Ep 55 - The Midnight Special | February 15, 1974 - “Golden Oldies” episode

[@Diogenes1360]

Style, Talent & Soul, All in One Show . . . I thank God to have grown-up with all of these Legends.

[@ddlee202257]

From the "Jackie Wilson Fan Club" . . . Seeing Mr. Excitement perform LIVE on stage was a real treat.

[@jackal59]

I never realized before that "Mr. Excitement" referred to his pants. His very, very disturbing pants.

[@KittyGrizGriz]

@@jackal59 It looks like Jackie’s wearing hot pink long Johns top-bottom to me, an unfortunate outfit choice. He’s a great performer though .

[@TheRealPynkPanther]

Mr, Burt, Howard told us that sometimes you read the comments. Please consider going live and greeting us, if it's not too much of an inconvenience. WE LOVE YOU!!!!!!

[@vincentdavis3453]

Roy Orbison, what a dynamic host and entertainer! The line-up is pure gold. Good Stuff. Thank you Midnight Special Solid Gold Show.

[@davidf3883]

Great great show!! The first time I have seen Del Shannon and I was impressed.

[@SuperBeachbum74]

What makes this show so great is that all these artists can actually sing, no echo, no reverb, no auto tune, no lip syncing ! Today’s artists can learn something and also real instruments, no synthesizers. No computer or drum machine !

[@JamieAndersonMusic]

One of the things I so appreciate about this show. There have been other episodes, however, where there was lip syncing, like the one from London.

[@UK_Lemons]

There are synthesisers being played. Runaway featured a Clavioline which is an analogue synthesiser. There is obviously nothing digital going on but synths are used. Not sure why people have an issue with synthesisers. They still require human input and expand the sounds available to artists.

[@UK_Lemons]

​@@JamieAndersonMusicOne of the London shows (David Essex, ELO etc.)had a lot of mimed, outdoor performances but the episode featuring Humble Pie and Procol Harum was true live. That show is one of my favourites mainly due to Steve Marriot's amazing, raw performance.😊

[@EdKazO-Vision]

Obviously you are not paying attention to all of today’s music.

[@SuperBeachbum74]

@@EdKazO-Vision depends on the music, most is replaceable crap

[@artg5726]

When this show aired I was 14. Watching 1 show a week gives me hope I’ll be here till every episode airs. Enjoy everything

[@thedevilinthecircuit1414]

Rest in peace Duane Eddy. You rocked!

[@jeanroy8283]

Live band, no auto tune, no pitch correction Just: TALENT! Will music like this ever come back?

[@brucesmith1754]

no

[@drummerbraves]

RIP Duane Eddy.

[@SuperBeachbum74]

Jackie Wilson highlight of show. A true showman !

[@cameronduff884]

...the Jackson's thought so too...❤😊

[@KittyGrizGriz]

He can sure shake a leg! 🎉

[@ddlee202257]

They didn't call him "Mr. Excitement!" for nothing!!!

[@bene.divinocordeiro6196]

❤ Roy Orbison é um dos meus favoritos , tenho Cds e Dvds , show inédito pra mim , imperdível !

[@alexandria8255]

Awesome show. I love these episodes. I was in high school in the early 70's Great memories. I always watched this. 🙏🙏🌺🌺🎶🎶

[@merlinsclaw]

The immortal Jackie Wilson. 😍😍😍😍

[@12345682900]

Mr. Excitement!

[@rikvee]

at 40 years old that year, not long before an on stage heart attack would put him in a coma for 8 years before passing away from pneumonia at 49.... :(

[@KittyGrizGriz]

@@rikveeOh my, that’s very sad. He looked in great physical shape here, one never knows.

[@fretfix1]

@@rikvee The song Nightshift, by the Commodores was a tribute to Jackie and Marvin Gaye who died a few years after Jackie. Both had tragic deaths. Sad indeed...

[@paulj0557tonehead]

This world could use a dozen more Del Shannons!

[@rochellenavarro4155]

Roy Orbison 😍🤩 had a perfect voice. Crystal clear. Dell Shannon sounded great too! ❤

[@steveker5084]

I used to work second shift. Soon as i punched out , I took off running to catch the Midnight Special. They had some of the best groups and singers ever performing one right after the other. And then there was Wolfman Jack. Great times, great music.

[@TheSquirrel72]

Loving these oldies,what a solid show!😃

[@roxiebeagle]

This was an excellent episode!

