This article is about the album by George Benson. For the album by Sonny Red, see
Breezing (album) .
1976 studio album by George Benson
Breezin' album byjazz /soul guitarist and vocalistGeorge Benson . It is his debut onWarner Bros. Records . It not only was aBillboard Jazz Albums chart-topper but also went to number 1 on thePop andR&B charts. It was certified triple platinum, making it one of the best-selling jazz albums of all time.
Commercial performance [ edit ] Breezin' marked the beginning of Benson's most successful period commercially, topping theBillboard Pop, Jazz and R&B album charts.[ 2] fusion jazz standard) and "This Masquerade", which was a top tenpop andR&B hit.[ 3] RIAA .[ 4]
The album garnered multiple nominations and awards at the19th Annual Grammy Awards . The album won the awardsBest Pop Instrumental Performance for Benson andBest Engineered Album, Non-Classical forAl Schmitt and was nominated asAlbum of the Year forTommy LiPuma and Benson. "This Masquerade" received the awardRecord of the Year for LiPuma and Benson, while it was nominated asSong of the Year forLeon Russell and asBest Pop Vocal Performance, Male for Benson.[ 5]
In a contemporaneous review forThe Village Voice Robert Christgau gave the album a "C" and dismissed most of its music as "mush".[ 9] Allmusic 's Richard S. Ginell gave it three-and-a-half out of five stars and said that, although Benson's guitar is "as assured and fluid as ever",Breezin' is "really not so much a breakthrough as it is a transition album; the guitar is still the core of his identity".[ 6]
Tommy LiPuma – producerNoel Newbolt – associate producer Al Schmitt – recording, mixingDon Henderson – assistant engineer Doug Sax – mastering at the Mastering Lab (Hollywood, California).Ed Thrasher – art directionRobert Lockhart – art direction Peter Palombi – design Mario Casilli – photography Chart (1978) Position New Zealand Albums (RMNZ )[ 20] 35
Certifications and sales [ edit ] Region Certification Certified units /salesAustralia (ARIA )[ 21] 2× Platinum 140,000^ Japan — 43,090[ 22] United Kingdom (BPI )[ 23] Silver 60,000^ United States (RIAA )[ 24] 3× Platinum 3,000,000^ ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
^ "Album Picks" (PDF) .WorldRadioHistory.com . Record World. 3 April 1976. p. 16. Retrieved2 September 2021 .^ Breezin' Billboard Albums atAllMusic ^ Breezin' Billboard Singles atAllMusic ^ "American album certifications – George Benson – Breezin" .Recording Industry Association of America .^ "Past Winners Search | GRAMMY.com – 1976" .grammy.com . Retrieved28 August 2011 .^a b Ginell, Richard S.. Breezin' - George Benson atAllMusic . Retrieved 7 March 2010. ^ 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 ^ Christgau, Robert (1981)."Consumer Guide '70s: B" .Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies Ticknor & Fields .ISBN 089919026X . Retrieved21 February 2019 .^ Christgau, Robert (14 June 1976)."Christgau's Consumer Guide" .The Village Voice . Retrieved27 May 2013 .^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 4295a" .RPM Library and Archives Canada . Retrieved January 4, 2025.^ "Charts.nz – George Benson – Breezin'" . Hung Medien. Retrieved November 9, 2021.^ "George Benson Chart History (Billboard 200)" .Billboard ^ "George Benson Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)" .Billboard ^ "George Benson Chart History (Top Jazz Albums)" .Billboard ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 5175" .RPM Library and Archives Canada . Retrieved January 4, 2025.^ "Billboard 200 Albums - Year-End" .Billboard . Retrieved9 November 2021 .^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums - Year-End" .Billboard . Retrieved9 November 2021 .^ "Top Selling Albums of 1977 — The Official New Zealand Music Chart" .Recorded Music New Zealand . Retrieved9 November 2021 .^ "Billboard 200 Albums - Year-End" .Billboard . Retrieved9 November 2021 .^ "Top Selling Albums of 1978 — The Official New Zealand Music Chart" .Recorded Music New Zealand . Retrieved26 January 2022 .^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1996 Albums" (PDF) .Australian Recording Industry Association . Retrieved28 November 2021 .^ Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970-2005 .Roppongi ,Tokyo : Oricon Entertainment. 2006.ISBN 4-87131-077-9 ^ "British album certifications – George Benson – Breezin' .British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved12 December 2021 .^ "American album certifications – George Benson – Breezin' .Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved9 November 2021 .
Studio albums Live albums Compilations Singles
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