(Editor’s note: This tape was reviewed by Adrian Whicker. The editors gratefully acknowledge his invaluable assistance.)
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Song 1 “Port Kaituma/Jonestown Funk” Instrumental jam
Song 2: “Jungle Jam” Instrumental jam
(Tape edit)
Song 3: “That’s the Way of the World” by Earth, Wind & Fire
Female singer: (possibly Deanna Wilkinson)
(Sings) That’s the way of the world
Hearts of fire create love desire
Hearts of fire create love desire
High and higher to your throne you belong
We come together on this special day
Well, well
To bring our message loud and clear
Looking back, we’ve touched on sorrowful days
Well
With future, future disappear
You will find peace of mind
If you look way down, down, down, down in your heart and soul
Don’t hesitate, ’cause the world seems cold
Stay young at heart, and you’re never, never, never old
That’s the way of the world
That’s the way
Hearts of fire create love desire
Hearts of fire create love desire
Take you higher, to your place on the throne,
Well, well, well
We come together on this special, special day, well, well
With future loud and clear
Looking back, we’ve touched on sorrowful days,
Well, well, well, well
With future disappear
You will find peace of mind
If you look away down, down in your heart and soul
Don’t hesitate ’cause the world seems cold
Stay young at heart, and you’ll never, never, never grow old
(Scats briefly)
Well, well, well, well, mercy, mercy, mercy, mercy (hums)
You will find peace of mind
If you look way down in your heart and soul
Don’t hesitate ’cause the world seems cold
Stay young at heart, and you’re never, never, never, never old
That’s the way, that’s the way of the world, of the world, of the world
Higher and higher, take you high, take you high, take you to your place on the throne
You will find peace of mind, mind, mind, well, well, well, mercy
Well, (scats)
Hearts of fire
(Tape edit)
Emcee: Good evening, everyone, I’d like to thank everybody for coming in tonight. Like to start the show off now with Miss Moms Mabley, like to bring her to the stage, a very, a very, very (unintelligible word) lady that I’m very proud of, Miss Moms Mabley. Can I have a hand of applause?
Crowd: Applauds
Song 4: Medley of “Moms Mabley Blues” and “Call It Stormy Monday” by T-Bone Walker
Moms Mabley: (Sings) Every day, every day I have the blues
(Speaks) I’m goin’ a little slow tonight, you know? (Chuckles) I pulled that hill a while ago, it ain’t too easy for an old soul.
(Sings) Every day, I feel the blues
You’ve got me worrying and crying, cause it’s you I hate to lose
(Speaks) You know everybody always teases my about my old man. Well, my old man wanted– I was a liv– I was a working on a live-in job, and my old man called me one morning and he said “honey, would you come home?” I said “what for?” He said “I’d like to have a little sex.” So, I put on my hat, I grabbed my umberella, ‘cause it was raining outside, and I went home. When I walked in, he said “April Fool!” Ooh, I was so mad, I went to the bedroom and I got a gun and I shot him. When I went to court, the judge said to me, “Moms, did you shoot him in self defense?” I said “No, your honor, I shot him in the ass and he jumped the fence.”
Crowd: Applause
Mabley: (Speaks) You know, when he died, I had him cremated. I knew that was the only way he’d ever get hot.
Crowd: Laughter
Mabley: He wasn’t always an old man, though. We used to have some fun together. I remember once, right after we married, we were going on a honeymoon. (Fumbles with mic) Uh-oh. (chuckles) And so, my husband was very excited, we just had left the wedding, he got on the– we got on the train. When the conductor came by, my husband gave him the marriage certificate. The conductor looked at it and said “Man, this’ll get you a lot of ridin’ but not on this train.”
Crowd: Laughter
Mabley: (Sings) They call it stormy Monday, Tuesday’s just the same
They call it stormy Monday, Tuesday’s just the same
Thursday is so bad, that day is awful sad
(Speaks) You know, when my first baby was born, my husband came to the hospital, and he ran up to the nurse, she was coming down the hall with a baby, he said, “I’m so glad it’s a boy, it’s a boy!” She said, “Take your hands off this baby,” said “it’s a girl, it ain’t your baby, and turn a loose my finger.”
