Ep 68 - The Midnight Special | May 17, 1974

[@SteveKraus]

The original Blues Brothers, Sam and Dave couldn't be better. What a spectacular lineup.

[@TheGravygun]

The great Steve Cropper on guitar.

[@dwightclark7627]

Sam and Dave with new footage of Steve Cropper and Duck Dunn (with pipe!) was incredible, and all these acts really held up well in 1974. However, the jaw-dropping segments for me were Lou Christie! He had a few bubblegum hits in the 60's that were memorable, but...HOLY MOLEY! This guy shows up looking like sex god Jim Morrison, with a soul-sister backing trio, an armadillo in his trousers and knocks his hits out of the freakin' park! No dubbing, just all his genuine vocals, spot-on, absolute perfection! I don't know why there was a guy there playing the violin, but I digress. How the airing of this episode did not result in a Lou Christie rebirth is beyond me!!!!!! Honest to goodness, it floored me!!!! Just amazing.

[@Mackermanesq]

I think it's even Al Jackson, Jr. playing drums with Sam and Dave. (And Steve Madaio, from Stevie Wonder's band, playing trumpet).

[@dh6035]

They know their audience. We're not staying up til Midnight anymore. 😂

[@fernandoperdomomusic]

Playing guitar with Sam Moore at the Centennial of Miami Beach a few years ago was one of the highlights of my life!

[@Greggery_Peccary]

His too!

[@deweygill1973]

Sam and Dave smokin’ out of the box

[@SamGainesinGboro]

TRUTH!!

[@gregoryduncan3067]

Lou Christie does "Lightning Strikes" in this. That's enough reason for me to watch it.

[@recordguy4321]

that clip of Lightning Strikes is already on you tube from Midnight Special, but maybe this is a different show

[@gregoryduncan3067]

​@@recordguy4321No, I don't think so. It's nice to see the whole package.

[@recordguy4321]

@@gregoryduncan3067 yep i just watched it , and this clip is from that show

[@dwightclark7627]

This is the Lou Christie version of Elvis' 68 Comeback Special. The guy shows up and kills it! Honest to goodness, I was floored!

[@covers_girl]

Lou Christie played by Rick Moranis

[@garyhenson117]

Sam and Dave! 🎉 "Soul Man" has such an unforgettable guitar intro, improvised by the legendary Steve Cropper for the studio recording. I'm looking forward to seeing if Sam Moore gets to say "Play it, Steve!" to the real McCoy in tomorrow's KZbin premiere of this TMS episode. 🎸

[@garyhenson117]

"Come on, Steve!" is close enough! 😁 Bassist Duck Dunn (d. 2012) and drummer Al Jackson Jr (d. 1975), too - a rhythm section made (and now playing) in heaven. 🙌

[@jondufresne6624]

Sam and Dave, The Fleetwoods, Lou Christie, Frankie Ford, Shirley and Lee bring forth the pure joy of the human voice.

[@duradim1]

I love these old shows highlighting mostly established talent.

[@briangallagher5371]

This is an incredible episode. I had never seen any of these songs performed live.

[@matthewbaduria]

Frankie Avalon is another golden oldie, and so is Sam Christie and Royal Teens in this episode, is a throwback to the Malt Shop era.

[@llraven6357]

I love Frankie as much today as I did as a kid. I remember watching this when I was 11. Thanks so much for sharing!!

[@TheGravygun]

That was quite the perm he had

[@pamharris990]

Oh my. Songs from when I was a wee one! I forgot them until I watched😂

[@tonyhill1141]

Steve Cropper with the rosewood Tele new to the market then and extremely limited. Just awesome.Duck and the horns. You can’t not love this stuff.

[@kevinhodgins1811]

I LOVE these old episodes of this amazing show. Keep em coming, please!

[@musterionsurly]

Sam and Dave.... so righteous, so beautiful and smoking hot. whole damn band is catching fire.

