Ep 85 - The Midnight Special | September 13, 1974

[@ianman15]

O’Jays certainly paid their dues before finally getting that big hit record with “Back Stabbers”. One of the best rhythm and blues acts of the 70s.

[@cnrfitzgerald]

14:30

[@Eagle8]

Agreed 100%! Their next album Ship Ahoy was loaded with hits.

[@ComicPierre]

Holy Sh%#!! The O Jays killed "For the Love of Money"

[@donaldkusnerik4473]

I know it's been said before but hats off to the sound engineers, cinematographers and producers for capturing these performances so flawlessly! I'm sure I'm leaving a lot of people out...

[@jamesmcallister8655]

True masters of their crafts

[@Fruit17-ip4vl]

This is why The O’Jays are in Rock and Roll Hall of Fame! What an outstanding episode! I am such a fun of this great 👍🏽 group! They sound so good live! Look at all of the hits they had! I was around 13 when this episode aired! I miss the 70’s! We will never see music like this again! Great memories! 😎👍🏽💗❤️⭐️

[@Realmusiclover1957]

The Godfather of Soul and Funk in his prime. Real music!

[@waldolydecker8118]

Marlon Brando never played any music on this show

[@KittyGrizGriz]

@@waldolydecker8118 🤭 😆😂 good one!

[@kenoglesby5840]

Eddie Levert, Walter Williams and William Powell: THE O'JAYS were without doubt the most dynamic trio to ever set foot on a concert stage anywhere at anytime 😁😎

[@sheiladavis6523]

And Sammy Strain was a part of the group when William Powell pass way .

[@kennykinard3691]

This performance here is why these legendary brothers are and always will be the greatest performing group of all times. This here is professionalism at it's highest level. O'jays for life.

[@bobwalton4630]

I can't get enough of these old Midnight Special episodes! It helps you discover bands like the O'Jays and Elvin Bishop (EVERYONE knows James Brown) and have a better appreciation for bands that were huge in the mid 70s. This is funk and R and B at it's best, not one boring song in the whole hour! I find myself fast forwarding through some of the folk singers but this episode was a classic

[@daviddaniels100]

No auto tune! Pure talent. I don't want to sound like the old guy talking about the good old days, but this was music!

[@DannyHaralson-ol1io]

85 Episodes posted. Another 6 and a 1/2 more years of Episodes. A lot of 70s good music and many live bands.

[@tejayschwartz7681]

Back when music was real and television was fun

[@ChristianMcBrideTV]

I saw the O'Jays a LOT when I was a kid. Some of the greatest memories of my childhood. They ALLLLLLWAYS rocked the house!

[@MediaWest]

freakin great. all of it. and its live. havent seen this in 50 years. damn im old. but we knew the funk.

[@johnroof2663]

Brings back memories when music was real.

[@charlesrobinson7469]

This is great. I grew up on the O'jays. This is the first time I've heard Billy Powell speak. These Guys/Isley Brothers were like my Uncles, and I Love them.👍🏾

[@Cheryl-o4k]

Wiliam Powell lead some of their early songs from the sixties

[@charlesrobinson7469]

@Cheryl-o4k Thanks for the info.👍🏾

[@TheRealPynkPanther]

this episode looks like it's gonna be fun🎉❤UPDATE: EXCELLENT EPISODE!!!! 😁💃🏻💃🏻💃🏻👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@Frankie_Zappa]

Hi Pynky! I surely hope Brötz returns tonight.

[@yogiman4293]

"You Are My Sunshine", Eddie killed it! I remember buying the album that it was on and playing this song! Memories!

[@slickbronkz]

#MyFavorite

[@erickthefantabulous1]

Shout out to the sounds of Philadelphia. We talk about motown, but we forget about these guys' gamble & huff, and all their legendary music appreciate the upload. i missed a lot of these episodes cause I was so young

[@Royalle_with_Cheese]

Philly soul is much better than Motown in my humble opinion. Gamble & Huff, TSOP... Pure soul.

[@BassByTheBay]

I guess it depends what circles you travel in because the people I know are all well aware of Philly soul, and most of the musicians I play with know Gamble & Huff (and Thom Bell). Philly soul is some of the most enduring music ever written, IMO, and I still hear people reference the artists and the sound to this day. O'Jays, Stylistics, Spinners, Delfonics... I _never_ tire of their music. "People Make The World Go Round" is in my top 5 best songs of all time.

