Martha Will Likely Win Out Over Smokey

[daviddesper]

A while back, I mentioned that Smokey was doing a concert near me and I asked for opinions about whether or not I should plan to go. You guys responded overwhelmingly in favorite of seeing the show, which by the way is next Sunday, June 3rd.

However, I made an annual trip today that I make to the casino in Charles Town, West Virginia, and there I saw an announcement for a show coming up on July 14th featuring The Spinners and Martha Reeves and the Vandellas. So first of all, let this be a general announcement to our East Coast fans about this show in case you had not yet heard about it.

I have never attended a concert at this casino, but they do have some big names there so I assume it is a quality venue. The location is such that it should be a reasonable drive from large population centers such as DC, Baltimore, Philly, Pittsburgh, etc.

Now if the casino had been a little more cooperative today, I might be discussing plans to see both shows, but casinos being what they are and life in general being what it is, I can only see one of them. So I don't know guys.... right now Smokey's chances do not look very good.

Of course I may have to speak to the promoter about the idea of giving the Spinners top billing for this show. Yes, they were a great group, but perish the thought that Miss Martha should be the opening act for anyone!

So will you guys support me if I turn down Smoke for our great Motown lady of soul? I did see her once before maybe 20 years ago but I was so far away from the stage that I felt disconnected, so this time I would hope to get more out of it.

[BigAl]

What a choice to have to make!

Martha's set is usually pretty animated and entertaining, and a great deal of fun, especially if she has Vandellas with her, but she does tend to take regrettable musical liberties with her most familiar material, and she also does that weird trilling up and down the scales. This often can make the songs nearly unrecognizable. Smokey's style is more true to his originals, but his set doesn't possess the bombast of Martha's. Because I know Martha, and because she tends to be more welcoming to fans, I would opt for seeing her just for those reasons, but I think, from a purely musical standpoint, Smokey might be a more satisfying choice.

I would recommend a coin-toss.

[PeaceNHarmony]

Indeed a difficult choice! I'm not sure but Smokey may be performing songs from his American Songbook lp [[in place of Motown material) and that would sway be towards Martha.

[helga]

If it was me, I would choose Smokey over Martha. I have seen Smokey twice and he never disappoints. Most of his set will contain his classic hits. He does a couple of cover songs, but it's not excessive. It comes down to whomever is your favourite out of the two artists. Not sure if Martha still comes out for autographs after the show? That may help sway your decision.

[westgrandboulevard]

Daviddesper....


I well remember Martha, Lois and Sandy opening for Stevie Wonder on a national tour here in the UK in the '60s.

The billing of the two acts was a real draw for ticket sales before the tour began, and the sum of their respective performances also resulted in a draw, by the time each show had ended.

Last time I saw Martha [[Salisbury City Hall, Wiltshire, UK, in November last year) she was on cracking form, as were Lois and Delphine, and I posted comments to that effect on a thread here at that time.

Martha's emphatic vocal presentation of her old favourites has become huskier and more measured with the years, delivered in the spirit of a funky, sassy soul mama who goes back a long way. She is very popular with university students and younger people, who enjoy and admire the experience of 'great old gals' on stage.

At times, Martha likes to get happy, and will add jazz vocal gymnastics, sung an octave or two above the usual notes of a song. Other times, she reins in the vibrato, and sticks to punching out the songs as on the original records...as she did in November. It probably depends on her mood, but Martha always puts on a good, energetic show.

So, if you're liking to settle in your seat for a smooth, classic, more Vegas style presentation of Motown, full of romantic melodies and lyrics in an excellently produced show, you have Smokey.

If you're liking a Hitsville Motown/R&B 'get up and party' show, you have Martha, Lois and Delphine, and then The Spinners. They could well all be on stage for the finale. Martha, at least, usually will meet and greet fans [[she calls us all 'friends') after the show. In November, she and her sisters spent nearly two hours after the show, until every single person waiting had been spoken with, CDs signed and pictures taken.

Smokey, The Spinners and Martha will all provide you with great audio and visual stage entertainment. Smokey still sounds very close to his original recordings, as will the current line-up of The Spinners, while Martha has long performed her own songs in a lower key.

Whoever you decide to see, play your favourites from all their recordings before you go, and then play them again after the show.

If you do choose to see Martha with The Spinners, you will not only have 'come and got your memories' from the '60s, but Martha also has her own way of making you feel glad that you are still very much alive today.