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- The Essential George Duke
- - 26,619 plays
  - 4 favs
  - 11 shares
George Duke
Released 2004

Mothership Connection
05:10
965 plays

Summer Breezin'
04:50
813 plays

Movin' On
04:24
736 plays

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songs

- 1
- 'Scuse Me Miss
- 03:33
- 1,108 plays

- 2
- Reach For It
- 04:54
- 2,920 plays

- 3
- Starting Again
- 04:33
- 1,104 plays

- 4
- Dukey Stick
- 06:08
- 2,574 plays

- 5
- Movin' On
- 04:24
- 736 plays

- 6
- Party Down
- 03:09
- 597 plays

- 7
- Say That You Will
- 03:05
- 1,143 plays

- 8
- Funkin' For The Thrill
- 04:02
- 733 plays

- 9
- Summer Breezin'
- 04:50
- 813 plays

- 10
- Cravo E Canela
- 03:03
- 529 plays

- 11
- Up From The Sea It Arose And Ate Rio In One Swift Bite
- 05:24
- 552 plays

- 12
- Brazilian Love Affair
- 07:23
- 595 plays

- 13
- Every Little Step I Take
- 03:46
- 668 plays

- 14
- I Want You For Myself
- 06:38
- 1,002 plays

- 15
- Sweet Baby
- 03:48
- 1,109 plays

- 16
- I Just Want to Love You
- 03:51
- 638 plays

- 17
- You
- 04:38
- 651 plays

- 18
- Shine On
- 05:12
- 625 plays

- 19
- Ride On Love
- 05:26
- 592 plays

- 20
- Son Of Reach For It
- 04:26
- 685 plays

- 21
- Every Reason To Smile
- 04:21
- 482 plays

- 22
- Heroes
- 04:53
- 457 plays

- 23
- The Good Times
- 04:37
- 502 plays

- 24
- Overture
- 01:37
- 368 plays

- 25
- Reach Out
- 04:57
- 595 plays

- 26
- Give Me Your Love
- 04:19
- 469 plays

- 27
- Silly Fightin'
- 05:07
- 481 plays

- 28
- Got To Get Back To Love
- 05:29
- 576 plays

- 29
- She Can Wait Forever
- 04:00
- 375 plays

- 30
- Secret Rendezvous
- 04:53
- 436 plays

- 31
- Mothership Connection
- 05:10
- 965 plays

- 32
- Dukey Stick (Disco Version)
- 08:04
- 1,008 plays

- 33
- Reach Out
- 06:51
- 532 plays

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album review

First the confusion: The date on the back of this set is 2004, but it's only being issued in 2006. This is one of those mysteries of the recording industry. Okay: the music. The Essential George Duke is a double-disc, 31-track set documenting George Duke's years with Epic between 1977 and 1984 that netted an astonishing 11 albums, and the third Stanley Clarke/Duke project disc recorded in 1990. These were the years that Duke -- never a jazz purist anyway -- decided to take a tough swing at the R&B charts. He succeeded. The heyday of disco certainly had its appeal for Duke, but so did funk and urban soul. This was also the period when he enjoyed chart success in the States with the classic funk jam "Reach for It," from the album of the same name, and "Dukey Stick" -- both tracks deeply influenced, if not outright extrapolated from George Clinton's P-Funk sound -- complete with inflated bass, party backing vocals, loose dialogue thrown in, and the obligatory "take it to the bridge." But what the hell, these tunes sound as fine now as they did then! They've aged well. Most of the material here has. Duke is a master musician, and despite the many players who have come through his bands, the core -- Sheila E., Byron Miller, Ricky Lawson, Ndugu Leon Chancler, Charles Johnson, Lynn Davis, Josie James, Napoleon "Napi" Brocks -- never let him down in the studio. Wise editing decisions allow the listener to hear multiple cuts from albums like Don't Let Go, Follow the Rainbow, A Brazilian Love Affair, both Clarke/Duke project discs, (and one from the third), Rendezvous, and Guardian of the Light. Only the title track is here for "Reach for It," but it's the right one. The bonus material is a bit dodgy but still fun, and includes the 12" versions of "Dukey Stick," and "Reach for It." Jazz fans who abandoned Duke during these years will find little to interest them, but those out there searching used record stores for classic funk and disco recordings will find this a treasure trove of tough, slick grooves. Recommended. ~ Thom Jurek, All Music Guide