Little Feat - Midnight Special "Search for the Long Lost '74 Footage" August 9, 1974

Little Feat played on the NBC TV Show "Midnight Special" August 9, 1974. This was their first appearance as Little Feat on the show (the first being Bonnie Bramlett's backing band in late 1973, minus Lowell George). Their second appearance in June 1977 with Emmy Lou Harris and Bonnie Raitt has been widely circulated but the 1974 TV footage has not been seen in years. The August 9, 1974 episode was hosted by Sly Stone. Little Feat are listed as playing the songs Tripe Face Boogie and Willin'. This youtube video was made in hopes that someone will share this footage if available.

[@gnawbabygnaw]

This Midnight Special is INCREDIBLE. Especially if you were 16 when it aired. All the artists are my roots. Especially Little Feat and Bonnie. Jesse Winchester is the greatest talent very few have heard of. Love this one ❤🤙🤙

[@PacificNatureTV]

The Midnight Special KZbin Channel has been slowly releasing every episode and they are currently in April 1974 as of this comment. If they have this episode archived it should be uploaded in November 2024, so hopefully the theory will be confirmed!!

[@jamesdesiun5571]

So cool that folks care enough to get the history right. More power to ya. I sure wish fuckin' Lowell was here.

[@gordonschenck1672]

Something else happened on Aug 9 1974 that kinda took precident. President Nixon resigned. So the show may not have been broadcast.

[@johniorio7951]

I want to make one thing perfectly clear...I am not a crook....you will miss me and my dog checkers!!

[@willmiddleton9199]

First concert I ever went to at the age of maybe 14 was Sly and The Family Stone in Charleston, SC. Sly was like 2 hours late and I thought there was gonna be a riot, lol. When they finally hit the stage and started playing, it was all good and everyone had a fine time. Great show honestly, lotta dancing in the aisles as I remember ! Saw Little Feat in 1978 and unfortunately don't remember a whole lot of that show - such were the times... But Then I saw the new version of the Feat about a week ago. Wasn't sure what to expect since I have been a fan for a long, long time, and they *blew me away* ! Absolutely fantastic show ! I HIGHLY recommend going to any Little Feat show that comes anywhere near where you live. Its not the original band obviously (RIP Lowell and Paul) but it was one of the best rock and roll shows I have seen - ever... They KILLED it.

[@danrease7505]

Yeah I saw first show in ‘78. Pretty much out to lunch. Had too good of seats. My girl and I had 8th row floor trippin balls. We went up to rafters of Civic Center I had a stack of frisbees from the March of Dimes Walkathon threw them out to crowd below. Time loves a frisbee hero. Seen just about every incarnation. I’m satisfied with Paul and Fred at the front. Not much else needed.

[@mazigazi]

DIG ON! so great, man

[@michaelparker3709]

Great bit of research. Keep digging Earl. 😎

[@jeremygreen2198]

Withksedll George they were the best band ever!! They had it all.!

[@IAm-qf2xb]

Absolute truth 🦶

[@user-lr4sg2ms7i]

I recall seeing that episode. I have the full collection of Midnight Special DVD's. The DVD that features Little Feat does not have the performance of Willin'. I distinctly remember viewing the Feat's performance of that song when the program was broadcast.

[@nyg1954]

Lowell's hat was definitely from around that time period.He was wearing it on the back of the 'Feats Don't Fail Me Now' album cover.

[@bobadamson5461]

Earl Guthrie, you are rocking our Feat lovin' world with your research and good taste!

[@georgehess3961]

Love it grew up in D.C. had the pleasure! No band since has gotten me like that.Emded up owning 27 guitars,paino,bass.lol sa

[@TheRealForrestGeorge]

Fantastic research you have done! Thanks, Earl Guthrie!

[@lynnemurdock3079]

I agree, thank you Earl Guthrie!! LOVING THIS. Thanks.

[@Nottalottasleep]

You've done the work my son - a commendable job of journalism. Must have been gratifying to here that one phrase of confirmation and from so authoritative a source as Paul B.

[@clafong9]

Tripe Face is great here. Haywards drums sound fantastic. What a band! (I like Paul in flip-flops)

[@rockinremnants510]

Hey, these were cool dudes from SoCal! Flip-flops were requisite! 😁

[@mattwalker5129]

Thanks Earl. I'm impressed with your research.

[@richbeckett2116]

Gosh, his voice was so good! You can tel the older recordings by his voice! We mis you!

[@claudecat]

Yep. Lowell had one of the great voices, like Lennon and very few others.