Crowd: Laughter
Mabley: (Speaks) Oh yeah, we used to have a lot of fun. Now when we– we went on our vacation, oh, on this honeymoon, well, we went down in the country, and it was during Depression times, everybody had bought a jackass, everybody, even the children were on asses. So, we went to church one night, everybody rode their jack, and unfortunately there was a big storm, the lightning was flashing, it hit the church. Well, everybody went out on their ass, and the preacher jumped out the window, he missed his ass and jumped in the hole. So, the moral is, the preacher didn’t know his ass from the hole in the ground.
Crowd: Applause and laughter
Mabley: (Sings) Now the eagle flies on Friday, Saturday I go out to play
Well the eagle flies on Friday, Saturday I go out to play
Well come Sunday morning I fall on my knees and pray
Oh, I say, Lord, have mercy, yes, Lord have mercy on me
Lord, have mercy, Lord have mercy on me
He’s worrying and crying, my heart’s in (tape glitch) misery
Crowd: Applause
Song 5: “Stand By Me” by Ben E. King
Julius Evans: (sings) When the night has come
And the land is dark
And the moon is the only light we’ll see
I won’t cry, I won’t cry
No, I won’t shed a tear
Just as long as you stand
Stand by me
Darlin’, darlin’
Stand by me, oh, stand by me
Oh, stand, stand by me
Stand by me
When the moon we look upon
Should tumble and fall
Or the mountain should crumble to the sea
I won’t cry, I won’t cry
No, I won’t, no, shed a tear
Just as long as you stand by me
Darlin’, darlin’
Stand, stand by me, oh, stand by me
Oh, stand, stand by me
When the moon we look upon
Tumble and fall
And the mountain should crumble into the sea
I won’t cry, I won’t cry
No, I won’t, no, shed a tear
Oh, just as long as you stand by me
Oh, stand by me
Oh, stand by me
Oh, stand by me
Yeah,
Oh, stand by me
Oh, stand by me
Oh, stand, stand by me
(Humming)
Oh, stand
One more time
If the moon we look upon
Should tumble and fall
Or the mountain should tumble into the sea
I won’t cry, I won’t cry
No, I won’t, no, shed a tear
Just as long as you stand
Stand by me
Yeah
Oh, stand by me
Oh, stand by me
Oh, stand, stand, stand by me
Crowd: Applause
(tape edit)
Song 6: “Love’s in Need of Love Today” by Stevie Wonder
Evans: (Sings) Good morn– or evening friends
I’m your friendly announcer
I have serious news to pass on
To everybody
What I’m about to say
Could mean the world’s disaster
Could change your joy and laughter
To tears and pain
It’s that love’s in need of love today
Don’t delay, send yours in right away
Hate’s goin’ ’round, it’s breakin’ many hearts
Stop it please, before it’s gone too far
The force of evil plans
To make you its possession
And it will if we let it
Destroy everybody
We all must take
Precautionary measures
If love and peace you treasure
Then you’ll hear me when I say
Oh, oh that, love’s in need of love today
Don’t delay
Send yours in right away
Hate’s goin’ ’round, it’s breakin’ many hearts
Stop it please, before it’s gone too far
It’s up to you, ‘cause love’s in need of love today
Don’t delay
Send yours in right away
You know thaqt Hate’s goin’ ’round, Hate’s goin’ ’round, Hate’s goin’ ’round
and it’s tryin’ to destroy
But you’ve got to, I’ve got to, we’ve got to, yeah, get it together
It’s up to you because love’s in need of love today
Don’t delay
Send yours in right away
(Humming)
Crowd: Applause
(tape edit)
Song 7: “Golden Time of Day” by Maze
Evans: (Sings) There’s a time of the day when the sun settles down
That’s the golden time of day
When the sun reaches off and it spurs a golden glow
That’s the golden time of day
Ooh ooh ooh ooh
There’s a time of the day when your heart reach a golden glow
Don’t it make it you feel okay?
