Album of the Day

George Benson is a superb singer as well as a gifted guitarist, and both sides of his talent are on full display on LIVIN' INSIDE YOUR LOVE. The 1979 Warner Bros. collection, helmed by producer Tommy LiPuma, is actually a double album, with a dozen tracks that let the man stretch out and play. With such greats in the band as drummer Steve Gadd and fellow fretman Earl Klugh (who penned the title track), the instrumental work is immaculate. Yet given the eclectic mix of material – which includes Goffin-King and Sam Cooke covers as well as three Benson originals - there are also some fine vocal numbers. A super-smooth fusion of pop, jazz and R&B, the gold-certified LIVIN' INSIDE YOUR LOVE is well worth revisiting this Black History Month.