[@rgs4x]

I was working at a gas station during the energy crisis. Odd and even plates to get gas.

[@dyskover]

really nice keyboard work in Runaway.

[@mlaursen]

Runaway was the first hit song to feature a synthesizer, which his keyboard player at the time built as a do-it-yourself project. Not sure if this is the same keyboard player.

[@neilnola3520]

Amazing. Simply Amazing.

[@crusherbmx]

These were Golden Oldies...50 years ago!

[@pejaguilar30]

Big, big big. Thanks Midnight Special.

[@maurimartinez8720]

Roy Orbison y Del Shannon con esos TEMAZOS!!!...

[@lauriebarnes2999]

Can't wait, The Midnight Special!

[@joymcdonald8240]

Wow what a show with an amazing array of talent

[@KittyGrizGriz]

I’m gonna love Roy! Until the end of the line…💖 🎶 “Well it's all right, even when push comes to shove Well it's all right, if you got someone to love Well it's all right, everything'll work out fine Well it's all right, we're going to the end of the line” 🎶💗 R.I.P. Duane Eddy 🎸🤍🤍

[@mariabobakova2181]

Those were golden times. Thanks for the wonderful music. ❤️👍👍👍👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👋

[@darrenrunning5415]

Had Del Shannon not died, there was talk of making him a member of The Traveling Wilburys. The Wilburys recorded Runaway as a B-Side.

[@thevoid99]

that is true. in fact, jeff lynne was producing a comeback album for him.

[@davidstill4321]

I had heard Del and Tom Petty were close.

[@danaatkins6827]

Howie played bass in Del's band...Tom stole Howie,lol...

[@NancyIrwin-fq7pw]

I dance to the Drifters when I was six years old 1960 now it's 2024 Roll Tide Roll Go Bama

[@NancyIrwin-fq7pw]

I sang this song in the 60s love it ❤😅

[@66KIMBLE]

Never watch Jackie perform before Thank you.

[@margaretbeard6564]

The late great Roy Orbison❤❤

[@Jamesdylandean]

I loved Duane Eddy's music right from the first. His combining twangy guitar with wailing sax was magic on wax. His best song in my mind was KOMMOTION.

[@OllsKershaw]

superb video quality...i'm amazed. Great singers

[@SuperBeachbum74]

Favorite Orbison song “ Mean Woman Blues “.

[@LouieLouie3]

Bobby Vee sounded great. Take Good Care Of My Baby” ❤❤

[@mlaursen]

He and Bob Dylan are from the same area and are the same age, and were fans of each others music.

[@richardbetz5531]

Roy Orbison, Del Shannon and Duane Eddy. Not a bad selection at all.

[@drummerbraves]

Should have done a preview of Duane doing "Rebel Rouser" from the show as a tribute to him.

[@fangslaughter1198]

I wonder if The show had a band to back solo acts? When this show came out I was 12. Our town had one channel. Off air at midnight. 😢 This show is awesome ❤️🇨🇦🤠👍

[@JQ127-c4e]

I think we had 6 channels after UHF signals started up. They'd all go off the air at 1am and play The Star Spangled Banner. Different times.

[@fangslaughter1198]

@@JQ127-c4e 6 channels🤤!! Our one channell was the CBC we got CTV around 72 . Around 77 we finally got cable..IOW American stations. We loved it.

[@pembridgehouse]

Great show. Great line up. Thanks for posting.

[@susanb2015]

Lloyd Price Personality my favorite!

[@brunowolfffilhow6036]

Absolutamente sensacional!!!

[@peggysmyth6110]

My first LP was Tommy Roe.❤

[@hwfranjr]

This Show had all THE GREATS ONMIT ALWAYSMGIVINGMUS WHATNWEMWANTED SO BAD THE GOOD ALWAYS GO DIRST

[@luciovids9208]

Been looking forward to this one. Thank you

[@That_AMC_Guy]

I'm in tears seeing Jackie Wilson perform. A little more than a year after this at the Dick Clark Rock and Roll Revue, Jackie would suffer a massive heart attack and be in and out of a coma for the rest of his life. Apparently, Elvis personally paid all of Jackie's medical bills because Jackie was essentially destitute and after passing, would be buried in an unmarked grave. What a horrible outcome for one of the founding father's of Rock & Roll.