And in your mind you will find you’re a bright shining star
Don’t it make it you feel okay?
Ooh ooh ooh ooh
(tape edit)
Ooh ooh ooh ooh
Sunny days, can’t you see, shining for you and me
Sunny days, can’t you see, shining for you and me
Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh
Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh
Ooh ooh ooh
Crowd: Applause
(tape edit)
Emcee: All right now, I’m pleased to bring the Variations– I’d like to bring The Variations to the stage, singing “I’ll Take You There.”
(Band begins the instrumental portion of song)
Female voice: Hold it, hold it, hold it, hold it.
(tape edit)
Song 8: “Diarrhea” by The Variations
(Sings) Di– Diarrhea, oh yeah, it’s a thing that cause a whole lot of shame
Brothers, sisters, when you feel that ooze,
You know you’ve got to move,
It’ll make you run real fast,
It’ll cause you to hold your ass;
Di– diarrhea, oh yeah, it’s a thing that cause a whole lot of shame
Just when you think you’re in control,
You feel a movement in your hole
You think you farting but that’s not it,
You look down it’s pure D shit;
Di– diarrhea, oh yeah, it’s a thing that cause a whole lot of shame
Oh yeah, it’s a thing that cause a whole lot of shame
Oh yeah, it’s a thing that cause a whole lot of shame
Female voice: Top of the morning, Shirley.
Song 9: “I’ll Take You There” by the Staples Singers
Edrena Demetria [Dee Dee] Smith: (sings) I know a place, yeah
Ain’t nobody crying
Ain’t nobody worried, no, no
Ain’t no smilin’ faces, uh-uh, naw, naw
Lyin’ to the races, yeah, uh-huh-huh
Help me, come on, come on
Somebody, help me now (I’ll take you there)
Woah-oh, Help me, y’all (I’ll take you there)
Woo!, Hey! Help me now (I’ll take you there)
(Speaks) Good evening ladies and gentlemen, we’d like to do a song for you called “I’ll Take You There.” Let me introduce The Variations: Variation number one: Cream & Sugar, take it down smooth, Coffee, Shirley.
(Sings) Oh! Yeah, help me, help me, help me, help me, help me, help me, help me, somebody help me now (I’ll take you there)
Oh! Oh! Help me y’all (I’ll take you there)
Woo! Hey, yeah, mm.
(Speaks) Variation number two, they call her Cush, ‘cause she’s so soft. Name is Velvet, Anita (Kelley, aka Ijames)!
(Sings) Uh, ah, yeah, help me, help me, help me, help me, help me, wow, mmmm, somebody help me now (I’ll take you there)
(Speaks) Variation number three, we’re glad to have her back (edit) she’s just like a tropical flower, smells good, looks good, woo! They call her Jasmine, Erin [Eichler]. Woo! Ah. She seems to be in good shape tonight, all right, all right, all right!
