First Listen: A George Benson never released “Song For You” leaves the vault

(June 21, 2024) Last month, music fans received good news: the legendary singer and guitarist George Benson reunited with his longtime label Warner Bros and on July 18 will issue a long lost “orchestral” album that features his takes on 20th century pop standards, Dreams Do Come True.

At the suggestion of Quincy Jones, in the 80s Benson teamed with legendary arranger Robert Farnon and an 87-piece orchestra for a London recording session that Benson loved. He brought the recordings back to New York, where a young Jon Bon Jovi helped put a full album together. Unfortunately, the label put the recordings aside and never released them. Those tapes stayed, forgotten, in a New York warehouse for decades…until now.

Benson recently rediscovered the recordings and brought them back to Warner, and all parties agreed that now was the time to bring them to life. A few weeks ago, Benson issued the first single, “Love is Blue,” and now he’s treated fans with a second advance look at the album in the form of a lush cover of Leon Russell’s classic “A Song For You.”

The song lends itself beautifully to the full-bodied arrangement, and Benson was certainly in fine voice for the recording. It is a wonderfully fresh version of an all-time favorite. Check out “A Song For You ” below. You’re going to love it.

By Chris Rizik

George Benson feat. The Robert Farnon Orchestra

"A Song For You"

Video

Music Player

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