Reviews and Press!
Sept. 6, 2015: Rebeat Magazine is a digital blog magazine dedicated to mid-century music, culture and lifestyle. Danielle Zabielski posted a wonderful review of "Someplace Else Now" today at: www.rebeatmag.com/album-lesley-gore-someplace-else-now/
"Girl Talk with Bonus Tracks" (CD), April 23, 2014 review: www.theseconddisc.com/2014/04/23/isnt-that-the-look-of-love-ace-reissues-and-expands-lesley-gores-girl-talk
"Magic Colors The Lost Album....," July 13, 2011, CD review on Amazon.com by Jim Allio
http://www.amazon.com/review/R128C06HL28SA3/ref=cm_cr_dp_perm?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B00000DN2T&nodeID=5174&tag=&linkCode=
Palm Springs Follies, Palm Springs, CA, Jan. 5-March 5, 2011. Reviewed by Don Grigware, BroadwayWorld
What better guest star than 60s pop legend Lesley Gore, who still looks fantastic and sings her fanny off! In her 20 minute set she performs "Sunshine, Lollipops, and Rainbows", "Judy's Turn to Cry", "She's a Fool", "Maybe I Know", and of course gold hits "It's My Party", which rocketed her to stardom in 1963 at 16 years of age, and "You Don't Own Me". Gore, really for the first time, sang what a teenage girl was thinking and feeling, helping to set precedents for feminine causes. She remains a truly remarkable performer.
Joe's Pub, New York City: April 22, 2010. Reviewed by Holly Cara Price, The Huffington Post
Lesley Gore proved herself once again to be the little lady with the very big voice at Joe's Pub in Manhattan on April 22. Rock & Roll History Lesson in a Nutshell: Lesley, at the tender age of sixteen, was discovered by famed producer Quincy Jones, who brought her to Mercury Records in 1963. She recorded the song It's My Party which was a #1 hit, followed by many other successful songs (Judy's Turn To Cry, You Don't Own Me, Maybe I Know, to name but a few).
As it happens, the long awaited T.A.M.I. Show from 1964 was finally released on DVD last month. Along with James Brown, Chuck Berry, the Miracles, Marvin Gaye, the Supremes, and the Rolling Stones, Lesley Gore headlined that concert at Santa Monica Civic Auditorium and performs six songs in the film - kicking ass and taking names along with the best of them.
A terrific four piece band consisting of Darryl Tookes on piano, Frank DeMaio on guitar, John Arbo on bass and Frank Pagano on drums, backed up Ms. Gore as she exercised her considerable chops on material as diverse as cabaret, Motown, contemporary rock, jazz, and of course her own hits. Gore entertained the audience with quips about her life and career throughout: "We recorded this one on a Saturday afternoon, it was released on a Monday" about It's My Party.
One of the set's many standouts was Jacques Brel's Carousel which showed off the band's musicianship and their ability to work in tandem with Gore's lead vocal. Another was Gore's read of Anita O'Day's A Nightingle Sang in Berkeley Square. It's My Party was fun and fresh as new as we rediscovered wonderful lyrics like: "Judy and Johnny just walked through the door / Like a queen with her king / Oh what a birthday surprise / Judy's wearing his ring." Solo on piano, she performed the ballad Out Here On My Own, written with brother Michael, which was nominated for an Academy Award from the movie Fame.
John Lennon's Imagine was beautifully performed by Lesley with pianist Darryl Tookes as a duet. The show closer, You Don't Own Me, a pre-feminist rebel anthem to be sure and one of Gore's many hits from 1964, brought the house down. Don't tell me these opening lines don't bring you chills: "You don't own me, I'm not just one of your many toys / You don't own me, don't say I can't go with other boys" (check out this vintage performance of the song from YouTube). The audience gave Ms. Gore the standing ovation she deserved as the song came to an end. We may not own her, but in that moment she definitely owned us.
March 28, 2010: Entertainment Weekly.com, Owen Gleiberman. "The TAMI Show's out on DVD for the first time, it's a 60's rock revelation!