[@rhonocero]

Phenomenal version of For The Love Of Money

[@KittyGrizGriz]

“Calling All Cows” is a fun tune! Love Ya, Elvin Bishop 😘 that great… Bo Diddley beat! 🤩 🎉❤

[@stellamartinez6636]

Had the pleasure of seeing James Brown several times!!! Best concerts ever ❤

[@kenk7049]

I regret never seeing him. He was a classic!

[@stellamartinez6636]

@kenk7049 One concert was in El Paso and it was in a big venue with BYOB! People were dancing on the tables! My friend and I had just moved there and we were 19 years old! We didn't even have a car but we took a cab! He was fantastic 🤩

[@kenk7049]

@@stellamartinez6636 I believe it!

[@thurmanjackson4044]

The Midnight Special and Don Kirshner's rock concert--> LATE FRIDAYS AN SATUDAY NIGHTS!!!

[@johncaldwell881]

Don’t forget ABC In Concert

[@JorgeCarlosGómez-r9n]

HERE for JAMES BROWN! on top of his game.

[@SuperBeachbum74]

Favorite Ojays song, “ livin for the weekend “

[@patrickevan4081]

I have Always Loooooved The Midnight Special!!...Me and my older brothers watched every weekend!!...I was 9 years old in 1974 when this aired and I don't remember seeing thia episode...But this is the best Midnight Special concert that I have ever seen!!!....AMAZING guests & Musicians‼️💥💯🤩 L⭕ved iT!!!....Yeah Mon!!!😃✊🏽✨ November 2024💥

[@kip2shy]

This was 50 years ago!!! Man, it just make you think that if you are around still at your age, you've done it!!!! Much respect to these guys. I'm an old head, myself. I love looking at how they did things back then, even though I was not around then. This was 5 years before I was born, 1979.

[@Realmusiclover1957]

This is the greatest music generation in human history. It will never be outdone! 🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶

[@CarlstenProductions]

Oh yes, finally some O'jays material! Awesoome :D

[@SuperBeachbum74]

I was only white guy at a family cook out invited by co worker , one of the guests got so hammered when the song “ used to be my girl “ came on the radio , he got up and sang along and, even in inebriated state sang fantastic, sounding just like Walter Williams ! It was too cool. They lived in a rough area and walked me to my car making sure I was safe . About 30 years later , he came to work at the place I was at , after the company had closed we worked at about 15 years prior, now in an all white area . We hit it off as tho nothing else mattered. He told my new all white coworkers that he was proud to be my friend because I was the same friend no matter the location. I said the same about him. I had helped him get the job with me after becoming unemployed . Just two cool guys who cared nothing about identity politics .

[@TruusvanEs]

I fail to see the reason for this comment. Happens all over the world. Stop talking about race, it works better.

[@SuperBeachbum74]

@ has nothing to do with race but the reason people should look at individuals instead of race. I got 30 likes so far so some people get me.

[@waldolydecker8118]

"Identity Politics" is overwhelmingly the tool of the political Rightwing, and has been used periodically since 1776 to mobilized the majority population (caucasians) against minority population groups to stifle their economic and/or social progress. Minority populations, being decidedly minority in number, cannot use identity politics to accomplish political or social victory as a majority population only can - its mathematically impossible and would make no sense for a minority population to employ such a tactic. The identity politics process is totally controlled by the political leaders of the majority population; they initiate the identity politics climate by directing racial attacks at the targeted minority group. The attacks are a "call to arms" that sound the alarm to the masses of the majority population to line up with their racial group to defend against the minority group's fabricated or exaggerated "threat." The targeted minority group is left defending itself - which often only serves to psychologically further align majority population members. As if that isn't bad enough, by defending itself against the majority attacks, the minority group is then often subsequently "blamed" as the initiator of the identity politics attacks. This happens because it is the majority population - not the minority - that overwhelmingly owns, editorializes, and distributes the news. The minority group gets attacked, then gets portrayed as the attacker or as an equal attacker - as if to say, "Its equally done on both sides." Nope, lol, but that's generally the sentiment you will get from members of the majority group because few of them will want to acknowledge that the numbers don't lie...its only to the advantage of their group's leaders to initiate and promote "identity politics." No other substantially outnumbered group could ever win initiating the tactic - not to mention the long history since 1776 (and even before) of the majority population's constant use of the tactic in codified law and social practices across the land. Talk about a no-brainer.