[@clintonearlwalker]

Thank you so much for uploading these episodes!! When the show was on originally, I couldn't stay up late enough to watch the entire show, I'd watch maybe half an hour and go to bed, (it came on at midnight). I missed a lot of music back then.

[@robmatlock7675]

More mandatory fun, I miss you all, maybe next week😎

[@sebastian0107]

Imagine: already considered 'Oldies' in 1974!

[@karlbillinger9945]

Good line up. Cheers.

[@eric_in_florida]

Wow Tommy Roe. My mom used to love him.

[@theloyalorderofclassictv5435]

One of the best episodes of the 1973-1974 Season...

[@michaelrochester48]

Interesting that Tommy Roe actually performed a song that was not truly an oldie, “jam up and jelly tight” was a hit three years earlier in 1971, his last very big hit, and one of my favorites of his

[@John60s70s]

I remember when he performed that song on American Bandstand. My favorite Tommy Roe song was Dizzy. I was 10 yrs old. I also liked Tommy James.

[@ravynskye1310]

LET'S GO!!! 🥃🍺🍷🍸🍕🌮🌭🍿❤️✌️❤️✌️

[@dardar9655]

Roy absolutely carried the show! RIP Roy🌹🕊🙏

[@matthewbaduria]

What's great about this television show, is that is all singing, no lip syncing no auto-tune no overdubs none of those, there are also no synthesizers, no drum machines, none of those, just real singers and bands, that's what today's singers and bands can learn these.

[@JamieAndersonMusic]

Not true for every episode but certainly for this one.

[@maxthepupp]

RIP the great Duane Eddy and all them that ain't here🙏❤

[@DallasPix]

Sad to think they're all gone... *Tommy Roe is still with us tho, thankfully... What an ALL STAR LINE UP!!! Randy A Carlisle // DJ // The Real Oldies Show // KSGV

[@ianman15]

Duane Eddy was once married to Jessi Colter, who eventually married Waylon Jennings and had a hit a year later with “I’m Not Lisa”.

[@KittyGrizGriz]

I loved that song sung/written by Jessi Colter in 1975 it was her most successful hit, what a beautiful voice and lady! “I'm Not Lisa" was written by Colter and describes the pain that comes with dating someone who has not gotten over a previous lover.”

[@deweygill1973]

Really well produced and presented. The most recent tunes here are Higher and Higher (fall 1967) and Jam Up Jelly Tight ( December 1969) Everyone still on top of their game. Amazing how much music changed between 1960 and 1970. I’m guessing that was Duane’s regular band at the time. Tight! I think Jackie left something in his front pocket…

[@sg-yq8pm]

Bizarrely, The Drifters were massively successful and popular in the UK at that time on the back of an amazing run of UK top 40 hits starting in 72 and ending in 76, and were based in England making a fortune, but I'm not sure that any of the 4 in this 'version' of The Drifters were involved.

[@DOOWOPTRB]

This lineup of Drifters is Charlie Thomas (1958-1967 recording member), Elsbeary Hobbs (1958-1961 member), Dock Green (1958-1962 member) and Al Banks, original lead of the Turbans singing lead. Out of camera range on guitar is their longtime musical director Abdul Samad. Charlie and Elsbeary remained performing Drifters until their deaths. The UK group was led by Johnny Moore, who first joined in 1955 (Adorable, Ruby Baby) and returned in 1963 (Under The Boardwalk, Saturday Night At The Movies).

[@Spacebeagle]

I reckon that now this is my fave video on KZbin. Rock on! 🎵🎶

[@DannyHaralson-ol1io]

Thanks!

[@themidnightspecialtvshow]

Thanks so much again for your support, it is greatly appreciated.

[@stevemurray2737]

Fantastic!

[@wnewfmer]

A year and a half later Jackie Wilson had a massive heart attack....

[@BackToTheBlues]

He had a habit of taking salt tablets and drinking a lot of water before going on stage so he'd sweat during his performance, telling Elvis Presley 'the chicks love it,' and it's likely that caused his heart attack.

[@JamieAndersonMusic]

@@BackToTheBlues Wow.

[@Jackie-ji2sj]

​@BackToTheBlues Jackie was also due to testify against his corrupt mafia led label a month later. Strange coincidence, don't you think?

[@travisthornton1792]

Roy Orbison is only 38 years old here.

[@CoCotheTurtle]

And when he walked out at the start I thought he was gonna check my oil.

