As guitarist
George Benson morphed from playing with chitlin circuit organ combos to becoming a pop vocalist, these sessions in 1968 formed a transition, and were a prelude to his works for the CTI label. There are five tracks each from the recordings
Giblet Gravy and
Goodies, featuring horn sections, takes on Top 40 hits, the funky go-go instrumental boogaloo sound of the day, and a slick approach to production values. Included as asides are a lone soul-jazz-blues number with organist
Jimmy Smith, a lone jazz standard ("Song for My Father"), and a take on
Curtis Mayfield's "People Get Ready" backed by gospel/R&B vocalists
the Sweet Inspirations. It's certainly not the best
Benson of any era but far from the worst, and does give insight into where he was to go in the commercial music world. ~ Michael G. Nastos