[@SuperBeachbum74]

@ Jim jones sends his love

[@AfroBaggins]

That's all that matters -- good people being with good people making the world a better place to live. Racism, misogyny, greed, and hate is costly and hurt life and humanity.

[@matthewbaduria]

Midnight Special I cannot wait, The O'Jays and Elvin Bishop on this episode are classic music memories.

[@reversefulfillment9189]

This song was in the top 10 billboard in 1973.

[@frankbartoszak7637]

What a great bass line in for the love.of money

[@robmatlock7675]

The Pastor has been opening up his sermon the last month with that bass line, my head bops like a chicken every time it's played😂

[@JamieAndersonMusic]

The O'Jays sounded great and looked sharp. Elvin Bishop looked like he shuffled in after mowing the lawn.

[@robmatlock7675]

More like climbed off the tractor, it's planting season 😄

[@Crushmore404]

Is this the best episode? How could one have been better??

[@musicalSFCat]

Good God...James Brown. Sweet.

[@tedgray1115]

Amazing!!! O Jays "For The Love of Money" and James Brown, The Godfather of Soul, performing at his peak! I see Lynn Collins, Fred Wesley, and Maceo Parker. Is that Clyde Stubblefield on drums? Fantastic episode! One of the best...

[@francisrobbins1499]

Jabo starks and John Morgan on drums

[@KittyGrizGriz]

I loved this episode the choreography and musicianship is off the charts… FUNKY! SOULFUL! FANTASTIC!!! What a great lead vocal Edward Willis Levert has! I enjoyed watching the O’Jays when Daryl Hall featured them on “Live From Daryl’s House” in 2016. They still had “it!” 😻 I was curious about their band name; “The church-reared Canton, Ohio natives both possessed exceptional vocal gifts, and by 1963 they formed The O'Jays, a name that also served as a tribute to influential Cleveland radio DJ Eddie O'Jay.” When I want to get a good workout in, in the form of dance, I put on some James Brown: “Get up offa that thing And dance 'till you feel better!” The USA needs to start a “Love Train” right about now…. 😘 ☮️💗

[@robmatlock7675]

Will you be the Engine or caboose?

[@KittyGrizGriz]

⁠​⁠​⁠​⁠@@robmatlock7675 Oh, the way I’m feeling right about now; I don’t think I’d have any trouble being the train locomotive! Fire it up! 🔥 💖 😁

[@robmatlock7675]

@KittyGrizGriz Toot Toot 🚂🚂

[@RufflyfeTV]

When they ask what was the best decade for music refer to this 🔥 every week on television? Wow 🤯

[@davidrogerson9749]

It's funny how Elvin Bishop left Oklahoma for Chicago in the mid 1960s to play the blues with the Paul Butterfield's Blues Band. Ten years later he's down South making great country-funk. Elvin is now 82 years old.

[@robmatlock7675]

And will have a concert at his old High School, Will Rogers High School in Tulsa, for a PBS Special.

[@denises.8203]

👋 😊 old enough to remember,great posting.

[@chrisutley2859]

Fun Fact: “The Payback” is the rejected (!!!!!) theme song of the film “Hell Up In Harlem” which is the sequel to “Black Caesar.” The lyrics of the song is retelling the plot of both films.

[@Onteo1]

“ I don’t know karate, but I know crazy” best line in a song ever. Saw him live in 82, amazing show.

[@rodswanson9392]

WOW THAT WAS AMAZING !!!!

[@MostlyBrenda]

Finally figured it out: So far., we have 1 pilot eps from 1972 + 30 eps (season 1) + 50 eps ( season 2) for a total of 81 episodes. There were 3 reruns and 1 "Million Seller" show to get to the 85 total. Next week starts season 3 which, I think, is 43 new shows.

[@lutherwilliams8429]

Awesome performance!!!!

