Customer Reviews

While the City Sleeps

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I must first say that you must be a REAL fan of smooth soul and Quiet Storm ballads if you are to enjoy and appreciate this CD. Narada Michael Walden provided George with some great songs ("Too Many Times", "Shiver", "Kisses In The Moonlight" and the title track) while the Kashif-penned and produced "Secrets In The Night" is simply sublime. Both Narada Michael Walden and Kashif were among the most in-demand R&B produers of the 1980s (they both also have jazz backgrounds) and pairing them with George made for a memorable album.

Along with many others I have to say I agree George Benson really misfired with 20/20 which tended to be bland and uninteresting. This album came two years later and is definately a better representation of what Benson could play and sing in the mid 80's. For one he has teamed with Narada Michael Walden and,for one tune Kashif for this album and both have extensive backrounds in jazz/funk musicianship as well as pop/R&B production. No one is going to mistaken the production on this album as coming from anywhere but the mid 80's but with a mix of primarily uptempo tunes this album delivers Benson's own variety of soulful jazz-funk with great harmonies,great melodies,very tasteful use of synthesizers and electronics along with that smooth groove he always had such a mastery of. The title track and the closing "Did You Hear Thunder" are great examples of this and both are the only two songs produced by Benson's old producer Tommy LiPuma. Narada handles the fantastic "Shiver" and "Teaser" with the strong rhythm section and plenty of Benson's own guitar stylings for two of Benson's stronger funk oriented jams of the era. These tracks would sound great alongside any Jam/Lewis style of production in that same era and do nothing to embarrass the artist himself. He also works the same magic on the ballad "Kisses In The Moonlight" which,along with it's great percussive drum machines also gets a great wailing vocal from Benson. While it can be said that "Love Is Here Tonight" and "Too Many Times" are certainly more urban pop ballads Benson's instrumental work on both these songs bring them right to life instantly. Kashif's lone cut "Secrets In The Night" could be said to be perhaps Benson's better attempts at synth-funk and again it's the best sounds in the best order approch of this album that keeps the tune fresh. While there's no doubt that his essential 80's album is very likely always going to be Give Me the Night this is certainly nothing to be ashamed of and got his musical juices flowing again in the right direction.

Benson's long career has seen him doing excellent things and not so good ones. This album is to be sent into the second category. Actually, only two tracks are really worth it, "kisses in the moonlight", which he sometimes performs live, and the rythmic "shiver". That's it. Fortunately enough, Benson seems to have overcome difficult moments and his latest two cds (That's right, and Standing together) are great.

This obviously is an overlooked album and it's an excellent choice for those who are fed up with George Benson's overplayed titles.

If you want the proof that the sound is of a great quality :

Narada Michael Walden produced and arranged the whole album, except for one title (secrets in the night) which was produced and arranged by... Kashif. These 2 names mean Perfection.

I stumbled on this CD by accident. While watching an old "Mike Hammer" tv show, George sang "Love is Here Tonight, which totally mesmerized me." The other titles were fantastic, too, but I'm the type who will buy a CD for just one song and play it continuously. Also, it took about a year or so to secure this CD.

This 1986 project may not rival Benson's biggest smash album Give Me The Night, but it's pop accessible and listener friendly...While no particular track may jump out like the classic Give Me The Night, the production and execution are still ear catching and toe tapping at best ! Produced by Narada Michael Walden (Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin, Kenny G.) tracks like Shiver and Teaser pick up the pace with their slick pop n' soul dance sound. In fact, those two tracks come close to being the only memorable standouts...