Air Supply

"Air Supply" is a soft rock duo formed in Melbourne, Australia, in 1975, consisting of Englishman Graham Russell and Australian Russell Hitchcock.

With record sales of 100 million worldwide. including eight top-five on the US Billboard Hot 100.

Last night at the bucolic Morristown Performing Arts Center was what was a surprising concert! Not being that familiar with "Air Supply's" work (not in-depth anyway), I was amazed at the age gap of the people viewing this concert. Girls in their 20', married couples in their 70's were rocking to the sound at a venue that was tailor made for a band like this. Warm and engaging, the duo, who are best friends after 49 years of being together, continually thanked the audience for being there.

Beginning in the 70's as a warm up band for Rod Stewart, Air Supply had had 4 hits of their own at that point. As Stewart was making his mark across the world, Air Supply went along for the ride; that ride would come to an abrupt ending when the tour was over and the band went out on their own. After deep soul searching, the two decided to push forth and write new songs and they were hopeful that the audiences would catch on. Fortunately for them they would become one of the bigger bands in rock history!

Starting in 1975, the band never really had to reinvent themselves; the fuzzy warm love songs attracted men and woman alike. Too me what makes Air Supply's love songs different than most other bands is that they resonate deeply to the soul. The body of their songs have soulful meaning. "The One That You Love" delves deep into a boy's heart telling his girl that I'm vulnerable to the relationship but I don't care; I want you to know how I feel. Where some love songs can get "cheesy", Air Supply songs are relatable to anyone who has had a meaningful relationship, or who is still in one.

Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013, Air Supply was never questioned by the rock experts as to their induction. Make no mistake about it, the members of this band can flat out play! With two guitarists, one bass player, a pianist and a deft drummer, Air Supply gave the audience last evening their monies worth! With 21 songs at the bands arsenal (some solo's; some poetry, others songs that fill space), the two hours flew by. Opening with "Sweet Dreams", (a longish, get to know us, hear us song ), the band went into "Even The Nights Are Better"; a huge crowd favorite.

As mentioned earlier in the article, I had no idea just how many hits that this band has had. I have heard them on the radio throughout the 70's and beyond, yet it never occurred to me just how many great singles this band has put out. Much in comparison to a band like "America", "Air Supply" has been under most listeners radar for decades.

Air Supply peppered the audience with one hit after another; the evenings third song' "Just as I Am" had the ladies cooing; the forth song "Every Woman in the World" had the crowd on its feet. The band would go right into "Here I Am" as a follow through to the momentum that they had quickly built up. "Chances" and "Goodbye" reminded me of the great 80's singers like Phil Collins who sang "feel good" songs. By that I mean catchy, pithy songs that you loved to listen too when they came on the radio.

As the night went on, we heard yesteryear- down memory lane tunes like "Two Less Lonely People", "The One That You Love", "Lost in Love", "Without You" and concluding with "All Out of Love".

If you have not seen Air Supply, you should. This band is one of few that you will recognize and like. The band was gifted with creating easy listening songs that hit home to the listener. Like Hall and Oates, Air Supply gives you quality songs with an equally talented supporting cast. No warm up band needed here!

Morristown Performing Arts Center, Air Supply, Credence Clearwater Revival, Hall and Oates, Phil Collins, Maggie Smith, Hollywood, London, England, Grammy Awards, Emmy Awards, Oscars, New York City, Eric Adams, Music.