Gig review: Ben E King, The Arches, Glasgow

BENJAMIN Earl King, one of the last surviving soul legends, marks half a century as a solo artist this year, though his show also reflects his early time served in the Drifters, with a selection of their mellifluous doo-wop hits.

King is a gentleman crooner rather than soul shouter, so he runs a relatively sedate operation which led off with a languid, self-regarding jazz-funk intro and some interminable blues noodling from his smooth band, which all but strangled the mood before the main man had even reached the stage.

When he did show up to his own party, King was an immediately engaging host though not a commanding vocal presence, offering clipped phrasing on How Sweet It Is, drifting far from the original melody of Up On The Roof and making a chore of On Broadway.

Loungey renditions of Save The Last Dance For Me, Spanish Harlem and This Magic Moment, with cooing backing vocals and gentle wafts of brass, had more the flavour of a corporate engagement than a club show, but a 1970s funk interlude afforded the locally sourced horn section something to get their teeth into and suited King’s reduced range.

The dancing began in earnest to the northern soul swing of Don’t Play That Song (You Lied), while audience members tussled to win a dedication from King ahead of his signature song, the immortal Stand By Me.

There have surely been better renditions of this classic, but the sincerity of emotion carried the day.

Rating: **