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| Ethel Waters' stunning 'Supper Time' with Diana Ross | |
| Posted by: DistantDrumming 11:55 pm EDT 05/21/23 | |
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| Sometimes the YouTube algorithm gods send you something wonderful you wouldn't have found yourself. Tonight they did that when I logged in to aimlessly browse through a few musical selections while making dinner. And got instantly transfixed by this performance of Supper Time, by Ethel Waters on what appears to be be a variety special hosted by a young Diana Ross. I'm guessing this is from the mid 60s? It's certainly decades after Waters would have first performed the song. I've heard a beautiful recording or two of her performing the song when younger, but this performance is a stunner. It's also beautifully shot. That final image as the camera pulls back from her, the "hallway" seemingly extending into infinity and Waters left weeping into her towel as the lights dim? Gorgeous. Anyone here see Ethel Waters perform in her later years? She seemed like such a fascinating woman, too -- from her difficult childhood (to say the least) to her work in the theatre, to being the first female Black lead of a TV sitcom, the second Black woman nominated for an Oscar. Supper Time has always sounded very Arlen and Gershwin to me. In fact, I thought it was one their works the first time I heard it years ago. Regardless, this feels like the perfect marriage of song and performer. |
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| Link | Ethel Waters - Supper Time - Sometime in the 60s? |
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| Here she is singing CABIN IN THE SKY in 1976 | |
| Last Edit: Teacher64 09:54 pm EDT 05/22/23 | |
| Posted by: Teacher64 09:54 pm EDT 05/22/23 | |
| In reply to: Ethel Waters' stunning 'Supper Time' with Diana Ross - DistantDrumming 11:55 pm EDT 05/21/23 | |
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| Here is Ethel being interviewed by Mike Douglas. He gets her to sing CABIN IN THE SKY and it is riveting. What a talent. | |
| Link | Ethel Waters CABIN |
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| re: Here she is singing CABIN IN THE SKY in 1976 | |
| Posted by: DistantDrumming 01:43 am EDT 05/23/23 | |
| In reply to: Here she is singing CABIN IN THE SKY in 1976 - Teacher64 09:54 pm EDT 05/22/23 | |
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| Thank you for posting that. What a wonderful energy she exudes, too. There's such warmth and confidence there. | |
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| Thanks for posting that link (nm) | |
| Posted by: AlanScott 12:30 am EDT 05/23/23 | |
| In reply to: Here she is singing CABIN IN THE SKY in 1976 - Teacher64 09:54 pm EDT 05/22/23 | |
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| The Ethel Waters Theatre? | |
| Last Edit: BringItOn 01:16 pm EDT 05/22/23 | |
| Posted by: BringItOn 01:16 pm EDT 05/22/23 | |
| In reply to: Ethel Waters' stunning 'Supper Time' with Diana Ross - DistantDrumming 11:55 pm EDT 05/21/23 | |
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| Forgive me if this was discussed before, but I'm hankering to know: When the Brooks Atkinson Theatre was going to be renamed for a black theatre artist, did Ethel Waters' name ever come up? Nothing against the magnificent Lena Horne, who did one Broadway musical, and one record-breaking concert, but Ethel Waters' theatrical career was substantial, and frequently groundbreaking, with a least FIVE major credits: Blackbirds, As Thousands Cheer, At Home Abroad, Cabin in the Sky and The Member of the Wedding. Seems like a more appropriate renaming. |
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| re: Ethel Waters' stunning 'Supper Time' with Diana Ross | |
| Posted by: Billhaven 08:55 am EDT 05/22/23 | |
| In reply to: Ethel Waters' stunning 'Supper Time' with Diana Ross - DistantDrumming 11:55 pm EDT 05/21/23 | |
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| Irving Berlin wrote 3 classic numbers for Waters in his score for As Thousands Cheer. Supper Time, Heat Wave and Harlem on my Mind. | |
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| re: Ethel Waters' stunning 'Supper Time' with Diana Ross | |
| Posted by: PlazaBoy 02:07 am EDT 05/22/23 | |
| In reply to: Ethel Waters' stunning 'Supper Time' with Diana Ross - DistantDrumming 11:55 pm EDT 05/21/23 | |
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| That's intense. I thought it was Arlen for a long time. Probably because I first heard Streisand's version and she is such an Arlen fan. It was years until I learned the context and meaning of the song. As a side note, I always admired how even though Ross was a pop sensation, she dove deep into The Great American Songbook. I know that was not uncommon in the 60s, but she seemed to do it more than other pop artists of her genre and she excelled at it. All that before she made Lady Sings The Blues. She made a great album called Blue in the early 70s that was released years later. It's quite wonderful. |
