DrsWoodard - Without A Song
DrsWoodard
May 22, 2024 12:51pm
<h1><em>Big Boss Band</em></h1><p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Big_Boss_Band_(1990_studio_album).jpg" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/94/Big_Boss_Band_%281990_studio_album%29.jpg/220px-Big_Boss_Band_%281990_studio_album%29.jpg" height="220" width="220"></a></p><p><br></p><p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Album" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Studio album</a> by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Benson" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">George Benson</a>Released1990RecordedClinton Recording Studio and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_Station_(recording_studio)" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Power Station</a>, New York City; CTS Studios Ltd., Wembley, England (track 7)<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_genre" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Genre</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jazz" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jazz</a>Length41:48<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Record_label" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Label</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warner_Bros." rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Warner Bros.</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Record_producer" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Producer</a>George Benson for Broadway Productions, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Schmitt" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Al Schmitt</a> (co-producer on track 7)<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Benson" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">George Benson</a> chronology<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenderly_(George_Benson_album)" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Tenderly</em></a></p><p>(1989)<strong><em>Big Boss Band</em></strong></p><p>(1990)<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love_Remembers_(album)" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Love Remembers</em></a></p><ol><li>(1993)<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single_(music)" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Singles</a> from <em>Big Boss Band</em>"Baby Workout"</li><li>Released: 1990</li></ol><p><strong><em>Big Boss Band</em></strong> is the 1990 studio album of American musician <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Benson" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">George Benson</a> on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warner_Bros." rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Warner Bros.</a> featuring the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Count_Basie_Orchestra" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Count Basie Orchestra</a>. This is Benson's second consecutive album which returns to his jazz roots after his successful pop career in the 1980s, and also his debut as sole producer of an album.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Boss_Band#cite_note-linernotes-1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><sup>[1]</sup></a> The genre is mainly big band swing with some Michel Legrand and R&B thrown in.</p><h2>Concept</h2><p>In his liner notes, Benson writes that in 1983 he made a promise to Count Basie "to do his (Basie's) music justice" on an album such as Big Boss Band. He continues: "The spirit of the Basie Legacy permeated these sessions as I approached each one (song) in the way I believed the Count would have wanted." He thanks to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Foster_(jazz_musician)" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Frank Foster III</a> for his contribution and notes that he "was Basie's only choice" to arrange this album.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Boss_Band#cite_note-linernotes-1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><sup>[1]</sup></a></p><h2>Reception</h2><p><strong>Professional ratings</strong>Review scoresSourceRating<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allmusic" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Allmusic</a><img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/51/Star_full.svg/11px-Star_full.svg.png" height="11" width="11"><img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/51/Star_full.svg/11px-Star_full.svg.png" height="11" width="11"><img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/51/Star_full.svg/11px-Star_full.svg.png" height="11" width="11"><img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/51/Star_full.svg/11px-Star_full.svg.png" height="11" width="11"><img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/49/Star_empty.svg/11px-Star_empty.svg.png" height="11" width="11"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Boss_Band#cite_note-2" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><sup>[2]</sup></a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Penguin_Guide_to_Jazz_Recordings" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings</em></a><img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/51/Star_full.svg/11px-Star_full.svg.png" height="11" width="11"><img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/51/Star_full.svg/11px-Star_full.svg.png" height="11" width="11"><img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/49/Star_empty.svg/11px-Star_empty.svg.png" height="11" width="11"><img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/49/Star_empty.svg/11px-Star_empty.svg.png" height="11" width="11"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Boss_Band#cite_note-Penguin-3" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><sup>[3]</sup></a></p><p>The album was criticized by jazz writers for not being jazzy enough, for the vocal performance and for not being able to grab the opportunity of making a jazz classic.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Boss_Band#cite_note-4" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><sup>[4]</sup></a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Boss_Band#cite_note-5" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><sup>[5]</sup></a></p><h2>Awards</h2><p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Foster_(jazz_musician)" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Frank Foster</a> received Grammy Award for his arrangement of George Benson's composition “Basie’s Bag” (Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Big Band, 1990).<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Boss_Band#cite_note-6" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><sup>[6]</sup></a></p><h2>Track listing</h2><p>No.TitleWriter(s)Length1."<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Without_a_Song" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Without a Song</a>"<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vincent_Youmans" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Vincent Youmans</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Eliscu" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Edward Eliscu</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Rose" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">William Rose</a>4:092."Ready Now That You Are"<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Foster_(jazz_musician)" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Frank Foster</a>5:503."<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_Do_You_Keep_the_Music_Playing%3F" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">How Do You Keep the Music Playing?</a>"<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Bergman" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Alan Bergman</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marilyn_Bergman" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Marilyn Bergman</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michel_Legrand" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Michel Legrand</a>5:004."<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On_Green_Dolphin_Street_(song)" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">On Green Dolphin Street</a>"<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bronis%C5%82aw_Kaper" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bronislau Kaper</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ned_Washington" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ned Washington</a>4:095."<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baby_Workout" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Baby Workout</a>"<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jackie_Wilson" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jackie Wilson</a>, Alonzo Tucker3:526."<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Only_Have_Eyes_for_You" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">I Only Have Eyes for You</a>"<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Warren" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Harry Warren</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Dubin" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Al Dubin</a>2:527."Portrait of Jennie"<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._Russel_Robinson" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">J. Russel Robinson</a>, Gordon Budge4:238."<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walkin%27_My_Baby_Back_Home_(song)" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Walkin' My Baby Back Home</a>"<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_E._Ahlert" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Fred Ahlert</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roy_Turk" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Roy Turk</a>3:019."<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skylark_(song)" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Skylark</a>"<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Mercer" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Johnny Mercer</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoagy_Carmichael" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hoagy Carmichael</a>5:0610."Basie's Bag"<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Benson" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">George Benson</a></p>