Pacific Fire

Pacific Fire is a unique archival release in the George Benson discography, issued by CTI Records in 1983 as the label was facing financial collapse. Despite its 80s release date, the material was actually recorded in 1975 during the sessions for 'Good King Bad'. Produced by the legendary Creed Taylor and engineered by Rudy Van Gelder, the album retains the signature CTI sonic profile: high-end fidelity, sophisticated arrangements, and a focus on 'jazz-funk' that appealed to both purists and club-goers. The album is notable for its heavy Latin influence and extended track lengths, particularly the 8-minute opener 'Knock On Wood'. Because these tracks were shelved during Benson's meteoric rise at Warner Bros., they represent a 'lost' chapter of his career where his guitar playing remained the primary focus over his vocals. It serves as the final epitaph for the original run of CTI Records, one of the most influential labels in jazz history.