Ep 29 - The Midnight Special | August 17, 1973

[@richardblock2458]

Some memorable stuff from quality acts. Albert King is unbelievable.

[@thomasmartin2838]

This is the PERFECT example of how the show would mix genres and turn you on to someone you might not have otherwise listened to...too bad we don't have any shows around like this today!

[@delmedeiros3570]

Perfect

[@robmatlock7675]

I love the mix too, reminds me of KAKC from Tulsa, they would play the Beatles, then Ike and Tina, then Kiss, Willie Nelson, then Gladys Knight, the mix made me appreciate all genres.

[@thomasmartin2838]

@@robmatlock7675 We had KDBS here...growing up I'd hear Buck Owens, The Rolling Stones, The Supremes, The Beatles, and later in the 70s Kiss, The Who, Rufus, and others got added into the mix...a true melting pot of sound!

[@KittyGrizGriz]

@@robmatlock7675Your a Tulsan? I remember KAKC radio station also, me~friends prank called them many many times, hope you weren’t a DJ then! 😂

[@robmatlock7675]

@@KittyGrizGriz I liked KAKC better than KELI, I used to love the Friday night request and dedications. There are You Tube videos of some KAKC request and dedications, maybe you're on there. Tulsa in the 70's was magic, Mazeppa papazoidi, Starship Records, Skateland on Friday nights, the concerts with world renowned bands playing at least weekly. Leon Russel's Church Street Studios and all the rock legends recording there, my buddy took me to a place called The Mercantile or the Combine on the conner of 11th St and Memorial or Yale, a hippy health food store, while we were sitting there Leon Russel and Eric Clapton came in and sat at the back of the place. My buddy stepped on my toes to keep me from staring, then he said, "Be cool, we don't want to scare them off by acting weird,", I did pass by their table on the way to the bathroom. Later I started listening to KMOD, they also had a diverse playlist for a rock channel. 78 Central Grad.

[@russf6572]

Joe Walsh. What an amazing career. From his early days with the James gang, to a great solo career, and then blending in perfectly with the Eagles. Then back to a solo career releasing one of the best albums ever, _'Analog Man'._ And he's still going strong despite all the drugs and alcohol he consumed!

[@beverlyaiglai7052]

Joe is still going strong, and I still love him.

[@chucksmithNYC]

Albert King!!!! Legend!! Excuse me while I play my guitar… Thanks Burt Sugarman ♥️

[@rbrobbi]

One of the best hours of 70s television

[@DidYouReadEULA]

57:50 Thank the universe Albert played the Blues for us...blistering version as usual!! Thanks Midnight Special...now where are my drum sticks!!

[@robertwelch4395]

Albert King what can you say he was king of the blues. I could listen to him all day .One of Stevie Rays mentors .

[@jimmt97pgt]

What a great mix of music! Everyone was great.

[@cookiebrown7522]

Thank you Midnight Special !!! You memories come Alive again, fantastic❤🎉!!!!❤❤

[@Zoetropeification]

Joe Vitale still drumming with Joe Walsh. They just did VetsAid 2023 this past Sunday November 12th. Still rockin it.

[@TheTruthResearchers]

Thanks SOOOOO MUCH for THIS fab iconic Show, repping the BEST YEARS of our classic Baby Boomer Lives! Really MISS the greatest Eras of the 50s 60s & 70s. And '73 was an extraordinary year of landmark Music, courageous Lifestyles, & daringly creative Innovations! Many Thanks for this Memorial Transport!!!

[@StephanieJeanne]

Joe Hicks was a surprise! I wish we could have heard more! Joe, Albert, Melissa, ELO, and Doug were awesome! Richard was great, too! Fun times!❤❤

[@daveguitarnowski4402]

That was some serious goddam funk!

[@pejaguilar30]

Thank you thank you thank you The Midnight Special. Enjoying ELO and waiting for Joe Walsh.

[@blanchae]

Melissa Manchester was great. Loved her piano playing, chord progressions amazing. Albert King was such a breath of fresh air.

[@mikelair9144]

She stole the show for me. All were fantastic AND she took it over the top with that soulful song.

[@KittyGrizGriz]

Her “Let It Ride” song was groovy cool 🤩

[@Jreb1865]

Joe Walsh playing "Tend My Garden" was a smoker... Loved it...

