Post by Jonel on Nov 18, 2003 20:40:34 GMT -5
manchestermusic
live reviews
Saturday, 15th November 2003
The Four Tops, The Temptations @ M.E.N Arena
by Carl Palmer
NO true devotee of these two endearing dinosaurs of soul would ever flinch at paying money to see them - hence the largely middle-aged audience that had the time of their lives.
The Temptations, all in cerise-coloured suits with slick shuffle moves to match, were on first and wasted little time getting down to the business of transforming the M.E.N Arena into the perfect nostalgia comfort zone.
In fact, given that the archetypal sounds from the archives of the Motown Record Company was guaranteed to bring the memories flooding back, the task to satisfy was so, so easy for both these veteran American outfits.
At the first strains of a favourite tune, seats emptied and the dancing and whooping commenced. And you couldn't blame the parents when one or two exhibited a little too much exuberance - because they were the parents! Of the original five-strong Temps' line-up, only Otis Williams remains and it was with genuine affection and respect that a generous standing ovation acknowledged the fact.
Barring the still cheesy deference they show to the ladies in the audience, their 75 minutes of the show proved that after 42 years they are still the epitome of laid-back phrasing and fluid rhythms and harmonies.
They knocked out a string of goodies from the past - My Girl, Papa Was A Rollin Stone, and appropriately, I Wish It Would Rain, as it was throwing it down outside. But so far, so good and a wonderful 60's medley eased the way for the Four Tops to make a grand, if more sedate entrance these days.
Here, two members of the original cast have survived, with two younger additions filling the gap left by the late Laurence Payton, and front man Levi Stubs, whose ill health has kept him away for the last 18 months.
In all honesty, the Temps' had done the hard work, and they simply had to add a flourish.
This they did by dipping into a catalogue of material that brought joy and some tears; hits like Standing In The Shadows of Love, Bernadette, Baby, I Need Your Loving, and, It's The Same Old Song - just a tiny piece of a repertoire that musical institutions are made of.
A brilliant night to savour.
Courtesy of Manchester Online
www.manchesteronline.co.uk/entertainment/music/livereviews/stories/Detail_LinkStory=73138.html
live reviews
Saturday, 15th November 2003
The Four Tops, The Temptations @ M.E.N Arena
by Carl Palmer
NO true devotee of these two endearing dinosaurs of soul would ever flinch at paying money to see them - hence the largely middle-aged audience that had the time of their lives.
The Temptations, all in cerise-coloured suits with slick shuffle moves to match, were on first and wasted little time getting down to the business of transforming the M.E.N Arena into the perfect nostalgia comfort zone.
In fact, given that the archetypal sounds from the archives of the Motown Record Company was guaranteed to bring the memories flooding back, the task to satisfy was so, so easy for both these veteran American outfits.
At the first strains of a favourite tune, seats emptied and the dancing and whooping commenced. And you couldn't blame the parents when one or two exhibited a little too much exuberance - because they were the parents! Of the original five-strong Temps' line-up, only Otis Williams remains and it was with genuine affection and respect that a generous standing ovation acknowledged the fact.
Barring the still cheesy deference they show to the ladies in the audience, their 75 minutes of the show proved that after 42 years they are still the epitome of laid-back phrasing and fluid rhythms and harmonies.
They knocked out a string of goodies from the past - My Girl, Papa Was A Rollin Stone, and appropriately, I Wish It Would Rain, as it was throwing it down outside. But so far, so good and a wonderful 60's medley eased the way for the Four Tops to make a grand, if more sedate entrance these days.
Here, two members of the original cast have survived, with two younger additions filling the gap left by the late Laurence Payton, and front man Levi Stubs, whose ill health has kept him away for the last 18 months.
In all honesty, the Temps' had done the hard work, and they simply had to add a flourish.
This they did by dipping into a catalogue of material that brought joy and some tears; hits like Standing In The Shadows of Love, Bernadette, Baby, I Need Your Loving, and, It's The Same Old Song - just a tiny piece of a repertoire that musical institutions are made of.
A brilliant night to savour.
Courtesy of Manchester Online
www.manchesteronline.co.uk/entertainment/music/livereviews/stories/Detail_LinkStory=73138.html
