Ep 83 - The Midnight Special | August 30, 1974

[@thesimibrothers2575]

The late great Hollywood Fats on the Guitar backing Witherspoon! Great!!

[@karmayogibear]

Never heard of him before - but a BRILLIANT guitarist from this showing! Witherpoon had some great guitarists with him - Robben Ford was a great player with him too.

[@terrijofilms305]

Big Mama Thornton died of a heart attack on 7/25/1984 in LA, she was 57 years old. She died without a penny to her name and was buried in a pauper’s grave. That’s a tragic end for a woman so talented.

[@pfzt]

What a gem. Unbelievable that this used to be on national television.

[@acardiac5983]

I can’t believe BB King was 49 back in 1974!

[@JohnnyHenry-z1n]

I used to load food on airplanes in Las Vegas in the late 80's and all through the nineties , while I was changing out the First class food and beverage carts for an AA flight the passengers started off loading,,,,, BB Kings wife was one of the passengers and she actually stopped to say hi to me and gave me a BB King Hat pin!! still have it♥

[@Piggy-Oink-Oink]

Wait till you hear BIG MAMA..what a voice!!

[@Royalle_with_Cheese]

Elvis wouldn't have a career if not for Big Mama Thornton.

[@scottjenkins3095]

​@@Royalle_with_Cheese 🤣🤣🤣 Bullshit 🤣🤣🤣

[@Royalle_with_Cheese]

​@@scottjenkins3095 Yeah, well that's just, like, your opinion, man.

[@scottjenkins3095]

@@Royalle_with_Cheese Yeah, DUDE ... and the correct one. 🙄

[@Frankie_Zappa]

​@@scottjenkins3095 Many white artists got famous for singing hit songs already recorded by black people to homogenize the music for white audiences and airplay on white radio stations in the 50s. Hound Dog was obviously a huge hit for Elvis, but if Mama Thornton hadn't already recorded it, it wouldn't have been available for Elvis to get a foothold in the business.

[@Diogenes1360]

(50 years ago), The days of "Style, Class & Talent" all-time Blues Legends . . .

[@PlayingInVestapol]

This was the only episode I was able to watch with my father in peace.

[@wyro1741]

Thanks Burt and crew for your continued sharing of these national treasures

[@FORTYFIVERECORDINGS]

I was down in Big Mama Thornton's family town where she was born last week. Alabama should be proud of her... I sure am ❤

[@nealwoolrich7431]

What a great episode, and what great foresight by Burt to put together this Blues special. Loved the conversation between BB and Wolfman. Glad to see in 2024 there are still torchbearers keeping the Blues flame alive, standing on the shoulders of these giants.

[@samiam5557]

John Lee Hooker stole the show in my opinion. 👍👍😎

[@KittyGrizGriz]

The audience sure thought so too, just look at how they’re getting down with “Boogie With the Hook” I Love it! 😍

[@badbadleroybrown]

Such a class act

[@KittyGrizGriz]

His Guitarist oh! my! 😂 😅 🎉

[@matthewhutchinson7366]

Whoa the Bobby Bland is a revelation . Two cooking drummers heavy bass and great horn section- what a groove.

[@badbadleroybrown]

The Blues never sounded so funky!

[@kanadianbacon7733]

Simply.... *" w o w!♡¡"*

[@danporuban1762]

Saw BB once at the Tower Theatre (Philly) in the mid 90s...(also with Bobby Bland) no man could do more with one hearfelt note than him!

[@KittyGrizGriz]

Loved this relaxing evening of blues masters ~ especially Willie Mae “Big Mama Thornton.” Her voice! 💙💙💙💙💙 I saw B. B. King at a Tulsa, OK Blues Fest in ‘97 with Robert Cray and the Memphis Horns, Jimmie Vaughan, Jay Geils and Magic Dick and Bluestime.

[@bluetopguitar1104]

Fantastic all Blues midnight special!!! Thank you!

[@thomassnider6691]

What a great line-up.

[@dmsanct]

papa john creach is one of my favourite violinists ever

[@badbadleroybrown]

He was smoking hot!

[@valdia1248]

Agreed

[@JamieAndersonMusic]

THAT'S the blues! Especially loved hearing Big Mama Thorton. I've heard about her for years and this is the first time I've heard her sing. She recorded "Hound Dog" before Elvis and says she wrote it.

[@scottjenkins3095]

@JamieAndersonMusic Yes. She lied for years about how she was ripped off with the song. Elvis recorded his version four years after Thornton, and based his off that of Freddie and the Bellboys, not Thornton's.She didn't write it, and neither Elvis nor anyone else who recorded it owed her anything.

