Top 10 Quincy Jones- The Musical Genius' Top Ten, My Favorite Cuts

The legendary musician and producer Quincy Jones is gone. I'd been compiling a Top Ten list of my favorite pop /rock /jazz records he'd produced, knowing this day was coming. It did yesterday. The musical world will not be the same. Everyone is in mourning. There's not much written about any faith or spiritual involvement, but I pray Quincy knew Jesus.

I'll eventually detail each one more and more, but for now, here are my favorite cuts from various artists during different stages of his career:

One Hundred Ways- James Ingram. This ultra romantic tune is one of our favorites! I remember hearing it on our honeymoon at the beautiful restaurant The Sun And in the Bahamas. We were celebrating our one week anniversary. The was 42 years ago. The restaurant is now long gone, but the record (and the marriage) live on. God is good!

Don't Stop Til You Get Enough- Michael Jackson. My favorite MJ song from my favorite Michael album, Off the Wall. Years later, I'd come to know that the title song and Rock With You were offered to Karen Carpenter. The Rod Temperton penned tunes became mega hits for the former Jackson5 lead singer. The first of many, many more to come... including hits he did for Disneyland's iconic Captain Eo attraction. We are Here to Change the World- and he did.

Mystery of Love- Donna Summer.  An incredibly compelling cut, perhaps one of the most unexpected on the whole album. The Donna Summer album is a great one and its story is fascinating. (I've detailed it in a deep dive article here.) This almost duet with James Ingram is pure pop perfection from start to finish, and I find it on perpetual repeat every time I play it. Oh, the mystery of love indeed!

Do Nothin' Til You Hear From Me- Phil Collins. Who knew Phil has this in him? The jazzy standard takes on a whole new feel for Mr. Collins, who rocks it like he was born to sing in this era. I so wish Phil had done an entire collection of songs like this with Quincy. Do not miss this one! It's a joy from start to finish.

Thriller- Michael Jackson. Epic release. Seemingly millions upon millions of writers have composed scores of print on this one. We all know how great the album is and why. Let's leave it at that.

The Woman in Me- Donna Summer. A song so good that the Wilson sisters of Heart had to do their own rock cover years later. Richard Carpenter's songwriting partner John Bettis crafted lyrics so strong that you'd swear they were written by a woman. But of course he could do that- he'd been penning lyrics for Karen Carpenter for years, making it sound as if she'd written them herself- songs seeming quite autobiographical. Donna's hit is vulnerable, intimate, and disarming. This one is also from the Quincy produced Donna Summer album.

Give Me the Night- George Benson. Next two cuts on the list are from Q's work with my "favorite vocalist who also can rock the guitar". The one and only George Benson. The who album is Nate night radio at its best. More Rod Temperton penned hits produced elegantly and combined with George's unique take created a career propelling smash. 

Turn Out the Lamplight- George Benson. One of the sultriest records George has ever made. This is Teddy Pendergrass territory- and George shows he pulls it off quite well. Another Rod Tempterton tune.

Just Once- James Ingram. Perhaps the solo record that made James a household name. This record has it all: great vocals, a memorable lyric line and music that transcends genres. A brilliant recording.

Is It Love That We're Missing- Gloria Estefan. You can place Gloria in about any setting and she would shine. This one song is no exception, only making me wish that Mr. Jones would have produced an entire album by the beloved Cuban superstar.

Top 10: The Best of George Benson

It's hard to believe that one of the greatest jazz guitarists of all time, 

the incredible George Benson, recorded for years before the powers that be- and the public- realized he also had some great vocal chops! 

George's hot guitar playing and smooth, creamy vocals, make him a perfect staple for night time jazz radio. The man can do it all! I've been a fan for decades, and I've heard him master The Great American Songbook, the Beatles, take on a classic Carpenters ballad and make it his own, and straddle that fine line between dance and pop under the direction of Quincy Jones. Take about versatility!

Here's this fan's Top Ten list in no particular order:

1976-  Breezin'- This snappy and light hearted instrumental is still heard on radio today. Driving along the road with the top down? The perfect song for a Summer day!

1983- From George's often overlooked In Your Eyes album, here's a cut that surprises!  Feel Like Makin' Love- an upbeat, high energy turn around reinvention of the Roberta Flack classic. His guitar is in top form, and his singing is upbeat, joyful, and funky.

1986- Next up is one sensual sounding song. George croons this one, caressing each word from the lyric sheet: Kisses in the Moonlight, from the excellently urban disc While the City Sleeps.

1989- The man's getting older and wiser, but he's still got it. Take a listen to the whole album Tenderly. One of the offerings is the incredibly sentimental This Is All I Ask. Reflecting on the simple things takes us back to our roots of thankfulness.

2024 Update: The guitar great is interviewed by Rick Beato.

Go here.

1980- A double play. The Quincy Jones produced Give Me the Night and Turn Out the Lamplight. The former one brings shades of Michael Jackson for a more mature crowd who can still party with the best of them. The latter shimmers with elegance and a laid back groove.

1981- Duetting on Love All the Hurt Away with the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, George can hold his own vocally. Still on many of my playlists. George Michael may have given Aretha an updated and beloved smash, but with Mr. Benson, she may have found her musical soul mate. A modern version of Motown's Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell.

1987- Beyond the Sea (La Mer). There's a reason it's been covered by so many artists. But George gives it something special. You just have to hear it. From the album 20/20.

1978- On Broadway. What is left to be said about his version of this classic? George scats in the same style as he plays his guitar. From the epic live disc, Weekend in LA.

1976- The one that started it all. This Masquerade. It took guts to record this Leon Russell song when Karen Carpenter had done the definitive version on the Carpenters Now & Then album.  But George did- and it brought him to mainstream radio as well as making me a fan!