| Give Me the Night | |
| Cover: | Give me the night by george benson single US-made front.png |
| Caption: | Variant for US, UK and Italian 7-inch singles, similar to cover art of the parent album of the same name |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | George Benson |
| Album: | Give Me the Night |
| B-Side: | Dinorah, Dinorah |
| Released: | June 1980[1] |
| Genre: | |
| Label: | Warner Bros. |
| Producer: | Quincy Jones |
| Prev Title: | Hey Girl |
| Prev Year: | 1979 |
| Next Title: | Love X Love |
| Next Year: | 1980 |
"Give Me the Night" is a song recorded by American jazz and R&B musician George Benson, which he released from his 1980 studio album of the same title. It was written by Heatwave's keyboard player Rod Temperton and produced by Quincy Jones. Patti Austin provides the backing and scat vocals that are heard throughout,[3] and one of Benson's fellow jazz guitarists, Lee Ritenour, also performs on the track.
The song was a commercial success, and was Benson's first single to hit number one on the US Billboard Soul Singles chart. It also peaked at number four on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, making it his most successful pop entry.[4] It also peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot Disco Singles chart and at number seven in the UK Singles Chart, where it ties with "In Your Eyes" as his highest charting single.
In 2021, Chris Molanphy listed the song as an example of the retrospectively named music genre yacht rock.[2]
| Chart (1980) | Peak position | |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[5] | 10 | |
| France (IFOP)[6] | 3 | |
| South Africa (Springbok Radio)[7] | 5 | |
| US Billboard Hot 100[8] | 4 | |
| US Billboard Hot Disco Singles | 2 | |
| US Billboard Hot Soul Singles | 1 | |
| US Billboard Adult Contemporary[9] | 26 | |
| US Cash Box[10] | 6 | |
| US Record World[11] | 6 |
| Chart (1980) | Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[12] [13] | 91 | |
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[14] | 86 | |
| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[15] | 83 | |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100)[16] | 72 | |
| US Billboard Hot 100[17] | 91 | |
| US Cash Box[18] | 41 |
| Give Me the Night | |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | Randy Crawford |
| Album: | Naked & True |
| Released: | December 31, 1996 |
| Recorded: | 1995 |
| Genre: | Deep house, R&B |
| Length: | 5:06 |
| Label: | WEA |
| Producer: | Ralf Droesemeyer |
| Prev Title: | Why Can't We Take a Chance |
| Prev Year: | 1994 |
| Next Title: | Cajun Moon |
| Next Year: | 1996 |
In 1995 Randy Crawford recorded a cover version of Give Me the Night which appeared on the album Naked & True. Compared to the original, which is a Post-Disco-Song, this version is Deep House. In addition to the studio album, it is also included on The Best Of Randy Crawford & Friends and Brigitte Musik - Jazz For Dinner 4 compilations.[19] The bridge is not sung in this version.
| Chart (1996-97) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles (OCC)[20] | 60 |
| US R&B Singles[21] | 47 |
| Dance/Club Play Singles[22] | 39 |