Darlene Love Releases 'Concert of Love' Album

The singer most widely considered the 'voice' of the '60's girl groups - the voice described by the New York Times  as "embedded in the history of Rock-and-Roll as Eric Clapton's guitar or Bob Dylan's lyrics" --  is captured (with strings, choir, background singers and 15 piece band) on CD, live, in-concert.  Taped last February at The Bergen Performing Arts Center in Englewood, N.J., this new compilation feeds hungry fans an auditory feast with every facet of Darlene's expansive repertoire from her gospel beginnings and rock-and-roll signature songs to Broadway favorites.

Produced by REEL Good Productions, LLC, in association with SOBO Productions, the concert was taped live on Tuesday, February 23, 2010, two short weeks before Darlene reported to Australia as the lead in the musical FAME as it toured Melbourne and Brisbane over several months.  A companion DVD of the same concert is planned for release later this year.

"Darlene Love is, simply put, a National Treasure," says Keith D'Arcy, Senior Vice President, Music Strategy, EMI Publishing. "Her presence, charm and the great joy with which she embraces life and song are all here in abundance.  I'd venture to say that her voice is richer and more compelling now than it was in the early 60's when a long string of chart-topping pop hits first introduced her to the world.  Never has a live album been more aptly named...this is truly the Concert of Love!" 

"REEL Good Productions purchased the film rights to Ms. Love's book in 2009," says Karen Braithwaite Yarn, co-founder of REEL Good Productions.  "We came to the realization that there is no single concert fully documenting this great rock and roll performer - and we wanted to present her in her element - singing the great songs of the 1960's, the songs that Darlene Love made famous."
           
Sassy, spirited and unedited, Love brings down the house with fan favorites including "Wait Til My Bobby Gets Home," "Da Doo Ron Ron," "River Deep, Mountain High,"  "He's A Rebel," and David Letterman's favorite - "Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home).  
           
"I'm thrilled, delighted," says Darlene Love.  "What a simply blessed year this has been - from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nomination last year, the anticipation of seeing my life on film, performances in Australia and now this. I hope my fans will enjoy it!"   
           
Love was nominated to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2009 for her vocals on famous hits produced by Phil Spector groups including The Crystals and Bob B. Soxx and The Blue Jeans and her own Spector-produced songs like "(Today I Met) The Boy I'm Gonna Marry." She has sung background for everyone from Cher and Joan Jett to her Madison Square Garden Rock & Roll Hall of Fame concert performance with 'The Boss' last October.  Bruce Springsteen lobbied on behalf of Love to finally be acknowledged for her body of work via the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The  Concert of Love CD retails for $19.95 and is available on Amazon.com, at CD Baby  http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/darlenelove, I Tunes, via www.WhoisDarleneLove.com or by calling 1-888-221-LOV2 (5682).

Executive producers, Darlene Love and REEL Good Productions, LLC; Producer, Suzy Shaw, SOBO Productions; Music Director, Seth Glassman; Dae Bennett, Chief Engineer, Grammy Award-Winning Bennett Studios, Dave D. Rodriguez, Executive Director, Bergen Performing Arts Center, Jill Nicholson, cover design, Kenneth Sargeant, photographer.

REEL Good Productions, LLC, executive producer of the concert, was created as a vehicle to invest in independent films.  The Working Title for the film, based on the autobiography of Darlene Love, is Who is Darlene Love?  To find out more about Darlene Love, please go to www.whoisdarlenelove.com.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.