Natalie Douglas
Tributes: 70’s Soul
Birdland, NYC, February 9, 2026
Reviewed by Candace Leeds
Photo by Jeremy Ryan
Natalie Douglas is an amazing talent. She instantly captivates the audience with her vocal power, her range, and especially her ability to fully connect with the audience and to express the internal dialogue of each song. In addition, her charming on-stage patter is always a delight. Her lively 70’s Soul show was a bit of a departure from previous engagements, where she would presented the hits of Lena Horne, Nina Simone, Roberta Flack, Dolly Parton, and other great divas.
Douglas gave the audience a little history about each song. She explained that she crafted this program, which she described as “the funkiest show I’ve ever done,” because the ‘70’s was one of her favorite eras. She first discovered many of her show’s songs on the Flip Wilson Show, which she watched each week as a child. She would join the show’s performers by singing to her stuffed cats and the other toy animals in her room.
She began to rock with her first song, “Use Me” (Bill Withers) released in 1972, which reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and Soul chart. Her next song was the mellow “Easy” (Lionel Ritchie). “This Masquerade” (Leon Russell) showcased her soul-steeped buoyant sound. It had been recorded in 1972 and became a top-10 hit four years later when it was recorded by George Benson.
She explained that she couldn’t do a ‘70’s soul show without including some songs by Stevie Wonder, so she presented two of his songs: “Superstition,” which became a #1 hit, and the definitive 1970’s funk-soul anthem, “Tell Me Something Good.” Her rendition of the powerful song, “I’ll Never Love This Way Again” (Richard Kerr/Will Jennings), showcased her emotional gravity and vocal control, and drew a chorus of enthusiastic bravos. The song became a major hit for Dionne Warwick and revitalized her career.
Douglas had lots of fun singing two songs made famous by the ‘70’s icons Marvin Gaye and Donny Hathaway, which she said she’s always wanted to perform: “What’s Going On” (Renaldo Benson/Al Cleveland/Marvin Gaye) and “Trying Times” (Donny Hathaway/Leroy Hutson). Both were inspired by a police brutality incident and civic disorder.
The show’s finale was the rousing TV theme from the hit show, The Jeffersons, “Movin’ on Up” (Ja’net Dubois/Jeff Barry) followed by “Midnight Train to Georgia” (Jim Weatherly), which had the audience jumping to their feet and cheering in unison.