[@robmatlock7675]

Sam and Dave, the original "Blues Brothers", Jimmy Rodgers, Fabian, Sherry and Lee (🚨 Obscure Alert!) Lou Christie, The Fleetwoods, as well as Frankie Vallie, a great trip in the Way Way Machine, I will have to bring a can of gas to make it back to 2024 (Of course, if I got stuck in 1974 that would be ok). This show is like going through my mom's 45 collection, great line up Midnight Special, I can hardly wait!

[@kevinsacks3185]

Sam and Dave even have Steve Cropper and Duck Dunn backing them up.

[@robmatlock7675]

​@@kevinsacks3185That's what I love about the discussion section, I learned that not only did I get to see Blues legends Sam and Dave, but they were backed by Blues legends. This channel is the college of musical knowledge for me 😊

[@redhorse6652]

1974 was the year the show Happy Days came out. So they got the originals to do a show.

[@lauriebarnes2999]

Can't wait, The Midnight Special!

[@Greggery_Peccary]

Look out for my weekly Mystery Moniker again. Tonight pays tribute to our elder statesman, Brotz. See you there!

[@deja75m]

Frankie be a genuine artist..survived in a hostile environment ...and is an example of God's Grace

[@theargus73]

When the Mob ran the music industry.

[@moddie6783]

It's still " organized".

[@brenears]

I am amazed by Lou Christie! Gonna look him up on spotify.

[@dwightclark7627]

I remember his songs from the late 80's revival of the 60's music, but that guy killed it this taping in 1974! Just amazing.

[@rich56ca]

Simply wonderful.

[@markvonwisco7369]

Nice to see Sam and Dave backed up by Booker T & the MGs!

[@kirahastings9900]

Jimmie Rodgers, Fabian, both crushes of mine. Most of these songs remind me of 7th and 8th grades. Wish Lou Christie had sung "Two Faces Have I." Great show.

[@OWR0406]

Sam and Dave give the fully Stax blow up 🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩

[@luvbasses5487]

The incomparable Donald “Duck” Dunn…w Sam n Dave. I’ll tell ya folks it really don’t get any better - as far as an electric bass session man goes. Check out his discography to be completely spellbound. I mean, the list just goes on and on….

[@michaelmitchell5098]

Shirley & Lee baby!!!😊😊😊

[@TWayneD1020]

Extreme talent, and so polite !!, thank you so much !!!! This brings back wonderful memories !!! Time machine please ❤❤❤❤❤❤!!! Fabian was also acting, and very good at that as well !! Saw him on several westerns !!! Of course we knew Frankie was also acting, both Great!!!

[@jfjoubertquebec]

Shirley and Lee 🥰

[@fernandoperdomomusic]

43:35 that was quite the guitar solo buddy!

[@TuckerSP2011]

FANTASTIC show! Hit after hit 🎯

[@DidYouReadEULA]

Duck Dunn destroying that bass!

[@fretfix1]

The James Jamerson of Stax Records. Duck was off the chain, before there was a chain...

[@DidYouReadEULA]

Hadn't heard that one before, going to steal that phrase!!​@@fretfix1

[@dwightclark7627]

Puffing that pipe like there was no tomorrow!

[@AlexHarrison99]

Everything on this channel should be free. People didn't pay to watch back then, we shouldn't pay to watch now

[@antkn33]

You have to pay?

[@leestamm3187]

Good show. In the 60's, when he had his big hit with "Lightnin' Strikes," the then clean cut Lou Christie criticized the shaggy appearance of long haired/bearded rockers. Ironically, here he is a few years later sporting much the same look. 😁

[@AdrianDeVore]

Ironically. 😂

[@vitoaugello1677]

Frankly I think I would sound that great with that band behind me. Just fabulous, real talent.

[@JismIsm-en4kz]

Sam & Dave backed by Booker T's back up band - Donald Duck Dunn (bass), Steve Cropper (guitar)

[@lamsantos]

WONDERFUL !!!!!!!!!!!!! LUIZ MONTENEGRO - BRAZIL.

