REVIEWS

 

Tivoli Theatre, Wimborne

The seventies are back and Eurovision winners Brotherhood of Man are making sure people don't forget! 

"The Seventies Story" is currently touring the country and the UK's answer to ABBA perform nearly 30 favourites from music's most loved decade. 

Throughout the two hour show Nicky, Sandra, Martin and Lee take the audience on a nostalgic journey, beginning in 1970 with "Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)" which is even better than the original! 

Each year is interjected by news announcements that highlight various happenings of the time.  Music, television, films and fashion.  It's all there!  The Clangers, Jaws, Concorde's first passenger flight; The Goodies, hot pants and streaking! 

Well researched, each group member take it in turn to interact with the audience who are just as much part of the show as the performers themselves. 

Brotherhood of Man feature their major hits, including "United We Stand", 'Angelo" and 'Figaro', but there are numerous covers of other songs that found fame during the seventies. 

Nicky's vocals on 'I've Got The Music In Me" were the most powerful of the night, but equally stunning was the groups own interpretation of  'Miss you Nights'.  'Tie A Yellow Ribbon', was a poignant tribute to British troops in Iraq, with a heartfelt message for their safe and speedy return. 

On a lighter note the show concludes with those disco favourites "I Will Survive", "Tragedy" and "YMCA" - by which point nearly everyone was on their feet dancing! 

Then it was time for the results of the international jury.  Brotherhood of Man save the best to last and 29 years after their Eurovision victory, 'Save Your Kisses For Me' continues to be as popular as ever and, after a Eurovision Song Contest style announcement, the group returned for this final song accompanied by rapturous and deafening cheers.

Whether you have fond memories of the seventies or missed them first time around, you will love this show.  Seek it out at a venue near you soon!

GL. Courtesy of Vision Mag.www.uk.ogae.net

 

 
Text Box: Tivoli Theatre, Wimborne The seventies are back and Eurovision winners Brotherhood of Man are making sure people don't forget!  "The Seventies Story" is currently touring the country and the UK's answer to ABBA perform nearly 30 favourites from music's most loved decade.  Throughout the two hour show Nicky, Sandra, Martin and Lee take the audience on a nostalgic journey, beginning in 1970 with "Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)" which is even better than the original!  Each year is interjected by news announcements that highlight various happenings of the time.  Music, television, films and fashion.  It's all there!  The Clangers, Jaws, Concorde's first passenger flight; The Goodies, hot pants and streaking!  Well researched, each group member take it in turn to interact with the audience who are just as much part of the show as the performers themselves.  Brotherhood of Man feature their major hits, including "United We Stand", 'Angelo" and 'Figaro', but there are numerous covers of other songs that found fame during the seventies.  Nicky's vocals on 'I've Got The Music In Me" were the most powerful of the night, but equally stunning was the groups own interpretation of  'Miss you Nights'.  'Tie A Yellow Ribbon', was a poignant tribute to British troops in Iraq, with a heartfelt message for their safe and speedy return.  On a lighter note the show concludes with those disco favourites "I Will Survive", "Tragedy" and "YMCA" - by which point nearly everyone was on their feet dancing!  Then it was time for the results of the international jury.  Brotherhood of Man save the best to last and 29 years after their Eurovision victory, 'Save Your Kisses For Me' continues to be as popular as ever and, after a Eurovision Song Contest style announcement, the group returned for this final song accompanied by rapturous and deafening cheers. Whether you have fond memories of the seventies or missed them first time around, you will love this show.  Seek it out at a venue near you soon! GL. Courtesy of Vision Mag.www.uk.ogae.net    

 

 

Elviva Theatre, Chesham

FROM the opening bars of Love Grows to the closing bars of YMCA the Brotherhood of Man provided entertainment with a capital “E” with their tribute to the 1970s.

The Seventies Story –performed to a hugely enthusiastic audience – is liberally sprinkled with reminders of the films, with among others – Saturday Night Fever, Mad Max, Star Wars, Jaws – television – The Clangers, The Muppet Show, MASH – clothes –Flares, Hotpants and Platforms –and toys –Clackers and Space Hoppers – from the era.

There was one funny moment when they asked for a response from the question “Is it a bird?” and received an unexpected
reply. Instead of the usual “No” fans shouted “Is it a plane?”.

The band were in stitches and Welsh songbird Nicky Stevens told the audience she wanted to take them to the next venue.

The still all original line up of Nicky, Lee Sheriden, Martin Lee and Sandra Stevens, share the singing responsibilities. They do a fine job with classics like Donny Osmond’s

Puppy Love and David Cassidy’s Day Dreamer, which fuelled teenage dreams in the 1970s.

