George Duke - From Me to You: The Definitive Collection 1977-2000 (2024)

Definitive George Duke Collection that covers the period of 1977 through to 2000 that features his Epic Records and Warner Brothers period. This unique five CD Set containing 87 fantastic tracks, celebrates the storied solo career of a veritable colossus whose multi-faceted music straddled different genres. Contains all of George Duke’s biggest Epic hits including ‘Dukey Stick’, ‘Say That You Will’, ‘Shine On’ and the fabulous extended Mike Maurro’s 12” mix of the track ‘I Want You For Myself’. Also featured are tracks from the Clarke / Duke Project releases including the Smash Hit ‘Sweet Baby’.

After leaving Epic in 1985 George began a new chapter in his career by joining Elektra Records where he recorded nine albums Including ‘Thief In The Night’ and his 1986 self-titled Album, the best tracks of these albums are featured on this release. George Duke continued making records until he died in 2013 aged 67. His passing made the music world a poorer place, but his legacy of 32 solo albums - and contributions as a keyboardist and producer for myriad other artists - ensures that he won’t easily be forgotten.

Duke was not a mere dabbler in different styles or a shallow dilettante hopping from trend to trend in an aim to stay fashionable or relevant. Rather, he was a true virtuoso of many genres who could play all kinds of music styles with distinction, flair, and authority. Perhaps his eclecticism came in part from the fact that he was apprenticed to two master musicians who were poles apart stylistically: the prog-rock guitarist/composer Frank Zappa and the bebop jazz legend, saxophonist Julian “Cannonball” Adderley. Both were highly intelligent, polymathic musicians who were similar by ignoring conventional demarcation lines in music, unafraid of mixing genres and flouting the rules. They instilled in Duke an adventurous, explorative streak; Zappa, in particular, liberated the pianist from his early preconceptions and snobbishness about the worth of diverse kinds of music.

Tracklist
CD1 {01:17:06}
01. From Me to You (1:45)
02. Carry On (4:38)
03. Up on It (9:06)
04. Down in It (1:22)
05. Sing It (4:11)
06. You and Me (3:43)
07. 'Scuse Me Miss (3:39)
08. The Beginning (1:50)
09. Lemme at It (4:14)
10. Hot Fire (5:31)
11. Watch Out Baby! (5:25)
12. Reach for It (4:57)
13. Just for You (4:30)
14. Dukey Stick (6:12)
15. We Give Out Love (4:33)
16. Morning Sun (4:18)
17. Yeah, We Going (3:44)
18. Don't Let Go (3:28)

CD2 {01:18:17}
01. Movin' On (4:28)
02. The Way I Feel (4:47)
03. Party Down (3:13)
04. I Am for Real (May the Funk Be with You) (5:22)
05. Pluck (4:50)
06. Straight from the Heart (3:55)
07. Say That You Will (3:08)
08. Funkin' for the Thrill (4:04)
09. Look What You Find (4:47)
10. I Love You More (3:08)
11. Every Little Step I Take (3:41)
12. I Want You for Myself (Original Mike Maurro Extended Remix) (8:49)
13. Games (3:17)
14. Brazilian Love Affair (7:23)
15. Summer Breezin' (4:51)
16. Cravo e Canela (3:09)
17. Up from the Sea It Arose and Ate Rio in One Swift Bite (5:25)

CD3 {01:19:54}
01. Sweet Baby (3:50)
02. Never Judge a Cover by Its Book (1:46)
03. I Just Want to Love You (3:52)
04. Finding My Way (5:40)
05. Wild Dog (3:33)
06. Winners (4:03)
07. Shine On (5:14)
08. Positive Energy (3:37)
09. Dream On (4:02)
10. Ride on Love (5:26)
11. I Will Always Be Your Friend (3:31)
12. You (4:42)
13. Overture (1:41)
14. Light (3:27)
15. Reach Out (4:59)
16. Celebrate (3:56)
17. Give Me Your Love (4:21)
18. Born to Love You (3:13)
19. Heroes (4:54)
20. Secret Rendezvous (4:07)

CD4 {01:16:40}
01. Take It On (3:54)
02. Got to Get Back to Love (5:32)
03. Thief in the Night (6:25)
04. Jam (5:14)
05. La La (3:37)
06. Stand with Your Man (5:20)
07. Island Girl (4:45)
08. The Morning, You & Love (4:02)
09. Broken Glass (4:23)
10. Good Friend (4:16)
11. Love Ballad (4:42)
12. Brazilian Coffee (1:15)
13. Say Hello (5:04)
14. Rise Up (5:34)
15. Guilty (3:48)
16. C'est la vie (4:53)
17. 560 SL (3:56)

CD5 {01:19:03}
01. Keeping Love Alive (5:44)
02. Snapshot (5:41)
03. No Rhyme, No Reason (5:50)
04. 6 O'Clock (4:38)
05. Genesis (1:34)
06. 500 Miles to Go (5:02)
07. Illusions (5:04)
08. Love Can Be So Cold (5:45)
09. Mothership Connection (5:13)
10. It's Our World (4:26)
11. Fill the Need (5:34)
12. Is Love Enough? (5:22)
13. Rush Hour/Road Rage (6:50)
14. From Dusk to Dawn (7:15)
15. If You Will (5:05)