Shape of Things to Come
Studio album by
George Benson
ReleasedMarch 1969[1]
RecordedAugust 27 – October 22, 1968
StudioVan Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey
GenreSoul jazz
Length33:20
LabelA&M
ProducerCreed Taylor
George Benson chronology
Giblet Gravy
(1968) 		Shape of Things to Come
(1969) 		Goodies
(1968)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[2]
The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide[3]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings[4]

Shape of Things to Come is the fifth studio album by the American guitarist George Benson, recorded in 1968 and arranged by Don Sebesky.[5] It was his first album for A&M Records and his first album to be produced by Creed Taylor, who would remain his producer until 1976.

Background

After four years and three different labels, Benson signed with the A&M/CTI label in 1968. He was to be the replacement for their star Wes Montgomery, who had died earlier in the year.[2] For his first album with the label, producer Taylor brought in all of the labels heavyweights, arranger Sebesky, engineer Rudy Van Gelder, and guest artists Herbie Hancock and Ron Carter. The album is mostly cover songs from artists as diverse as Aretha Franklin, The Monkees and Glenn Miller. It also contains a pair of original compositions and some reworkings of movie soundtracks.[2]

Track listing

  1. "Footin' It" (George Benson, Don Sebesky) – 4:23
  2. "Face It Boy, It's Over" (Andy Badale, Frank Stanton) – 4:05
  3. "Shape of Things to Come" (Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil) – 5:15
  4. "Chattanooga Choo Choo" (Mack Gordon, Harry Warren) – 3:34
  5. "Don't Let Me Lose This Dream" (Aretha Franklin, Ted White) – 4:42
  6. "Shape of Things That Are and Were" (Benson) – 5:48
  7. "Last Train to Clarksville" (Tommy Boyce, Bobby Hart) – 5:32

Personnel

Technical

References

  1. ^ Billboard March 15, 1969
  2. ^ a b c Allmusic review
  3. ^ Swenson, J., ed. (1985). The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide. USA: Random House/Rolling Stone. p. 23. ISBN 0-394-72643-X.
  4. ^ Cook, Richard; Brian Morton (2008). The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings. The Penguin Guide to Jazz (9th ed.). London: Penguin. p. 113. ISBN 978-0-14-103401-0.
  5. ^ Shape of Things to Come at AllMusic
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