Neil Sedaka admitted to Billboard magazine in 2010 that “I’m a crier.” Well, I am too, and Sedaka got me from the moment he walked on stage and sat down and sang what is possibly my favourite of his songs: One More Ride on the Merry-Go Round. Recorded back in the day by Peggy Lee, Sedaka’s own version has always been more compelling, not in any small way due to the fact that he includes an extra verse. With the singer-songwriter now aged 78, one could be forgiven for thinking that the show would be one last ride on the merry-go-round, and yet, for the most part, he sounds little different, and the version of the song from last night sounds virtually the same as the one recorded for the criminally out-of-print live album from 1977, Neil Sedaka and Songs, if perhaps the voice is now a little darker (note that the “CD” pictured in the Youtube video is not official). Does this 78-year-old sound any older? Yes, a little. He now sounds all of 50.
One More Ride is a melancholy start to a concert but does give way to Standing on the Inside and The Miracle Song, with the latter not performed in 2012 when I saw Sedaka at the Royal Albert Hall the first time, if memory serves me correctly. Again, this lush sweeping melody is sung beautifully. Sure, a couple of melody notes are changed to allow for a slightly narrower vocal range, but essentially nothing has changed.
The run of early hits was given more attention this time around. I seem to recall that some were abridged back in 2012, but not only were they sung with in full tonight, and with particular attention, Oh Carol even got an encore. Likewise, Where the Boys Are gets a full and passionate outing, with no apologies from the singer for the performance of what was essentially a woman’s song, and it was all done far less self-consciously than on the aforementioned 1977 LP. Tonight, alas, there was no I Go Ape, or, indeed, the slow version of Breaking Up Is Hard to Do, but when you’ve written 600 songs (that’s ten a year in a 60 year career!), you can’t do them all.
Despite his permanently cheerful demeanour and good humour, I prefer my Neil Sedaka singing about lost love, desolation and missed opportunities. The Hungry Years is still the saddest song I know, Solitaire is still devastating, and Going Nowhere makes me bawl like a baby each time I hear it. It was good too hear Superbird, too, another song of innocence lost – and, in a twist, regained. Cheerful Neil also put in an appearance as he shimmied around the stage to Do You Remember in a slightly absurd, but disarming, fashion. Sedaka takes his songs and his craft seriously, but not always himself.
But that also has its downsides. That happy demeanour and self-deprecating humour also means that he isn’t always taken as seriously as he should be. One can only wonder why this genius of songwriting hasn’t been rediscovered by the hip, cool cats of the student crowd. Are there any more fitting songs for 2017 than Going Nowhere or The Immigrant? One can only feel that so many people are missing out. Oh, to see Sedaka at Glastonbury in the legends slot. And in that rock ‘n’ roll hall of fame. Why he isn’t there is anybody’s guess.
Neil was on stage for 105 minutes, and performed well over two dozen songs. Just him and his piano. The connection with the audience was instant, and he held us in the palm of his hands all evening. Faults? Not really, although it would be nice if there was more time to explore some of the darker recesses of the back catalogue. There are dozens of songs that are hidden away, and I for one would love to hear Stephen, My World Keeps Getting Smaller Everyday, Is Anybody Going to Miss You, Lonely Nights, or The Leaving Game – a song that should have been a hit, but was wasted as the B-side of Amarillo. But you can only sing so much in one night.
It is almost criminal how much of the back catalogue is out of print, and never released on CD, and it is something that needs to be put right. Albums such as Neil Sedaka and Songs, In the Pocket, A Song, All You Need is the Music, Neil Sedaka Now, and Come See About Me are all more than deserving of a CD release.
What perhaps is really needed is a definitive career-spanning boxed set, but Sedaka greatest hits packages of the past suggest that the various labels are unable or unwilling to work together, with (albeit very good) remakes of the 50s and 60s hits more often than not replacing the originals in recent years. Here’s hoping that boxed set might eventually happen, collecting not only the hits but the multitude of other great songs that have been on albums and now are, perhaps temporarily, forgotten. Until then, Sedaka will continue to do what he does best, entertaining audience with his remarkable catalogue of songs. There was a suggestion on a TV show appearance a couple of weeks ago that this might be the last UK tour. Going by the strength of the voice last night (much stronger than on the TV shows a fortnight ago, I might add), I wouldn’t be surprised if he returned for another ride on that merry-go-round – after all playing The Leaving Game isn’t easy.
Postscript
Given the terror attack in London just three days earlier, all credit to the staff and crew at the Royal Albert Hall last night for making people feel as safe as they could possibly be through bag searches etc. I’m sure I’m not the only one who appreciated that outward show of being security conscious. As always, the staff at the RAH are some of the most friendly and helpful I have yet come across in a theatre environment.
As a final comment – if you’re at a concert such as this: turn your bloody phones off. An atmosphere in a concert hall/theatre can be easily spoilt by little lights going on everywhere as budding Alfred Hitchcock’s think it would be fun to start filming. PUT THEM AWAY! If all else fails, perhaps singers should start saying “right, you can film the next song. Everyone who wants to film, do it now for the next performance, and then put the damned things away!”
Songs performed (from memory, and in no particular order, but I think complete!)
One More Ride on the Merry-Go-Round
Standing on the Inside
The Miracle Song
Alone at Last
Oh Carol
Breaking Up is Hard to Do
Next Door to an Angel
Calendar Girl
Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen
The Queen of 1964
Stairway to Heaven
Where the Boys Are
Solitaire
Laughter in the Rain
Superbird
The Hungry Years
Betty Grable
Going Nowhere
Trying to Say Goodbye
You
Do You Remember
Amarillo
Love Will Keep Us Together
That’s When the Music Takes Me
I Do It For Applause
Beyond Boundaries 