Give Me The Night

Album: Give Me The Night (1980)
Charted: 7 4
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • In this song, Benson is looking forward to a night on the town. Since it's geared to an adult audience, this night is classy, with wine, dancing, and music. There's also loving in the air, so a little late romance is a strong possibility.
  • This was written by Rod Temperton, who wrote some of Michael Jackson's hits, including "Thriller" and "Rock With You." Many of Temperton's songs are about a night out, just with the setting changed. One of his biggest hits is "Boogie Nights," a song he wrote for his band Heatwave. That one is about a disco-rific good evening.
  • Quincy Jones produced this track and assembled the top-tier musicians to play on it. There's a lot going on, with different synthesizer sounds, strategic backup vocals, and echo on Benson's guitar riffs. The credits are:

    Bass – Abraham Laboriel
    Drums - John Robinson
    Electric Piano – Herbie Hancock
    Guitar – George Benson, Lee Ritenour
    Percussion – Paulinho Da Costa
    Synthesizer Bass – Richard Tee
    Synthesizer – Michael Boddicker
    Trumpet – Jerry Hey
    Saxophone – Kim Hutchcroft, Larry Williams

    Backing Vocals – Patti Austin, Diva Gray, Jim Gilstrap, Jocelyn Allen, Tom Bahler
  • This won Benson a 1980 Grammy for Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male.
  • This is Benson's biggest hit. He started playing guitar at age 8, and was the house guitarist for Creed Taylor's CTI label before he signed with Warner Brothers and released his first solo album in 1976. That album was Breezin', and it became the biggest-selling jazz album in history.
  • Patti Austin, who sang backup on this track, got a more prominent role the following year when she sang on "Baby, Come To Me," a duet with James Ingram that was also written by Rod Temperton and produced by Quincy Jones. That song went to #1 in the US.

Comments: 8

  • Angela Maria Pasquale from Robbinsville, New JerseyGive Me The Night - Great Song and Lyrics. Saw George Benson At A New York City Jazz Club.
  • Donna from Ft. Lauderdale, FlI saw George Benson live in concert in 1981 when this song was a big hit and he was touring. I was simply blown away. His recordings only give a glimpse into the man's musicality both as an instrumentalist and as a singer. I learned from that one concert what it truly means to have a God given talent. Most of us are not even close.
  • Jeff from Austin, TxAwesome song! I always loved the bridge in this song ("So come on out tonight.....") and it made total sense when I learned that Rod Temperton wrote the song. That pasty white English guy can write some funky stuff!
  • Jennifer Harris from Grand Blanc, MiI love this song by George Benson,I would like his greatest hits or Millenium hits.
  • John from Nashville, TnThis record was the first official single release on Quincy Jones' Qwest Records label, a label distributed by Warner Brothers.
  • Joao from Belem-pa, BrazilI think your site is one of the best in the aim that you are up to, I mean, pop music information!
  • Myndi from Hesperia, CaI love george Benson !
  • Alan from Singapore, SingaporeThe popular guitar riff was sampled by Heavy D and the Boyz in their single "This Is Your Night"
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Who Did It First?

Who Did It First?Music Quiz

Do you know who recorded the original versions of these ten hit songs?

Mick Jones of Foreigner

Mick Jones of ForeignerSongwriter Interviews

Foreigner's songwriter/guitarist tells the stories behind the songs "Juke Box Hero," "I Want To Know What Love Is," and many more.

Vince Clarke

Vince ClarkeSongwriter Interviews

An original member of Depeche Mode, Vince went on to form Erasure and Yaz.

Martin Page

Martin PageSongwriter Interviews

With Bernie Taupin, Martin co-wrote the #1 hits "We Built This City" and "These Dreams." After writing the Pretty Woman song for Go West, he had his own hit with "In the House of Stone and Light."

Max Cavalera of Soulfly (ex-Sepultura)

Max Cavalera of Soulfly (ex-Sepultura)Songwriter Interviews

The Brazilian rocker sees pictures in his riffs. When he came up with one of his gnarliest songs, there was a riot going on.

Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath, Heaven And Hell

Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath, Heaven And HellSongwriter Interviews

Guitarist Tony Iommi on the "Iron Man" riff, the definitive Black Sabbath song, and how Ozzy and Dio compared as songwriters.