On July 26, 1996, Jack Mack & The
Heart Attack performed at the XXVI Olympics in
Atlanta at Centennial Park. The band, known for
years as the “hardest working band in show
business,” was a natural fit for what was
supposed to be a festive atmosphere and an
estimated 40,000 folks were present to watch the
show. The concert was cut short by the pipe bomb
that exploded near the stage, killing one person
and injuring 111. The set was actually being
recorded at the time and was released late last
year to coincide with the release of Clint
Eastwood and Leonardo DiCaprio’s film Richard
Jewell, which was based on the tragic life story
of Jewell, the security guard who was falsely
accused of setting the bomb.
Live From Centennial Park, Atlanta 1996 (SSR
Free Roll Records) is an hour-long set of the
band doing what they do best, playing high
energy rock, soul, and R&B. At the time, the
band consisted of Andrew Kastner
(guitar/vocals), Bill Bergman (tenor
sax/vocals), John Paruolo (B3/vocals), Lester
Lovitt (trumpet/vocals), Tim Scott (bass/lead
vocals), TC Moses (lead vocals), and Alvino
Bennett (drums).
The set kicks off with a short burst of Dyke &
the Blazers’ “(We Got) More Soul,” before moving
to the original tunes, such as the funky “Breaking Down
The Walls” and the smooth, smoldering R&B track
“Woman Thing.” Their inspired take on The
Staples Singers’ “I’ll Take You There” is
actually featured in the movie, and justifiably
so. The band then charges into another original,
“Something About Ya,” the first public
performance of this song (it later appeared on
their 1999 album, Arrhythmia), and a superb
extended read of another Staples classic,
“Respect Yourself.”
James Brown’s “Sex Machine” is a perfect fit for
the party atmosphere, taken at a frenetic pace
that might have made even the Godfather break a
sweat. Another upbeat original, “Livin’ It Up,”
certainly kept the party going, as did their
soulful version of Al Green’s “Take Me To The
River.” There’s little doubt that their
stunning 12-minute “Sly Medley,” which featured
short takes of several of Sly and the Family
Stone’s classic hits (“Sing A Simple Song,”
“Thank You (Fallettin Me Be Mice Elf Again),”
“Stand,” and “Dance To The Music”) that all had the crowd
on their feet.
The last song, another original in its first
public appearance, “I Walked Alone,” is also
featured in the movie. It’s a powerful soul/R&B
ballad with a strong vocal from Moses, and as the
song concludes and the audience roars its
approval, the recording and the performance is
abruptly cut short from the effects of the
bomb blast near the stage, changing the scene
from celebratory to tragic in a heartbeat.
Live From Centennial Park, Atlanta 1996 serves
as a historical document of sorts, recounting
events that led to the senseless tragedy, but it
also captures one of the best party bands at
their best, in their element, in front of an
enthusiastic, appreciative audience.
--- Graham Clarke