(Sings) Ah, help me, help me, help me, help me, help me, Somebody help me now (I’ll take you there)
(Sings) All right, now we got Variation number four, she’s a mystic, hard to find, Black Pearl (Dorothy Pearl Soloman), my –
Crowd: Calls out
Smith: Mercy, mercy, mercy, mercy, mercy, mercy, somebody help me now (I’ll take you there)
Woah-oh, Help me y’all (I’ll take you there)
(Speaks) Last but not least, you have your good luck charm, that’s me Dee
(Sings) (Seductive moaning) Ah-ah, help me, help me, help me, help me, help me
Uh-huh-hah
Do it y’all
Do it y’all
Do it y’all
Woo, hey, um
Do it y’all
Do it y’all
Do it y’all
Do it, Coffee
Do it, Jasmine
Let `em have it, Velvet
All right, all right, all right, all right, all right
Come on, Black Pearl, kick in
Help me, help me, help me, help me, help me, help me, somebody help me now,
I’ll take you there
Crowd: Applause
(tape edit)
Song 10: “Feel Like Making Love” by Roberta Flack
Female singer: (Sings) Strolling in the park, watching winter turn to spring
Walking in the dark, seeing lovers do their thing, ooh
That’s the time I feel like making love to you
That’s the time I feel like making dreams come true, oh babe
When you talk to me, when you’re moaning sweet and low
When you’re touching me and my feelings start to show, ooh
That’s the time I feel like making love to you
That’s the time I feel like making dreams come true, oh babe
In the restaurant, holding hands by candlelight
When I’m touching you, wanting you with all my might, ooh
That’s the time I feel like making love to you
That’s the time I feel like making dreams come true, oh babe
Oooh, That’s the (tape glitch) time I feel like making love to you
That’s the time I feel like making dreams come true, oh babe
Strolling in the park, watching winter turn to spring
Walking in the dark, seeing lovers do their thing, ooh
That’s the time I feel like making love to you
That’s the time I feel like making dreams come true, oh babe
That’s the time, you know, I feel like making love to you, oh babe
That’s the time, you know, I feel like making love to you, babe
That’s the time, you know, I feel like making love
Crowd: Applause
Song 11: “Love Hangover” by Diana Ross
Shirley Hicks: (Speaks) It’s entitled Love Hangover. Have you ever had one? Have you ever hangover?
(Sings) (Seductive breathing and moaning)
If there’s a cure for this
I don’t want it
I don’t want it
If there’s a cure for this
I don’t want it
I don’t want it
I think about it all the time
Thinking only makes me smile
And say, hey
I don’t wanna shake it
I don’t wanna shake it
If there’s a cure for this
I don’t want it
I don’t want it
If there’s a remedy
I’ll run from it
From it
I think about it all the time
Never let it out of my mind
‘Cause I love you
I’ve got the sweetest hangover
I don’t wanna get over
(The sweetest hangover)
Yeah
(I don’t wanna get over)
(I don’t wanna get, I don’t wanna get, I don’t wanna get over)
Wooo! I don’t want no cure
I don’t want no cure
I don’t need no cure
I don’t want no cure
Sweet, sweet love
Sweet, sweet love
I don’t want no cure
Don’t call my doctor
Don’t call my mama
Don’t call the preacher
I don’t need it, don’t want it
I don’t need no cure
I don’t need no cure
I don’t want no cure
Don’t call the doctor
Don’t call my mama
Don’t call my preacher
I don’t need it
Don’t want it
Woo!
Sweet, sweet love
Sweet, sweet love
I don’t want no cure
I don’t need no cure
Woo!
(Calls out) Okay, I’m gonna ask the audience to get up and join us, I want you to stand up on your feet. Let’s get into it
(Sings) I don’t want no cure
I don’t need no cure
I don’t want no cure
I don’t need no cure
Sweet, sweet love
Sweet, sweet love
I don’t need no cure
Don’t call my doctor
Don’t call my mama
Don’t call my preacher
I don’t need it
Don’t want it
Okay, girls, get it, uh-uh, (Sweet, sweet, sweet, sweet love)
(Sweet, sweet, sweet, sweet love)
I don’t need no cure
I don’t want no cure
(Sweet, sweet, sweet, sweet love)
Don’t call my doctor
Don’t call my mama
Don’t call my preacher
I don’t need it
Don’t want it
(Sweet, sweet, sweet, sweet love)
(Sweet, sweet, sweet, sweet love)
(Sweet, sweet, sweet, sweet love)
Now you have it, love hangover
(Sweet, sweet, sweet, sweet love)
Song 12: “Proud Mary,” by Creedence Clearwater Revival
Black male singer: I left a good job in the city
Working for the man every night and day
And I never lost a minute of sleeping
Worrying ’bout the way the things may have been
Big wheel keep on a-turnin’
Proud Mary keep on a-burnin’
Rollin’, rollin’, rollin’ on the river
If you come down to the river
Bet you gonna find some people who live
You don’t have to worry if you have no money
The peoples on the river are happy to give
Rollin’, rollin’, rollin’ on a river
Rollin’, rollin’, rollin’ on a river
Cleaned a lots of plates in Memphis
Worked lots of (unintelligible word) in New Orleans
But I never saw the good side of the city
Until I hitched a ride on a riverboat queen
You know that big wheel keep on turning
Proud Mary keep on burning
Rollin’, rollin’, rollin’ on a river
Rollin’, rollin’, rollin’ on a river
If you come down to the river
I bet you gonna find some people–
(Tape edit)
Crowd: Applause
Song 13: “Love Song,” by Elton John
Black female singer: (Sings) The words I have to say
Will be simple but they’re true
Until you give your love
There’s nothing more that we can do
Love is the opening door
Love is what we here for
No one could offer you more
Do you know what I mean?