[@robertking7269]

Maybe one of Best sets I’ve heard from Richard Pryor, backed up with research 🧐 only the best can make you cry at the truth with a smile on your face. 😁

[@KevinOshea-wt2ps]

It don't get any better than this and never will with today's music 😝😝

[@OFLHLGZ28]

Joe Walsh and Albert King tore it UP!

[@markkorson2910]

The Best Use of my data !!! 73 i was in grade 5. just starting to listen to a transiter radio with friends in the park , now I can see the videos so many years later, this a blessing thanks

[@robmatlock7675]

Great episode, Richard Prior was so 70's, his commentary would get him cancelled today, but was so fresh in addressing social issues in those days. Doug Kershaw plays here at the Red River Revel almost every year, and it's fresh every time I see him. Albert King didn't get the "Blues Legend" moniker for no reason, great musician. ELO's musicianship is only equaled by their showmanship. Joe Hicks, drips machismo, and musical ability. This is the first time I saw Joe Walsh's Barnstorm era, fascinating. I had to have a cigarette after Melissa Manchester, smoldering hot.

[@John60s70s]

Richard Pryor had his own tv show in 1977. Unfortunately it was cancelled after just 4 episodes😢. Coincidentally it was on NBC also and it was produced by Burt Sugarman also. His show was funny.

[@robmatlock7675]

@@John60s70s I remember that show. I remember a sketch where he was Idi Amimen. He was also supposed to play Sheriff Bart in Blazing Saddles, he wrote the part, but couldn't play the part, I think he was in rehab, but I can see his finger prints all over the part

[@GuiitarBilly]

I saw Joe Walsh and Barnstorm live a few months after this episode aired. They opened for the Mahavishnu Orchestra in Berkeley. Joe was such a bonus as a warm up act -a year later and they could have headlined. They played great tho -like here - Joe didn’t do the signature talk-box thing. --- This is some of the best Albert King I’ve seen on a tv show. He was on fire for this one. The whole episode is great. Bravo Midnight Special

[@randallpelaez901]

Greatest thing about Friday! It’s a gift that only gets better!

[@alexkrummenacher5050]

Albert completely SLAYS!

[@abclib32]

The big lefty, Albert King! ❤

[@matthewclark9652]

Joe Walsh & the late Albert King had the best performances on the show!!!

[@lauriebarnes2999]

Can't wait, The Midnight Special! I'm still on cloud nine from last week's wonderful episode and Robin's amazing rendition of "I Can't See Nobody" in its entirety. That was the most precious gift you could have ever given to me. Thank you once again.

[@MACIEJBLUES]

I hope that session 2 will also be edited

[@michaelfink1017]

Wish today's music was this good

[@margowsky]

Yay!! I've been waiting for the Joe Walsh one. I know he did more than just Rocky Mountain Way. Can't wait!

[@aurthurwhiteside]

Great seeing Joe Walsh doing Tend My Garden!

[@psst...heyyou6508]

My favorite early Joe Walsh song! I was kind of surprised he played that!

[@KittyGrizGriz]

So great ‘seeing’ Joe Walsh whew!! 😮‍💨

[@stephenbouchelle7706]

Midnight Special reminds how glad I am to have been in high school in the early 70s.

[@ernestcruz6316]

Around the time Melissa Manchester appeared on Midnight Special, she recorded "Deteriorata" with legendary voiceiver guy Norman Rose for National Lampoon. It was a parody of "Desiderata", an inspirational piece.

[@spongeworthyvideo]

So nice to see an early clip of Melissa Manchester before she hit it big in 1975. Easy is such a great song.

[@randallvarney3080]

When music was good..... love those days

[@austinitesince1979]

Hell YES!! Richard Pryor, one of the funniest men in comedy ever.

[@jeremyc9593]

Easily one of the goats

[@drummerbraves]

I'm looking forward to see Doug Kershaw, Electric Light Orchestra in their early days and Joe Walsh.

[@H-mu4bo]

Wow, and this was all on the one episode. This episode had some musical juju going on!!! Joe Walsh was at his zenith, the band had feel and that ferocious blend of kettle drums and guitar at the end of the song is just sublime and frankly puts a chill down my spine. And he looks so cool as well here. And ELO and Jeff Lynne just hit hyperdrive, and Jeff's voice here is pushed into the hardest I've ever heard him on "Roll over Beethoven". And Joe Hicks, hit a groove here that locks into your sensory organs and takes over!! And Albert King connects to the vibe that night and puts on a performance that confirms he was the greatest of the three kings. What a killer episode!!!

