It's Uptown by George Benson - Uhune

ALBUM

While George Benson's solid jazz reputation supposedly rests on his early John Hammond-produced Columbia albums, one listen to this disc will reveal that his interests roamed widely from the beginning. Yes, there is plenty of straightforward bop playing here, with Benson stretching his technical chops on "Hello Birdie" and "Myna Bird Blues" and ruminating thoughtfully on "Willow Weep for Me." But Benson also had an interest in quasi-rock & roll, producing Wes-like octaves on "Young Jaguar," and some Bo Diddley-in-Spain rhythm chording on "Bullfight." The young Benson sounds pure and mellifluous on three vocal numbers, the basic elements of his later successes mostly in place. Yet Benson's backing combo doesn't click on all cylinders; Lonnie Smith is reliable on organ but Ronnie Cuber's blunt baritone sax is rather cumbersome here.
© Richard S. Ginell /TiVo

1. Clockwise

by George Benson

Baritone Saxophone: Ronnie Cuber; Performer
Primary Artist: George Benson; Main Performer
Drums: Jimmy Lovelace
Marion Booker; Performer
Guitar: George Benson; Performer
Organ: Lonnie Smith; Performer
Performer: George Benson; Performer
Vocals: George Benson; Performer
Composer: George Benson; Composer
Lyricist: George Benson; Composer
Producer: John Hammond; Production

2. Summertime

by George Benson, Dorothy Heyward

Primary Artist: Dorothy Heyward
The George Benson Quartet; Main Performer
Baritone Saxophone: Ronnie Cuber; Performer
Drums: Ray Lucas; Performer
Guitar: George Benson; Performer
Organ: Lonnie Smith; Performer
Performer: The George Benson Quartet
Dorothy Heyward
The George Benson Quartet & Dorothy Heyward; Performer
Vocals: George Benson; Performer
Composer: George Gershwin
G. Gershwin
Dorothy Heyward
I. Gershwin; Composer
Lyricist: Ira Gershwin
Dubose Heyward
G. Gershwin
Dorothy Heyward
I. Gershwin; Composer
Producer: John Hammond
Unknown; Production

3. Ain't That Peculiar

by George Benson

Baritone Saxophone: Ronnie Cuber; Performer
Primary Artist: The George Benson Quartet; Main Performer
Drums: Ray Lucas
Jimmy Lovelace
Charlie Persip; Performer
Guitar: George Benson; Performer
Organ: Lonnie Smith; Performer
Performer: The George Benson Quartet; Performer
Saxophone: Ronnie Cuber; Performer
Trumpet: Blue Mitchell; Performer
Vocals: George Benson; Performer
Composer: W. Robinson
W. Moore
M. Tarplin
R. Rogers; Composer
Lyricist: R. Rogers
M. Tarplin
W. Moore
W. Robinson; Composer
Mastering Engineer: Mark Wilder; Production
Producer: John Hammond; Production

4. Jaguar

by George Benson

Baritone Saxophone: Ronnie Cuber; Performer
Primary Artist: The George Benson Quartet; Main Performer
Drums: Jimmy Lovelace
Ray Lucas
Charlie Persip; Performer
Guitar: George Benson; Performer
Organ: Lonnie Smith; Performer
Performer: The George Benson Quartet; Performer
Saxophone: Ronnie Cuber; Performer
Trumpet: Blue Mitchell; Performer
Vocals: George Benson; Performer
Composer: G. Benson; Composer
Lyricist: G. Benson; Composer
Mastering Engineer: Mark Wilder; Production
Producer: John Hammond; Production

5. Willow Weep for Me

by George Benson

Baritone Saxophone: Ronnie Cuber; Performer
Primary Artist: The George Benson Quartet; Main Performer
Drums: Jimmy Lovelace; Performer
Guitar: George Benson; Performer
Organ: Lonnie Smith; Performer
Performer: The George Benson Quartet; Performer
Vocals: George Benson; Performer
Composer: Ann Ronell
A. Ronell; Composer
Lyricist: Ann Ronell
A. Ronell; Composer
Producer: John Hammond; Production