[@fineasfogg1461]

This was great. ❤

[@DonnieEllis-r4v]

Elvin Bishop at his finest

[@phillydisco-h1r]

Lyn Collins and Martha High backing up JB on vocals

[@gregoryduncan3067]

The Season 2 Finale's tonight. It went by fast.

[@briva]

TSOP 🥰

[@tonysmith6166]

Amazing

[@xeropunt5749]

checkout Chambers Brothers version of stealin watermelons, too 👍 🍉

[@felipelizana7502]

For the love of money..badass bassline

[@frankbartoszak7637]

In these days I didn't know there was a difference between white music and black music, it was all top 40 to me

[@robmatlock7675]

My Favorite radio station in Tulsa was the Mighty KAKC, they played everything, Gladys Knight, Skynyrd, Redding, The Carpenters, Johnny Cash, you never knew what was coming next, except it was on the charts. It was a beautiful mix, just like all of us who hung around, we were friends, we were different, but it didn't stop us from getting along. I would say I miss that but being retired military I learned to seek the hearts of those around me, the similarities, not the superficial differences.

[@dannyboyd9462]

Right On !!!

[@thurmanjackson4044]

DAM!!!!I needed this!!!!!

[@VonL]

On the One.

[@robmatlock7675]

A fantastic ride in the way back machine! The O'Jays, soundtrack of the 70s! Elvin Bishop, I know you are probably tired of hearing it, another Tulsa performer, seems like every week 🤓! James Brown, more energetic than a 6-year-old on Pez and red Kool-Aid, you have to watch him twice to see the things you missed the 1st time! Is Mick Jagger doing a solo appearance, or are these Rolling Stone videos with an emphasis on Mick? Defiantly a solid line up, a little bit for everyone!

[@Royalle_with_Cheese]

Rob, did you get a chance to listen to The Poodle Lecture by FZ?

[@robmatlock7675]

@@Royalle_with_Cheese But what did Eve say?

[@Royalle_with_Cheese]

​@@robmatlock7675 Buy me some zircon encrusted tweezers!

[@Royalle_with_Cheese]

​@@robmatlock7675 Eve said, "Sucker, go get a job! I need some nice things around here."

[@MisterBeauJanGels]

Did you notice the episode is about 10 minutes short this week? I assume the Mick Jagger thing was an excerpt from a work copyrighted by someone else.

[@jaylene.turner6524]

Founding member Eddie LeVert (Baritone) Founding member Walter Williams (Tenor) Founding member William Powell (First Tenor/Falsetto) (R.I.P.)

[@Rawblah]

Oh Gee Fun! ~

[@BassByTheBay]

I love how vocal groups back then had these studio-musician backup bands who just nonchalantly killed it while the singers got the glory. E.g., The O'Jays band destroyed "For the Love of Money" without even breaking a sweat. Just a reminder of how many fantastic musicians exist(ed), and we'll never know their names.

[@gbc77000]

Looks like Waddy Wachtel on bass.

[@DbeeM]

When TV programs fucking ruled !

[@suburban60sKid]

This is when an audience came to enjoy the music played by real singers and musicians without relying on a freakin' cell phone or pre-recorded tracks, lip synched & mimed performances, or autotune. Gosh. How could millennials possibly enjoy real music like this?

[@loraa3873]

Afros n bell bottoms ☮️

[@MostlyBrenda]

About 10 mins short tonight. I guess they could not clear the copyrights for 2 or 3 songs,

[@chrisutley2859]

Most likely The Rolling Stones concert footage that they announced at the opening

[@tonya.9978]

That is so true. Still a good episode to watch as always, bad about the edits due to "copyright" & I worry that any music videos featured on any episodes on the show would be edit which would be upsetting. We would have gotten a heads up about this episode or others especially in the near future.

[@suburban60sKid]

@@chrisutley2859 It's possible their former manager Allen Klein owned the concert video, and/or the song copyrights and wanted an arm and a leg for fees like usual with him. Not sad he's finally gone.

[@KittyGrizGriz]

Yep, I was bummed about no Mick Jagger. Was stoked to see him and or the Stones on TMS.

[@GooseOD]

#jamesbrown #funk

[@BlakeGildaphish76]

i don't think i have ever actually heard William Powell sing. i can hardly pick out his voice on a record. It's a shame because he always was my favorite.

