Ali and the Emperors of Soul at the Mohegan Sun

[janebse]

Unfortunately, Ivory, it is too easy to do.

Were you too astonished the first time you heard The Christmas Song on the CHRISTMAS CARD album at who was doing the lead?

[MikeNYC]

The voice box's connected to the vocal chords,the vocal chords are close up to the microphone,the microphone connected to the sound board,the sound board's connected to the "Special Effects" mode,and that's how Ali-Ollie hits those notes! Simple. ;D

[Aba21]

Now i am not an elctronics wizard but there were a few times that in AC before Ali would sing Special he would hit the note to make you thinkhe was going to and then start singing something else. When he did that he would start out hitting the note and then hold it for a while, look at the audience and close his mouth with the note still going getting a big laugh out of the crowd but making me wonder how he did it.......Mel confirmed it was some kind of electronic enhancement.....what do you mean how did he do it......Milli Vanilli didn't sing one note(smile)

[janebse]

ABA21,

I think Theo did the same thing you are referring to in appearance in October with the Four Tops. He would appear to be doing something, the audience would hold their breaths and wait, and then finally he would do whatever and everyone would laugh. Since I had never seen Ali do that or Theo before, I wasn't sure what was happening, but the minute you described the trick, I remembere Theo. He did it a couple or so times during the show. It might have been twice in the same song or in different songs. The Four Tops had a problem with their band playing so loud it was hard to hear what they were singing.

[kalisa2]

ok...that brings the question...how does everybody feel about electronically enhanced vocals?

I've always noticed, at the end of the Sullivan appearance of the Supremes/Tempts, when they're singing "OH YEAAAAH", it looks like Diana is singing the high note, but then she takes the mike away from her face and just smiles, while the note hangs there. Was this "enhancement", or was somebody else singing the note?

[Aba21]

I would really be surprised if technology had advanced that far in the sixties. If an artist is ill and needs help for a show or two I don't have any problem with it but if you can't sing....don't start

[sukkafu]

kalisa-why are you a guest?

mike, i agree with you, ali is not a classic tempt so he's just trying to cash in. at least o and dennis have roots. ali does sing good, but it could be enhancement. so how would i know unless he did mtv unplugged?
to me aba, and to ive, and jane, and everybody, the real emperors of soul are not just a name or a cheap imitation!

[Aba21]

Janebse the trick I saw Ali do was he would begin to hold a note and walk completely accross the stage while holding said note. Then turn around and walk back all the while holding this note. You knew it was probably humanly impossible to hold a note that long. It was when the crowd began to applaud that he would turn towards the crowd and close his mouth while the note continued getting a big laugh out of the crowd.

[MikeNYC]

Nobody holds a note like Marvin Junior from the Dells. Stay In My Corner,he holds it longer now than on the record....Micless,mind you! When David sings "Losing You" on Sullivan,he goess hi ,stops,and goes higher when he holds the note.

[Ivory Fair]

YES KALISA, WHY DON'T YOU TELL US WHY YOU ARE SHOWING UP AS A GUEST!!!!!!

Trust me y'all, this is NOT a technical problem. So everyone wave at Kalisa out there in lurker land and I want EVERYONE to take turns asking Kalisa why she is showing up as a guest. But remember, she only reads the last 10 posts so we have to keep asking so she won't miss our requests..... So come on Kalisa, WHAT'S Up?


Anyway, back to the discussion. Sukka, what's wrong with cashing in? That's why I go to work every day, so I can cash in at the end of the week. Gotta pay the light bill some way. Ali sang lead on a lot of great Tempts' tunes, and since the popular theory is that if you sang lead, you're automatically more valuable than someone who sings background, why shouldn't he perform those tunes? We didn't mind it when he was in the group, why should it matter now?

[Aba21]

Yeah Mike.....Marvin Jr. can strangle a note for sure!

I don't have any problem with any of the guys singing for a living. They were in the Group and if someone wants to pay to see them perform, God bless em'. We each have our favorites so why begrdge them for what they do?

[MikeNYC]

I thought he meant "cashing in on things that you didn't earn,like Hall Of Fame Awards . I agree that they should be able to make a living. Maybe I'll come to see you.....Just sing your own stuff. Most of the show anyway. Is that asking too much?

[sukkafu]

well, in a round about way, ali is cashing in on the hof. sure, he sang lead on some songs and wrote treat her like a lady and lady soul, but as nice and cute as those tunes are, i personally don't consider them as tempts classics. i play them on the cd, but i really get the blood rushing on the 1964-1975 stuff. ali is entitled to name his group emperors of soul, but to me the real emperors of soul are the ones we talk about 10,000 times a week.

ali can sell out all the indian casinos in the world for all
i care, but i will happily go to see him, if he gives credit where credit is due!

[Ivory Fair]

Huh? "Treat Her Like a Lady" and "Lady Soul" NOT Tempts classics!!!!? You truly ARE a SUKKAFU aren't you!!! (ha ha)

[Aba21]

I saw that but I refused to comment. i know sukkafu was talking out the side of his neck on that one! ;D