Teddy Pendergrass

The Teddy Bear delivers the goods in this rollicking performance in London, UK in 1982. London's soul massive has always been friendly to the reigning stars of American R&B, thus while Pendergrass's crossover era was fading in the U.S. at this point, his British fans remained wildly enthusiastic. After a blistering three-song salvo to open the show, he downshifts into the smoky balladeer persona for which he's best known. Eleven minutes of "Love TKO"? Yes please. Then six minutes of Kenny Rogers' "Lady"? It's utter fabulousness, which presages the most grandiose American Idol takes on such bathetic tunes. The use of a string synthesizer takes away from the Gamble & Huff orchestral grandeur in this performance, but other than that minor quibble, he's firing on all sexy cylinders. With a finale that makes the cutest, most maudlin use of a children's choir, this is a DVD for the mature, classy lady in your life.