Classics in the Key of G

Last updated

Classics in the Key of G
Classics In The Key Of G Kenny G.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedJune 28, 1999
Studio
Genre Jazz
Length55:27
Label Arista
Producer
Kenny G chronology
Greatest Hits
(1997)
Classics in the Key of G
(1999)
Faith: A Holiday Album
(1999)

Classics in the Key of G is the first cover album and ninth studio album by saxophonist Kenny G. It was released by Arista Records on June 28, 1999, and reached number 1 on the Contemporary Jazz Albums chart, number 13 on the Internet Albums chart, number 17 on the Billboard 200 and number 27 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. [1]

Contents

Track listing

  1. "Summertime" (featuring George Benson) (George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin) - 6:46
  2. "The Look of Love" (Burt Bacharach, Hal David) - 5:32
  3. "What a Wonderful World" (Lead vocal: Louis Armstrong) (George David Weiss, Robert Thiele) - 3:03
  4. "Desafinado" (Antonio Carlos Jobim, Newton Mendonça) - 5:52
  5. "In a Sentimental Mood" (Duke Ellington, Manny Kurtz, Irving Mills) - 4:56
  6. "The Girl from Ipanema" (Lead vocal: Bebel Gilberto) (Antonio Carlos Jobim, Norman Gimbel, Vinícius de Moraes) - 4:17
  7. "Stranger on the Shore" (Acker Bilk, Robert Mellin) - 3:09
  8. "Body and Soul" (Edward Heyman, Frank Eyton, Johnny Green, Robert Sour) - 7:20
  9. "'Round Midnight" (Bernie Hanighen, Cootie Williams, Thelonious Monk) - 6:26
  10. "Over the Rainbow/ The Girl from Ipanema (Instrumental)" (E.Y. "Yip" Harburg, Harold Arlen / Antonio Carlos Jobim, Norman Gimbel, Vinícius de Moraes) - 7:49

Personnel

Production

Singles

Information taken from this source. [2]

YearTitleChart Positions
US Adult Contemporary
1999 "What a Wonderful World"#22

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [3]
Entertainment Weekly D+ [4]

The third track features G's music overdubbed on Louis Armstrong's original recording, a move that was criticized by musicians such as Pat Metheny [5] and Richard Thompson, [6] who were angered by what they perceived as arrogance on G's part to use a song by Louis Armstrong for personal gain. Additionally, some versions of the insert booklet of the Arista CD contained an error, attributing the writing of The Look of Love to Sammy Cahn and Jimmy Van Heusen, instead of the correct songwriters, Bacharach and David.

Certifications and sales

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil) [7] Gold100,000*
New Zealand (RMNZ) [8] Platinum15,000^
Spain (PROMUSICAE) [9] Gold50,000^
United States (RIAA) [10] Platinum1,000,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. Charts & Awards at Allmusic
  2. Billboard Singles at Allmusic
  3. Allmusic review
  4. Entertainment Weekly review
  5. Jazz Guitar Online
  6. "I agree with Pat Metheny" video
  7. "Brazilian album certifications – Kenny G – Classics in the Key of G" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil . Retrieved October 12, 2019.
  8. "New Zealand album certifications – Kenny G – Classics in the Key of G". Recorded Music NZ . Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  9. Salaverrie, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (PDF) (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Madrid: Fundación Autor/SGAE. p. 949. ISBN   84-8048-639-2 . Retrieved October 3, 2019.
  10. "American album certifications – Kenny G – Classics in the Key of G". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved October 3, 2019.