Post by tempfan on Jan 23, 2005 23:41:43 GMT -5
TEMPTATIONS REVIEW EARN HIGH MARKS IN MIDLAND
The Ohio Advocate
NEWARK -- The blowing snow and biting cold didn't stop the faithful from moving and grooving Saturday night with the Temptations Review at the Midland Theatre. About 850 people braved the weather to watch the group that features Dennis Edwards, one of the last surviving members of the Legendary Temptations.
"We're going to take you on a musical journey," Edwards told the crowd. "Some of you might remember and some of you might not." Clearly, the audience remembered.
Edwards, David Sea, Mike Patillo, Bernard Gibson and Chris Arnold were bedecked in fuchsia, mustard yellow and red suits -- and matching shoes -- to perform all the classic Temptation songs. Of course they also performed all the classic dance moves as they sang.
The group sprinkled in Temptation classics like "(I Know) I'm Losin' You," "Ain't Too Proud To Beg," "I Wish It Would Rain," "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone," "Psychedelic Shack," "Cloud Nine," "Ball of Confusion" and "Can't Get Next to You" among songs such as "Hello Young Lovers," "Rainy Night in Georgia" and "God Bless America." But it was "My Girl" at the end of the program that brought the crowd to its feet. It was impossible not to sing along.
"I thought it was great, it was wonderful," said Cheryl Weaver of Newark. "It brought back old memories from high school."
Great was a word often repeated to describe the show. "It was great. I loved it," echoed Sue Winkfield and Jayne Shepard, both from Newark. "I enjoyed myself immensely," Shepard added.
Edwards, 62, is in his 40th year singing Temptations songs. He joined the group in 1968 to replace lead singer David Ruffin. Edwards admitted he's gained 40 extra pounds and sometimes struggles with knee and blood pressure problems. But that didn't stop him from performing 90 straight, high-energy minutes without an intermission.
"I was very impressed with their dancing," said Debbie Ackerman, a former Granville resident who drove from Wheeling, W. Va. to attend the concert. "It was excellent. It brought back more than a handful of memories. 'My Imagination' is one of my all-time favorite songs. I think they're very good."
It was Edwards who was the lead singer when the Temptations won their first Grammy Award for Cloud Nine, which was also the first Grammy for Motown Records. In all, the Temptations earned 14 Gold Albums, seven Grammy nominations, and four Grammy Awards. All of this translated into warm memories on a cold night for hundreds of people at the Midland.
"It took me back to my childhood and all those memories from junior high," said Arlena Dean of Newark. "It was wonderful".