Have your eyes really seen?
Yeah!
You say it’s very hard
To leave behind the life we knew
But there’s no other way
Now it’s really up to you
Love is the opening door
Love is what we came here for
No one can offer you more
Do you know what I mean?
Have your eyes ever seen?
Love is the key we must turn
Truth is the flame we must burn
Freedom is the lesson we must learn
Do you know what I mean?
Have your eyes ever seen?
Love is the opening door
Love is what we came here for
No one can offer you more
Do you know what I mean?
Have your eyes ever seen?
Have your eyes ever seen now?
Do you know what I mean?
Do you know what I mean now?
Have your eyes really seen?
Crowd: Applause
Singer: (Speaks) Thank you. We’d like to welcome our guests. Have a nice time while you’re here.
Song 14: “Everybody’s Talkin’” by Harry Nilsson
Singer: (Sings) Everybody’s talkin about me
I can’t hear a word they’re saying
Only the echoes of their mind
Oh, people stopping, staring
I can’t even see their faces
Only the shadows of their eyes
I’m going where the sun keeps shining
Through the pouring rain
Going where the weather suits my clothes
Banking off of the northeast winds
Sailing on a summer breeze
Skipping over the ocean like a stone
(Speaks) You can put your hands together
(Sings) I’m going where the sun keeps shining
Through the pouring rain
Going where the weather suits my clothes
Banking off of the northeast winds
Sailing on a summer breeze
Skipping over the ocean like a stone
Ooooohh, oooooh, ooooh
Crowd: Applause
Singer: (Speaks) This song was written for all the revolutionary leaders who have fought for the right and for the freedom of all people.
Song 15: Variation of “Abraham, Martin, and John” by Dion
(Sings) Anybody here seen my friend Cuffy?
Can you tell me where he’s gone?
He freed a lot of people
But the good they die young
I looked around and he was gone
Anybody here seen my friend Martin [Luther King]?
Can you tell me where that man has gone?
Oh, he freed a lot of people
But the good they die young
I looked around and he was gone
Anybody here seen my friend Malcolm [X]?
Can you tell me where he’s gone?
Yes, he freed a lot of people
[Tape dropout] the good they always die young
Well, I looked around and he was gone
Anybody here seen Victor Jara?
Can you tell me where that man has gone?
Oh, he freed a lot of people
But the good they die young
I looked around and he was gone
Anybody here seen Steve Biko?
Can you tell me where he’s gone?
Oh, he freed a lot of people
But the good they die young
I looked around and he was gone
Anybody here seen my friend Cuffy?
Can you tell me where that man has gone?
Oh, he freed a lot of people
But the good they die young
I looked around and he was gone
I just looked around and he was gone
I looked around, the man was gone
Crowd: Applause
Singer: Thank you
(Low conversation off mic)
Emcee: And now bringing to you, Jonestown’s movin’ and groovin’ with the soul sounds of the Soul Steppers, gettin’ down!
Song 16: (Instrumental dance routine)
(Tape edit)
Song 17: “Work On Me” by the O’Jays
Male singer: Work on me, work on me, work me over, all over
Work on me, yeah baby, work on me, work me over,
Now listen girl
(tape edit) Why don’t you scratch my back, oh make me relax, why don’t you rub my head, give me a bath, put me in bed, girl
Work on me, ah well, work on me, work me over
Work on me, work on me, work me all over,
Work on me, work on me, work me over,
(tape edit)
Doing the thing, baby, to keep me satisfied, baby, groove me more, my girl,
Work on me, work on me, work me over,
Work on me, work on me, work me over,
Why don’t you scratch my back, make me relax, why don’t you rub my head, give me a bath, put me in bed girl
Work on me, work on me, work me over, work me all over
Work on me, work on me, work me over,
(singing off mic, calling out to crowd)
What’s the matter here baby?