[@KittyGrizGriz]

No, she didn’t write “Hound Dog.” It was written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. It was 1st sung by Willie Mae Thornton aka Big Mama in March, 1952. When Elvis recorded it in 1956 it became a massive hit and the rest is history, as they say. You’re correct ~ these ARE the Fabulous BLUES! 💙🩵🎶

[@KittyGrizGriz]

@@scottjenkins3095 And again. 😁😆 I didn’t see your post before I commented, until I got out of the site and came back in, again. WTH is up with this? So weird? 🎉 Wheee … it sure makes for some interesting interactions! Have a great evening 😀

[@jaykaysr9225]

she didn't write it

[@richardperusse4299]

allright....killer 70's blues, the best times ....

[@marvinwhittaker]

B.B.King will always and forever be the king 👑 of the blues.

[@gtaylor1812]

What An In your face fantastic episode....a blitzkrieg of blues.

[@Mr_Gray_Sky]

It's a treat to see Paul Butterfield.

[@deweygill1973]

Back in the 1970’s, I had friends that had a blues/soul band that lived in an old Victorian house in a shaky part of town. They routinely had Sunday afternoon barbecues and played live for a couple of bucks to raise rent money. One day the Weber disappeared from the yard. They sang the great BB King song “The Grill Is Gone” I saw BB a number of times in the ‘70’s and ‘80’s. Us White kids were a minority in the audience. The Black couples dressed in their Sunday finest, and the women called a response to every one of BB’s lines. It was a thing of beauty.

[@KittyGrizGriz]

I thoroughly enjoyed reading your entertaining story, thank you for the laugh! So sad… about the ‘Grill’ ha! 😁😹 My previous husband (deceased), had a band too, when we were just babies at age 22. He was a bassist, his middle brother played drums & oldest bro played electric guitar. His best friend played acoustic and sounded “just like” Neil Young, and kinda looked like him too, only w/blonde hair. They played a free concert at a living facility, which housed adults with developmental disabilities. It’s called “Gatesway Foundation” in Broken Arrow, OK. You should have seen how happy they all were laughing and dancing! 😀 Somewhere on a long forgotten reel to reel tape is my voice~ harmonizing with them. Only 2 of us are still alive and I often think back to those wonderful/musician men and the great memories we created, together.😌

[@deweygill1973]

@ the one time they didn’t lock it to the metal clothes pole

[@trickygenenorman2560]

B.B. and the Wolfman👍

[@Music--ng8cd]

Riley B. King and Robert Weston Smith

[@ricardocamara189]

One of the best episodes. Pure Blues.

[@MrArsg13]

😢One of the best releases, blues night, goosebumps

[@lauriebarnes2999]

Can't wait, The Midnight Special!

[@Royalle_with_Cheese]

Hi Laurie. Two questions. You probably know both of them already, so hit me with the answers.

[@AdrianDeVore]

Blues is in the house!💙

[@SteveKraus]

B. B. King was the king of blues. Outstanding blues compilation of musicians.

[@wtaylorg]

The great BB King. My guitar teacher always emphasized his style and economy in his leads. I just love his tone. It’s instantly recognizable.

[@jeffreymassey5541]

The Blues 🎸🎵🎶😎

[@badbadleroybrown]

Wow what a line up!!

[@karenvann5911]

Some blues tonight!

[@skippyjones9252]

What a show! Feel so blessed to see everyone of these artists more than once inc sidemen. Seems Amos Garrett only guy still active. Dis is da sh-!!

[@kuwahataryougo8551]

いい回ですね！

[@MrDoneboy]

We watched this live back then!

[@helicopterhorsemom5485]

WOW WOW WOW WOW God Bless this is huge historical value and OH MY HEART

[@KaylasMusicalDigest545]

This should be a fun episode! I didn't know BB King was on this show! 🥰

[@garyt7855]

B B has been on the Midnight Special quite a few times. This is his first hosting the Midnight Special. Great lineup of blues greats

[@kanadianbacon7733]

Absolutely Amazing Line UP!!! *"! W O W !"*

[@StephanieJeanne]

Well, I am thrilled to have seen this episode! So much great blues!! What a treat! Thank you! See you all next week!😊😎💜

[@Royalle_with_Cheese]

This am gonna be a motherforya, y'all!

[@luvbasses5487]

This is a VERY SPECIAL episode. That bass part in Goin’ Down Slow is PHENOMENAL tho! I Got Some Help I Don’t Need all but brought me to tears.