[@JamieAndersonMusic]

Albert King was smokin'! Love the pink suit. Really enjoyed Melissa Manchester, too. I didn't recognize any of the songs because this was before her hits -- they all came a year or two later.

[@JamieAndersonMusic]

Now that I've read the other comments it seems that "Easy" was a hit. I don't remember hearing it then.

[@wsjustice]

I'm barely 8 minutes in and seriously, Richard Pryor was a fucking national treasure.

[@jellison7]

Albert King!

[@charleswinokoor6023]

I graduated high school that year. I was particularly impressed by Electric Light Orchestra. Pryor was fine, but even by then he was repeating a lot of bits from his records. I saw him two years later do an outdoor show in Boston in Franklin Park, and he was already messed up on coke. The best act that day was Tower of Power. I was already an Albert King fan by the time this show aired. He sounds great. Nothing fancy, just singing and playing with a good band. Not many guys can pull off wearing an all pink suit, but he did.

[@davidbrunson8887]

Cocaine in Hollywood in 1973 was inescapable, I wonder if YOU would have been able to resist temptation.(You really don't have the right to judge) You want wholesomeness, turn on a church program!

[@latexsolarbeef4990]

....Albert King...playing a guitar upside down...that sounds like it isn't...was a genuine marvel....

[@frankstecker5675]

Joe walsh..🎸James Gang is great. Rock on....

[@MACIEJBLUES]

Albert King one of the Three Kings

[@AndthenthereisCencorship-xc6yi]

Rocky Mountain Way. Never heard of that song before 1978. did not know he performed this on the Midnight Special, either.

[@howardbarish]

Definitely a thumbs up tonight!!

[@davidf3883]

Pryor was hilarious and Walsh was excellent. ELO only did one song!

[@linuslittlefield2112]

ELO had more appearances than any other band with 7 over 9 seasons, stay tuned!

[@williamashton9235]

With Doug Kershaw and ELO, this program might confuse new viewers into thinking violins were a bigger thing in the early 70s than they were!

[@GreenManalishiUSA]

lol..the 1970s were a good time for violins, not only with ELO and Doug Kershaw, but also with the jazz-rock violin explorations of the Mahavishnu Orchestra, and the pieces that Frank Zappa recorded with Jean-Luc Ponty and Don Sugarcane Harris. More violins, please!

[@SuperBeachbum74]

Saw Doug Kershaw live in Chicago opening for Merle Haggard 1976 , fantastic, far better than expected….really relates to his audience , had them in palm of hands . Came to see Haggard but Doug stole the show this time. He was amazing.

[@jmack619]

That was SPECIAL! 50 years !

[@jeffclement2468]

This is way better than I remember. I used to have trouble staying up so late, (probably due to weed) Then the show became almost exclusively disco...but this is the best era here. And it's live! More! More! 😎😻🤘✌

[@jerrybrowning8422]

Awesome show! Thank you for the memories!!!

[@evelyncalhoun8764]

❤❤❤ go go brothers we grew up on this with my family 👪 and uncles

[@austinitesince1979]

at the end of the episode- great version of Joe Walsh doing Rocky Mountain Way post-James Gang and before joining The Eagles.

[@KittyGrizGriz]

I’ve still got the album “The Smoker you Drink, the Player you Get”, that song Is the reason I purchased it when it came out in ‘73. Love it!

[@djhrecordhound4391]

Wonder if commercials cut in the middle of Rocky Mountain Way twice on television too... YooToob is ridiculous

[@uncleswan3896]

Love how Albert King is playing an OG 1958 FLYING V and in the middle of the song starts having a fantasy conversation with someone "I want to know you" then busts back into the song. Pure gold.

[@randb4865]

Right-handed guitar upside-down. 🎸

[@tenlittleindians]

King is such a big man that his flying V guitar looks like a twig while he's playing it.❤

[@Jreb1865]

I though the same... That Flying V was tiny!

[@KittyGrizGriz]

Albert’s much too cool for school, love his blues playing~what a soulful voice🩵

[@kurtweiand7086]

Can you imagine Angus Young (AC-DC), who is 5'3" playing beside him 😅!

[@andrefelipessp]

Melissa Manchester singing her hit "easy " was fun to watch .

