While the City Sleeps...

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While the City Sleeps...
George Benson While the City Sleeps... cover.jpg
Studio album by
George Benson
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
United Kingdom (BPI) [11] Gold100,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

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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. ↑ "British album certifications – George Benson – While the City Sleeps". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 12 December 2021.
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