[@luciovids9208]

Fantastic. Love all the music on this episode

[@fretfix1]

I came for Sam& Dave. I stayed for the Pier 6 brawl between Avalon ad Fabian!!

[@davidf3883]

Sam and Dave were so good..just an awesome episode and Frankie did a great hosting job.

[@bluebear1985]

Looks like the next episode after this from May 24, 1974 was a pretty good one as well. It was hosted by Richard Pryor, and it also features appearances from Bobby "Blue" Bland, Marvin Hamlisch, New Riders of the Purple Sage, Olivia Newton-John, Melvin Van Peebles, and Boz Scaggs.

[@dinocrocetti2950]

Great Miss the wolf man

[@DannyHaralson-ol1io]

Got the 12s on and ready!

[@kc0lif]

lou christie wow.

[@StephanieJeanne]

Another stroll down my parents' music memory lane! 😊 There's some good golden oldies on this one! I'll be sure to wear my poodle skirt and saddle shoes! ☺️💜

[@Greggery_Peccary]

Just two more nights away!!! Also (not to make it about me, but...) we get the unveiling of this week's mystery moniker, a nod to our elder statesman Brotz. Last week was a great episode. Puzzle was a great band who died on the vine. Shame.

[@gregoryduncan3067]

That's the spirit, Stephanie 👍.

[@gregoryduncan3067]

That's why I call it The Baby Boomer Nostalgia Fest but Stephanie wouldn't know anything about that because she's a Gen X-er.

[@StephanieJeanne]

@@gregoryduncan3067 Now, wait a minute! I didn't say I didn't know anything about it...😂, but yes, I relate more to the Xers. That's what I said. Lol. Are you gonna wear a white sport coat and a pink carnation? 😁 You might not get that reference, being that you're a Zer. 😹

[@gregoryduncan3067]

@@StephanieJeanne I've heard that reference but I don't know it. I'm an X-er just like you but a late X-er. You're a VERY early X-er.

[@DannyHaralson-ol1io]

Monday's episode will be a good one. Host Helen Ready, Frankie Valli. KISS and Barry Manilow. From November 28,1975. I think it's worth the $4.99 per month I pay for membership to get an extra episode on Monday.

[@ronaldolaquidara64]

Yeah looking forward to see early KiSS w/ the original 4 although my younger brother liked KISS and my other brother liked Aerosmith and while I liked the Eagles 😹😂😹

[@logantyrelle97]

Hey there!! I just skimmed the live chat playback and saw you'd said hi to me! I'm so sorry I didn't see it, I was out all night tonight so I only hopped on to say thanks to TMS team about the upcoming Monday episode. Please don't think I was ignoring you! I so appreciate you reaching out! I really hope they will feature more Helen episodes during her run as the permanent guest host from 1975-76, she's such an underrated artist. I'm looking for specific episodes that feature performances of my favorite songs of hers ("Leave Me Alone (Ruby Red Dress), "Angie Baby", and "I Am Woman"). I was excited to see on the episode guide that Monday's episode includes "I Am Woman"!!! From Wolfman and me, have a fabulous weekend!😁😁😜

[@DannyHaralson-ol1io]

@@logantyrelle97 Not hurt at all. The comments move so fast it's easy to miss one. Hope you have a good weekend.

[@logantyrelle97]

@@DannyHaralson-ol1io Thank you!!😁

[@user-tm1bq9rd3w]

좋아여~

[@SuperBeachbum74]

Clydie King singing background with Lou Christie

[@thouston0]

Steve Cropper and Duck Dunn playing with Sam & Dave!

[@neilyoungfan]

And Duck was killing it on bass!

[@odnamraortsac]

And Jim Horn on sax (possibly wearing the same shirt he wore when playing at George Harrison’s Bangladesh concert)

[@bene.divinocordeiro6196]

❤ Na expectativa

[@JismIsm-en4kz]

Great days, er, I mean NIGHTS - back in 70's; Damn, this world changed for the worse

[@gerrydooley951]

Fabian was renowned for his bad singing

[@AccurateCrabLegs]

The Fleetwoods trashed their dressing room, stole Frankie’s wig, and challenged Lou Christie to a whiskey drinking contest

[@Moo-cs3xn]

man, the Fleetwoods were hellraising lunatics

[@JamieAndersonMusic]

Sam and Dave with a live band! Especially love the horn section.