[@valdia1248]

Bobby Bland hawk a luggy his vocal trademark lol

[@bene.divinocordeiro6196]

❤❤ Um Programa Especial na data do meu nascimento 30 / 08

[@ZBTNLM1821]

Man, an episode hosted by the King of the Blues himself, along with another appearance by Bobby "Blue" Bland and other blues legends too?? The Midnight Special brought us a great one!!!

[@Mystique2u]

This is bringing back some wonderful memories!!! 🎶💖 I just subscribed.

[@GerryBlue]

What a document! Those were the times

[@bene.divinocordeiro6196]

❤ Grande expectativa ❤❤❤❤

[@artbascomb1336]

Spectacular! Thank you.

[@karmayogibear]

Oooo - how fukny was that version of Going Down Slow with Booby Blue Band - brilliant!

[@eduardoandradedamasceno4830]

Oba, consegui pegar ao vivo, muito bom!!!

[@joezappo7626]

Great show!!!!

[@BRINABOO-s2k]

GOOD SHOW MY FATHER WAS A HUGE FAN OF THE BLUES. HE WOULD SAY IF “U DON’T LIKE THE BLUES U GOT A HOLE IN YOUR SOUL!!” NEXTS!!! BIG MAMA DOING THE SONG THAT LATER JANIS JOPLIN WILL TEAR DOWN THE HOUSE WITH AT MONTEREY POP FESTIVAL IN THE 1960’s “ BALL AND CHAIN”. JOE WILLIAMS IS BLUES DUDE WAS ALWAYS A JAZZ ARTIST I THOUGHT?! “LIKE TO LIVE THE LOVE I SING ABOUT” MY MOTHER LOVED THAT SONG HAD THE 45 SINGLE PLAYED IT TOO DEATH. THE 1970’s AND MIDNIGHT SPECIAL WAS SUCH A GREAT TIME. MAN THIS HAS TAKEN ME BACK TO THE DAYS OF WVON 1450 HERE IN CHICAGO. AT 12.:00 MIDNIGHT WITH PERVIS SPANN THE BLUES MAN RADIO SHIFT THAT WAS I THINK 6 DAYS OUT THE WEEK. THAT ONE LITTLE RNB RADIO STATION ON AM RADIO PLAYED AND CATERED TO ALL MUSICAL TASTES. PLAYED POPULAR SOUL MUSIC PLAYED BLUES AT MIDNIGHT TO EARLY HOURS OF THE MORNING JAZZ ON SATURDAY AND GOSPEL WAS ALL DAY ON SUNDAY. SO THERE WASN’T A BLACK CHILD IN MY SCHOOLS OR IN THE 1970’s HERE IN CHICAGO THAT DID NOT KNOW SOME OF THESE BLUES, JAZZ OR GOSPEL MUSIC/ARTISTS IN THE 60’s/70’s. THERE WAS ALWAYS SOMEONE IN YOUR FAMILY THAT WAS INTO THESE DIFFERENT MUSICAL ARTISTS COMING FROM OTHER GENRES. SO AS A CHILD U KNEW AND HAD SOME TYPE OF UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATING FOR THE BLUES, JAZZ AND GOSPEL. I MEAN BLACK RADIO PLAYED GOSPEL ALL DAY ON SUNDAY. IT WAS CONSIDERED DISRESPECTFUL TO PLAY SECULAR MUSIC ON BLACK RADIO BACK IN THE 60’s/70’s.

[@Frankie_Zappa]

All good points, but please take off the caps lock...

[@indrekpollu2829]

Parim bluusirivistus, mida ette kujutada!

[@mikestillwagon5675]

I wish they could list the names of the band members. My inner music nerd could spend hours chasing down that rabbit hole.

[@DannyHaralson-ol1io]

I thought I had seen all of the 1974 Midnight Special Episodes. I must have missed this one. Worth waiting for a Première of this one.

[@janicetrimmell6897]

Holy schnikes! A bit of Butter! I'll be there with bells on.

[@StephanieJeanne]

He was awesome!😊

[@thouston0]

Wow, can't wait!!

[@deweygill1973]

Wonder who the guitarist is backing Witherspoon? Like to hear more of Bobby Blands’s band. Nice simmering groove

[@shempydent4152]

A young Hollywood Fats on guitar with 'Spoon

[@deweygill1973]

@ thanks!

[@valdia1248]

The post man rang twice

[@valdia1248]

Midnight blues special I was 11 when this aired I was not woke back then hmmm.