(Lesley Gore)...... "she's incredible! A one-woman powerhouse! Standing in the spotlight, Gore turns "You Don't Own Me" into a searing manifesto, The Feminine Mystique squeezed into three soaring minutes."
November 20, 2009: Lesley at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
The set list:
Travel On
I Love Being Here With You
Hit Medley
Out Here On My Own
Love Me by Name
Love at Last You Have Found Me
Reunited (with Clint Holmes)
Why I Sing (solo by Clint Holmes sung to Lesley)
Viva La Vida (Coldplay song)
Crazy Carousel (Jacques Brel)
How Insensitive (with Sandro Albert)
Hey That's No Way to Say Goodbye
Imagine (with Smooch)
(Everything I Do) I Do It for You
It Took A Long Time
You Don't Own Me
Feinstein's at the Regency, NYC, May 9, 2009..... Reviewed by Jim Allio
Lesley's show was fabulous. The only repeats from February's Yoshi's shows were the hits, "Out Here on My Own," and the Anita O'Day cover. This was a smoky, very seriously jazzy show perfectly suited to the Feinstein's ambiance, and Lesley's voice and presence were flawless. She torched it up for much of the show, singing the slow paced jazz imbued ballads we love to hear her do. Her band, led by the estimable Louis St. Louis, was outstanding, especially Mark Bergman (I think) on synths who stopped the show more than once with his sensitive and fierce playing. This time out, she had three male back up singers who were terrific, led by the superb Daryl Jovan Williams held it down effortlessly. There was a section on the "How Insensitive/Goodbye" medley when they captured Jobim perfectly, and the duet on Peaches and Herb's "Reunited" between Lesley and Williams was dynamite.
Personal highlights were a superb "Little Girl Blue," sinuous "Cool Web," riveting "Something Cool," and of course the "Nightingale" and "How Insensitive" tour de force.
Don't know if Lesley will be taking this partiucular act on the road, but if she does, do not miss it!
The set list: I Love Being Here With You, Never Gonna Give You Up, The Way You Look Tonight, Little Girl Blue, Medley: Sunshine Lollipops and Rainbows/Maybe I Know/It's My Party/She's a Fool/Judy's Turn to Cry, Out Here on My Own, Cool Web, Something Cool, That's All, Reunited, A Nightingale Sang in Barkley Square, Medley: How Insensitive/That's No Way to Say Goodbye, You Don't Own Me.Met Set List 11-20-09
Yoshi's, San Francisco, CA, Feb. 13, 2009...... Reviewed by Jim Allio
I had the pleasure of attending both Yoshi's performances last night and Lesley put on an outstanding show. The first, which had the club filled at or near capacity, drew several standing ovations. The crowd was beyond impressed with the variety and range of material she did, and following the first show, she signed CD's, tickets and anything else the audience had brought. Unlike some venues, Yoshi's signing area was not organized so it was like a mini mob scene with people pushing and jostling. Lesley took the time to connect with everyone who wanted to. The second show contained the entire musical content of the first show minus much of the between-songs patter as the fan meet-and-greet took longer than expected and the show had a late start. She skipped the encore, and the announced autograph session after that show did not happen. Lesley was in incredible voice and very funny last night. I felt very fortunate to be there and grateful that the most magical singer I know is still working and better than ever. Her focus and technique is so sharp it's sometimes like witnessing a masters class in voice. Several people commented on her concentration, especially on the ballads and the Gershwin number, calling it "trance-like" and "riveting."
The set list: The Way You Do the Things You Do/More Today Than Yesterday, She's a Fool, Judy's Turn to Cry, Ever Since, Deja Vu, Blowin' in the Wind, Sunshine Lollipops and Rainbows, Maybe I Know, Words We Don't Say, Fascinating Rhythm, Out Here on My Own, What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?, I Never Meant to Hurt You, A Nightingale Sang in Barkley Square, Imagine, It's My Party, You Don't Own Me, Encore: I Do It For You.