[@csedan510]

His phrasing and vocal range is astounding, to hear how he changes it up each live show is great.

[@Dermot2927]

It's great that you've embarked on this search, and good luck with it. How can something like this be in doubt? Either they played or they didn't! It was a TV show, watched by (presumably) millions - surely a handful would have audio-recorded (as I did, with my old Grundig reel-to-reel - including Little Feat's famous appearance on the BBC's Old Grey Whistle Test - most of my recordings are redundant now as they have subsequently appeared, with visuals, on KZbin etc). In the UK, criminally, organisations like the BBC used to "wipe" tapes for re-use, consigning classic TV, music and sport to the dustbin of history (though episodes of Dr Who or whatever occasionally surface in an Australian attic, or a skip [dumpster] in Shepherd's Bush!). The rationale at the time was "Who'd want to watch a TV show twice??" Different times....

[@niqulusviii987]

Being a fanatic of that classic Warner Bros Music Show tour that included Tower of Power, Montrose, Bonaroo, Doobies and Graham Central Station, I'd like to find live footage from all these folks at that time. Especially since the only Old Grey Whistle Test video on KZbin (or online for that matter) is a compilation of various episodes featuring performances from those artist. I've heard the host at the time mention that they'd aired footage from the Warner tour. Please God let the Warner Bros Music Show footage surface!!!!

[@kokomobluesjj2821]

Thank you Earl Guthrie ❤️

[@The-F.R.E.E.-J.]

You're a _real_ Feat fan 👍

[@Canyon2023]

Great research!! Thank you for posting this!

[@Seventysongs]

Thank you

[@lbowsk]

Sucks that life kept running along and took 'em. Prob my fave band ever, was Feat in the late 70s. Sure, The Who, sure The Stones, The, The, The, but Little Feat just had something that really appealed to me and I know that it always will since I'm 62 now. I don't listen to the new band much as I don't like screaming female vocalists.

[@markzwilsky3509]

I went to the 2019 Nola Jazz fest. Watched the feat play on the Acura stage. Anything that could go wrong did that day. The guys were out of synch. The sound was patheticaly bad. Fred Tackets guitar and vocals were off. Paul's guitar was way to loud. Payne's amps kept popping startling everyone in the crowd. You couldn't hear Sam Clayton. Total mess... But... not all was lost! After the show the local radio station did an interview with Barrere and Payne on the Allison Minor stage. Paul brought his Strat and Bill had an electric piano. After a great interview with both members about the history of all things Little Feat. The two guys played just a killer set. I mean they just smoked a half dozen Feat songs. Although Paul was feeling under the weather but on the mend he lit it up! OMG it was great. The best hour of Feat music ever .I was lucky to be sitting in a seat at the Fair Ground's grandstand to hear that. Unfortunately Paul Barrere passed a few months later. RIP Mr. Barrere we lost one of the greats.

[@scottburke9379]

A older friend was a feat fan . I really like listening to Lowell George .

[@Shawnjuan54]

Thanks be to the "Duke of Earl!' Ahhh... bonus magic 🦋

[@johnloftus6043]

In 1973 I saw Bonnie Raitt, Little Feat and Paul Butterfield’s Blues Band in either Lisner Auditorium or MacDonaugh Arena I believe the tickets cost 3 bucks Good times for sure

[@Cerph]

Both Bonnie, and Lowell, were from Burbank, CA

[@recordguy4321]

love the photos and info. and of course it sounds so great!

[@lornamcdonald4435]

Thanks AGAIN Earl..

[@olly8]

Great photos. Love the show's lineup. Would love to be able to see the whole show ❤✌🏼

[@gnawbabygnaw]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/qoKkiGycqMaoiposi=o8X8K6ppD1X1HAB4

[@niqulusviii987]

Being a fanatic of that classic Warner Bros Music Show tour that included Tower of Power, Montrose, Bonaroo, Doobies and Graham Central Station, I'd like to find live footage from all these folks at that time. Especially since the only Old Grey Whistle Test video on KZbin (or online for that matter) is a compilation of various episodes featuring performances from those artist. I've heard the host at the time mention that they'd aired footage from the Warner tour. Please God let the Warner Bros Music Show footage surface!!!!