[@dwstoeckel4740]

Oh my goodness!

[@electricgypsyblues4761]

This right here is the Holy Grail

[@MostlyBrenda]

They skipped Ep 82 because it was a rerun of the David Bowie show. This one might be the first show of season 3, although the episode guides are not clear on that.

[@Royalle_with_Cheese]

This episode, next week is a concert of Marvin Gaye, the following week has O'Jays hosting and that wraps up Season Two.

[@themidnightspecialtvshow]

we need to staff. you up to write breakdowns for the podcasts

[@matthewbaduria]

This could be a pretty good episode.

[@mham1330]

Back up and running.

[@davidratcliffe1]

Jimmy Witherspoon’s guitar player was great

[@GR8FLMD3AD]

❤

[@KittyGrizGriz]

Does Big Mama Thorntons “Ball and Chain” song remind anyone of “Sitting by the Window” by Moby Grape?? It’s one of my favorite songs written by Peter Lewis, and I can ‘hear’ it for some reason… curious.

[@supachaloopa3611]

The discussion regarding the great Blues singer Bessie Smith, which starts around 4:10 they mention a film clip Of Bessie Smith performing, however, it was edited out here no doubt due to copyright laws, but you can view the clip here if you want- kzbin.info/www/bejne/a3PSZJmVbs1_obM

[@valdia1248]

Thanks for the link

[@supachaloopa3611]

@@valdia1248 As you may know, the clip they edited out was from the 1929 short film ST. LOUIS BLUES, which is the only film footage of Bessie Smith. She was smart enough to have purchased her own train for touring around the country, but was also wise enough to use the short film to promote herself by having it shown in theatres before she arrived in the next town on her touring schedule. I like to think of it as one of the earliest music videos. the whole 16min film is here on KZbin, and there is even an AI colorized version of that clip here on KZbin- kzbin.info/www/bejne/maasdJ5ufNNkqc0

[@MrKayley10]

Is there any hope of ever seeing the Robert Fripp solo appearance from 1979?

[@groovedohg]

I wonder if the Paul Butterfield track is a previously shown performance. Hope not

[@groovedohg]

It's a REPEAT. :(

[@MisterBeauJanGels]

Papa John Creach, I'm in trouble deep Papa John Creach, I've been losing sleep But I made up my mind, I'm keeping my baby I'm gonna keep my baby

[@hdguy350]

Joe Williams singing "Who She Do?" must have left their censor confused.😂

[@j.t.cooper2963]

👍🏻😎

[@valdia1248]

Only 75 comments where are y’all

[@groovedohg]

Whos on Mondays show?

[@helicopterhorsemom5485]

Wait a minute. BB said they were going to play some footage of Bessie Smith, but then it cut out. WHERE'S THE FOOTAGE OF BESSIE SMITH, please?

[@recordguy4321]

Hollywood Fats playing guitar with Jimmy witherspoon It dont get much better

[@michaelmalone306]

Yeah,& he was maybe 20 years old!! Was that Rod Piazza on harp with Spoon?

[@OldBoy456]

Hollywood Fats is a bad young man. I will need to check out more of him. JL Hooker's guitarist too. Does anyone know his name please?

[@OldBoy456]

Luther Tucker, got it.

[@DerrickMims]

Anyone know who is that pony-tail white dude playing guitar for Jimmy Witherspoon? Or how about John Lee Hooker's guitarist?

[@MrSpeed-lt8gr]

Is that Matt Guitar Murphy backing John Lee on guitar?

[@Music--ng8cd]

I think it's Eddie Guitar Burns - he played on JLH's album that year. Murphy was playing with James Cotton around this time.

[@MrSpeed-lt8gr]

@ thank you. Man there were a lot of great musicians on this episode.

[@meantw]

@@MrSpeed-lt8gr It's Luther Tucker

[@shempydent4152]

Luther Tucker

[@Music--ng8cd]

@@meantw Yeah, you're right. His solo was amazing.

[@esiegel2]

who is the guitar player with Butter? I know Amos Garrett played with him in Better Days (maybe my favorite non-BB blues solo on record is Amos on Please Send me Someone to Love from It All Comes Back). But I don't think this is him. He rocks the rhythm part, but gets a bit messed up on the slide solo.

[@twlightzone2065]

What happened to episode 82?

[@Biff8899]

Ep 82?

[@themidnightspecialtvshow]

rerun of the Bowie show

[@batesblues]

Hollywood Fats backing Jimmy Witherspoon

[@KMC544]

Wow