Breezin' (song)

"Breezin'"
Single by Gábor Szabó and Bobby Womack
from the album High Contrast
B-side "Azure Blue"
Released April 1971 (United States)
1972 (Netherlands)
Format 7" single
Recorded December 1970
Genre Crossover jazz, Soul jazz
Length 3:11 (Album full length)
3:03 (Edit single version)
Label Blue Thumb Records
Songwriter(s) Bobby Womack
Producer(s) Tommy LiPuma
Gábor Szabó singles chronology
"Watch What Happens"
(1971) Watch What Happens1971		 "Breezin'"
(1971) Breezin'1971		 "It's Going to Take Some Time"
(1973) It's Going to Take Some Time1973
Bobby Womack singles chronology
"Everybody's Talkin'"
(1970) Everybody's Talkin'1970		 "Breezin'"
(1971) Breezin'1971		 "The Preacher - Part 2"
(1971) The Preacher - Part 21971
Music video
"Breezin'" by Gábor Szabó (1971) on YouTube

"Breezin'" is an instrumental song composed by American singer and musician Bobby Womack. It was originally recorded in December 1970 by the influential Hungarian jazz guitarist Gábor Szabó, in partnership with Womack himself. The song was originally released in 1971 on the Szabó's album High Contrast. The song was released as a single in April 1971 in the United States and in 1972 in the Netherlands. The single reached No. 43 on the R&B chart the same year. "Breezin'" was produced by Tommy LiPuma.

Gábor Szabó version (1971)

Track listing

The "Breezin'"s full length on the Szabó's album High Contrast is 3:11. The length of only 3:03 is an edited version of the single.

Year Side Song Length Interpreter Writer/Composer Producer Album
1971 A-side "Breezin'" 3:03
(Edit single)		 Gábor Szabó,
Bobby Womack		 Bobby Womack Tommy LiPuma High Contrast
1971 B-side "Azure Blue" 4:12 Gábor Szabó,
Bobby Womack		 Gábor Szabó Tommy LiPuma High Contrast

Chart position

Chart (1971–72) Peak
position
Best Selling Soul Singles (Billboard) 43

Personnel

George Benson version (1976)

"Breezin'"
Single by George Benson
from the album Breezin'
B-side "Six To Four"
Released September 1976
Format 7" single, 12" single
Recorded January 1976
Genre Smooth jazz, Soul jazz
Length 5:40 (Album full length)
5:20 (Edit single version)
Label Warner Bros. Records
Songwriter(s) Bobby Womack
Producer(s) Tommy LiPuma
George Benson singles chronology
"This Masquerade"
(1976)		 "Breezin'"
(1976)		 "The World Is a Ghetto"
(1977)

"This Masquerade"
(1976)		 "Breezin'"
(1976)		 "The World Is a Ghetto"
(1977)
Music video
"Breezin'" by George Benson (1976) on YouTube

Five years later after Gábor Szabó's original recording, the song became even better known for a successful re-recording by singer and guitarist George Benson, whose 1976 cover was the title track of his album Breezin'. His version was recorded in January 1976 and released as a single in September of the same year, entering for the American charts. Coincidentally, his cover as well as his complete album Breezin' were also produced by Tommy LiPuma. The album and single were released by Warner Bros. Records.

Controversy

In 1977, Gábor Szabó complained to the audience about George Benson's success with "Breezin'", during an engagement at the Catamaran Hotel in San Diego. Szabó indicated that he had recorded this song before Benson and accused Benson of having plagiarized his arrangement. He expressed disdain for Benson's success with his arrangement that Szabó himself had created.

Track listing

7" single

The "Breezin'"s full length on the Benson's album Breezin' is 5:40. The length of only 5:20 is an edited version of the 7" single.

Year Side Song Length Interpreter Writer/Composer Producer Album
1976 A-side "Breezin'" 5:20
(Edit single)		 George Benson Bobby Womack Tommy LiPuma Breezin'
1976 B-side "Six To Four" 5:06 George Benson Phil Upchurch Tommy LiPuma Breezin'

12" single

Year Side Song Length Interpreter Writer/Composer Producer Album
1976 A-side "Breezin'" 5:40
(Full length)		 George Benson Bobby Womack Tommy LiPuma Breezin'
1976 B-side "This Masquerade" 8:03 George Benson Leon Russell Tommy LiPuma Breezin'

Chart history

Chart (1976–77) Peak
position
Canada RPM Adult Contemporary[1] 16
US Billboard Hot 100 63
US Billboard Easy Listening 13
US Billboard Hot Soul Singles 55

Personnel

References

  1. ↑ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1976-11-27. Retrieved 2018-07-03.
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