While the City Sleeps...

Last updated
While the City Sleeps...
George Benson While the City Sleeps... cover.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedAugust 25, 1986 [1]
Recorded1985–1986
Studio
Genre
Length38:13
Label Warner Bros.
Producer Narada Michael Walden, Tommy LiPuma, Robbie Buchanan, Kashif, Preston Glass (associate)
George Benson chronology
20/20
(1985)
While the City Sleeps...
(1986)
Collaboration
(1987)
Singles from While the City Sleeps...
  1. "Kisses in the Moonlight"
    Released: 1986
  2. "Shiver"
    Released: 1986
  3. "Teaser"
    Released: 1987

While the City Sleeps... is a 1986 studio album by American guitarist and singer George Benson, released on Warner Bros. Records. It features musicians like Paulinho da Costa, Preston Glass, Paul Jackson, Jr., Marcus Miller and Narada Michael Walden (as drummer and producer), alongside young talents of the time like Kenny G, Randy Jackson and Kashif. Although it does not have any instrumental tracks, Benson's guitar playing is somewhat in the headlight in songs like "Love Is Here Tonight", "Teaser" and "Too Many Times". The most successful single of the album, "Kisses in the Moonlight", is still frequently played by Benson at live performances and is present on many of his compilation albums [2] (The Best of George Benson, The George Benson Anthology, The Essential Selection, etc.) On the B-side of the "Kisses in the Moonlight" single [3] – alongside "Breezin'" (Special Mix) on the 12" version – is the instrumental song "Open Your Eyes" (George Benson/Ronnie Foster) (producer: Tommy LiPuma, engineer: Eric Calvi) which is not available elsewhere.

Contents

Shortly after the album's release, Benson performed "Love Is Here Tonight" in its entirety while guest starring in season three of the detective show Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer .

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [4]

Like many of Benson's pop albums, While the City Sleeps... was criticized for the absence of his distinctive jazz guitar instrumentals. [4]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."While the City Sleeps"Dave Innis, Sam Lorber Tommy LiPuma, Robbie Buchanan3:35
2."Kisses in the Moonlight"Jeffrey Cohen, Preston Glass, Narada Michael Walden Narada Michael Walden 4:21
3."Shiver"Preston Glass, Suzanne Valentine, Narada Michael WaldenNarada Michael Walden, Preston Glass (associate)5:23
4."Love Is Here Tonight"George Benson, Jeffrey CohenNarada Michael Walden5:43
5."Teaser"Jeffrey Cohen, David Jenkins, Cory Lerios, Narada Michael WaldenNarada Michael Walden4:40
6."Secrets in the Night" Kashif, Greg Phillinganes Kashif 5:50
7."Too Many Times" Walter Afanasieff, Preston GlassNarada Michael Walden4:37
8."Did You Hear Thunder" Dean Pitchford, Tom Snow Tommy LiPuma, Robbie Buchanan3:50

Personnel

Adapted from the album's liner notes. [5]

Musicians:

Production

Charts

Album charts (weekly)
Chart (1986)Peak
position
Dutch Albums Top 100 [6] 25
German Top 100 Albums [6] 48
Swedish Albums Top 60 [6] 31
UK Albums Chart [7] 13
US Top Contemporary Jazz Albums [8] 8
US R&B Albums [8] 21
US Billboard 200 [8] 124
Song charts
YearTitleChart peak positions
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks
[8]
UK [7] [9] NL [10]
1986"Kisses in the Moonlight"136032
1986"Shiver"1619-
1987"Teaser"-45-

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Japan21,100 [11]
United Kingdom (BPI) [12] Gold100,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<i>Winner in You</i> 1986 studio album by Patti LaBelle

Winner in You is the eighth studio album by American R&B singer Patti LaBelle. It was released by MCA Records on April 28, 1986, in the United States. Recording sessions took place during 1985–1986. Production was handled by several record producers, including Burt Bacharach, Carole Bayer Sager, and Nickolas Ashford, among others.

<i>Confetti</i> (Sérgio Mendes album) 1983 studio album by Sérgio Mendes

Confetti is an album by Sérgio Mendes, released in 1983.

<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>The Hunter</i> (Jennifer Warnes album) 1992 studio album by Jennifer Warnes

The Hunter is the seventh studio album by Jennifer Warnes, released in 1992.

<i>Oasis</i> (Roberta Flack album) 1988 studio album by Roberta Flack

Oasis is Roberta Flack's first solo album of newly recorded songs since 1982's I'm the One. Released 1 November 1988, Oasis features the number-one U.S. singles, "Oasis" (R&B), and "Uh-uh Ooh-ooh Look Out ".

<i>Millennium</i> (Earth, Wind & Fire album) 1993 studio album by Earth, Wind & Fire

Millennium is the sixteenth studio album by American band Earth, Wind & Fire released in September 1993 on Warner Bros. Records. The album reached No. 8 on the US Billboard Top R&B Albums chart, No. 39 on the US Billboard 200, No. 18 on the Japanese Pop Albums chart and No. 29 on the Dutch Album Top 100. Millennium has also been certified Gold in Japan by the RIAJ.