The whole show was great, but the section that began with Words We Don't Say and ending with Nightingale Sang was amazing. I wasn't even aware I was breathing for that entire tour-de-force. If you get a chance to catch this latest act, make a point to do so. You won't regret it!
"Girl Talk with Bonus Tracks" (CD), April 23, 2014 review: www.theseconddisc.com/2014/04/23/isnt-that-the-look-of-love-ace-reissues-and-expands-lesley-gores-girl-talk
"Magic Colors The Lost Album....," July 13, 2011, CD review on Amazon.com by Jim Allio
http://www.amazon.com/review/R128C06HL28SA3/ref=cm_cr_dp_perm?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B00000DN2T&nodeID=5174&tag=&linkCode=
Palm Springs Follies, Palm Springs, CA, Jan. 5-March 5, 2011. Reviewed by Don Grigware, BroadwayWorld
What better guest star than 60s pop legend Lesley Gore, who still looks fantastic and sings her fanny off! In her 20 minute set she performs "Sunshine, Lollipops, and Rainbows", "Judy's Turn to Cry", "She's a Fool", "Maybe I Know", and of course gold hits "It's My Party", which rocketed her to stardom in 1963 at 16 years of age, and "You Don't Own Me". Gore, really for the first time, sang what a teenage girl was thinking and feeling, helping to set precedents for feminine causes. She remains a truly remarkable performer.
Joe's Pub, New York City: April 22, 2010. Reviewed by Holly Cara Price, The Huffington Post
Lesley Gore proved herself once again to be the little lady with the very big voice at Joe's Pub in Manhattan on April 22. Rock & Roll History Lesson in a Nutshell: Lesley, at the tender age of sixteen, was discovered by famed producer Quincy Jones, who brought her to Mercury Records in 1963. She recorded the song It's My Party which was a #1 hit, followed by many other successful songs (Judy's Turn To Cry, You Don't Own Me, Maybe I Know, to name but a few).
As it happens, the long awaited T.A.M.I. Show from 1964 was finally released on DVD last month. Along with James Brown, Chuck Berry, the Miracles, Marvin Gaye, the Supremes, and the Rolling Stones, Lesley Gore headlined that concert at Santa Monica Civic Auditorium and performs six songs in the film - kicking ass and taking names along with the best of them.
A terrific four piece band consisting of Darryl Tookes on piano, Frank DeMaio on guitar, John Arbo on bass and Frank Pagano on drums, backed up Ms. Gore as she exercised her considerable chops on material as diverse as cabaret, Motown, contemporary rock, jazz, and of course her own hits. Gore entertained the audience with quips about her life and career throughout: "We recorded this one on a Saturday afternoon, it was released on a Monday" about It's My Party.
One of the set's many standouts was Jacques Brel's Carousel which showed off the band's musicianship and their ability to work in tandem with Gore's lead vocal. Another was Gore's read of Anita O'Day's A Nightingle Sang in Berkeley Square. It's My Party was fun and fresh as new as we rediscovered wonderful lyrics like: "Judy and Johnny just walked through the door / Like a queen with her king / Oh what a birthday surprise / Judy's wearing his ring." Solo on piano, she performed the ballad Out Here On My Own, written with brother Michael, which was nominated for an Academy Award from the movie Fame.
John Lennon's Imagine was beautifully performed by Lesley with pianist Darryl Tookes as a duet. The show closer, You Don't Own Me, a pre-feminist rebel anthem to be sure and one of Gore's many hits from 1964, brought the house down. Don't tell me these opening lines don't bring you chills: "You don't own me, I'm not just one of your many toys / You don't own me, don't say I can't go with other boys" (check out this vintage performance of the song from YouTube). The audience gave Ms. Gore the standing ovation she deserved as the song came to an end. We may not own her, but in that moment she definitely owned us.
March 28, 2010: Entertainment Weekly.com, Owen Gleiberman. "The TAMI Show's out on DVD for the first time, it's a 60's rock revelation!
(Lesley Gore)...... "she's incredible! A one-woman powerhouse! Standing in the spotlight, Gore turns "You Don't Own Me" into a searing manifesto, The Feminine Mystique squeezed into three soaring minutes."
