Summary
Master of the Game is the thirteenth studio album by American keyboardist and record producer George Duke. It was released in 1979 through Epic Records. Recording sessions for this full-length album took place at Westlake Recording Studios in Los Angeles. The album features contributions from vocalists Lynn Davis, Josie James and Napoleon Murphy Brock, guitarists David Myles, Ray Obiedo and Roland Bautista, bassists Byron Miller and Freddie Washington, drummer Ricky Lawson, percussionist Sheila Escovedo, trombonist Bill Reichenbach, trumpeters Jerry Hey and Gary Grant, and saxophonist Gary Herbig.
| Master of the Game | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1979 | |||
| Studio | Westlake Recording Studios (Los Angeles, California) | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 42:10 | |||
| Label | Epic | |||
| Producer | George Duke | |||
| George Duke chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Master of the Game | ||||
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| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| Record Mirror | [2] |
Background edit
In creating of Master of the Game, Duke used a variety of keyboard instruments viz. Fender Rhodes electric piano, Yamaha Acoustic piano, Yamaha Electric grand piano, Wurlitzer electric piano, Hohner Clavinet D6, ARP Odyssey and ARP String Ensemble synthesizers, Minimoog, Oberheim synthesizer, Sequential Circuits Prophet-5 and Crumar synthesizer. David Myles played six and twelve-string acoustic guitars, electric guitar and sitar. The album was mastered by Brian Gardner at Allen Zentz Studio in Los Angeles.
Release edit
The album peaked at number 125 on the US Billboard 200 album chart and at number 18 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. Master of the Game spawned two singles: "I Want You for Myself" and "Every Little Step I Take". Its lead single, "I Want You for Myself" featuring Lynn Davis, reached number 23 on both the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and the Dance Club Songs charts.
The opening of the track "Look What You Find" was used as the theme music for Connecticut Public Television's identification logo in the 1980s.
The track "I Love You More" would later be sampled years later by Daft Punk, for their hit single "Digital Love".
Track listing edit
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Look What You Find" | George Duke | 4:44 |
| 2. | "Every Little Step I Take" | George Duke | 3:49 |
| 3. | "Games" |
| 3:14 |
| 4. | "I Want You for Myself" (featuring Lynn Davis) | George Duke | 6:38 |
| 5. | "In the Distance" | George Duke | 2:20 |
| 6. | "I Love You More" | George Duke | 3:06 |
| 7. | "Dog-Man" | George Duke | 4:40 |
| 8. | "Everybody's Talkin'" | George Duke | 4:19 |
| 9. | "Part 1 - The Alien Challenges the Stick / Part 2 - The Alien Succumbs to the Macho Intergalactic Funkativity of the Funkblasters" |
| 9:20 |
| Total length: | 42:10 | ||
Personnel edit
- George Duke – vocals, acoustic piano, electric grand piano, electric pianos, clavinet, organ, synthesizers, bells
- David Myles – acoustic guitar, electric guitar, 12-string acoustic guitar, sitar
- Ray Obiedo – guitars (3)
- Roland Bautista – guitars (8)
- Byron Lee Miller – bass (1, 2, 4-9)
- "Ready" Freddie Washington – bass (3)
- Ricky Lawson – drums (1, 2, 4-9)
- Sheila Escovedo – drums (3), percussion
- Gary Herbig – alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, piccolo flute
- Bill Reichenbach Jr. – trombone, bass trombone
- Jerry Hey – trumpet, flugelhorn
- Gary Grant – trumpet (7)
- Napoleon Murphy Brock – vocals
- Lynn Davis – vocals, lead vocals (4)
- Josie James – vocals
Production edit
- George Duke – producer, arrangements
- Tommy Vicari – engineer
- Dave Rideau – tracking (3)
- Kerry McNabb – tracking (8)
- Erik Zobler – assistant engineer
- Mitch Gibson – assistant engineer
- Brian Gardner – mastering
- David Fisher – cover artwork
Chart history edit
| Chart (1979) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard 200[3] | 125 |
| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[4] | 18 |
References edit
- ^ Henderson, Alex. "Master of the Game – George Duke". AllMusic. Retrieved August 29, 2018.
- ^ Sexton, Paul (5 January 1980). "George Duke: Master Of The Game". Record Mirror. p. 15.
- ^ "George Duke Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved August 29, 2018.
- ^ "George Duke Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 29, 2018.
External links edit
- George Duke – Master Of The Game at Discogs (list of releases)
- George Duke's 1970s discography on his website