The George Benson Collection
When George Benson was making these recordings in the 1970s, he was considered a talented jazz guitarist who had crossed over to pop-soul vocals. While there's certainly pure pop and an emphasis on vocals here, there's also something else: smooth jazz. Included are classics of the genre like the instrumental "Breezin'" and theKing Pleasurevocalese "Moody's Mood." Benson's hit versions of songs like "On Broadway" and "This Masquerade" are memorable, too, with him singing scat in unison with his guitar. In Benson's hands,Jefferson Airplane's "White Rabbit" becomes a quasi-symphonic instrumental with touches of flamenco, and the vocal duets "Love All the Hurt Away" withAretha Franklinand "We Got the Love" withChaka Khanare solid soul ballads. --Adam Rains