November 20, 2009: Lesley at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
The set list:
Travel On
I Love Being Here With You
Hit Medley
Out Here On My Own
Love Me by Name
Love at Last You Have Found Me
Reunited (with Clint Holmes)
Why I Sing (solo by Clint Holmes sung to Lesley)
Viva La Vida (Coldplay song)
Crazy Carousel (Jacques Brel)
How Insensitive (with Sandro Albert)
Hey That's No Way to Say Goodbye
Imagine (with Smooch)
(Everything I Do) I Do It for You
It Took A Long Time
You Don't Own Me
Feinstein's at the Regency, NYC, May 9, 2009..... Reviewed by Jim Allio
Lesley's show was fabulous. The only repeats from February's Yoshi's shows were the hits, "Out Here on My Own," and the Anita O'Day cover. This was a smoky, very seriously jazzy show perfectly suited to the Feinstein's ambiance, and Lesley's voice and presence were flawless. She torched it up for much of the show, singing the slow paced jazz imbued ballads we love to hear her do. Her band, led by the estimable Louis St. Louis, was outstanding, especially Mark Bergman (I think) on synths who stopped the show more than once with his sensitive and fierce playing. This time out, she had three male back up singers who were terrific, led by the superb Daryl Jovan Williams held it down effortlessly. There was a section on the "How Insensitive/Goodbye" medley when they captured Jobim perfectly, and the duet on Peaches and Herb's "Reunited" between Lesley and Williams was dynamite.
Personal highlights were a superb "Little Girl Blue," sinuous "Cool Web," riveting "Something Cool," and of course the "Nightingale" and "How Insensitive" tour de force.
Don't know if Lesley will be taking this partiucular act on the road, but if she does, do not miss it!
The set list: I Love Being Here With You, Never Gonna Give You Up, The Way You Look Tonight, Little Girl Blue, Medley: Sunshine Lollipops and Rainbows/Maybe I Know/It's My Party/She's a Fool/Judy's Turn to Cry, Out Here on My Own, Cool Web, Something Cool, That's All, Reunited, A Nightingale Sang in Barkley Square, Medley: How Insensitive/That's No Way to Say Goodbye, You Don't Own Me.Met Set List 11-20-09
Yoshi's, San Francisco, CA, Feb. 13, 2009...... Reviewed by Jim Allio
I had the pleasure of attending both Yoshi's performances last night and Lesley put on an outstanding show. The first, which had the club filled at or near capacity, drew several standing ovations. The crowd was beyond impressed with the variety and range of material she did, and following the first show, she signed CD's, tickets and anything else the audience had brought. Unlike some venues, Yoshi's signing area was not organized so it was like a mini mob scene with people pushing and jostling. Lesley took the time to connect with everyone who wanted to. The second show contained the entire musical content of the first show minus much of the between-songs patter as the fan meet-and-greet took longer than expected and the show had a late start. She skipped the encore, and the announced autograph session after that show did not happen. Lesley was in incredible voice and very funny last night. I felt very fortunate to be there and grateful that the most magical singer I know is still working and better than ever. Her focus and technique is so sharp it's sometimes like witnessing a masters class in voice. Several people commented on her concentration, especially on the ballads and the Gershwin number, calling it "trance-like" and "riveting."
The set list: The Way You Do the Things You Do/More Today Than Yesterday, She's a Fool, Judy's Turn to Cry, Ever Since, Deja Vu, Blowin' in the Wind, Sunshine Lollipops and Rainbows, Maybe I Know, Words We Don't Say, Fascinating Rhythm, Out Here on My Own, What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?, I Never Meant to Hurt You, A Nightingale Sang in Barkley Square, Imagine, It's My Party, You Don't Own Me, Encore: I Do It For You.
The whole show was great, but the section that began with Words We Don't Say and ending with Nightingale Sang was amazing. I wasn't even aware I was breathing for that entire tour-de-force. If you get a chance to catch this latest act, make a point to do so. You won't regret it!