Dakota Beacon

In 1967 a new international singing sensation burst upon the scene with a country hit - “Release Me”.  He had it all - style, looks and above all a towering musical talent.  Oh, and an unforgettable name:  Engelbert Humperdinck. “Release Me” was such a smash hit that it pushed the Beatles’ "Penny Lane" and “Strawberry Fields” off of first place in the ratings.  It was the beginning of a love affair between Engelbert and his millions of fans.  

The journey to “Release Me” was one of years - a monumental struggle with many missed opportunities and setbacks along the way.  Some of those were recounted the last time Engelbert appeared in the Dakota Beacon (February 14, 2021).  In the time since that posting, he has been staying in touch with fans via his own Youtube videos - mostly chats (“Tuesday Museday”) wherein he reminisces and discusses his current projects, other times he presents concerts from his home studio, a continuation of his determination not to let lockdowns stop him from making music.  Engelbert celebrates his birthday today.  

My own birthday card came a little late, but it contained a photo of tickets to a concert - a once-in-a lifetime chance to hear in person one of my musical idols- Engelbert Humperdinck - at Mystic Lake Casino!  He did not disappoint!  Knowing what I do about traveling to perform in scheduled concerts (albeit from the wings) I know how exhausting the combination of traveling, rehearsing and appearing at one’s best before a crowd of many thousands of fans is, so it was incredible to me that he had been on stage in Illinois only the night before.  But so he did, to a near-capacity crowd at the Casino showroom.  It was the performance of a man in his prime.  

It seems that throughout his life EH has seen his career ebb and surge.  Ten years after his breakout hit, “Release Me”, he had another, “After the Lovin’”.  When that came out I was working as a school secretary in a local junior high school.  Our school nurse was a tough-minded older lady.  She had been a field nurse in the Korean War.  (I asked her, was it anything like “M*A*S*H*”?  She said it was just like “M*A*S*H*”!)  When that song came out, that no-nonsense, battle-seasoned nurse misted up talking about how beautiful it was.  Now, 56 years after his first top hit, one of his classics from that era has re-emerged.  “A Man Without Love” was placed in a Disney series, MoonKnight, bringing with it a whole new generation of fans to discover his great talent.  (One teenage guy was even at the concert with a vintage LP and dressed as EH!) 

Engelbert culled some of his hits over the years as he engaged the audience in running banter, and of course the audience sang a chorus of “Happy Birthday”, in his honor, in anticipation of the big day.  In addition to hits of his own, we were treated to his renditions of some of our (and obviously his) other favorite artists - “This Is My Song” (Petula Clark), “Old Time Rock ‘n’ Roll”, “The Power of Love'' and of course his own - “Last Waltz”, “Les Bicyclettes de Belsize”, “Quando, Quando, Quando”, “After the Lovin’”, “Release Me” and others.  He added a few surprises, among them a classic from Matt Monro - “Walk Away”, and a song from the recent movie, Mule, of Clint Eastwood, “Don’t Let the Old Man In”, which about sums up not only the attitude of Clint Eastwood, who inspired the song itself, but of Engelbert, who absolutely refuses to leave behind the thing he loves - to perform for his fans onstage.  

His current tour is wide-ranging (next stop, Chile) and in support of his new album, released officially today:  All About Love.  Fans had the opportunity to acquire an advance copy.  Its program is refreshingly retro, with evergreen hits ranging from the Shirelles’ “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow”, “How Can You Mend a Broken Heart” from the BGs, the country-tinged “You’re the First, the Last, My Everything” of Barry White, all the way to the classic Al Dubin/Harry Warren “I Only Have Eyes for You”.  He makes each his very own with his unique interpretations of them, revealing his varied musical influences and reflections.  To hear each is to hear it again for the first time.  

One of the most poignant moments of his live concert was a song he wrote and dedicated to his wife, the beautiful Patricia Healy Dorsey,  “Everywhere I Go”.  Patricia passed away in the winter of 2021.  Engelbert has risen again and again to the challenge of time and heartache.  He has done so again with his new album - bringing back some great memories but with something new added.  His career and his spirit are inspiring.  His voice is in good form.  

The concert was a never-to-be-forgotten evening of time travel and magic and the new album will bring years more of pleasure.  I’m a real sucker for a great singer and Engelbert remains in the company of a very few.  If you want to re-ground yourself in good, old-fashioned romantic music and escape for a bit from the unhappy sounds of much of what passes for music today, get a copy of All About Love and if you are ever lucky enough to catch a live concert, you’d be a fool to miss him!  

“Happy 87th Birthday to You”, Engelbert Humperdinck!

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