George Benson – The Other Side Of Abbey Road

By George Moraitis

Label:	A&M Records – SP-3028, CTI Records – SP-3028
Format:	Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue
Country:	US
Released:	1972 (Original 1969)
Genre:	Jazz
Style:	Jazz-Rock

 

This is a very interesting album for a number of reasons as well as simply being great music. Finding an original 1969 album in mint condition is next to impossible but I was fortunate to have found a 1972 re-issue and it has been playing at my place for the last few days, infusing my home with a cool vintage vibe that everyone’s been enjoying.

It wasn’t uncommon at all for Beatles songs to be covered by the time the Beatles themselves were on the verge of breaking up, but Creed Taylor and George Benson went warts & all by devoting an entire album to one specific Beatles album. They also started working on this album only 26 days after the original Abbey Road was released. In doing so, we get an interpretation totally unaffected by how history ultimately judged the record.

This was also recorded at a time prior to George Benson’s commercial breakthrough (Breezin’ in 1976). At this time, he was known more as a guitar player, and normally didn’t sing on albums yet he sings on this. There were some other unusual facets to their approach, like making a mini medley to all but one of the five tracks; giving a total of ten compositions covered here.

If you’ve heard any Benson recordings produced by Creed Taylor, you’ll recognise how plenty of space is given to Bensen to showcase his velvety guitar licks. Taylor’s fingerprints are all over the orchestration by Don Sebesky and a jaw-dropping list of supporting musicians (Freddie Hubbard, Ron Carter, Herbie Hancock, Hubert Laws, Bob James, Sonny Fortune, Idris). Even the engineer is top drawer (Rudy Van Gelder). But what makes this record a bit more special than the other Creed/Benson albums is obviously the source of the material.

“Golden Slumbers/You Never Give Me Your Money” starts the album off with a soft mood as Benson’s voice replicates the original almost perfectly before segueing into the second composition with his trademark soft octaves and later some pretty single note runs.

“Because” starts with Sebesky’s lush baroque string arrangement and just as the delicacy starts to wear off, Idris Muhammad and Ron Carter turn up the gas with their swampy, indestructible funky groove inspired by that signature bass line from “Come Together “. After Benson arrives at the party and takes over with his funky jams, Sonny Fortune follows with some equally hot playing. I LOVE this piece.

On “Oh Darling”, Benson’s soulful singing & tender playing the track, following by Sebesky’s big band jazz treatment give the song very different feel to the original.

“Here Comes The Sun” contains just George on vocals backed by strings, but is followed by “I Want You (She’s So Heavy”) and how groovy is that? Hubbard, well within the prime of his career, provides a fine solo.

The final track, “Something/Octopus’ Garden” seems to bring the energy down. I think that Bensen was trying to bring the song a subtle energy in contrast to Sebasky’s big band interpretation of “Octopus”. The last two minutes see the tempo speed up and Benson provides some lightning-fast lead guitar lines with clarity and tone, rounding the album out with a fascinating ending.

Considering what George Bensen produced in the ensuing years, The Other Side Of Abbey Road perhaps won’t be remembered as well if his body of work is judged from the perspective of what became his trademark signature works. However, I’m in agreement with many other music lovers who feel that this album is an absolute gem and a must-have in your collection.

Even if you’re suffering from an overdose of the Beatles, I encourage you to listen to these tracks.
Musically, this is an incredibly tight and cohesive album, filled with great solos by Benson, Herbie Hancock, Freddie Hubbard and Sonny Fortune. Creed Taylor really hit his stride there’s also the superb Rudy Van Gelder sound quality.

But perhaps what I love about this is that its also another example of how music dissolves the things that we allow to separate us. The Beatles were the biggest phenomena the world had ever seen and were at the end of their journey. George Benson was a young jazz guitarist from Pennsylvania just starting his. Literally a handful of days after Abbey Road’s release, he was so inspired by this music that he beelined for the recording studio to express his version of it. I’d love to know if the Fab Four liked this album too. Enjoy!

Track listing

Golden Slumbers
You Never Give Me Your Money
Because / Come Together
Oh! Darling
Here Comes The Sun
I Want You (She’s So Heavy)
Something / Octopus’s Garden
The End

Players

George Benson – Guitar, Vocals
Phil Bodner – Flute, Oboe, Reeds (Multiple)
Ray Barretto – Percussion, Drums
Ron Carter – Bass
Sonny Fortune – Saxophone, Sax (Alto)
Herbie Hancock – Organ, Piano, Harpsichord
Bob James – Organ, Piano, Harpsichord
Hubert Laws – Flute, Reeds (Multiple)
Jerome Richardson – Flute, Saxophone, Sax (Tenor)
Ed Shaughnessy – Drums
Marvin Stamm – Trumpet, Flugelhorn
Mel Davis – Trumpet, Flugelhorn
Wayne Andre – Trombone, Euphonium
Don Ashworth – Sax (Baritone), Reeds (Multiple)
Melvin Davis – Trumpet
Don Sebesky – Arranger
Rudy Van Gelder – Engineer
Bernie Glow – Trumpet, Flugelhorn
Andy Gonzalez – Percussion
Guildhall String Ensemble – Strings
Ernie Hayes – Organ, Piano, Harpsichord
Freddie Hubbard – Trumpet
Idris Muhammad – Drums
Gerald Jemmott – Bass
Max Pollikoff – Violin
George Ricci – Cello
Creed Taylor – Producer
Jerry Jemmott – Bass
Emanuel Vardi – Cello