George Benson's masterful live version of Mann and Weill's classic '
On Broadway' is not only a breezy funk outing that's more successful than the original. The live version that appeared on his 1978 album
Weekend in L.A. is a perfect example of an artist working so closely with his band and his instrument. It was recorded at the West Hollywood Roxy Theater in September or October 1977, and helped the album to win a Grammy for Best Male Vocal R&B Performance in 1979, beating a strong cast of rivals: Ray Charles, Lou Rawls, Teddy Pendergrass and Peter Brown. Benson's version also appeared in major films, including the opening scene-setting
audition montage in 1979's
All That Jazz and in the 2000 Best Picture Oscar-winner
American Beauty. Not bad for a song that started out with an unassuming theatrical pop rendition by
The Drifters in 1963.
See also:
Music:
Elvis Costello - Tramp The Dirt Down, 14 April 2013
Music:
Meryn Cadell - The Sweater, 22 March 2013
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