BALTIMORE, MD.—Hundreds of classic soul enthusiasts filled to capacity, the rows and aisles at the majestic Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall to witness the “’70s Soul Tour.”
Headliners included The Whispers, the LA-based legendary vocalists now celebrating their Golden Anniversary.
The lineup was complemented by Howard Hewett, Harold Melvin’s Blue Notes and The Stylisitics.
The affair was one for the grown and sexy, with an audience mostly comprised of folks with vivid memories of back-in-day basement parties, Afros and stacked-heels.
In fact, Wallace “Scotty” Scott, one of the twin lead singers of The Whispers, said it best by offering the three levels of basement parties when lights started at red, to blue and eventually off, when the “party got really good.”
In the tradition of the once-popular “Battle of the Bands” format, the show kicked-off with Shalamar legend, Howard Hewett. The Akron, Ohio native demonstrated his talent-longevity by performing a string of hits from his Shalamar days, including the forever popular ballad, “For the Lover In You.”
Hewett ended his 45-minute set with “Say Amen,” his surprise solo hit, that rose through secular and gospel charts in the mid-1980s.
Next onstage, following their band’s pre-fanfare featuring all their greatest hits, were Harold Melvin’s Blue Notes. Refreshingly, the band is still introduced as The Sounds of Philadelpia. Unlike the days when the late Harold Melvin led the group and the late Theodore “Teddy Bear” Pendergrass Jr. was lead singer, today’s version is a quartet, but still provides the traditional energy and fervor of the original quintet. Their performance of “If you Don’t Know Me By Now,” evoked the greatest audience reaction.
While third on the bill, The Stylistics achieved the most applause and reaction from the audience, though they were last-minute replacements for The Dramatics.
With lead singer Harold Eban Brown in rare form, the Stylistics came to play—dressed in exquisite white-on-white, the New Jersey-based fellows performed as silky smooth as their satin-white attire.
Their rendition of “Betcha By Golly Wow” and the funky “Hurry Up This Way Again,” tore the proverbial house down and generated the only standing ovations throughout the entire evening. Brown, as lead singer, is unbelievably the perfect substitute for original leader Russell Thompkins Jr. In many ways, because Brown is about 20 years Thompkins’ junior, it’s assumed that currently, Brown would have to be the superior lead singing first tenor (falsettoist). Other crowd-pleasers was their rendition of their debut 1971 album cuts, “Country Living” and “You’re a Big Girl Now.” Baltimore native and Stylistics member, Jason Sharp, also got great applause from the home crowd.
But it’s the original members Airrion Love and Herbert Murrell who continue to provide the bond that melds the group’s lasting Philly tradition.
The once-Mighty Whispers, are a shell of their former selves. Gone are the big horn sounds when they either toured with, or contracted live horn sections for each performance. Sorely missing was group member Nicholas Caldwell, known for his salt ‘n pepper beard, while performing precision choreography with dance-mate Leveil Degree. The Scott twins remain vocally consistent as ever. However, Degree appears lonely onstage, minus his old dancing sidekick, Caldwell. For some reason Caldwell’s absence ill affects their once near-perfect act.
Fortunately, the entire band now adds choreography to the act, including a couple younger musicians with hip hop-like moves—which assists Degree to a limited degree.
Following the show, Hewett reflected on his many years in the business, and how some artists react to each particular city’s reaction.
“After several years, it all kind of blends in. I know Baltimore has great fans and music lovers, but, onstage, it’s all about the love. As long as the show’s going well and everybody’s having a good time, that’s what’s important. There’s nothing like instant gratification at a live show,” he added.
Hewett also reflected on days when soul groups hired horn sections to complete their live packages. Hewett is also a product of SOLAR Records, as is The Whispers. “Today’s lack of horns? It’s an economic thing. It’s an expensive endeavor to take people out on the road,” he adds.
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