54 Sings the Greatest Pop Songs of All Time: The 1960s, Vol. 2

54 Sings the Greatest Pop Songs of All Time:
The 1960s, Volume 2

Feinstein’s/54 Below, NYC, February 11, 2016

Reviewed by Joel Benjamin for Cabaret Scenes

With his usual low-keyed hyberbole, Scott Siegel assembled Volume 2 of the Greatest Pop Songs of All Time for Feinstein’s/54 Below. Whether the title is true or not, the show certainly was entertaining, peppered with Siegel’s usual knowledgeable trivia, performed by a group of first-rate singers, beginning with Brian Charles Rooney’s “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” (Norman Whitfield/Barrett Strong) emphasizing the pain of the lyrics. His second number, “Stand by Me” (Ben E. King/Leiber & Stoller), also benefited from his usual intensity.

Jeremy Morse’s boyishly earnest “I’m a Believer” (Neil Diamond) evoked the hit Monkees’ version and his “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” (Mick Jagger/Keith Richards) took him into the audience. His sweet, in-your-face rendition took some of the sex out of the song, giving the it new meaning.

Farah Alvin sang “To Sir with Love” (Don Black/Mark London) and “I (Who Have Nothing)” (Carlo Donida/Giulio “Mogol” Rapetti/Leiber & Stoller) with relish, the former wide-eyed and sweet, the latter properly anguished.

Jenny Lee Stern used her sweet, girlish voice well on a very funny “Leader of the Pack” (George “Shadow” Morton/Jeff Barry/Ellie Greenwich) and on “Unchained Melody” (Alex North/Hy Zaret), which used all the richness of her voice.

Jimmy Webb’s surreal “Wichita Lineman” was dreamily sung by Jillian Louis, who was far more down to earth on Joni Mitchell’s philosophical “Both Sides Now.”

William Blake, the pop equivalent of a counter-tenor, had a little trouble with the lyrics to “White Rabbit” (Grace Slick) but, nevertheless, caught the hallucinogenic mood of the song. He ended the program with a swooping “At Last” (Harry Warren/Mack Gordon).

One could argue with Scott Siegel’s choices, but not with the way he puts on a show.

Tags: “I (Who Have Nothing, (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction, 54 Sings the Greatest Pop Songs of All Time: The 1960s, Alex North, American Songbook, At Last, Barrett Strong, Ben E. King, Both Sides Now, Brian Charles Rooney, Broadway, Broadway Musicals, Cabaret, Cabaret Reviews, Cabaret Scenes, Carlo Donida, CD, Clubs, Composers, counter-tenor, Don Black, Ellie Greenwich, Farah Alvin, Feinstein’s/54 Below, George "Shadow" Morton, Giulio "Mogol" Rapetti, Grace Slick, Great American Songbook, Harry Warren, Hy Zaret, I Heard It Through the Grapevine, I’m a Believer, Jazz, Jazz Singers, Jeff Barry, Jenny Lee Stern, Jeremy Morse, Jillian Louis, Jimmy Webb, Joel Benjamin, Joni Mitchell, Keith Richard, Leader of the Pack, Leiber & Stoller, lyricists, Mack Gordon, Mark London, Mick Jagger, Musicals, Musicians, Neil Diamond, Nightclubs, Norman Whitfield, NYC, Popular Song, Revues, Scott Siegel, Show Tunes, Singers, Songbook, Stand By Me, Standards, Supper Clubs, The Monkees, To Sir with Love, Unchained Melody, Venues, Vocalists, White Rabbit, Wichita Lineman, William Blake

Category: Cabaret Reviews, New York City, New York City Cabaret Reviews