Last year Kent Kotal (anybody ever hear of him?) beat me
to a Happy Together concert review.
Two things evolved from this ...
I will
buy tickets for the Happy Together concert early in June of 2025
(Thankfully the Palace Theatre in Stamford, CT booked them.) and I will
attend and review as many of the individual concerts of the Happy
Together 2024 entertainers as I can find. Obviously, this will NOT
affect Kent at all, nor get even with him. However, I will have a ball
and convince myself that all this "work" on my part is justified. 
Jay
and the Americans have been on the Happy Together tour and this is
their first full concert appearance. They have chosen The Ridgefield
Playhouse on November 17th, which is an hour from me in a beautiful
country setting. Ridgefield Playhouse is outwardly unimpressive and
simple, but inside is a modern beautifully decorated lobby and theatre.
This is a 4:00 pm Sunday afternoon concert, which is perfect for me! Yes,
I will be traveling home in the dark, but the time being around
5:30 - 6:30pm, I can get home at an early time, relax, reflect and be
ready for school on Monday. In addition to this, the concert is SOLD
OUT. Lovely.
I carefully
put my concert notebook on the bed next to my purse, where I leave it
when I float out the door. Oh well. Maybe I can go from memory. As
soon as the concert begins, I realize that I need my notebook. So, I
scribble memories on my program which is now covered with gel pen
notations. I will give you the set list, but there is no guarantee it is
in perfect order. Writing literally between the lines, I am not
confident I will get it straight. I will, however, have my viewing facts
in grand order.
They have to open with: Only in America. It is the embodiment of their name.
Here is the rest of the show:
Let's Lock The Door
Sunday And Me
Up On The Roof - Marty Sanders singing lead
She Cried
Some Enchanted Evening
You Lost That Loving Feeling - Darren Dowler and Jay Reincke singing duet
Pretty Woman
Let It Be Me - Sandy Deanne and Marty Sanders singing duet
Cara Mia
Stand By Me - Sandy Deanne singing lead
Walking In The Rain
Kicks - Darren Dowler singing lead
The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore
Elvis Tribute - a Jay Reincke pick
Come A Little Bit Closer
Gimmee Good Lovin'
Reelin' In The Years
This Magic Moment
By
this time, you have noticed that the set list has expanded to more than
Jay and the Americans recorded songs. Well yes - and no!
Several of these
songs, such as 'The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore,' WERE recorded by Jay
and the Americans, but hit the air waves first by other groups. This
particular song was given to them by Frankie Valli, who also gave it to
the Walker Brothers, and maybe several others.
How
about 'Reelin In The Years'? The founding members of Steely Dan were
once musicians for Jay and the Americans, but disappeared one day without
warning. When they resurfaced out in California, they were Steely Dan.
And
finally, each of the current line-up is allowed to present themselves
in songs from their past. A prime example is Darren Dowler singing
'Kicks,' a song he sang many times with Paul Revere and the Raiders. As
he finishes, he looks skyward thanking Paul Revere. Having been romping
around the stage as a Raider, one might think this is a tame gig for
him. Not as much as I thought it would be. In an hour and a half, all four
players open up and express their individual talents and achievements. I
was honestly wowed by this transition. It shows we can always rebuild
and express ourselves while maintaining our past glories.
So
thank you, Sandy Deane (founding member), Marty Sanders (original
member), Jay Reinke (Jay #3) and Darren Dowler (the new kid). A
beautiful day for a drive in Connecticut, a wonderful concert and more
memories to keep hold of.
Shelley J Sweet-Tufano
NE Correspondent
Forgotten Hits
60 YEARS AGO TODAY:
12/1/64 – The Who kicked off a string of 22 consecutive
Tuesday night gigs at The Marquee Club in London. (Take that, Billy Joel, and your Madison
Square Garden residency!!!) The band was
paid a whopping £50 for each gig ... but hey, at least it was steady work … and
if you wanted to see them, you knew exactly where to go!
