George Benson - Inspiration - A Tribute To Nat King Cole Album

Oh dear how to be constructive about two absolute hero's and love's of mine Nat and George.This album is a total and utter disappointment for four reasons:-1. This is George impersonating Nat, not George singing Nat, it's all in the wrong key George is singing too high and too soft.2. The orchestration is totally flat and lack luster there is no absolute oomph or real hit you in the face make the heart go bang it's totally restrained, radio 2 in the car fodder! Not roll back the rug and let the hi-fi go! It's far too low-fi3. George is not doing what George does and let that Ibenz go, again it's like the vocal is what it's all about, not the Guitar, this should be the Guitar and George.4 Wrong dull arrangements and wrong production team, this really needed Mr Jones to kiss ass and make that male Nat tribute album that no-one else , bar Natalie's excellence, naturally has ever done, even the 1980's Johnny Mathis attempt has some Ooomph and clout, the female backing is like a cross between The Rita William's/Mike Sames Singers and The Ladybirds all up, up and away! I adore George's work and worship his playing as IMHO the finest Guitar player that's ever lived, (Jose Feliciano and John Williams come a close second and third), but I don't adore this, this really is dull as pants, too refined and far too restricted, trying to be too clever and re-create what's no longer here can sometimes be a big no-no, this is one of those! To avoid total disbelief and a few tears, honestly , avoid and don't listen, it really is sad and painful with no highs to hit and no guts to kick, sorry boys.This route 2013 needed to kick and it hasn't. With a digital key correction turntable you can put George's voice back as it should be, ie as George, but you can't go the the other way and speed a track up and lower the vocal key (which Ballerina lacks and needs its like 30% + too slow, Route 66 is a total disappointment, no bass no stabs no guts!)I cite George's Warner Bros work, his work with Mr Jones, Hear George's (should have been a UK#1) "Beyond The Sea" or his project with The Count Basie Orchestra "Baby Workout" this project ain't those tracks baby! Really disappointed and really saddened.Go back in the studio a good exciting studio even Capitol studio 2 on Hollywood & Vine, get a gutsy arranger, hear these songs like for the first time not as Nat did them. plug the Ibenz in turn the volume up make it swing, make it kick really kick so you hear that bass drum pedal hit the skin, give it bass, give it brass and horns, add some vibes, the full size Steinway and let George "Give Me The Night" be George.I wanted this to be on my turntable regularly, it won' t, it will be filed in the library as a reference piece.

Well articulated! I wanted to love this...and couldn't put the feeling or words to why it felt flat and lackluster, like you were able to. George Benson is remarkable, esp. for things like his "Beyond the Sea" and "Moody's Mood" and the absolute entire "Breezin" LP--what a masterpiece.