Breezin'

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title: "Breezin'" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["george-benson-albums", "1976-albums", "warner-records-albums", "albums-produced-by-tommy-lipuma", "albums-arranged-by-claus-ogerman", "albums-recorded-at-capitol-studios", "grammy-award-for-best-engineered-album,-non-classical"] topic_path: "arts/music" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breezin'" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::data[format=table title="Infobox album"]

FieldValue
nameBreezin'
typeAlbum
artistGeorge Benson
coverBreezin_GB.jpg
releasedMarch 19, 1976
recordedJanuary 6–8, 1976
studioCapitol (Hollywood)
genreSmooth jazz
length
labelWarner Bros.
producerTommy LiPuma
prev_titleBenson & Farrell
prev_year1976
next_titleIn Flight
next_year1977
misc{{Singles
nameBreezin'
typeStudio album
single1This Masquerade
single1date1977
single2Breezin'
single2date1977
::

| name = Breezin' | type = Album | artist = George Benson | cover = Breezin_GB.jpg | alt = | released = March 19, 1976 | recorded = January 6–8, 1976 | venue = | studio = Capitol (Hollywood) | genre = Smooth jazz | length = | label = Warner Bros. | producer = Tommy LiPuma | prev_title = Benson & Farrell | prev_year = 1976 | next_title = In Flight | next_year = 1977 | misc = {{Singles | name = Breezin' | type = Studio album | single1 = This Masquerade | single1date = 1977 | single2 = Breezin' | single2date = 1977

'''*Breezin'''''' is the fifteenth studio album by jazz/soul guitarist and vocalist George Benson. It is his debut on Warner Bros. Records. It not only was a *Billboard'' Jazz Albums chart-topper but also went to number 1 on the Pop and R&B charts. It was certified triple platinum, making it one of the best-selling jazz albums of all time.

Commercial performance

*Breezin''' marked the beginning of Benson's most successful period commercially, topping the *Billboard'' Pop, Jazz and R&B album charts. It spun off two hit singles, the title song (which has become a fusion jazz standard) and "This Masquerade", which was a top ten pop and R&B hit. The album has since been certified as 3× Multi-Platinum by the RIAA.

The album garnered multiple nominations and awards at the 19th Annual Grammy Awards. The album won the awards Best Pop Instrumental Performance for Benson and Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical for Al Schmitt and was nominated as Album of the Year for Tommy LiPuma and Benson. "This Masquerade" received the award Record of the Year for LiPuma and Benson, while it was nominated as Song of the Year for Leon Russell and as Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male for Benson.

Critical reception

|rev1 = AllMusic |rev1score = |rev3 = The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings |rev3score = |rev2 = Christgau's Record Guide |rev2Score = C In a contemporaneous review for The Village Voice, music critic Robert Christgau gave the album a "C" and dismissed most of its music as "mush". In a retrospective review, 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". A more recent review (2023), on the Best of Jazz website, was more generous. It stated "Breezin’ is one of the best albums for Benson. This 70’s masterpiece gave [him] true popularity."

Track listing

|headline= Side one |title1=Breezin'|writer1=Bobby Womack|length1=5:40 |title2=This Masquerade|writer2=Leon Russell|length2=8:03 |title3=Six to Four|writer3=Phil Upchurch|length3=5:06

|headline= Side two |title1=Affirmation|writer1=José Feliciano|length1=7:01 |title2=So This Is Love?|writer2=George Benson|length2=7:03 |title3=Lady|writer3=Ronnie Foster|length3=5:49

Personnel

Production

  • Tommy LiPuma – producer
  • Noel Newbolt – associate producer
  • Al Schmitt – recording, mixing
  • Don Henderson – assistant engineer
  • Doug Sax – mastering at the Mastering Lab (Hollywood, California).
  • Ed Thrasher – art direction
  • Robert Lockhart – art direction
  • Peter Palombi – design
  • Mario Casilli – photography

Charts

Weekly charts

::data[format=table] | Chart (1976–78) | Peak position | |---|---| ::

::data[format=table] | Chart (2021) | Peak position | |---|---| ::

Year-end charts

::data[format=table]

Chart (1976)PositionUS Billboard 200US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)
19
4
::

::data[format=table]

Chart (1977)PositionNew Zealand Albums (RMNZ)US Billboard 200
33
26
::

::data[format=table]

Chart (1978)PositionNew Zealand Albums (RMNZ)
35
::

Certifications and sales

References

References

  1. (April 3, 1976). "Album Picks". Record World.
  2. {{AllMusic
  3. {{AllMusic
  4. "Breezin".
  5. "Past Winners Search {{pipe}} GRAMMY.com – 1976". grammy.com.
  6. {{AllMusic. Richard S.. Ginell
  7. Cook, Richard. (2008). "The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings". Penguin.
  8. Christgau, Robert. (1981). "[[Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies]]". [[Ticknor & Fields]].
  9. Christgau, Robert. (14 June 1976). "Christgau's Consumer Guide". [[The Village Voice]].
  10. "Billboard 200 Albums - Year-End".
  11. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums - Year-End".
  12. "Top Selling Albums of 1977 — The Official New Zealand Music Chart". [[Recorded Music New Zealand]].
  13. "Billboard 200 Albums - Year-End".
  14. "Top Selling Albums of 1978 — The Official New Zealand Music Chart". [[Recorded Music New Zealand]].
  15. (2006). "Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970-2005". Oricon Entertainment.

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george-benson-albums1976-albumswarner-records-albumsalbums-produced-by-tommy-lipumaalbums-arranged-by-claus-ogermanalbums-recorded-at-capitol-studiosgrammy-award-for-best-engineered-album,-non-classical