You treat me like a king
You fine young thing
Do anything baby
To keep you satisfied
Baby move me, groove me tonight, girl
Work on me, yeah, baby, work on me, work me over
I like it, I like it
Work on me, work on me, work me over,
I like it, (ah, baby) Work on me, ah well
Work on me, work on me, work me over,
I like it, I like it, ah well
Work on me, work on me, work me over,
I like it, I like it,
All I want you to do is
Work, work, (well, well) work, work, work me over, ah baby, ah well (repeats several times)
Turn the lights down low, turn the red lights on,
Come on, get it on, get it on, get it on, get it on, get it on, ah (unintelligible phrase)
Crowd: Raucous applause
Male vocalist: Wooo! (unintelligible). Just how long do you think it takes to fall in love?
Song 18: “It only takes a minute” by Tavares
(Sings) Ah, ha
What’s an hour of the day
We throw at least one away
Walk the streets half a year
Tryin’ to find a new career
Now if you get a flu attack
For thirty days you’re on your back
Through the night I’ve seen you dance
Now baby, give me half a chance
It only takes a minute, girl
To fall in love, to fall in love
It only takes a minute, girl
To fall in love, let’s fall in love
Ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh
Now in the unemployment line
You can spend your life reading signs
While waiting’ for your interview
It can shoot the whole day for you, yeah
Now winter’s gonna turn to spring
And you haven’t accomplished a thing (haven’t accomplished a thing)
Now baby, leave a little time
‘Cause you never know what’s on my mind, yeah
It only takes a minute, girl,
To fall in love, yeah, to fall in love, love, love
It only takes a minute, girl, girl
To fall in love, to fall in love.
It only takes a minute, girl (fall in love)
When you want to fry yourself an egg (fall in love)
Will you spare a few seconds, girl (fall in love)
When you see, when you see a man beg (fall in love)
Well it takes no time (fall in love)
Walk down to the corner store (fall in love)
Well what I’ve got in mind girl (fall in love)
Hey, give me 60 seconds, no more (fall in love)
Ohhhhh,
It only takes a minute, girl, girl, girl
To fall in love, love, to fall in love
It only takes a minute, girl
To fall in love, to fall in love
It only takes a minute, girl
Come on now, clap your hands
It only takes a minute, girl
Come on now, nah, nah, nah, sha nah nah
It only takes a minute, girl
Come on now, clap y’all hands, get loud, come on!
It only takes a minute girl
Come on now, come on, one more time
Come on folks, come on, Black Velvet!
It only takes a minute, girl
Come on, come on!
Come on now, nah, nah, nah, sha nah nah
It only takes a minute, girl
Come on now, nah, nah, nah, sha nah nah
It only takes, it only takes a minute girl
Come on fellas, come on!
It only takes a minute, girl
(Calls out exhortation to crowd) Now ladies and gentlemen, right here at this very particular time (unintelligible) to do it. Now we want you to stand up, get out of your seats, now man, you know what I mean? Now everybody get out of your seats, get up, get up, get up. Come on, come on! Everybody get up, we’re gonna make this place rock tonight, you know what I mean? Come on! We’re gonna get down in the groove, you know what I mean? Hey this is Black Velvet (unintelligible). When I tell you to clap your hands, clap your hands.
Clap your hands, come on! (Repeats about 20 times)
Come on y’all, let’s get that groove. Help my man on the bass, come on, get that groove.
Get that groove!
Come on y’all, let’s get that groove.
Come on y’all, let’s still clap your hands
I can’t hear you
Over here, I can’t hear you.
Come on I can’t hear y’all now
End of tape