The Heart Of Rock N Roll Part 2

"The Heart of Rock 'N' Roll" is a two-part special concert episode from the fourth season.  The concert took place at the Jones Beach Amphitheater on Long Island, New York on the 7th and 8th August 1984. Starring Jesse Borrefo, Billy Hufsey, Carlo Imperato, Janet Jackson, Valerie Landsburg, Nia Peeples and Gene Anthony Ray. 

Personally I think I prefer part 2 of this concert more than part 1 although for a long time I didn't have a copy of the second part as I don't recall it ever being repeated in the U.K. at any point, so I have seen this episode a lot less than part 1. I feel the girls get more to do in this part so that always makes me happy. Also there are more 80’s songs in this part and a little less of the older material.

The Show starts off well with one of my favourite songs "Kids In America" which does seem very appropriate for the cast. They all seem to be dressed in their own unique ways. Janet has a Boy George thing going and I remember reading that she was a big fan of Boy George and Culture Club at the time. They linked that into the episode “Take My Wife Please” when Cleo has tickets to see Culture Club and asks Leroy to go with her. However Boy George’s autobiography states that when he first met Janet, after she'd become an international music star she snubbed him so he didn't have very nice things to say about her!

Gene seems to get quite a lot to do in this part and I like him singing infatuation.

The Motown and beach songs medley is okay but doesn't do too much for me.

I absolutely love Nia performing "Fire and Ice" as I love that song by Pat Benetar and Nia really rocks this number. For me it is probably the stand out performance of the 2 concerts.

When I originally  watched I wasn't familiar with Jesse song "Stay With Me Tonight" but over time it has really grown on me.

The Stevie Wonder medley with the dancers really seems to drag on and I'm not really very keen on it. However, I do really like the 80s medley. Jesse sings one of my favourite songs "When Doves Cry" and Nia sings a Shalamar song "Dancing in the Sheets" and of course she will later go on to marry Howard Hewitt from Shalamar. It's fun seeing Val and Janet duet too on “Girls Just Want To have Fun”. Although, Val doesn’t seem to get much else to do in this part.

It's interesting that Carlo doesn't appear to get a solo of his own. He does appear on quite a few medleys and seems to get more songs that way but nothing on his own at all. Although I've heard that "Jump" by Van Halen was performed by one of the guys so that could have been Carlo's solo number and it didn't make it into the broadcast, which is a shame.

Original  air date in U.S.A 26th January 1985

Original  air date  in U.K. 02nd January1986,  Repeated on The Children's Channel  Broadcast Autumn 1992

Original  air date in France 02nd February 1996              

1. "Kids in America" – Performed by Valarie Landsburg, Carlo Imperato, Gene Anthony Ray, Nia Peeples, Jesse Borrego,   Billy Hufsey  & Janet Jackson 

2. "Infatuation" – Performed by Gene Anthony Ray 

3. Music of Motown Vs. the Music of the Beach: 

"Barbara Ann" – Performed by Carlo Imperato 

"Standing in the Shadows of Love" – Performed by Gene Anthony Ray 

"Do You Want to Dance" – Performed by Nia Peeples 

"Dancing in the Street" – Performed by Janet Jackson 

"Good Vibrations" – Performed by Carlo Imperato

"I Heard It Through the Grapevine" – Performed by Gene Anthony Ray 

"Fun, Fun, Fun" – Performed by Nia Peeples

"I Want You Back" – Performed by Janet Jackson 

"Wipe Out" – Musical Interlude 

"Ain't No Mountain High Enough" – Performed by Carlo Imperato, Janet Jackson, Nia Peeples & Gene Anthony Ray 

4. "Fire and Ice" – Performed by Nia Peeples 

5. "Stay with Me Tonight" – Performed by Jesse Borrego 

6. Tribute to Stevie Wonder (with the "Fame" dancers):

"Fingertips" – Performed by Gene Anthony Ray

"Living for the City" – Performed by Oren & the Waters

"Isn't She Lovely" – Performed by Jesse Borrego

"Superstition" – Performed by Oren & the Waters

"Keep on Running" – Performed by Oren & the Waters

"Ribbon in the Sky" – Performed by Oren & the Waters

"Do I Do" – Performed by Oren & the Waters

7. Pop Medley 1984:

"Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" – Performed by Valarie Landsburg & Janet Jackson  

"Dancing in the Sheets" – Performed by Nia Peeples 

"Dancing in the Dark" – Performed by Carlo Imperato  

"When Doves Cry" – Performed by Jesse Borrego 

"Ghostbusters" – Performed by Billy Hufsey & Carlo Imperato 

8. "Fame" – Performed by the "Fame" Cast & the Waters