Benson's next recording was It's Uptown with the George Benson Quartet with Lonnie Smith on organ and Ronnie Cuber on baritone sax. This album showcases Benson's talent in constructing swinging bebop lines at blistering tempos. Benson followed it up with "The George Benson Cookbook," also with Lonnie Smith and Ronnie Cuber.
One of his major hits is the song "This Masquerade", which is included in the top-selling album Breezin' . This album represents a shift to more commercially oriented music which brought Benson a wider audience but alienated some jazz fans. Other singles that have made the Billboard Hot 100 charts include "On Broadway" (1978), "Love Ballad" (1979), "Give Me The Night" (1980) and "Turn Your Love Around" (1982).
Benson continues to play outstanding jazz guitar, as evidenced on recordings such as Jimmy Smith's Off the Top, Benson's own live album Par Excellence, and Tenderly, on which Benson is accompanied by McCoy Tyner on piano.
For his contribution to the recording industry, George Benson has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7055 Hollywood Blvd.
Summer Breeze
George Benson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In the evening on a Friday night
A little light shining through the window
Let me know everything is alright, sing this song
Summer breeze makes me feel fine
Blowin' through the jasmine in my mind
Hear me sing, summer breeze makes me feel fine
See the paper lying on the sidewalk
A little music from the house next door
So I walk on up to the doorstep
Through the screen and across the floor
Summer breeze makes me feel fine
Blowin' through the jasmine in my mind
Sing it, summer breeze makes me feel fine
Blowin' through the jasmine in my mind, yeah
When I come home from a hard day's work
And you're waitin' there not a care in the world
See the smile a waitin' in the kitchen
Food cooking and the plates for two
Feel the arms that reach out to hold me
In the evenin' when the day is through
Summer breeze makes me feel fine
Blowin' through the jasmine in my mind
Summer breeze makes me feel fine
Blowin' through the jasmine in my mind
Here we go, summer breeze makes me feel fine
Blowin' through the jasmine in my mind
Come on, summer breeze makes me feel fine
Blowin' through the jasmine in my mind
The lyrics of George Benson & Al Jarreau’s song “Summer Breeze” capture the essence of a perfect summer night, where everything seems right with the world. The opening lines indicate that the singer is looking at the curtains hanging in the window, and notices a little light shining through, which reassures him that everything is alright. This sets the tone for the rest of the song, which celebrates the joys of a warm summer night. The melody and the lyrics work together to paint a picture of summertime bliss, where the simplicity of life is enough to make one feel content.
The chorus is the heart of the song, and it speaks to the power of nature to lift one's spirits. The summer breeze blowing through the jasmine in the singer’s mind makes him feel fine, reminding him of the simple pleasures of life. The next verse describes the singer walking up to his neighbor's house and hearing music, which contributes to the carefree, joyful feeling of the night. The final verse describes the singer coming home from work and finding comfort in the arms of his loved one, emphasizing that the best things in life are often the people we share them with.
Overall, the lyrics of “Summer Breeze” celebrate the joy and beauty of a simple summer night, reminding us to appreciate life's small pleasures and take joy in the company of those we love.
Line by Line Meaning
See the curtains hanging in the window
Observing the drapes covering a window
In the evening on a Friday night
At night time during the end of the weekday
A little light shining through the window
A small beam of light illuminating through the window
Let me know everything is alright, sing this song
This song affirms that everything is alright
Summer breeze makes me feel fine
The warm, serene summer breeze brings joy and pleasure
Blowin' through the jasmine in my mind
Blowing through an introspective garden of thought
Hear me sing, summer breeze makes me feel fine
Announcing that the summer breeze is uplifting
See the paper lying on the sidewalk
A newspaper left behind on the asphalt
A little music from the house next door
The sound of tunes emanating from a nearby residence
So I walk on up to the doorstep
Taking strides up to the entrance of a house
Through the screen and across the floor
Passing through a doorway and over a floor
When I come home from a hard day's work
After a long day of employment and exertion
And you're waitin' there not a care in the world
With you present and relaxed without troubles
See the smile a waitin' in the kitchen
A grin that is ready in the cooking area
Food cooking and the plates for two
Preparation of a meal for a pair
Feel the arms that reach out to hold me
Embrace the limbs that ensconce me
In the evenin' when the day is through
During the night when the day is done
Here we go, summer breeze makes me feel fine
Continuing affirmation that the summer breeze is fulfilling
Come on, summer breeze makes me feel fine
Encouraging others to recognize how the summer breeze brings happiness
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Darrell Crofts, Jimmy Seals
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind