CityLife

Gladys Knight

Gladys Knight

“SHE is the ultimate when it comes to performance…it’s a pleasure to be able to share a stage with you darlin'.”
 
The words were spoken by Dionne Warwick, responsible for some of the most romantic music ever made. She was talking about the woman standing next to her – Gladys Knight.  

On the way to the MEN Arena I had cursed Manchester’s rain-drenched streets. To see and hear these legendary performers duet on two songs was worth a soaking every day of the week.  

They sang ‘I Know I’ll Never Love This Way Again’ inducing a life-affirming tingle despite the heartbreaking content.   Their all too brief union ended with ‘That’s What Friends Are For’ – a Number One in 1985.  

Verve  

Before this Knight had taken us on a ‘musical journey’ through her life punctuated by humour, poignancy, verve, and soul class hewn from 50 years of performing. She began by singing gospel in a Baptist church aged four. Her background, she confessed, made her nervous of recording the adult soul ballad, ‘If I Were Your Woman’ when asked by Motown in 1970.  

But she did, and her sultry, sensual delivery, proved Mr Gordy was right to make her do so – although the heavy slap of her band was almost overbearing when it needed to be restrained. ‘You’re The Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me’ was stunning. “I like that song” she declared.

When Knight performs she is like the glitter-draped still drop-jaw attractive older aunt who puts the zip into every Christmas party.   In between songs there is no stilted chat but a stream of enthusiasm about life, her good fortune to have loyal UK fans, and to have been around some of the greatest singers in soul history.  

Ovation  

But she has endured hard knocks – her son Jimmy, who was her manager died suddenly at 36.  And when she sings the ‘The Way We Were’ – beautifully – she is genuinely overcome by the deserved standing ovation – one of many.  

If this is truly her farewell tour then buy, beg, or steal a ticket. The Arena crowd was sparse but they were the lucky ones on a wet Tuesday night. Knight’s voice is remarkable still and she would blow away any X-Factor wanna be.

She is a professional and real – because she has lived ‘life’s ups and downs’. Tito Jackson as support knew he couldn’t ignore the legacy of his brother Michael.  

Funky  

He opened with a blues sound straight from Beale Street Memphis – rooted in Willie Dixon but with Clapton-style workouts. His voice was either a flat growl or an authentic blues wail.   But early on he asked ‘Wasn’t Michael great’? Then he answered his own question ‘Definitely definitely’.  

He provided the funky guitar to the Jackson 5 classics ‘I Want You Back’, ‘ABC’ and ‘The Love You Save’ – but left the high pitched ‘Michael’ vocals to one of his woman backing singers.   It is rarely a support act gets a standing ovation but he got one.