June 3, 1972 Review: Sonny and Cher at Memorial Auditorium

 


Gerry Ralston’s invocation of Sonny & Cher sends me back to an evening I spent in the Aud a few weeks earlier. 

June 3, 1972

Sonny, Cher: Show Biz With Feeling 

        Among rock fans, the hip attitude toward Sonny & Cher has always been akin to the way gourmet winetasters feel about a 79-cent quart of muscatel.

        It’s been that way ever since the couple hit with “I Got You Babe” in 1965 with the whiney-voiced Sonny sporting furry vests and his young, husky-voiced wife Cher exuding the suffering teenage waif spirit of Sunset Strip.

        Even then, when they were singing from close to their souls, their appeal was more showbiz than arty.

        What the gourmets and hipsters forget, however, is that people can really get off on muscatel or middlebrow. It’s the feeling that counts, not the taste.

* * *

SO IT WAS in Memorial Auditorium Friday night with Sonny & Cher and 12,000 spiffily-dressed, out-for-the-night fans of the network TV show that’s capped the couple’s recent comeback from oblivion.

        It was a triumph of feeling from the moment they emerged to do “All I Ever Need Is You” – Sonny in a tuxedo, Cher statuesque as a high-fashion model (but with curves) with her hair pulled back into a curly ball and wearing one of the world’s most backless dresses.

        Musically, it’s pure showbiz production, but it’s carefully put together. Backing the couple’s own four-piece band were 15 local players led by Vince Brundo. Sonny & Cher flew in at 6 a.m. and rehearsed them during the afternoon.

        The act shows the same attention to detail. It’s a masterpiece of open-framework looseness – actually a mock of what a show is supposed to do. Perfect setup for bantering and Cher’s stiletto sarcasm.

* * *

AS IN the introduction to the medley of “The Beat Goes On,” “United We Stand” and “Living Without You”:

        Sonny: “What we do now is get into a finger-snapping mood.” (Long finger-snapping pause)

        Cher (archly): “Better hurry up before my snapper gets tired.”

        Sonny: “You ready, Bathsheda?” (Laughter)

        Cher: “You’re always ready. You’re Italian.” (More laughter)

        Sonny: “Better watch it, Cher, there’s a lot of us out there tonight.” (Laughter and applause)

        There’s a costume change just before the finale – Cher soloing on “Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves” while Sonny dons a brown sequined jumpsuit.

* * *

THEN SONNY pours out an emotional “You Better Sit Down, Kids” before Cher returns to the Middle Eastern intro to “A Cowboy’s Work Is Never Done,” wearing a white-fringed, open-midriff outfit, her long black hair hanging straight to her waist.

        The closer is a reaffirmation of their togetherness – “I Got You Babe” with a joyous exchange of lines at the end: “I got you to hold my hand, I got you to understand …”

        The applause is warm and you can’t help but smile. It just feels good.

        P.S.: Opening was comedian David Brenner, who’s been seen on Johnny Carson, doing a bit of a tour de force with a whole hour’s worth of funnies. About airlines, absurd signs, dating, sex, asking directions, school and the horrors of New York City. 

FOOTNOTE: Sonny & Cher were definitely back on the upswing when they came to town on June 2, 1972. Their TV show, which debuted a year earlier, was Top 10, plus they’d just had their biggest chart success in ages with “All I Ever Need Is You.” And those clothes!  Bob Mackey!

        This show doesn’t turn up in online lists of Sonny & Cher appearances in 1972. Lists of Memorial Auditorium concerts for that year also are woefully deficient. C’mon, list-keepers, wa-a-a-a-ke up!

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