Gladys Knight/Spinners Review [[Spinners Referred to as "Tribute Act"

[milven]

The Spinners opened for Gladys, but their set was twenty minutes longer than hers. The reviewer said that they were more like a tribute act. Gladys and the Spinners were recently in my area but I decided to skip it since I had recently seen and enjoyed her and Bubba tremendously but did not want to see a cut down set so that she could share the stage with the Spinners. I love the Spinners and have seen them often back in the day, but I think that it would be depressing to see the current line-up . Gladys sold out her last appearance here without sharing the billing. I don't think Gladys needs to share billing. She still sells out concerts on her own and she has a built in act with Bubba who does his own thing mid-show.



http://www.post-gazette.com/ae/music/2015/01/25/Gladys-Knight-Spinners-deliver-the-hits-in-strange-Heinz-Hall-concert/stories/201501250195

[jobeterob]

Well, I guess this highlights to some extent the "tribute" act issue. It's not any different with the Temptations, the Four Tops or the FLOS. Perhaps the FLOS are less a tribute act if you are looking for the Diana Ross led hits.

The comments to the article seem to indicate most people thought more highly of the concert than the reviewer. One person said it was quite clear what the logic was ~ Gladys Knight was sick; so they extended the Spinners show and through Bubba in to make up for her reduced set. Makes sense.

[milven]

I just read the comments. Yeah, she went on while not feeling well. But I wonder why she is now sharing the bill. She can still fill a house with just her and Bubba. She is booked for the new KINGS THEATRE in Brooklyn [[the one that Diana Ross is opening) and I do not think that she is sharing the bill. Gladys and Bubba put on a nice relaxed show and they talk to us as well as sing. It doesn't look like Gladys compromised her set to give this forty minute performance , but she may have rushed through it and eliminated some of the talk.

[vgalindo]

I love Gladys Knight and have seen her live many times and truly loved her shows. However I saw her a few years ago and was a little disappointed. It seems like she talked more than she sang. I do like an artist that talks to her audience but Gladys does it way too much.

[reese]

I saw Gladys and the Spinners' Newark show on Friday night and thought it was very good. I didn't know what to expect from the Spinners, as I had never seen this lineup. But I thought they put on an energetic show with nice choreography, corny but cute routines, and great vocals. My only disappointment was that they didn't perform LOVE DON'T LOVE NOBODY.

Gladys was good as well, but I thought she was operating on lower than normal energy. At the end, she mentioned that that morning she had had no voice at all. So I think she did well under the circumstances. I will admit that I wasn't knocked out by the set list. Too many of her own songs weren't performed, yet she let her background singers perform a Motown medley. They did fine, but she could have done a medley of her own Motown hits during that same spot. A few more of her uptempo hits like SAVE THE OVERTIME or FRIENDSHIP TRAIN would have made the evening more satisfying for me.

The set lists mentioned in the Pittsburgh review were basically the same as what I saw in Newark, except Gladys also sang her END OF THE ROAD medley, and the Spinners did perform GAMES PEOPLE PLAY.

[jobeterob]

They do what Diana does...............same set list with a little variation???

[reese]

They do what Diana does...............same set list with a little variation???

I would say that Gladys is less predictable than Diana, but much of her act has stayed the same the last few times I've seen her. Dionne's set is rather predictable as well. Aretha is the only one who I am never sure of what she will do. There have been times that I have seen her four times in the same year and her show was completely different each time.

[jobeterob]

Reese: Many reviews say Aretha's shows are erratic. There was a review around comparing her and Diana at the Montreal Jazz Festival and it was not favorable to Aretha. Do you have any comments about Aretha's shows in general and their quality?

[reese]

Reese: Many reviews say Aretha's shows are erratic. There was a review around comparing her and Diana at the Montreal Jazz Festival and it was not favorable to Aretha. Do you have any comments about Aretha's shows in general and their quality?

To keep it brief: when Aretha is on, there is no better place to be. But sometimes her set lists can leave a lot to be desired. On the whole, I enjoy her concerts. But there have also been some where she sang three or four of her own hits and chose instead to concentrate on Disney themes, opera, and other songs that weren't hers.

[jobeterob]

To keep it brief: when Aretha is on, there is no better place to be. But sometimes her set lists can leave a lot to be desired. On the whole, I enjoy her concerts. But there have also been some where she sang three or four of her own hits and chose instead to concentrate on Disney themes, opera, and other songs that weren't hers.

That would drive people nuts alright!

[detmotownguy]

To keep it brief: when Aretha is on, there is no better place to be. But sometimes her set lists can leave alot to be desired. On the whole, I enjoy her concerts. But there have also been some where she sang three or four of her own hits and chose instead to concentrate on Disney themes, opera, and other songs that weren't hers.

I agree when she is on it is the best ticket around. However, I have never witnessed the audience complain when she doesn't concentrate on the hits. But, maybe nobody leaves the concert early since she is the "Queen"!!! Personally, I like diversified playlists rather than hear the same songs at every performance. I just like different experiences rather than keep seeing the same type of show. Some rock concerts also do not vary their set list.

[marv2]

I agree when she is on it is the best ticket around. However, I have never witnessed the audience complain when she doesn't concentrate on the hits. But, maybe nobody leaves the concert early since she is the "Queen"!!! Personally, I like diversified playlists rather than hear the same songs at every performance. I just like different experiences rather than keep seeing the same type of show. Some rock concerts also do not vary their set list.

Which is why I would not cross the street to see someone like Diana Ross. Been doing the same old tired show since the very early 80s.

[marv2]

Video from the show.......


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXjoWitsBok

[milven]

Which is why I would not cross the street to see someone like Diana Ross. Been doing the same old tired show since the very early 80s.

http://www.newyorkinjurycasesblog.com/uploads/image/sign%20do%20not%20cross.jpg

[Roberta75]

Which is why I would not cross the street to see someone like Diana Ross. Been doing the same old tired show since the very early 80s.

But youll prowl youtube and googlle looking for clips and news of Diane Ross. lol

Roberta

[jobeterob]

Aha! My Great Stars & Garters.

Now we find out it is JUST the set list! And for years, it's always been attributed to something personal like being escorted OUT of a concert!

I'm breathing much easier this morning.

[reese]

I agree when she is on it is the best ticket around. However, I have never witnessed the audience complain when she doesn't concentrate on the hits. But, maybe nobody leaves the concert early since she is the "Queen"!!! Personally, I like diversified playlists rather than hear the same songs at every performance. I just like different experiences rather than keep seeing the same type of show. Some rock concerts also do not vary their set list.

I've never seen a mass walkout, but I have heard audience members grumble about the set list. I remember a performance at Radio City where she sang three or so hits and the rest of the show was MOODY'S MOOD FOR LOVE, Keyshia Cole's I REMEMBER, EASTER PARADE, and others. She sang them well, but when it was over, I distinctly remember overhearing a woman on her cellphone complaining that "she didn't sing a thing I wanted to hear."

I appreciate variety as well. But when you have as many classic hits as Aretha has, doing only three or four really isn't fair. She has so many that she could rotate without repeating for a good bit. The only mandatory inclusion [[IMO) is RESPECT, and I've been at a few concerts where she didn't even sing that.