While the City Sleeps... is the 1986 studio album of George Benson on Warner Bros.. It features musicians like Paulinho da Costa, Preston Glass, Paul Jackson, Jr., Marcus Miller and Narada Michael Walden (as drummer and producer), alongside young talents of the time like Kenny G, Randy Jackson and Kashif. It's part of the "series" of 1980s pop albums Benson recorded. Though it doesn't have any instrumental tracks, Benson's guitar playing is somewhat in the headlight in songs like "Love Is Here Tonight", "Teaser" and "Too Many Times". Beside being the most successful single, "Kisses in the Moonlight" is still frequently played by Benson at live performances and is present on many of his compilation albums (The Best of George Benson, The George Benson Anthology, The Essential Selection, etc.) On the B-side of the "Kisses in the Moonlight" single – alongside "Breezin'" (Special Mix) on the 12" version – is the instrumental song "Open Your Eyes" (George Benson/Ronnie Foster) (producer: Tommy LiPuma, engineer: Eric Calvi) which is not available elsewhere.
Like many of Benson's pop albums, While the City Sleeps... was criticized for the lack of guitar playing, and being an "attempt to chase the charts".
Musicians:
George Benson: guitar, vocals (all tracks)
Walter Afanasieff: keyboards (3, 5), synthesizers (4, 7)
Ms. Kitty Beethoven: background vocals (3, 4, 7)
Robbie Buchanan: keyboards, synthesizers, synth bass (1, 8)
Chris Camozzi: rhythm guitar (7)
Janey Clewer: background vocals (1, 8)
Bud Cockrell: background vocals (5)
Paulinho da Costa: percussion (1, 8)
John S. Dranchak: assistant Synclavier programmer (6)
Kenny G: saxophone (1, 8)
James Gilstrap: background vocals (1, 3, 4, 7, 8)
Alan Glass: rhythm guitar (3)
Preston Glass: synthesizers, percussion programming, bass sequencing (2); drum programming, keyboards, strings, bass sequencing (3); keyboards, Roland TR-808 programming (4); additional drum programming (7)
Gigi Gonaway: Simmons toms and Paiste cymbals (2); Simmons drum fills and Paiste cymbals (7)
Jennifer Hall: background vocals (3, 4, 5, 7)
Carolyn Hedrich: background vocals (5)
Jerry Hey: string arrangements (2, 4, 7)
Yogi Horton: drums (6)
Paul Jackson, Jr.: rhythm guitar (1, 8)
Randy Jackson: Fender bass (4), Moog Source (7)
David Jenkins: rhythm guitar, background vocals (5)
Marlena Jeter: background vocals (1)
Kashif: keyboards, all other instruments (than lead vocal, lead guitar, guitar, keyboards, drums, Synclavier programming, background vocals) (6)
John Lehman: background vocals (1, 8)
Cory Lerios: keyboards, bass sequencing (5)
Frank Martin: synthesizers (2)
Marcus Miller: bass (1)
Cindy Mizelle: background vocals (6)
Paul Pesco: guitar (6)
Greg Phillinganes: keyboards (6)
Claytoven Richardson: backing vocals (2, 3, 4, 7)
John Robinson: drums (1, 8)
Corrado Rustici: rhythm guitar (Charvel GTM6 MIDI guitar) (4)
Larry Smith: Synclavier programming (6)
Sterling: synth horns (5)
Andrew Thomas: PPG Wave Term synthesizer programming (1, 8)
Suzanne Valentine: background vocals (3)
Narada Michael Walden: drum programming (2, 4, 7), drums (3, 5)
Audrey Wheeler: background vocals (6)
Technical:
Victor Beyglio: assistant engineer
Hugo Boss: clothing
Greg Calbi: mastering at Sterling Sound (1986)
Dana Chapelle: guitar and keyboard engineer on (7), assistant engineer (all tracks)
Lincoln Clapp: vocal and guitar engineer on (3)
Kav DeLuxe: art direction/design
David Frazer: chief and mix engineer
Fritz/Turner Management, L.A.: direction
Caroline Greyshock: photography
Stuart Hirotsu: assistant engineer
Janice Lee: Production coordinator
Gordon Lyon: keyboard engineer on (5), assistant engineer (all tracks)
Jeff Sayre: clothing
Cynthia Shilow: production coordinator
Lou Snead: project coordinator
WCI Record Group: CDD pre-mastering