[@AfroBaggins]

@@BlakeGildaphish76 As per Walter or Eddie, Powell had a good Eddie Kendricks type of falsetto. Unfortunately, Gamble and Huff never created any of the O'Jays befitting their brand. I mean, with those two voices, do you really need a falsetto voice? Yes, it would have been very interesting, right?

[@dunger1531]

None more funk.

[@unique74muzik]

SIP William Powell & James Brown 🙏🏾 36:56 mans a human Mixtape he had so many hits!!! 🔥💪

[@jessebrown3790]

The reason why the crowd seems to be just standing and looking...is back then it was still more socially acceptable to just stand and look.. most people were more uptight about turning a TV show into a dance party..you will see so many TV show performances in the 60s and 70s where most of the crowd seems stunned by the performances.. and just gawk...

[@kip2shy]

Eddie Levert was and is a very underrated singer!!! This man was bad in his prime!!!!

[@frankbartoszak7637]

I wonder if Elvin bishop new at this point he was going to have a big hit with fooled around and fell in love sang by mickey Thomas of starship

[@horseloc]

who is the second guitarist with Elvin Bishop with the white cowboy hat?

[@tomwilson8607]

what is GFOS on his attire,,,, ?,, Godfather of Soul,, ?

[@John60s70s]

Yes.

[@groovedohg]

I am a little confused here with the Elvin Bishop performance. I watched Elvin Bishop perform Groundhog, Travelling shoes AND Sunshine Special on The Midnight Special show broadcast on 09 Aug 74 hosted by Sly and the Family Stone. On this performance here hosted by the Ojays, the song Sunshine Special is the same as the performance as on the Sly and Family STone broadcast. Why didnt they just play the 5 songs played on the one actual show they played. This has happened with other acts like Focus, Golden Earring and Leo Kottke, as an example, who have been introduced on different shows by different hosts. Surely these duplicated songs should be put on compilation editions (Best of, or the Million seller shows ?etc) or otherwise fill in with a brand new performer. I am very grateful to these shows being shown again and watch most of the shows that appeal to my tastes. I know sometimes video promo performance and live concert shorts are also shown, but I dont understand the need for repeat live performances coming on different episodes

[@suburban60sKid]

My guess is Burt Sugarman's reissue producers couldn't license some of the original performances for financial reasons, or the original footage was lost / erased. There could be a host of reasons. After all, you're dealing with greedy music publishers in the greedy music industry. What could possibly go wrong?

[@robertspiegel9215]

Repeat performances tended to be common from time to time on new episodes. Maybe they didn't have enough guests in those particular weeks to fill the time. I know in the later years The Midnight Special tended to recycle previous performances on new episodes more regularly. 10 minutes is missing from this particular show due to a Rolling Stones concert appearance that was shown. From what I understand it was also officially released so it couldn't be included on the youtube upload. I'm sure future episodes of Midnight Special shows will also run short on time due to promos and concert appearances that they can't get licensed to show.

[@nathanielbarry]

72 73 83 These episodes are missing.

[@robertspiegel9215]

From what I heard, those weeks were reruns of previous episodes

[@niecyj.1782]

does anyone know if thats Damita Jo dancing in the green with The James Brown dancers?

[@John60s70s]

I don't see Damita-Jo Freeman. The woman on the far right is Lola Love. I saw her and the male dancer in the movie When We Were Kings. James performed in it in 1974. Here is a great video clip of it with James, his band, and those two dancers💃🕺: kzbin.info/www/bejne/an-Qf6WrmLaWeJosi=YtvLFhMGMIIPJ7uv

[@thomasgregg3448]

wow the crowd is so lame, RIP William Powell 1942-1977

[@kande6916]

God I miss this music and miss the motown sound!!! So sick of rap that I shut it off always!!!

[@TruusvanEs]

We kept all our old school soul records and are playing them a lot. Teddy, Luther, Delfonics forever. Rap is no music, especially with all the negativity, cursing, twerking and race grifting.

[@johnsrabe]

17:04 best music/worst choreography

[@Frankie_Zappa]

Stevie never was big on choreography.

[@ArmchairRamb0]

The O'Jays were fantastic! Is it just me or do they look coked up like everyone else in 1974?

[@dannymcrooster4089]

Love Train on drugs? 😅😅😅😅😅