Tony Bennett: A Crowd-Pleaser at SPAC

by Bernie Decker, The Knickerbocker News, August 12, 1969

One conclusion after last night’s pop concert at Saratoga Performing Arts Center: To a Tony Bennett fan, Tony Bennett can do no wrong.

His voice was somewhat hoarser than usual; he was either holding the mike too closely or the sound system was bad, for many of his notes were coming out fuzzy. All this made no never-mind to most of the 7,000 gathered in the amphitheater and on the lawn. They applauded as if they had front row seats at the Copacabana and free drinks.

The sounds may not have been of the best, but the performance was—and apparently that is what counts at the
cash register.

BENNETT is a showman—dancing about the stage, holding the mike in one hand and swinging the mike’s pedestal with the other, taking off his jacket and throwing it over his shoulder, pulling out his shirt. It may be somewhat corny, but he conveys the impression of being a regular guy who happens to have a good voice.

As was to be expected, Bennett sang most of those numbers his fans would have requested: “For Once in My Life,” “If I Ruled the World,” “Who Can I Turn To” … and yes, Virginia, “San Francisco.”

Surprisingly, his version of “San Francisco” had neither the heart nor the verve of his recording of it. He seemed to treat it off-handedly, and no torch song can be treated off-handedly. For though they may be as treacly as a Sugar Daddy, popular songs are to be sung with sincerity or not at all.

Some of his older fans—who made up the bulk of the audience at SPAC, might have even wished for some of the other numbers that go with Tony Bennett as much as Jekyll goes with Hyde: “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” (his first big hit), “Because of You,” “Cold, Cold Heart,” “Rags to Riches” …

One fan missed particularly another number that has become a trademark—”One for the Road.”

Bennett also sang several numbers which were not very good showcases for his talent.

He closed out the show with two numbers dedicated to the memory of Judy Garland. The first was “The Gentle Rain Whispers Your Name” and the “Trolley Song.” The last won a rousing ovation from the audience, and he responded by singing “People Who Need People” for an encore.

Backing Bennett was the excellent Louie Bellson band. Especially good was a trombone solo background played in counterpoint to Bennett’s draggy version of “Fly Me to the Moon,” one of his better numbers of the evening.

BELLSON’S BAND opened the show with a 40-minute stand that left the audience panting … for Bennett. For Bellson was not catering to the audience, most of whom were square and not afraid to show it.

(When Bellson introduced one number, “I Remember Bird,” as a tribute to Charlie Parker, a young lady was heard to ask, “Charlie who?”)

Bellson played sort of an advanced “Artistry in Rhythm” set, only one number of any familiarity to the audience (“Ode to Billie Joe”). He has some excellent sidemen in his group, particularly a young trumpeter named Chuck Findley and a sax man named Seldon Powell.

Of course, the set ended with the inevitable drum solo. Bellson proved he is in a class with Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich, working the audience up to several bursts of applause—tributes to his stamina as well as his technical virtuosity.

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