When
the names Jamie Hilboldt, Woody Lingle and Mike Candito are put
together, it spells Gary Puckett and The Union Gap. (NOT literally.
G*A*R*Y P*U*C*K*E*T*T are the actual letters needed plus theuniongap to
spell it. Don't write in, trying to correct the teacher.)
It is Saturday,
April 22, 2023, and again, The Milford Performance Center has another great
concert scheduled. This one is to benefit The Rotary Foundation. Ed
Sullivan, on the opening video, announces "Gary Puckett and the Union
Gap!" and we are thrown back in time as we relive the early television
appearances of Gary singing the songs that I now hear being sung by
tonight's audience. I love concerts in their entirety, but I do think
that the concert openings where we are thrown into our world of memories
and shot up with adrenaline lifelines into our past emotions is my
favorite time of each performance. Gary joins his group onstage belting
out 'Lady Willpower.' The audience jumps in, obviously believing that it
IS "now or never" the time to give their love to him.
Gary
is introduced as one of the voices that is instantly recognized from
the 60s. I can feel that reasoning when he next opens up to 'Over You.' The audience again joins in, and Gary doesn't even try to upstage us on
the choruses. We could sing all night, but we are attentive as Gary goes
into a storyline relating his producer's philosophy on song choices.
Jerry Fuller wanted Gary and the Union Gap to record cover songs from
known, successful names. His reasoning was that Gary's voice was so
distinctive and the presentations so impressive that performers would
WANT them to perform their songs. Therefore, every album included
popular covers of songs that Gary liked. At this point, Gary adds story
to each of the following songs as they perform them.
'Kentucky Woman' (Neil Diamond)
'Lady Madonna' (The Beatles)
'M'Lady' (John Rowles)
'Don't Give In To Him' (actually given to The Byrds who said, "NO! This is NOT for The Byrds)
'You Better Sit Down Kids' (Sonny & Cher)
'The Mighty Quinn' (Bob Dylan)
'To Love Somebody' (The Bee Gees)
'Keep the Customer Satisfied' (Paul Simon)
There
are great stories that go with the above selections. One includes a
Datsun and a Bee Gee. One of the great things about the cover song
section of the concert is that it is never exactly the same. I have been
to enough of Gary's songfests to know that you can continue to attend
his concerts and hear and learn something new each time. And believe me,
I would be happy hearing him sing the same songs always. But just maybe
this is a better way.
INTERMISSION
Intermission chatter begins! This is what the people around me say ...
"He is so spry!"
"It is amazing."
"He can't be as old as he says."
"I
saw him in a concert with other acts when he was recovering from a bad
cold. He came out anyway, apologized for having the cold and knocked it
out of the park! It was a great concert! That is the type of person he
is."
I, too, was at that Oakdale concert and indeed, he impressed us all with his fortitude.
Gary continues performing cover songs from his albums:
'Who Can I Turn To' (Anthony Newley)
'By the Time I Get to Phoenix' (Glen Campbell)
'Kiss Me Goodbye' (Petula Clark)
Gary
was quite close with Glen Campbell, and as it turns out, April 22nd is
the anniversary of Glen's birth. I am not sure Gary is aware of this,
but it strikes a chord with me as I listen to the stories.
At
every concert Gary honors our Veterans. The Vietnam "Conflict" and some
of the "conflicts" that followed it, put a stigma on our troops that we
need to correct and make sure that every Veteran feels we thank them
for all they gave up to maintain our freedom. Gary sings 'Home' while
the Veterans in the audience stand.
'This
Girl Is A Woman Now' is preceded and followed by several stories of
Studios A,B,C,and D; AND the funny (and somewhat cautious) story of the
golden retrievers who could only mate after the repetitive playing of
this song. Sooooo ... be careful how you use this music!
There
are standing ovations throughout the concert, but none compare to the
response of the last two songs: 'Woman, Woman,' Gary's favorite number, and
'Young Girl,' the closing song for tonight.
More
benefit concerts to come from other performers, and a repeat of those
we have already seen due to popular demand to bring them back.
Tonight, I
thank Gary Puckett, Jamie Hilboldt, Woody Lingle and Mike Candito. I
hope to see you again soon.
NE Correspondent
Shelley J Sweet-Tufano
