tom Bahler– backing vocals (1, 4, 8, 10), BGV arrangements (10)
Jocelyn Brown – backing vocals (1, 4, 8)
Jim Gilstrap – backing vocals (1, 4, 8)
Diva Gray – backing vocals (1, 4, 8)
Michael McDonald – backing vocals (Uncredited)
Breezin’ is the fifteenth studio album by jazz/soul guitarist George Benson. It is his debut on Warner Bros. Records. Released in May 1976.
George Benson (born March 22, 1943) is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He began his professional career at the age of 21 as a jazz guitarist. Benson uses a rest-stroke picking technique similar to that of gypsy jazz players such as Django Reinhardt.
This evening on “Great Soul Performances” I’ve got some nice songs for you from artists like: The Whispers, the Mad Lads, Lloyd Price, Theola Kilgore, Eugene Pitt, Blue Magic, the Five Stairsteps, the Shells, the Dells, Billy Stewart, Raphael Saadiq, Freddie Scott, the Magnificent Men; live at the Uptown Theatre in Philadelphia, and so much more. It kicks off at 7PM ET, 6PM CT, 5PM MT and 4PM PT.
We give thanks this evening on “Great Soul Performances” since Thanksgiving Day is coming up on Thursday. All of our songs will be about “Thanks,” “Thankful,” “Thank You,” and “Thanksgiving.” Plus, since Thanksgiving is about eating, I’ll be playing music about food and desserts.
Since Monday is Veterans Day, this evening we will be “Super Patriotic” on “Great Soul Performances” saluting our Vets; as well as current active duty personnel, with music from:
This week on Sounds of The 70s we feature music from: Steve Miller Band, Captain and Tennille, Santana, George Benson, Elton John, Pablo Cruise, Jimmy Buffett, Foreigner, Elvis Presley, Andy Gibb, Tommy Roe and more . . .
I’m gonna have some fantastic music for you when we get together later this evening for “Great Soul Performances.” You’ll hear: Lenny Welch, Peaches & Herb, Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, the Jacksons, Jerry Butler, the South Shore Commission, Timothy Wilson, the O’Jays, the Spaniels, the Dells, the Chantels, B.B. King, Little Richard, Lou Rawls; live in concert, among others. It all begins at 7PM ET, 6PM CT, 5PM MT and 4PM PT.
When “Great Soul Performances” comes your way this evening you’ll hear: Chuck Jackson, the Vibrations, Bruno Mars, Little Anthony & the Imperials, my brother Dickie Harmon & the Autumns; who BTW, is on the mend and is coming along nicely, James Brown, Bobby Hendricks & the Drifters, “Southern Soul” song stylists Uvee Hayes and Dabron, Jay & the Techniques, Ali Ollie Woodson, Eddie Brigati & the Young Rascals, 92 years young Tony Bennett, Stevie Wonder; live at the White House and more. It begins at 7PM ET, 6PM CT, 5PM MT and 4PM PT.
It’s “Summ-Summ Summertime,” therefore on “Great Soul Performances” this evening, all songs will be about “Summer,” featuring a varied and eclectic array of artists. I’m talking about the likes of: War, Frank Sinatra, the Ad-Libs, Nat “King” Cole, Sly & the Family Stone, Michael Buble, the Valentines, George Benson, Manhattan Transfer, Natalie Cole, the Chantels, Larry Chance & the Earls, John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John, the Danleers, Charlie Parker, the Temptations, the Who; live in concert and so many, many others. Our “Summer” salute starts at 6PM ET, 5PM CT, 4PM MT & 3PM PT. “Great Soul Performances” will be all about “Summer” later this evening on RadioMaxMusic.Com.
Last week I realized that I usually acknowledge summer with a show dedicated to summer songs, but I forgot. Therefore this evening on “Great Soul Performances” it’s gonna me “Summer Songs” with a sprinkling of songs about Rio de Janeiro and Brazil, as our USA Olympic team continues to dominate. We’ve got artists like: Sly & the Family Stone, Sam Cooke, the Chantels; with and without Richard Barrett, Donald Byrd & the Blackbyrds, Little Anthony & the Imperials, the Jamies, Nat “King” Cole, Larry Chance & the Earls, Barry White, the Two Step Orchestra, Jimmy Ricks & the Ravens, George Benson; live in concert, and a medley I put together of “The Girl From Ipanema” featuring: Astrud Gilberto & Stan Getz, Frank Sinatra, Amy Winehouse, Lou Rawls, my cousin Gloria Nazzaro, Sammy Davis, Jr., Dionne Warwick, Nat “King” Cole, Diana Krall, and Andy Williams. I think you are going to like this show. Join me at 7PM ET, 6PM CT, 5PM MT and 4PM PT. Let’s go for the “Gold” this evening with “Summer Songs” on “Great Soul Performances,” at the “Home Of The Hits,” RadioMaxMusic.Com.
You know what I like to do on a “Hump Day” evening? I like playing fantabulous music from the decade of the 80s. Yes, “Great Soul Performances 2: The 80s” will come your way later, with songs by: George Benson, Kenny Loggins, After 7, the Bar-Kays, Christine McVie, Richard “Dimples” Fields, , Anita Baker, Dynasty, Oran “Juice” Jones, Whodini, Regina Belle, and my former co-worker for all those years, one of the “Soul Brothers” of WWRL, Imhoptep, Gary Byrd & the GBE, and many more. Drop on by at 7PM ET, 6PM CT, 5PM MT & 4PM PT, for “Great Soul Performances 2: The 80s” on “HUMP DAY,” here at the “Home of the Hits,” RadioMaxMusic.Com.
“Great Soul Performances 2: The 80s” this evening, where you’ll hear: Sister Sledge, the O’Jays, George Benson, Hall & Oates, Billy Griffin, Dr. Hook, Teddy Pendergrass, Grandmaster Flash, Cliff Richard, Barry & Glodean White, Paul McCartney & Stevie Wonder and much, much more. The “gavel” comes down at 7PM ET, 6PM CT, 5PM MT and 4PM PT. You have a pleasant day, I’m asleep, but I’ll see you later this evening for “Great Soul Performances 2: The 80s,” at the home of the best music on the internet, RadioMaxMusic.Com.