6. A Foggy Day

by George Benson

Baritone Saxophone: Ronnie Cuber; Performer
Primary Artist: The George Benson Quartet; Main Performer
Drums: Jimmy Lovelace; Performer
Guitar: George Benson; Performer
Organ: Lonnie Smith; Performer
Performer: The George Benson Quartet; Performer
Vocals: George Benson; Performer
Composer: George Gershwin
G. Gershwin
I. Gershwin; Composer
Lyricist: Ira Gershwin
G. Gershwin
I. Gershwin; Composer
Producer: John Hammond; Production

7. Hello Birdie

by George Benson

Baritone Saxophone: Ronnie Cuber; Performer
Primary Artist: The George Benson Quartet; Main Performer
Drums: Jimmy Lovelace
Ray Lucas
Charlie Persip; Performer
Guitar: George Benson; Performer
Organ: Lonnie Smith; Performer
Performer: The George Benson Quartet; Performer
Saxophone: Ronnie Cuber; Performer
Trumpet: Blue Mitchell; Performer
Vocals: George Benson; Performer
Composer: G. Benson; Composer
Lyricist: G. Benson; Composer
Mastering Engineer: Mark Wilder; Production
Producer: John Hammond; Production

8. Bullfight

by George Benson

Baritone Saxophone: Ronnie Cuber; Performer
Primary Artist: The George Benson Quartet; Main Performer
Drums: Jimmy Lovelace
Ray Lucas
Charlie Persip; Performer
Guitar: George Benson; Performer
Organ: Lonnie Smith; Performer
Performer: The George Benson Quartet; Performer
Saxophone: Ronnie Cuber; Performer
Trumpet: Blue Mitchell; Performer
Vocals: George Benson; Performer
Composer: G. Benson; Composer
Lyricist: G. Benson; Composer
Mastering Engineer: Mark Wilder; Production
Producer: John Hammond; Production

9. Stormy Weather

by George Benson

Baritone Saxophone: Ronnie Cuber; Performer
Primary Artist: The George Benson Quartet; Main Performer
Drums: Jimmy Lovelace
Ray Lucas
Charlie Persip; Performer
Guitar: George Benson; Performer
Organ: Lonnie Smith; Performer
Performer: The George Benson Quartet; Performer
Saxophone: Ronnie Cuber; Performer
Trumpet: Blue Mitchell; Performer
Vocals: George Benson; Performer
Composer: T. Koehler
H. Arlen; Composer
Lyricist: H. Arlen
T. Koehler; Composer
Mastering Engineer: Mark Wilder; Production
Producer: John Hammond; Production

10. Eternally

by George Benson

Baritone Saxophone: Ronnie Cuber; Performer
Primary Artist: The George Benson Quartet; Main Performer
Drums: Jimmy Lovelace
Ray Lucas
Charlie Persip; Performer
Guitar: George Benson; Performer
Organ: Lonnie Smith; Performer
Performer: The George Benson Quartet; Performer
Saxophone: Ronnie Cuber; Performer
Trumpet: Blue Mitchell; Performer
Vocals: George Benson; Performer
Composer: G. Benson; Composer
Lyricist: G. Benson; Composer
Mastering Engineer: Mark Wilder; Production
Producer: John Hammond; Production

11. Myna Bird Blues

by George Benson

Baritone Saxophone: Ronnie Cuber; Performer
Primary Artist: The George Benson Quartet; Main Performer
Drums: Jimmy Lovelace
Ray Lucas
Charlie Persip; Performer
Guitar: George Benson; Performer
Organ: Lonnie Smith; Performer
Performer: The George Benson Quartet; Performer
Saxophone: Ronnie Cuber; Performer
Trumpet: Blue Mitchell; Performer
Vocals: George Benson; Performer
Composer: G. Benson; Composer
Lyricist: G. Benson; Composer
Mastering Engineer: Mark Wilder; Production
Producer: John Hammond; Production

