Inspiration: A Tribute to Nat King Cole

Last updated
Inspiration: A Tribute to Nat King Cole
George Benson - Inspiration (Cover).jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedJune 4, 2013
Genre Jazz
Length40:50
Label Concord Jazz
Producer John Burk, Randy Waldman
George Benson chronology
Guitar Man
(2011)
Inspiration: A Tribute to Nat King Cole
(2013)
Walking to New Orleans
(2019)
Singles from Inspiration: A Tribute to Nat King Cole
  1. "Unforgettable (feat. Wynton Marsalis)"
    Released: 2013
  2. "When I Fall in Love (feat. Idina Menzel)"
    Released: 2014

Inspiration: A Tribute to Nat King Cole is a studio album by George Benson. The album was released by Concord Jazz on June 4, 2013. [1] It peaked at #89 on the Billboard album chart.

Contents

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [2]
USA Today Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [3]

Inspiration: A Tribute to Nat King Cole has received very positive reception from music critics. Steve Leggett of Allmusic affirmed that "it all adds up to a sweet and very impressive album, full of warmth and heart, and it swings where it should." [2] At USA Today , Steve Jones praised it for "his smooth vocals [that] make this homage unforgettable." [3]

Formats

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Mona Lisa" (as Lil' Georgie Benson) 0:57
2."Just One of Those Things" Cole Porter 2:42
3."Unforgettable" Irving Gordon 5:05
4."Walkin' My Baby" Roy Turk, Fred E. Ahlert 2:43
5."When I Fall in Love" Victor Young, Edward Heyman 4:04
6."Route 66" Bobby Troup 3:50
7."Nature Boy" Eden Ahbez 2:40
8."Ballerina" Carl Sigman, Bob Russell 2:46
9."Smile" Charlie Chaplin, John Turner, Geoffrey Parsons 3:22
10."Straighten Up and Fly Right" Nat King Cole, Irving Mills 3:06
11."Too Young" Sidney Lippman, Sylvia Dee 3:28
12."I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter" Joe Young, Fred E. Ahlert 3:05
13."Mona Lisa" Jay Livingston, Ray Evans 3:02
Best Buy bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
14."That Sunday, That Summer" George David Weiss, Joe Sherman3:02
15."Ramblin' Rose"Noel Sherman, Joe Sherman2:46
Japanese bonus track
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
14."Almost Like Being in Love" Alan Jay Lerner, Frederick Loewe 2:15
iTunes bonus track
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
14."Mona Lisa (Calypso Version)" Jay Livingston, Ray Evans 2:45

Personnel

Henry Mancini Institute Orchestra

Brass and Woodwinds
Strings

Production

Release history

List of release dates, showing country, record label, and format
RegionDateLabelFormat
Germany May 31, 2013 Concord CD, Digital download
United Kingdom June 3, 2013
France
United States June 4, 2013
Japan June 5, 2013
GermanyJune 14, 2013 LP record
United KingdomJune 17, 2013
United StatesJune 25, 2013
Japan

Related Research Articles

<i>High on the Hog</i> (The Band album) 1996 studio album by the Band

High on the Hog is the ninth studio album by Canadian-American rock group the Band, released in 1996. As with its predecessor, 1993's Jericho, it relies heavily on cover versions; only two tracks are original. Songs include Bob Dylan's "Forever Young", a live recording of Richard Manuel performing "She Knows", and the closer "Ramble Jungle".

<i>Real Fine Place</i> 2005 studio album by Sara Evans

Real Fine Place is the fifth studio album by American country music artist Sara Evans. It was released in October 2005 via RCA Records Nashville. It is the follow-up album to the platinum Restless. It features Evans's fourth number one hit "A Real Fine Place to Start", the Top 10 hit "Cheatin'", the Top 20 hit "You'll Always Be My Baby", and the Top 40 hit "Coalmine". The album debuted at number 3 on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 124,720 copies in its first week. The album was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for U.S. shipments of a million copies.

<i>Love Makes the World</i> 2001 studio album by Carole King

Love Makes the World is the 16th studio album by Carole King, released in 2001. Distributed by Koch Records, it was her first release on her Rockingale Records label. As of 2024, it is her most recent album of new material.

<i>...Allow Us to Be Frank</i> 2004 studio album by Westlife

...Allow Us to Be Frank, a Rat Pack tribute, is the fifth studio album, sixth major album release under Sony BMG and first cover album by Irish boy band Westlife; it is also the first album since the departure of Brian McFadden and as a four-piece. It was released on 8 November 2004, and peaked at number two in Ireland and number three in the United Kingdom. ...Allow Us to Be Frank was number twenty-four on the 2004 year-end album charts. The album features songs made popular by Frank Sinatra such as "The Way You Look Tonight", "Come Fly with Me", "Moon River", "Summer Wind" and "That's Life". It also includes the Nat "King" Cole song, "When I Fall in Love". It was recorded with a 60-piece orchestra at Phoenix Studios in Wembley, in the London Borough of Brent.

<i>So Excited!</i> 1982 studio album by the Pointer Sisters

So Excited! is the ninth studio album by the Pointer Sisters, released in 1982 on the Planet label.

<i>Jamaica Say You Will</i> 1975 studio album by Joe Cocker

Jamaica Say You Will is the fifth studio album by Joe Cocker, released in April 1975. The songs from the album come from the same sessions that produced the highly acclaimed LP I Can Stand A Little Rain (1974). Jamaica Say You Will wasn't, however, as successful as its predecessor. It reached number 42 on the US album charts.

