World Without Love revisited

Last night we made it to Dakota Jazz Club and Restaurant in downtown Minneapolis for the first of Peter Asher’s two nights at the club performing his show A Musical Memoir of the 60s and Beyond. The show returns tonight at 7:00 p.m. and tickets are still available.

Last year we went to the show on a lark and were blown away by Peter’s incredibly entertaining musical review of times past. This year we brought along friends including John and Loree Hinderaker for the ride.

I do believe a good time was had by all. John declared himself satisfied after Peter opened the show with “I Go To Pieces,” the early 1965 Peter and Gordon hit written by Del Shannon. This year’s edition of the show included Peter’s recently discovered tape of Paul McCartney teaching him how to sing “World Without Love” and a surprise appearance by Denny Laine, formerly of the Moody Blues and Wings, who came out of the audience to sing his old Moody Blues hit “Go Now.” I don’t know if he’ll be back for tonight’s show, but I wouldn’t be surprised.

We stayed around after the show as Asher graciously took a spot at a table to sign posters and discs for fans. My wife Sally took the opportunity to get a picture with him. He graciously indulged all comers and stayed until the room emptied.

The band members came out and talked to audience members as well. I reconnected with bass player Bill Cinque, who is a real gentleman. As I chatted with Bill after the show last year he ran back to the dressing room to present me with a copy of The Amazing Adventures of a Marginally Successful Musician, his humorous memoir cum self-help book. This year I told him how much I had enjoyed it. Please check it out at the Amazon link or at Bill’s Web site.

We asked Bill if we could take a picture with him. John took the photo of Loree, me and Sally with Bill. We were slightly happy.

Last year I chatted with Bill about the Buddy Holly tribute show that Asher produced for PBS in connection with the tribute album recorded in honor of what would have been Holly’s seventy-fifth birthday. (Peter also talks about it as part of the show. It is occasionally rebroadcast during PBS fundraising weeks.)

When Peter recruited Leland Sklar — “the world’s best bass player,” according to Bill — to play for the PBS show, he found a place for Bill by enlisting him to vocalize with the beautiful young backup singers. Bill suggested that those into pattern recognition would realize he didn’t quite fit. “That’s just the kind of generous man he is,” Bill said, and I think that’s the quality that shines through Asher’s terrific show. Highly recommended.

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