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December 2020 is here. I wanted to do my year-end list right. So here it is: The 10 best tracks featuring George Benson and Dr. Lonnie Smith, 1966-1975. Before Benson was a pop star and Smith was an organ god, they were just dudes inventing soul- jazz. Glorious music. A thread.
The story of the Benson/Lonnie partnership starts in ‘66, with Benson’s sophomore album, It’s Uptown. Here they are cruising through “Willow Weep for Me.” Jimmy Lovelace on drums.
The following year brings The George Benson Cookbook. Here they are taking it to Brazil with “Bossa Rocka.”
Here’s “The Borgia Stick” from the same album. Ronnie Cuber on bari!
1967 also sees the debut album from Lonnie Smith. Here’s “Minor Chant” from Finger Lickin’ Good. King Curtis on tenor. Blue Mitchell on trumpet.
In ‘67, they also join Lou Donaldson for the soul-jazz classic Alligator Bogaloo. Here’s the title track. Idris Muhammad on drums.
Another one from Bogaloo. The slinky “Aw Shucks.”
In 1968, they teamed back up with Donaldson for the Midnight Creeper album. Here’s “Love Power.” Idris back on drums 
Here’s the bluesy “Dapper Dan,” also from Midnight Creeper.