[@bluebear1985]

Looks like the next episode from August 24, 1973 is going country. It was co-hosted by Loretta Lynn and Marty Robbins. It also featured Conway Twitty, Don Gibson, Tom T. Hall, George Jones, Tammy Wynette, Johnny Paycheck, Charlie Rich, Johnny Rodriguez, The Earl Scruggs Revue, and Tanya Tucker.

[@groovedohg]

Really looking forward to Joe Walsh when he was at his uttermost prime.

[@StephanieJeanne]

I can't wait for that either!

[@groovedohg]

@@StephanieJeanne Dont mind Albert King as well :-)

[@StephanieJeanne]

@@groovedohg I don't know him by name, but may have heard his music. I do like blues.😎

[@groovedohg]

@StephanieJeanne Oh. Albert King is one of the originals. In the company of Freddie King, Albert Collins and BB King etc. Songs of his you might be familiar with, if you like Blues, are Stormy Monday and Born under a bad sign

[@StephanieJeanne]

@@groovedohg Okay, I've heard of the second one. Well, I look forward to hearing him, too now. Thanks.

[@davidbellardo9791]

We all loved it just great TV... Priceless

[@jackflack4253]

Of all the people i count as my favorites, Doug Kershaw is like a wild card in the deck. People always ask me how i can have so many favorite acts or songs. I was listening to music before i knew what music was. Ill say 59 years of it, 4 older siblings, and my mom there was a wide variety of genres. Im the only 1 out of 7 people to this day to be a diehard Beach Boys -Wilson Brothers lover.

[@DylanWhite-k5j]

Joe Vitale is the bomb!.

[@elm7666]

Albert King! Legend.

[@katec7033]

I’m especially looking forward to MM singing Easy. See everyone later on chat.

[@pattiespetitetanks6181]

ALBERT KING !!!!!! ❤️

[@williambaxter4628]

Love his voice. More so than his lead playing. But not mad about his tailor.

[@KittyGrizGriz]

@@williambaxter4628Haha, what you said reminded me of Warren Zevon’s song with lyrics “Huh, I’d like to meet his tailor”

[@jordanposnik6663]

@@williambaxter4628you gotta watch his performance of Stormy Monday from 1973. Incredible.

[@KevyNova]

I can’t wait for Albert King and Joe Walsh!

[@chriskroll4166]

Albert King told me one time that he was on an episode of American bandstand back in the 60's . I have never been able to find it . It would be the earliest footage of him ever . Right now the earliest footage of Albert that seems to be available is the Fillmore footage. 😊

[@nancywyatt821]

@@chriskroll4166 Maybe they dissed him like PBS Soundstage did. He was on an episode in 1978 that just says Journey - PBS Soundstage (1978). They should have added with Albert King and Friends. kzbin.info/www/bejne/naqkZ6J8gtqkgqM Albert shows up 1/3 of the way through the show.

[@jordanposnik6663]

@@chriskroll4166I was at the stax museum in Memphis this past June. They had this little monitor attached to the ceiling playing some really early footage of Albert. He was playing what looked like a red Gibson or epiphone. I think that must have been American Bandstand. I actually took a video of the monitor😂

[@chriskroll4166]

@@jordanposnik6663 that's like the holy Grail of blues footage. 🙏

[@stevenrodriguez1578]

I saw Doug Kershaw in person where I live in Greeley,CO, mid 90's and I drew a complete blank and could not remember his name. We said hi to each other and that was that. I never got to tell him how much I appreciated his style of music. I first became aware of him when I saw him on Don Kirshner rock concerts on tv.

[@matthewclark9652]

The Electric Light Orchestra performance was the same show on Episode 22 when Paul Williams hosted!!!

[@austinitesince1979]

dang that is some fantastic footage of Albert King tearing it up with the overdrive from before Stevie Ray Vaughan showed up on the scene. his last number is dynamite

[@JamieAndersonMusic]

Totally agree. Interesting that he played without a pick.

[@allen6924]

If you can't hear A.K. in Stevie Ray Vaughn playing you're deaf. Stevie took it to the next level.

[@RalfHusch-cp5fl]

Danke!

[@themidnightspecialtvshow]

Thank You Ralf, Burt Sugarman

[@craigbucl7752]

Imagine some of Richard’s comedy done today!