There was also some Motown Magic with Blame it on the Boogie by the Jackson 5, a return to Glam Rock with

T Rex and Slade’s Come on feel the Noise and Merry Christmas Everybody,

A tribute to Grease with Summer Nights and

You’re the One that I Want,
and plenty of comedy value with Benny Hill’s Ernie the Fastest Milk Cart in the West, Chuck Berry’s My Ding a Ling and Remember You’re a Womble by the Wombles.

But the biggest applause of the night was reserved for their own hits.

First up was United We Stand then later their 3 number ones with Angelo, Figaro and the Eurovision classic Save Your Kisses For Me.

I don’t think anyone in the theatre failed to sing along on the night – I certainly did – and all left with a grin on their faces, some even clutching their souvenir CDs from the show.

Estelle Sinkins

Reproduced by kind permission of the Buckinghamshire Examiner

 
Text Box: Elviva Theatre, Chesham FROM the opening bars of Love Grows to the closing bars of YMCA the Brotherhood of Man provided entertainment with a capital “E” with their tribute to the 1970s. The Seventies Story –performed to a hugely enthusiastic audience – is liberally sprinkled with reminders of the films, with among others – Saturday Night Fever, Mad Max, Star Wars, Jaws – television – The Clangers, The Muppet Show, MASH – clothes –Flares, Hotpants and Platforms –and toys –Clackers and Space Hoppers – from the era. There was one funny moment when they asked for a response from the question “Is it a bird?” and received an unexpected reply. Instead of the usual “No” fans shouted “Is it a plane?”. The band were in stitches and Welsh songbird Nicky Stevens told the audience she wanted to take them to the next venue. The still all original line up of Nicky, Lee Sheriden, Martin Lee and Sandra Stevens, share the singing responsibilities. They do a fine job with classics like Donny Osmond’s Puppy Love and David Cassidy’s Day Dreamer, which fuelled teenage dreams in the 1970s. There was also some Motown Magic with Blame it on the Boogie by the Jackson 5, a return to Glam Rock with T Rex and Slade’s Come on feel the Noise and Merry Christmas Everybody, A tribute to Grease with Summer Nights and You’re the One that I Want, and plenty of comedy value with Benny Hill’s Ernie the Fastest Milk Cart in the West, Chuck Berry’s My Ding a Ling and Remember You’re a Womble by the Wombles. But the biggest applause of the night was reserved for their own hits. First up was United We Stand then later their 3 number ones with Angelo, Figaro and the Eurovision classic Save Your Kisses For Me. I don’t think anyone in the theatre failed to sing along on the night – I certainly did – and all left with a grin on their faces, some even clutching their souvenir CDs from the show. Estelle Sinkins Reproduced by kind permission of the Buckinghamshire Examiner  

with the disco power of "YMCA" from 1979 but it is not just the music that the show covers, it covers just about everything else that happened in the Seventies. The news, the gossip, what was on television, what was on at the cinema, the toys, the adverts, the fashions and all the fun things that began in the Seventies like Streaking, Space hoppers, Klackers (remember them?) and Jogging.

The band have great fun telling their seventies secrets, reporting the events and covering the songs and theme tunes of the day.

The Goodies, The Clangers, The Generation Game, Rainbow, Tis Was, It Ain't Half Hot Ma, Fawlty Towers, Jim'll fix it, Jaws, The Muppets, Starskey & Hutch, Wonder Woman and Minder all get the treatment.

 As well as classics like “Puppy Love”, “Tie a Yellow Ribbon” &

 

 

THE SEVENTIES STORY         by Brian K.Jones

I was delighted to see the “SOLD OUT” sign at the Phoenix Theatre, Blyth where “Brotherhood of Man” were returning once again to perform their ever popular show “The Seventies Story”.

Refreshingly, the band are still the mid 1970s original members, they haven’t changed and their music sounds is as vibrant as ever, but you don’t have to be a fan of Brotherhood of Man or even a fan of the Seventies to enjoy ‘The Seventies Story’. In fact, I defy anyone not to enjoy this evening of sheer magic!  

It includes all the big hits of of the decade starting with the gentle love/peace influence of "Love Grows" and "United We Stand" from 1970, and ending

 

 
back to 70's Story

“Mull of Kintyre” they performed novelty songs like “Ernie the Fastest Milkman In The West”, “My Ding a Ling” and “Remember you’re a Womble” much to the delight of the audience who sang along at every opportunity.The big 70s Musicals of “Grease”, ”Saturday Night Fever” and “Rocky Horror Show” were well represented and the bands three number ones received special applause. 

 A mock Eurovision Song Contest, voting and all, brought the audience to their feet to hear one of the most successful songs of all time “Save Your Kisses For Me” sung by the original artists. It was a very special moment and was followed by a standing ovation which lasted several minutes. 

This must be one of the best shows of its kind on the circuit and the reaction of the crowd ensured that the SOLD OUT sign will again be needed the next time the show comes to town…and the next time…and the time after that….

Reproduced by kind           permission of                       Beat MAGAZINE