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| re: Ethel Waters' stunning 'Supper Time' with Diana Ross | |
| Last Edit: toros 09:08 am EDT 05/22/23 | |
| Posted by: toros 09:07 am EDT 05/22/23 | |
| In reply to: re: Ethel Waters' stunning 'Supper Time' with Diana Ross - PlazaBoy 02:07 am EDT 05/22/23 | |
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| It was Motown, not just Ms. Ross, who dove into the Great American Songbook. The Supremes released two excellent albums, "The Supremes Sing Rodgers and Hart" and "Diana Ross and The Supremes Sing and Perform Funny Girl," both later released on CD in an Expanded Editions. Their live shows (and many Motown artists' live shows), as well as television appearances, included at least a few songs from the Songbook. Marvin Gaye's "When I'm Alone I Cry," The Temptations "In A Mellow Mood," The Four Tops' "Lost and Found," "Motown Celebrates Sinatra" and others are entirely devoted to Songbook songs, and Anthologies by Billy Eckstine, Barbara McNair, Mary Wells, Brenda Holloway and others all contain Songbook tracks. At the time, Motown was accused of trying to "cross over" by recording these songs, but most are excellent interpretations. | |
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| re: Ethel Waters' stunning 'Supper Time' with Diana Ross | |
| Posted by: PlazaBoy 02:58 pm EDT 05/22/23 | |
| In reply to: re: Ethel Waters' stunning 'Supper Time' with Diana Ross - toros 09:07 am EDT 05/22/23 | |
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| Yes, excellent point to acknowledge Motown. I didn't call that out in my post. In my mind that is baked in when you are talking about Diana Ross. Thanks for mentioning Billy Eckstine. Haven't listened to him in years and I really love his voice. Time to get reacquainted. Link below to a clip of the Supremes Rodgers and Hart material. |
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| Link | The Original Supremes perform Rodgers and Hart [1967]! |
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| re: Ethel Waters' stunning 'Supper Time' with Diana Ross | |
| Posted by: TheOtherOne 08:24 pm EDT 05/22/23 | |
| In reply to: re: Ethel Waters' stunning 'Supper Time' with Diana Ross - PlazaBoy 02:58 pm EDT 05/22/23 | |
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| Thank you for sharing this clip! I love The Supremes Sing Rodgers and Hart, it's a wonderful album, but I had never seen this before. | |
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| re: Ethel Waters' stunning 'Supper Time' with Diana Ross | |
| Posted by: DistantDrumming 08:26 am EDT 05/22/23 | |
| In reply to: re: Ethel Waters' stunning 'Supper Time' with Diana Ross - PlazaBoy 02:07 am EDT 05/22/23 | |
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| Thanks for the tip on 'Blue'. Will be saving that album on Spotify! | |
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| re: Ethel Waters' stunning 'Supper Time' with Diana Ross | |
| Last Edit: AlanScott 12:40 am EDT 05/22/23 | |
| Posted by: AlanScott 12:34 am EDT 05/22/23 | |
| In reply to: Ethel Waters' stunning 'Supper Time' with Diana Ross - DistantDrumming 11:55 pm EDT 05/21/23 | |
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| Thanks for posting that link. I hadn't watched that in a few years. It is indeed a stunning performance and, yes, beautifully shot, all in one long shot, so opposite of what we almost invariably see today. By the way, it's from Hollywood Palace in 1969. |
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| Link | Hollywood Palace - Diana Ross, Ethel Waters (1969) |
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| re: Ethel Waters' stunning 'Supper Time' with Diana Ross | |
| Posted by: DistantDrumming 08:26 am EDT 05/22/23 | |
| In reply to: re: Ethel Waters' stunning 'Supper Time' with Diana Ross - AlanScott 12:34 am EDT 05/22/23 | |
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| Thanks for identifying the source and the timing! | |
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| re: Ethel Waters' stunning 'Supper Time' with Diana Ross | |
| Posted by: huskyital (huskyital@yahoo.com) 07:58 am EDT 05/22/23 | |
| In reply to: re: Ethel Waters' stunning 'Supper Time' with Diana Ross - AlanScott 12:34 am EDT 05/22/23 | |
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| I guess you can't sing this song in Florida and I guess they won't be celebrating Juneteenth. | |
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