[@KittyGrizGriz]

It would still fit, “right in” today, imho

[@AHLUser]

I remember watching Johnny Carson ONLY to get to the "Midnight Special" which was on at 1:00 am... Then after The Wolfman, it was a picture of the US Flag, the National Anthem, the 'Test Screen' and then static... Until the 'Morning Broadcast' started up again.!!

[@chriskroll4166]

Albert 🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@danrodrigues3531]

Richard Pryor is in his prime here.

[@mr.mikeyg.5282]

Those were the days!

[@psst...heyyou6508]

Okay.. so that guy playing drums for Joe Walsh is a freaking maniac!! 🤪🥁🎶🤯

[@prestwickpioneer3474]

And still plays drums for Joe Walsh apparently.

[@KittyGrizGriz]

Ooof Joe Walsh is a huge crush of mine, he’s looking mighty fine in that black outfit, what a great slide player, talk box,,,where’s his hair bandana? 🥰 Still have ‘73 “The Smoker You Drink, the Player You Get”. A great album with a quirky title. Love Rocky Mountain Way song, oh yea…

[@MisterBeauJanGels]

Tend My Garden was hot, could we get that uploaded as a standalone video?

[@massapower]

Now your talking. A TRUE COMEDIAN BABY!!.. RICHARD PRYOR 😁👍🏻😎👊

[@missinginbc]

Richard Pryor could actually sing really well.

[@matthewclark9652]

Melissa Manchester song "If It Feels Good" is a different song. The group Climax (with the late Sonny Geraci) in 1972 & Ian Lloyd with Stories in 1974 did the song "If It Feels Good, Do It".

[@John60s70s]

I hope NBC didn't censor Pryor too much since this show was on so late at night from 1am to 2:30am. Pryor also had his own show in 1977 and it wasn't late at night. Coincidentally it was on NBC and it was produced by Burt Sugarman also.

[@williamashton9235]

The Pryor prime time program was pre-censored because of its earlier timeslot. The show poked fun of Pryor being bowderized.

[@timhuggins7069]

Pryor censored himself. He cleaned up the joke about trying to make love as a teenager.

[@mickeysanker1547]

The only bad part of this video is, the advertisements. In the middle of a song it will stop and show you adds you cannot skip. I mute them so I don't have to hear them.

[@jparks1937]

my guy albert king. playing that guitar upside down with no pick. classic...

[@jamesgerrardbrown5169]

ELO... ♡••☆ ... C'est la vie , c'est magnifique ... and without any doubt, more proof that Mr Chuck Berry really changed the world in a good way ♡

[@ronnieparker4311]

Rockin at 1:00 am to the midnight special!!!! Rock on ! Space ace Ron⚡️⚡️⚡️

[@gummybearlol]

Happy Friday everyone

[@edwinmartinez1121]

Look for Albert King playing with a young Stevie Ray Vaughn, PURE BLUES HEAVEN.

[@PerspectiveEngineer]

Wow that was a flash back

[@wadeboyful]

Saw this live I was eight years old my mom told me elo was on while I was reading in bed

[@AlmostReady504]

THANK YOU!!!

[@michaelfink1017]

But seriously...EVERONE was incredible on this episode 😅

[@sirlordsoul]

Having a genuine blues master, Albert King, follow Joe Walsh's generic blues progression "Rocky Mountain Way" almost isn't fair. Plus it's one of Albert's greatest songs, "I'll Play the Blues for You." Very cool to see Joe Hicks as well. I own his Stax album and the singles he recorded for Sly Stone's label (Stone Flower) and would never have expected him to be on a network TV show.

[@JamieAndersonMusic]

Yeah, a lot of those rock guitarists simply followed the blues masters.

[@ApeLikeCreature]

Wow, I can clearly hear how influencial Albert King was on Clapton! Love the Gibson Flying V and that pink suit.

[@Lucky-jc3os]

Are there any subtitles for this episode? Thanks in advance Lucky

[@SullenMorbius]

57:57 dude's slick af. great voice and guitar playing.

[@mikelair9144]

Id like to shout out Joe Hix band. Funky baby!

[@thevoid99]

god i love richard pryor. he is a god in comedy. he was always funny and always allowed himself to be vulnerable and real unlike another guest host from the show who was never funny.

[@KittyGrizGriz]

Me too! Especially his movies 🎥

[@curtisphilumalee1447]

After watching Joe Walsh play Tend My Garden I know now where Tom Shlotz of Boston stoled that riff.