[@kenmadzia7354]

Good Lord ! I'm only 53 and love this kind of jam ! Phones nowadays , can't believe I came across this. How long has this been going on?

[@xeropunt5749]

I always assumed the Sam in “Sam & Dave” was Sam Cooke..😂

[@Music--ng8cd]

Is that Booker T, Al Jackson, Cropper & Dunn backing up Sam and Dave?

[@CineMollusk]

Not Booker T but the rest of the MGs are there sounding fantastic

[@boogie02130]

Think it's Willie Hall on drums and Joe Arnold on trumpet!

[@hojo70]

Frankie Ford had an amazing afro

[@williamengler321]

S&Ds band went on to many of the Blues bros Cropper Duck Dunn ect

[@Moo-cs3xn]

Frankie Ford is Will Ferrell 🤣 Lou Christie is Rick Moranis

[@katec7033]

Interesting chords played by Jimmie Rogers.

[@ronnieparker4311]

🤘

[@Slenderman629]

The Fleetwoods performance turned me 🌈

[@michaelrochester48]

Is that Steve Copper and Donald Duck Dunn behind Sam and Dave?

[@boogie02130]

Yes

[@Herro750]

Shirley and Lee brilliant…and only one song 😮

[@deja75m]

Frankie Avalon...Blessed..sir...

[@patrickmccarron5059]

70s people singing 50s music?

[@AdrianDeVore]

Nostalgia from the 1950s was very popular in the 1970s.😊

[@deja75m]

Father of 8 beautiful catholic souls..wears a toupee?...YUP

[@DavePlaysTrombone]

16:02 Frankie Ford was known for ONE SONG and he botched the 2nd line. Brutal.

[@AdrianDeVore]

😂

[@iamtoothewalrus]

Sam and Dave and the band stealing the show.

[@EdKazO-Vision]

Frankie Ford! What is up with that ‘do?

[@deja75m]

Da pink and blue whales...look away..sound great..but..looking gives me early Lizzo seeds?

[@BRINABOO-s2k]

SAM AND DAVE KILLED IT SO DID FRANKIE AVALON WHO IS EVERYONE FAVORITE. THE RESTS ARE BORING ASF AND LOU CHRISTIE SOUNDS LIKE POTATO STEW JUST AWFUL!! WTF?! LIGHTNING STRIKES DIDNT COME OUT IN 1963 BUT MID 60’s/LATE 60’s.

[@EdKazO-Vision]

Fabian never did learn to sing, did he.

[@gerrydooley951]

poor Frankie Ford wearing a Bozo wig

[@AdrianDeVore]

This '74 TMS episode was so cringey to watch. 😳🙈

[@deja75m]

I am censored in commie kanada...my gubmint hates me..cuz I love TRUMP

[@karlsinclair9918]

Thanks God for Sam and dave with booker t and the mgs. That was the worst episode...utterly awful.

[@recordguy4321]

only thing worse is your comment

[@MrCarltonjsmith]

Frankie Ford has an official Jackson Five Afro!

[@RustyCrawford-cc1zy]

Special square ediitionr For maw and paw

[@jeaniemuenster9788]

Guys this is such good music. Share it. This is live. Share, share ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ 🫂

[@deja75m]

Sam n Dave wit da man..Steve Cropper..legend

[@deja75m]

Jimmy gots a toupee..too..neat geetar chords!

[@deja75m]

Notice the bassist with a cigarette and holder?..classy

[@deja75m]

CIA...why the fleetwoods?..a mr rogers song clone?..anemic

[@deja75m]

Did Richie Havens adopt this chording style...?

[@deja75m]

Let's bring back a buncha old losers an make a show...these grandpa's love the 11am spot..yum..yogurt and porridge before the show..yumm