<i>Kiss Me with the Wind</i> 1990 studio album by Brenda Russell

Kiss Me with the Wind is the fifth studio album by the American singer/songwriter Brenda Russell, released in August 1990 on A&M Records.

<i>Collaboration</i> (George Benson & Earl Klugh album) 1987 studio album by George Benson & Earl Klugh

Collaboration is a smooth jazz studio album by George Benson and Earl Klugh released in 1987. The album was certified gold in the United States in February 1988.

<i>Reservations for Two</i> 1987 studio album by Dionne Warwick

Reservations for Two is a studio album by the American singer Dionne Warwick. It was recorded during the spring of 1987 and released on July 30 of that year. Her eighth album for Arista Records, it was again executive produced by label head Clive Davis. Warwick reteamed with Barry Manilow and the duo Burt Bacharach and Carole Bayer Sager to work on the album, while Kashif, Jerry Knight, Howard Hewett and Smokey Robinson also contributed to the tracks.

<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>A Change of Heart</i> (album) 1987 studio album by David Sanborn

A Change of Heart is a studio album by David Sanborn, released in 1987 through the record label Warner Bros. The album reached number 74 on the Billboard 200, number 43 on Billboard's R&B Albums chart and number 3 on the Top Contemporary Jazz Albums chart.

<i>Dangerous</i> (Natalie Cole album) 1985 studio album by Natalie Cole

Dangerous is a 1985 album by American singer Natalie Cole released on May 15, 1985, through the Atco Records-distributed Modern Records label. The album reached peak positions of number 140 on the Billboard 200 and number 48 on Billboard's R&B Albums chart.

<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>Love Changes</i> 1987 studio album by Kashif

Love Changes is the fourth studio album by American singer Kashif. It was released by Arista Records in 1987. The album was digitally remastered in 2012 by Funky Town Grooves and included six bonus tracks.

<i>Twice the Love</i> 1988 studio album by George Benson

Twice the Love is a 1988 studio album by American guitarist and singer George Benson that was recorded with six production teams. The two main singles off the record were the title track "Twice the Love" and the Curtis Mayfield song "Let's Do It Again" which was a No. 1 hit for The Staple Singers in 1975.

<i>Stephanie Mills</i> (album) 1985 studio album by Stephanie Mills

Stephanie Mills is the tenth studio album by the American R&B singer Stephanie Mills, released in 1985 on MCA Records. Following her last release I've Got the Cure on Casablanca Records, Mills self-titled new album was the first release upon signing a new recording contract with MCA Records.

<i>Love Remembers</i> (album) 1993 studio album by George Benson

Love Remembers is the 28th album by George Benson, released June 8, 1993. This album charted at No. 1 on Billboard's Contemporary Jazz Albums chart, as well as No. 7 on its Jazz Albums chart.

<i>Soulful Strut</i> (album) 1996 studio album by Grover Washington Jr.

Soulful Strut is a studio album by American saxophonist Grover Washington Jr. The album was released in 1996 on Columbia Records label.

<i>Through the Fire</i> (Peabo Bryson album) 1994 studio album by Peabo Bryson

Through the Fire is the sixteenth studio album by American singer Peabo Bryson. It was released by Columbia Records on June 14, 1994, in the United States and marked Bryson's first full-length album after the release of his number-one hit duets "Beauty and the Beast" (1991) and "A Whole New World" (1992). The singer reteamed with David Foster, Walter Afanasieff, and Dwight Watkins and consulted upcoming producers Keith Rawls, Keith Thomas and Marc Freeman to work with him on the majority of Through the Fire which was titled after Bryson's cover of the Foster-penned Chaka Khan song (1984).

References

  1. Grein, Paul (August 2, 1986). "Lionel, Huey Albums First in Three Years; Hot Summer Releases on the Way". Google Books. Billboard. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  2. "Kisses in the Moonlight - George Benson | Listen, Appearances, Song Review". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-04-13.
  3. "George Benson - Kisses In The Moonlight at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2014-04-13.
  4. 1 2 Richard S. Ginell. "While the City Sleeps - George Benson | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-04-08.
  5. While the City Sleeps... (liner notes). George Benson. Warner Bros. 1986.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  6. 1 2 3 Steffen Hung (2004-11-26). "George Benson - While The City Sleeps..." swisscharts.com. Retrieved 2014-04-08.
  7. 1 2 "George Benson | Artist". Official Charts. Retrieved 2014-04-08.
  8. 1 2 3 4 "While the City Sleeps - George Benson | Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-04-08.
  9. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 54. ISBN   1-904994-10-5.
  10. Stichting Nederlandse Top 40. "Top 40: George Benson - Kisses In The Moonlight". Top40.nl. Retrieved 2014-04-08.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  11. Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970-2005. Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN   4-87131-077-9.
  12. "British album certifications – George Benson – While the City Sleeps". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 12 December 2021.