[@jenryang.6132]

Hats off to Larry oh man this is amazing

[@MduKz]

Tamos aí!

[@The2gails]

HELL YEAH😂😂

[@odnamraortsac]

If THE RAMONES ever played “Up on the Roof”, it would be played at the speed of this version performed by THE DRIFTERS.

[@mr1000Cent]

Cool, I'm not the only one who felt like these tunes were sped up. I wonder if it's to avoid KZbin copyright shenanigans. Or, they tried to cram so many songs in a 60 minute format, either way, it does make these songs sound...different.

[@AdrianDeVore]

Songs were much shorter back then because radio stations wouldn't play songs that were more than three minutes long.

[@johnkoval1898]

Energy Crisis! Jimmy Carter days of despair, but also of good music!

[@udostaggemeyer2018]

Duane Eddy, the great Gretsch Sound......

[@warrenmoulton4460]

I remember watching this episode as a kid...and haven't seen it in the 50 years since. Thank you SO MUCH for posting this. I am a Roy Orbison fanatic...LOVE his music. However, he seems so uncomfortable hosting the show. In hindsight, I am really surprised that he agreed to do it, since he was usually loath to speak to the audience when he was on stage. Still, great to see Orbison and the rest of the line up.

[@maxthepupp]

Runaway is SUCH a banger! I believe Del was targeted to take Roys place in the Travelin' Wilburys as Tom Petty had just produced his last album. Nbut, sadly, no.

[@markvonwisco7369]

RIP Duane Eddy!

[@bluebear1985]

The next episode for February 22, 1974 looks like it had some great guests. It was hosted by Gordon Lightfoot, and also features appearances from The Guess Who, The James Gang, Byron MacGregor, Maria Muldaur, Redbone, and Ravi Shankar.

[@TreyHaferkamp-eh4wg]

So I just joined and paid for the membership. Am I not able to watch episode 55 by being a subscriber?

[@Robert0rczykowski-in8fm]

Zgadza się...dzisiejsze [ gwiazdki ] z odsłuchem w uchu to mogą buty czyścić tamtym artystom...I mamy odpowiedź jakich dzisiaj mamy śpiewaków...

[@KittyGrizGriz]

Anybody know what type of guitar Duane Eddy plays to get that fantastic low tone? Reminds me of Glen Campbells sound.

[@DCGuy1997]

Up on the Roof should not have been sung at such a fast pace.

[@raymondbonington9355]

This version were not the drifters who were having hits in the uk at this time with johhny Moore on lead .

[@John60s70s]

I always liked Tommy Roe. When I was a kid I best remember the song Dizzy sung by him. It had a good beat. Another good song is Sheila. Another singer I liked back then is Tommy James.

[@kalelc1996]

Interesting how during this time Roy orbison's career was in a slump and notice how he's not playing his usual guitar nor is he wearing his usual black outfits but it's still awesome though

[@DannyHaralson-ol1io]

I read a lot of comments abought some of the songs are @ a fast tempo. I think it's the backing band. The drummer keeps time. I think the dude took a hit of speed before the show. It sounds like Roy Orbison 's drummer to me. The drums keep pace and time for the band. A good example of slow and then fast. Is Bloodstone's Natural High. I play drums. I've been told I play Lyin' Eyes to fast.

[@oobrocks]

The only show I’m aware of still like this is Austin CityLimits Shouldn’t there be a lot more? Btw: Roy wasn’t blind

[@Royale_with_Cheeze]

Not blind, but he and all of his siblings suffered poor eyesight.

[@oobrocks]

I’ve never heard that before

[@Royale_with_Cheeze]

​@@oobrocks Look up the words Roy Orbison blind. That came up.

[@oobrocks]

I did. He was. Myopic but not blind

[@AngelJax-m2y]

Roy was 38 here. He looked 68, but still cool AF.

[@edwiles5258]

He traded that Fender Strata for an Ovation acoustic. Never saw Roy play an acoustic before.

[@TheMediaHoarder]

Please hire me to do your uploads, this is in the wrong frame rate!

[@garybostick7784]

Anybody know if that is Todd Rundgren playing piano there with Bobby Vee? Sure looks like him back in the early 70’s.

[@MrCherryJuice]

No, definitely not Todd - he doesn't have boobs. And not Carole King, which is what someone else asked. I did a stop-frame check to confirm but didn't recognise whoever it is.