12. J.H. Bossa Nova

by George Benson

Baritone Saxophone: Ronnie Cuber; Performer
Primary Artist: The George Benson Quartet; Main Performer
Drums: Jimmy Lovelace
Ray Lucas
Charlie Persip; Performer
Guitar: George Benson; Performer
Organ: Lonnie Smith; Performer
Performer: The George Benson Quartet; Performer
Saxophone: Ronnie Cuber; Performer
Trumpet: Blue Mitchell; Performer
Vocals: George Benson; Performer
Composer: G. Benson; Composer
Lyricist: G. Benson; Composer
Mastering Engineer: Mark Wilder; Production
Producer: John Hammond; Production

13. Clockwise (Alternate Take)

by George Benson

Baritone Saxophone: Ronnie Cuber; Performer
Primary Artist: The George Benson Quartet; Main Performer
Drums: Ray Lucas
Jimmy Lovelace
Charlie Persip; Performer
Guitar: George Benson; Performer
Organ: Lonnie Smith; Performer
Performer: The George Benson Quartet; Performer
Saxophone: Ronnie Cuber; Performer
Trumpet: Blue Mitchell; Performer
Vocals: George Benson; Performer
Composer: George Benson; Composer
Lyricist: George Benson; Composer
Mastering Engineer: Mark Wilder; Production
Producer: John Hammond; Production

14. Eternally (Short Version)

by George Benson

Baritone Saxophone: Ronnie Cuber; Performer
Primary Artist: The George Benson Quartet; Main Performer
Drums: Jimmy Lovelace
Ray Lucas
Charlie Persip; Performer
Guitar: George Benson; Performer
Organ: Lonnie Smith; Performer
Performer: The George Benson Quartet; Performer
Saxophone: Ronnie Cuber; Performer
Trumpet: Blue Mitchell; Performer
Vocals: George Benson; Performer
Composer: G. Benson; Composer
Lyricist: G. Benson; Composer
Mastering Engineer: Mark Wilder; Production
Producer: John Hammond; Production

15. Sideman

by George Benson

Baritone Saxophone: Ronnie Cuber; Performer
Primary Artist: George Benson; Main Performer
Drums: Charlie Persip
Ray Lucas
Jimmy Lovelace; Performer
Guitar: George Benson; Performer
Organ: Lonnie Smith; Performer
Performer: George Benson
Lonnie Smith; Performer
Saxophone: Ronnie Cuber; Performer
Trumpet: Blue Mitchell; Performer
Vocals: George Benson; Performer
Composer: Lawrence Smith
L. Smith; Composer
Lyricist: Lawrence Smith
L. Smith; Composer
Mastering Engineer: Mark Wilder; Production
Producer: John Hammond; Production

16. Minor Chant

by George Benson

Baritone Saxophone: Ronnie Cuber; Performer
Primary Artist: George Benson; Main Performer
Drums: Charlie Persip
Ray Lucas
Jimmy Lovelace; Performer
Guitar: George Benson; Performer
Organ: Lonnie Smith; Performer
Performer: George Benson
Lonnie Smith; Performer
Saxophone: Ronnie Cuber; Performer
Trumpet: Blue Mitchell; Performer
Vocals: George Benson; Performer
Composer: S. Turrentine; Composer
Lyricist: S. Turrentine; Composer
Mastering Engineer: Mark Wilder; Production
Producer: John Hammond; Production

Technical Specifications

Volume

1 volume only

Tracks

16 tracks available

Type

ALBUM

Format

Digital Media

Duration

1 hour, 0 minutes and 45 seconds

Explicit

None

Coverart

Available and up to 600x600 px

Booklet

Not available

Max Quality

CD Quality (Lossless)

16bit / 44.1 kHz

Stereo

Audio Extension

Lossless: FLAC, M4A, WAV, WV, AIFF

Lossy: AAC, MP3, M4A, MP4, OGA, OGG, OPUS, WMA

Archive Format

Available in these formats: ZIP, TAR, RAR

Lyrics

8/16 tracks have lyrics

Synchronized Lyrics

2/16 tracks have synced lyrics

Genres

Pop/Rock, Jazz, Hard Bop, Crossover Jazz

Label

Columbia

Music Distribution Service

Sony

Country

United States

Language

English (United States)

Popularity

Release Date

Dec 31, 1965

Track Preview

Available

Delivery Charge

Free

Delivery Method

Digital download link via Email or Personal Dashboard on this site

UPC

5099750246924