Old School is still in style. Thanks to show-stopping performances from some of the biggest names in R&B during the 1970s and 1980s, the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles rocked with oldies and swayed with nostalgia as the Chi-Lites, Stylistics, The Emotions and other chart-topping groups invaded the Southland for a night of reminiscing.
Sponsored by 92.3 The Beat, the four-hour, Summer Soul Jam concert was run on a tight schedule with some artists being allocated no more than 15 minutes to do their thing on stage.
Barbara Mason didn’t even need that much time to get the crowd all lathered up with some of her biggest songs, including a sultry rendition of “Are You Ready,” the radiantly seductive tune she is best known for. Adding a bit of spice to that number, Mason managed to persuade a young concertgoer to leave his seat next to his girlfriend to climb on stage with her for some flirtatious fun.
Mason, to the delight of the audience, got the young man to take off his shirt before ordering him to get on his knees and crawl while she serenaded him. That got the still-incoming crowd buzzing about Mason’s performance. The fun didn’t stop there as the Friends of Distinction re-kindled the audience’s memory with their hit songs from the 70s, including the tear jerk ballad, “Going in Circles.”
But it was The Emotions and their high-range singing that got the place to really start jumping. The all-sisters trio who recorded a plethora of hits in the 70s, including the smash “The Best of My Love,” was minus group member Sheila Hutchinson from the performance. But with Wanda Hutchinson’s daughter stepping in and filling in nicely for her aunt, The Emotions had the audience on their feet just about the entire time they were on stage.
The Emotions began their set with the thumping anthem “I Don’t Wanna Lose Your Love,” slowed it down with the touching “Flowers” and brought out the old memory card with the slow-grinding, “Don’t Ask My Neighbors.” Of course, The Emotions wouldn’t be the group we have come to grow and love without Wanda Hutchinson belting out an all-time favorite in “The Best of My Love.”
When folks think about Old School music, most thoughts encompass easy-style living, cool clothing and a dash of debonair and fresh attitudes. The Manhattans, Chi-Lites and Stylistics all fit that bill.
So did some members of the audience who chose to represent with Zoot suits, platform shoes and feathered out player hats. It was fitting that actor and producer Robert Townsend was in the audience because the wardrobe scenario played out by audience members resembled a couple of scenes from the hit movie “I’m Gonna to Git You Sucka” meeting up with parts of “Meteor Man.”
But it was all good. The Manhattans kept things going, belting out the well-received “Shining Star,” the group’s biggest hit in their 50-year history. Anchor groups-the Chi-Lites and Stylistics gave the audience their money’s worth as they cranked out the hits as well as teaching them a lesson or two about color coordination as they displayed their eye-catching, flashy suits.
Dapper-dressed in matching purple suits, the Chi-Lites, inducted into the Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame in 2000, churned out crowd-favorites, “Oh, Girl” and “Have You Seen Her.” The Stylistics, in cherry-red, vested suits, closed the show as only they know how. With lead singer Eban Brown crooning “You Are Everything,” “Hurry Up” and “Betcha By Golly Wow,” the Stylistics put romantic in the ballads they were singing.
Old School was alright for a night. But then again, Old School music never goes away…It just gets better with time.
Dennis has covered and written about politics, crime, race, sports, and entertainment. Dennis currently covers the NFL, MLB, NBA, NCAA, and Olympic sports. Dennis is the editor of News4usonline.com and serves as the publisher of the Compton Bulletin newspaper. He earned a journalism degree from Howard University. Email Dennis at dfreeman@news4usonline.com
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