[@walkertongdee]

sound is recorded bady Duane

[@CoCotheTurtle]

@@djavidianmx1832 I think he was referring to the mid-70's lenter.

[@alvisserrano9797]

Omg real singers no computer machines making the voices . These are real singers to shame . Except post malone he is great and the dead south there real

[@stevemurray2737]

Carole King playing Keyboards for Bobby Vee?

[@MrCherryJuice]

No, definitely not Carole (I did stop-frame to confirm). And not Todd Rundgren, as someone else asked - he doesn't have boobs. Don't know who it is.

[@stevemurray2737]

@@MrCherryJuice Thanks I figured she was on her way after “TAPESTRY’ in 1971. Bob Dylan did play Keyboards for Bobby Vee back in the day.

[@MrCherryJuice]

@@stevemurray2737 Yes, after years of being only a writing credit on the hits of others, King finally landed in the spotlight with 'Tapestry'. As you likely know, she and Gerry Goffin were the writers of 'Take Good Care of My Baby'. Two guitar greats played on Vee's version, Barney Kessel and Howard Roberts, as did ace drummer Earl Palmer, whose Wiki I link below. He is as iconic in the world of drumming (I'm a drummer) as King is to the world of songwriting, with a stunning list of credits. When you hear Ringo Starr, Richie Hayward (Little Feat, Robert Plant), John Bonham etc. you're hearing the influence of Earl Palmer. Indeed, when you hear rock ('n' roll) drumming, there's some Earl Palmer embedded in there. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earl_Palmer

[@stevemurray2737]

@@MrCherryJuiceThanks! All legendary Musicians and Carole also had her unique style and sound on the Piano. Read her book where when playing in James Taylor’s band, he all but forced her to take Center Stage for part of his shows. Love these stories. Similar trajectory for Leon Russell, Studio Guy, Composer, Superstar and the long road ahead.

[@jerseyforhawks]

Roy was kissed by God himself.

[@danielreichert2025]

The seventies had few good songs and Burt spared us us with some oldies instead. The eighties were the best years for me and new music , I miss it very deeply.

[@Zoetropeification]

My problem with the Midnight Special was that these episodes aired during the mid 1970s but relied heavily on pop music artists from ten to twenty years earlier. It's all personal preference. Heavily influenced by the perspective of age. If I had to choose a decade mine would be from around 1968 to 1978. I know, eleven years. The rise of FM radio and word of mouth exposed us to a lot of innovative music. In 1978 I was still too young to attend shows at music venues serving alcohol. I enjoyed a lot of early 80s bands when at university. Many of them were heavily influenced by bands originating in the 70s.

[@sg-yq8pm]

"The seventies had few good songs" - You win the *Moronic Comment of the Week Award* ..Congratulations Daniel!

[@MrPotatoesLatkie]

@@Zoetropeification I disagree. Most of the acts and songs featured on the first 55 shows were contemporary to the early 1970s. They did have shows that featured themes, and this one was from the older generation of musicians. The shows had a lot of rock and rhythm and blue/soul acts too, so it wasn't just pop, although the pop of this era was really good stuff.

[@scottjenkins3095]

You know nothing about music. 🫵🤡

[@scottjenkins3095]

You know nothing about music.

[@antoniocarlosmoreira3780]

tomara que a inteligencia artificial consiga dublar esses videos do youtube, se consegue fazer isso nas dublagens artificiais, poderia fazer isso nos videos

[@nathandodge665]

I never understood what was so great about Duane eddy.

[@thinkbeforyouvote]

Wow what a SS this one was.

[@SuperBeachbum74]

Beatles ain’t nothing compared to Elvis who Jackie Wilson was great friends with !

[@AdrianDeVore]

Elvis also paid for Jackie Wilson's medical expenses after his heart attack. After Elvis passed away, Dick Clark and one of The Spinners continued paying Jackie Wilson's medical bills until he died in 1984.

[@KittyGrizGriz]

@@AdrianDeVore Oh, wow, that’s very cool to read thank you for sharing. Elvis was such a kind & gentle soul anonymously helping many people w/o wanting any recognition

[@AdrianDeVore]

@@KittyGrizGriz You're welcome.

[@ryanmatney9013]

Is Lloyd Price lip syncing Stagger Lee?

[@scottjenkins3095]

Absolutely not.

[@shadow31305]

Can we get gordon