On this day in music history: January 28, 1977 - “In Flight”, the sixteenth studio album by George Benson is released. Produced by Tommy LiPuma, it is recorded at Capitol Studios in Hollywood, CA from August - November 1976. With more than a decade of acclaimed but modest selling albums on various labels under his belt, guitarist George Benson achieves unprecedented success for a jazz musician, when his first Warner Bros album “Breezin’” rises to the top of the charts and sells into the millions. While that album is still hot, Benson returns to the studio with producer Tommy LiPuma in the Summer of 1976 to work on the follow up. The musician is supported by the same group of musicians that have played on the previous album including Harvey Mason (drums), Stanley Banks (bass), Phil Upchurch (guitar, bass), Ronnie Foster (electric piano, synthesizer), Jorge Dalto (clavinet, piano). The band again record at Capitol Studios in Hollywood, with veteran recording engineer Al Schmitt behind the board as on the previous project. Arranger Claus Ogerman also returns, adding a lush orchestral back drop to many of the songs. "In Flight" is made almost entirely of covers (with the exception of Ronnie Foster’s “The Wind And I”), which George puts his own unique stamp on. Among the stand outs are “Nature Boy”, originally recorded by Nat King Cole, Donny Hathaway’s “Valdez In The Country” and an epic take on War’s “The World Is A Ghetto”. The album spins off two singles including “Everything Must Change” (#34 R&B, #106 Pop) (previously recorded by Quincy Jones), and “Gonna Love You More” (#41 R&B, #71 Pop). Though it doesn’t spin off a big hit like “This Masquerade” on the previous album, “In Flight” is very well received by fans and critics, quickly becoming another million selling record. The cover artwork featuring a photo of Benson sitting on couch with love birds perched and flying behind him, is designed by Grammy winning graphic artist Mike Doud (Supertramp) and features handwritten lettering by veteran artist Mike Manoogian. Originally released on CD in 1988, it is remastered and reissued in 2015 by Friday Music, also including the promo 12" version of “The World Is A Ghetto” and the single edit of “Everything Must Change” as bonus tracks. The reissue also features extensive liner notes and an interview with George Benson. Out of print on vinyl for over thirty years, it is remastered and reissued as a 180 gram LP by UK label Pure Pleasure Records in 2016, replicating the original gatefold sleeve and using the “Burbank Palm Trees” WB labels found on the first release. “In Flight” spends twelve weeks at number one on the Billboard Jazz album chart, peaking at number two the R&B album chart, number nine on the Top 200, and is certified Platinum in the US by the RIAA.
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