Post by tdallasw on Dec 31, 2002 23:31:20 GMT -5
HAPPY NEW YEAR! My Mom and I took the train from Charlotte, NC late Friday night and after what seemed like a riduculously LONG ride, arrived in Atlantic City Saturday afternoon. We arrived at the Resorts around 7:30 - thinking we had plenty of time before the 9:00 concert. There were already about 150 people in line waiting to be seated. This was a 'high rollers' weekend due to the holiday, so we ended up being seated in the Mezzanine area Saturday. Sunday night, we got seated on the floor level - Close enough to see well, but not great for taking pictures. I used a disposable camera- just in case in got confiscated, so the pics I took were pretty grainy. The comedian, A.J. Jamal opened for the Tempts and then... Al and the Orchestra began their medley with video clips of the Tempts - past and present shown on the big screens. Then... 'Baby all I wanna do is make your heart and body feel... AWESOME! I thought I would melt! The guys were wearing black velvet jackets, black trousers, white shirts and black & white handkerchiefs on Satuday, and red velvet jackets and trousers on Sunday night. They looked marvelous! They opened with Rudolph, then "The Way You Do", then Ain’t Too Proud to Beg, Ball of Confusion, I Wish It Would Rain - (Bo tore that song up - I've never heard him sound better), 'Just My Imagination' - Ron was really in top form as well, 'Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone', & 'Standing on the Top'. On 'Some Enchanted Evening' you could really tell Terry is struggling with some hoarseness, though he still sounded great. I'm glad they have a break for a couple of weeks after the New Year. Next up was 'Get Ready' then Otis talked about the book, miniseries, etc. And then he went into his intro for 'Stay' – and said this one is for the ladies. Ron went into his intro for 'Treat Her Like a Lady' – for the fellas. Next up was 'The Joneses' (band and group introductions as usual) and of course, Otis – let's take every one in audience on tour using Harry’s credit card On Sunday, he used Terry's card. That led into My Girl - one of the singers they brought up was a sweet 9 year old hearing impaired girl – O gave her his copy of the book – Saturday. Terry jumped into "Can’t Get Next to You" and boy, did the audience react to Otis' dancing on that one - especially on Sunday night. He was shaking his stuff and moving like a teenager. I don't know how he does it. They went offstage and then came back out to reprise Can't Get Next To You. After taking several bows, they left the stage again and then came back out to do 'Silent Night'. It was spellbinding. But then again, I'm biased... ;-)
Saturday night, my mom and I went backstage and met Harry, Ron and Otis. Terry and Bo didn't come out while we were backstage, so we missed them. Otis was so gracious and sweet. He autographed my copy of his book and took pictures with me and my mom. My aunt used to run a nightclub called the 'Hi-Fi Club' here in Charlotte that the Tempts played at quite often during the 'Chitlin' Circuit' days. My mom asked him if he remembered it and he said he did remember it well. I don't know if he really does remember, or was just being polite. Either way, it made my mom's night. I'm still grinning like a fool! I hope the New Year's crowd has a wonderful night with our guys. For Auld Lang Syne!!
Saturday night, my mom and I went backstage and met Harry, Ron and Otis. Terry and Bo didn't come out while we were backstage, so we missed them. Otis was so gracious and sweet. He autographed my copy of his book and took pictures with me and my mom. My aunt used to run a nightclub called the 'Hi-Fi Club' here in Charlotte that the Tempts played at quite often during the 'Chitlin' Circuit' days. My mom asked him if he remembered it and he said he did remember it well. I don't know if he really does remember, or was just being polite. Either way, it made my mom's night. I'm still grinning like a fool! I hope the New Year's crowd has a wonderful night with our guys. For Auld Lang Syne!!
Although we had good seats, I was too far away to get any good shots... and too chicken to risk taking my digital camera. 
I know some folks have already talked about, and are most likely going to see the Review in NY on Valentine's Day, a few of us have talked about seeing them the next day in Memphis. Fair Lady Soul and I have talked seriously about going to see the Tempts in New Orleans in the spring and I'd love to go to Vegas to see anyone as long as they're doing more than one show. As far as I'm concerned, everyone's invited!