Archival Buffalo News feature articles

  After all these years, my mind still rings with the choruses of practically all of the songs on Randy Newman’s setlist.   Oct. 3, 1977   Newman-Prine Concert Is Tailored for Cynics              “I’ve never felt like the target of a song before,” an associate laments after Randy Newman finishes his second encore in Kleinhans Music Hall Sunday night. She’s just heard Newman’s new “Short People” for the second time in an hour and, since she stands slightly better than five feet, she doesn’t like it.           The cultural schizophrenia that gives Newman’s odd little songs their crackle may backfire on him this time. Despite the brotherhood-of-man interlude in the center, the message can’t be hidden: “Don’t want no Short People/ ‘Round here.”           What’s more, Buffalo may be making a hit of it. WGRQ-FM’s John Velchoff has played it for an hour, over and over. The response to it is terrific. * * * WHEN NEWMAN repeats it for his second encore, the crowd claps alon

  If I recall correctly, the real reason I signed up to review this concert was to see Melissa Manchester.   Sept. 1, 1977 Melissa Misses It, But Donna Saves It             The Leo Sayer-Melissa Manchester show arrived at the Century Theater Wednesday night without Melissa Manchester. Exhaustion, said co-promoter Corky Berger in the lobby as her replacement, Buffalo ’s Donna McDaniel, struck up a sharp band called the Navigators.           Manchester , the former Bette Midler Harlette who went on to ballads like “Midnight Blue” and commercials for cassette tape, had gone on stage Tuesday night in Saratoga Springs against doctor’s orders. The new prescription: Cancel your next three dates.           McDaniel has become a more commanding performer as a result of her summer of success with the European disco hit, “Save Me.” That number, coming next to last in her short set, gave her a lively flourish before her breathy goodbyes. * * * SHE ASKED for a hand for her band an