Harry Chapin Newcastle City Hall 1977
The late Harry Chapin had some great songs, and he played them all at this gig at Newcastle City Hall in 1977. The advert for the tour declared” “Harry Chapin is unique. He’s one of the finest balhadeers of our time”, and that’s all true. Harry was promoting his new album “Dance Band on the Titanic” at the time. I remember this as a great gig, by a sadly missed artist. Harry returned to the City Hall in 1978 and in 1981, however, I only attended his first gig there in 1977. My favourites are his well known songs WOLD, Cats in the Cradle and All my Life’s a Circle (which was a big hit for the New Seekers here in the UK). 
Band: Harry Chapin – Guitar, Harmonica, Vocals; Steve Chapin – Piano, Vocals; “Big John” Wallace – bass, vocals; Kim Scholes – Cello; Ron Palmer – Lead guitar; Howie Fields – Drums. A recording exists of the London show on the tour which shows the setlist as: I Wonder What Happened to Him; Mercenaries; My Old Lady; Mr. Tanner; WOLD; Halfway to Heaven; I Wanna Learn a Love Song; Tangled Up Puppet; Taxi; Sniper; There Only Was One Choice; Cat’s in the Cradle; Bluesman; Odd Job Man; Dogtown; Mail Order Annie; Let Time Go Lightly; 30,000 Pounds of Bananas; Dance Band on the Titanic; All my Life’s a Circle
3 Aug
Vintagerock's Weblog. 
Posted by Terry Hackett on March 21, 2014 at 10:42 pm
I saw Harry at the City Hall several times and he was always great. He had a fantastic rapport with his audience. One night it was so warm he had the stewards open the emergency exits to let some air in. He sat on the edge of the stage talking to the crowd and when a local character known as Moondancer wandered up the centre aisle he accepted a swig from the bottle of water he was carrying and had him sing along on ‘Circle’.
Posted by vintagerock on March 22, 2014 at 7:26 am
I remember Moondancer Happy Days Cheers Peter
Posted by teecee on October 3, 2014 at 9:48 pm
Harry did four concerts at the City Hall, three with the band and one with just him and his guitar. I remember the Moondancer incident, too. The photo at the top of the page of the entrance ticket seems to indicate that it was £1-50 to get in, but I’m absolutely certain it was £8-00. I still have Harry’s book of poems which he signed for me, I think at the first show. I was absolutely devastated when I heard he had died.
Posted by vintagerock on October 3, 2014 at 10:00 pm
Many thanks TeeCee Happy days Peter
Posted by Clive Oliphant on May 30, 2023 at 7:25 pm
My wife to be at the time went to the 1977 concert. He stayed back after the concert and signed the plaster cast she had on her hand [the result of an inappropriate tennis serve, my fault]. He was an absolute genius and a sound human being. We cut off the area of the autograph but it is sadly lost in the travels of life and time. Taken too soon. Clive and Christine Oliphant
Posted by vintagerock on May 31, 2023 at 12:26 pm
Great memories of a great guy. Sadly missed. Peter