GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE

January 26, 2001

The 8th Annual

Human Rights Campaign

Cleveland

eveningsout

Dinner & Dance Two cds by lesbian singer dull but passable

May 5, 2001

At the Renaissance Cleveland Hotel Grand Ballroom

Tickets on sale now!

Table Captain Information and Sign-Up

Tickets for the HRC Cleveland Dinner & Dance are primarily sold via a Table Captain system. Table Captains agrees to attempt to fill one or more tables with 10 to 12 guests. HRC recognizes its Table Captains at the Dinner & Dance in addition to a private thank-you party. To sign-up to be a Table Captain and receive your free Table Captain Kit, please leave a message containing your name and phone number on our hotline at (440) 779-64444.

Tickets

Tickets are $150 per person when purchased before April 1, 2001. Tickets are available from your Table Captain or by contacting Box Office Tickets directly at: 1-800-494-TIXS. HRC membership is included with each ticket purchase. On April 1st, the ticket price increases to $175 per person. To participate in a monthly payment plan, please leave your name and phone number on our hotline at (440) 779-6444.

Seating

We anticipate a sell-out crowd this year. Full tables (10-12 seats) will be organized surrounding the podium, on a first-paid, firstplaced basis. Tables with seats sold via the payment plan will be placed in the ballroom when their first payment arrives.

Program

The evening's program includes a grand reception, silent auction, dinner, keynote speaker, Equality Award presentation, and a dance.

Sponsorship, Advertising & Auction Donations

-$3

To inquire about corporate sponsorship, program book advertising, and/or auction donations, please leave your name, organization and phone number on our hotline at (440) 779-6444.

HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN

The Human Rights Campaign,

the nation's largest lesbian/gay political organization, works to end discrimination, secure equal rights and protect the health and safety of all Americans.

HRC envisions an America where lesbian and gay people are ensured of their basic equal rightsand can be open, honest, and safe at home, at work, and in the community.

"An Evening of Purpose and Pride."

www.hrc-cleveland.org (440) 779-6444

Jeanie Cunningham

Come As You Are To The Father Jae Cie Thief In The Night

Reviewed by Anthony Glassman

A melodious, mellifluous voice. An allencompassing, welcoming message. Music that would have been hip and with-it if it had been released in 1983. Five singles on the Outvoice Top 40 singles chart at the same time.

Who is this superstar? Jeanie Cunningham, also known as Jae Cie. You've probably never heard of her, which is not surprising, considering the state of gay and lesbian music in this country.

Jeanie Cunningham got her start as a professional singer/songwriter when Tina Turner, a friend of hers, performed a song Cunningham had written on The Tonight Show. She then toured with the all-girl band

COME

TO THE FATHER

The Cherries before going solo. She's played guitar for Lionel Ritchie, and opened for David Crosby.

She is a woman of many talents, as well as many personalities.

Her latest solo effort, Come As You Are to the Father, is a gospel album that preaches

Elton John

Continuned from page 9

also stands out. Although it had been released previously on "Blue Moves." this song serves as a vivid reminder of the beauty of John's studio work in the mid'70s. Less known (until recently when Madonna requested it at her wedding) is “Song For Guy,” a textured and moving instrumental piece with minimal vocals. Elsewhere, "Mama Can't Buy You Love." first released on the little-known album The Complete Thom Bell Sessions, is a highly produced song that just oozes '70s pop, and features The Spinners singing backing vocals.

Disc Four rounds out the set, covering 1982-1990. This disc includes the first release of "I'm Still Standing," a song that grabbed lots of early radio play, only to improve in later live versions. "Carla Etude" is a previously unreleased instrumental recorded live with the Melbourne Symphony, but then cut from the live 1987 album. This disc closes with four songs written just prior to completion of the box set, most notably "I Swear I Heard the Night Talkin'," a throwback to John's work in the early '80s.

With the exception of the second disc, To Be Continued . . . is a valuable collection which, combined with Rare Masters (released in 1992) and One Night Only serves as a value-added look at the pop brilliance of Elton John.

thief in

the night

JAE CIE

the message of acceptance and faith. At times sorta funky, at times playing a Tori Amos vibe with piano, and with a voice reminiscent of the singer for the Divinyls, this is as close to likable gospel as a Jewish reviewer who thinks Streisand sold out by doing a Christmas album will ever find.

She also has an album out as Jae Cie called Thief in the Night. It's a very soulful effort, although at times a bit formulaic. Remember when Nirvana was big, and it was always soft verse, loud chorus, soft verse? Jae Cie's latest effort is kind of like that, only every song starts like Tori Amos meets Bette Midler, lots of piano and heartfelt vocals. Some then go into a really frightening Night Ranger guitar riff, some slowly build, some continue to feel like adult contemporary.

All in all, her work is very middle-of-theroad. It's not badly written or done, but none of it seems particularly original or especially well-done. It's extremely okay. For the young and rockin', listening to these two disks is like being trapped in a room with someone playing Barry Manilow. For everyone else. it might be nice to listen to while unwinding after a long day at the office. or while sipping a glass of claret with a loved one.

Elton under wraps

While many artists and record companies churn out hits collections that are nothing more than sloppy repackaging of previously released work. Elton John and the record companies behind him have a credible track record of creating packages that are well worth fans' time and money.

One Night Only (Universal) and To Be Continued ... (MCA Universal) include thoughtful and interesting liner notes which give the music context. One Night Only, which appears to be a fairly rushed project, recorded in November and released just weeks later, includes an essay reviewing Elton's career. To Be Continued ... provides notation with each disc stating where and when the song was recorded, the musicians who played on the recording, and when and where the song was previously released. The collection also includes a 40page booklet offering a history of John's career, an interview with John and Taupin, and countless photos.

Both collections are also notable for their packaging. Execs in some record companies would have simply splashed a file photo of John on the cover of One Night Only, however the cover art for this live album is new and vibrant.

To Be Continued... is brilliantly packaged. Each disc inside the box provides one-fourth of a larger picture placed properly in the box, they combine for a classic John photo. Even the box design and paper quality lends an air of sophistication to this set.

Harriet L. Schwartz is a Chronicle contributing writer living in Pittsburgh.