<i>No Sound But a Heart</i> 1987 studio album by Sheena Easton

No Sound But a Heart is the eighth studio album by Scottish singer Sheena Easton, released in 1987 on the EMI America label. The album was issued in the Canadian, Mexican and Asian markets. The album consists of midtempo and ballad songs, including the single and video, "Eternity", written by Prince. The disc features Steve Perry from Journey on backing vocals on "Still in Love" and a duet with Eugene Wilde on "What If We Fall in Love".

<i>My Cherie</i> 1995 studio album by Sheena Easton

My Cherie is the 12th album by Scottish singer Sheena Easton, released in 1995 on MCA Records. The album consists of adult pop songs. The title track was issued as a single but failed to chart. Other tracks include "You've Learned to Live Without Me" by Diane Warren, "Please Don't Be Scared", and "Crazy Love".

<i>Cass Elliot</i> (album) 1972 studio album by Cass Elliot

Cass Elliot is the fourth studio album released by Cass Elliot and the first album recorded for RCA Records, being released in January 1972.

<i>Love All the Hurt Away</i> 1981 studio album by Aretha Franklin

Love All the Hurt Away is the twenty-seventh studio album by American singer Aretha Franklin. It was released on August 20, 1981. This album is the singer's second release under the Arista Records label. The Arif Mardin-produced disc reached fourth place on Billboard's R&B albums chart and number 36 on the main Billboard album chart, selling roughly 250,000 copies in the US.

<i>Still Unforgettable</i> 2008 studio album by Natalie Cole

Still Unforgettable is a 2008 studio album by American singer-songwriter and performer Natalie Cole. Cole won the Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album for Still Unforgettable at the 51st Grammy Awards.

<i>20/20</i> (George Benson album) 1985 studio album by George Benson

20/20 is a studio album by George Benson, released on the Warner Bros. record label in 1985. The lead single by the same name reached #48 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album was certified Gold by the RIAA. "You Are the Love of My Life" is a duet with Roberta Flack. It was one of a number of songs used for Eden Capwell and Cruz Castillo on the American soap opera Santa Barbara. Also included on 20/20 is the original version of the song "Nothing's Gonna Change My Love for You" which would later become a smash hit for Hawaiian singer Glenn Medeiros.

<i>Givin It Up</i> 2006 studio album by George Benson and Al Jarreau

Givin' It Up is a collaborative album by American musicians George Benson and Al Jarreau, released on October 24, 2006, by Concord Records. It contains songs previously recorded by both artists (Benson's "Breezin" and Jarreau's "Mornin" and original music. Other vocalists and musicians featured are Jill Scott, Patti Austin, Herbie Hancock, Stanley Clarke, Abe Laboriel, Chris Botti, Marcus Miller, and Paul McCartney. This project also includes standards by Billie Holiday and Sam Cooke, pop songs by Seals and Crofts and Daryl Hall along with the jazz-swing "Four" by Miles Davis, and "Ordinary People" by John Legend.

<i>Stardust</i> (Natalie Cole album) 1996 studio album by Natalie Cole

Stardust is a studio album by American singer Natalie Cole, released on September 24, 1996. Cole won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals for the song "When I Fall in Love", a duet with Nat King Cole, at the 39th Grammy Awards.

<i>Blues Summit</i> 1993 studio album by B.B. King

Blues Summit is the thirty-third studio album by B.B. King released in 1993 through the MCA label. The album reached peak positions of number 182 on the Billboard 200, and number 64 on Billboard's R&B Albums chart. The album won a Grammy Award in 1994 for Best Traditional Blues Album.

<i>Space</i> (George Benson album) 1978 compilation album by George Benson

Space is a compilation album by George Benson released in 1978 on CTI Records. It features his rendition of Sam & Dave's "Hold On, I'm Coming" recorded during the Good King Bad sessions as well as some additional songs from his Carnegie Hall performance.

<i>In Your Eyes</i> (George Benson album) 1983 studio album by George Benson

In Your Eyes is a 1983 album by George Benson. It is his only album produced by producer Arif Mardin. It includes the hit "Lady Love Me ".

<i>Fire It Up</i> (Joe Cocker album) 2012 studio album by Joe Cocker

Fire It Up is the twenty-second and final studio album by Joe Cocker, released on 6 November 2012 by Sony/Columbia in Europe. It was recorded at Emblem Studios Calabasas, California and like Cocker's previous album, Hard Knocks, it was produced by Matt Serletic. The album was released as a regular jewel case edition as well as a premium edition with additional DVD.

<i>Walking to New Orleans</i> (album) 2019 studio album by George Benson

Walking to New Orleans is a studio album by American guitarist and singer George Benson, released by Provogue Records on 26 April 2019. It is Benson's first recording since Inspiration: A Tribute to Nat King Cole, which was released in 2013.

<i>Special Love</i> 1989 studio album by Deniece Williams

Special Love is the second full-length gospel album by American R&B singer Deniece Williams released in 1989 on MCA/Sparrow Records. Special Love peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Top Christian Albums chart.

References

  1. "George Benson Releases Heartfelt Homage to Nat King Cole Titled Inspiration: A Tribute to Nat King Cole June 4, 2013". Jazzcorner.com. Retrieved 2013-04-27.
  2. 1 2 Leggett, Steve (June 3, 2013). "Inspiration: A Tribute to Nat King Cole - George Benson : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". Allmusic. Retrieved June 4, 2013.
  3. 1 2 Jones, Steve (June 3, 2013). "Listen up: Rimes, Benson serve up four-star tunes". USA Today. Retrieved June 4, 2013.