[@markmiwurdz202]

@niqulusviii987. You may already know of this. Back in the last century, a work colleague lent me a copy of a Little Feat bootleg recording on tape called "Beak Positive - Live In Paris". As I remember, there was just about 35 minutes of music on the cassette. My theory is that this was a bootleg of LF from The Warner Brothers Music Show that toured Europe and the U.K. in January 1975 (?). So as Lowell and the boys "opened" for the "main attraction" - namely The Doobie Brothers, Little Feat only got to play a very short set. Two things that stick in my memory of the recording are: During "Teenage Nervous Breakdown" a fan gets onstage and yells "Go, get down" into a microphone. This is on tape. And Lowell introduces "Willin" saying (something like) "There's an expression in the United States that goes - if you've got it, a truck brought it". (Apparently a quote from Union leader Jimmy Hoffa.) In the U.K. Warner Bros. shows at The Rainbow Theatre in London, Little Feat opened for The Doobies on a Sunday afternoon matinee performance. It is now written into legend that Little Feat's set completely blew away The Doobies! Apparently the compère/m.c had to ask/beg Lowell and the boys to leave the stage after their third encore, because the audience were baying for more! When The Doobies finally took to the stage, there was an air of "Well how are we gonna follow these guys?" I did go to one of these shows, choosing Montrose opening for The Doobies as LF were not on my radar at that time. But when I discovered LF, I bought "The Last Record Album" " Aurora Backseat" and "Electrif Lycanthrope" in quick succession and was hooked. Hope you can find all of the LF audio and video recordings that you seek. Stay safe and well.

[@niqulusviii987]

@@markmiwurdz202 that's an amazing story! Wish there were more documentation of LF, Montrose and Graham Central Station from that show

[@markmiwurdz202]

@niqulusviii987. Thanks for your reply. Something else that was tied to The Warner Bros. Music Show. Here in the U.K. WB released an album under the same title. The LP record featured two tracks each from The Doobies, Little Feat, Montrose, Graham Central Station and one by a band called Bonaroo ( ex - Doobie Bro. Michael Hossack was their drummer I think?) The album sold for 59 pence/£0.59 and the price was actually printed on the record sleeve - not a stick - on "special price" label. The front of the sleeve had Bugs Bunny wearing shades, and giving the peace sign! I still have my copy stored away somewhere. Stay safe and well.

[@phyllisanno]

love it, thanks so much,Earl!

[@jimkrisvoy3762]

Believe the episode masters were vaulted at NBC...didn't hear about this until now. ......., many of the bands who performed on The Midnight Special gave it their best & this news makes me wonder if even more performances are lost.

[@paulbrion2227]

Great find. Paul B sounds especially good without that flanger or whatever it is the he usually used

[@drivenmad7676]

RIP Lowell and Richie

[@junglechef1951]

Although I believe this happened, it's hard to imagine Sly showing up for, much less hosting ANY show in 1974.

[@nancyries2534]

Thank you now that live video of rampant simpatico

[@larrylindsey1497]

NICE!

[@williamsalte5484]

Sounds really fresh!

[@richardtoland2624]

I didn’t see the 1974 Little Feat on Midnight Special. But I did see the band once on Network TV in either late 1970 or early 1971, while I was in boarding school in SE Pennsylvania (suburban Philadelphia area). The performance I saw was a brief appearance on a television show that I do not recall the name of. I think they played just one song. And I’m guessing it probably was NOT live. It was probably either a pre-taped segment OR may have even been one of those awful lip sync things that were common back then. But I clearly remember seeing Feat on tv and liking the music. That was how I first heard the band and led me to buy their first 1st Warner album . Feat were popular in the Philly area from their beginning and could be heard back then on the local FM radio station (WMMR).

[@urbanothepopeofdeath]

I want one of those hats!

[@fransnagel]

nice work, Sherlock

[@rebelradio70]

the night after Nixon resigned, & the day Feats don't fail me now was released

[@lynnemurdock3079]

WOW. Midnight Special it is. I believe!!

[@musicsavant1079]

Midnight Special page will be posting that soon!

[@julesotis13]

says this 74 orn volunteer comuntiry radio out of madird new mexico comunity raido who shal lalute lowell greogre RIP on sun june 3 again!

[@csedan510]

Check the Museum Of Broadcasting in Beverly Hills. I found a long lost Kraft Music Hall show where Buddy Rich is playing a drum set of his that I own.

[@urbanothepopeofdeath]

I had access to 8 hrs of live "reel to reel" (I know I date myself) LF that I passed up on buying while in college. ugh. but who had extra money in college?

[@herendeen]

From: variety.com/2018/film/news/midnight-special-musical-variety-series-documentary-1202963978/ quote: "Sugarman and Mary Hart will executive producer along with Network Entertainment’s Derik Murray, Frank Anderson, Paul Gertz, and Brian Gersh" quote: "Network Entertainment, producers of

[@michaelparker3709]

They can only say "No" so hit 'em up. 😉

[@Gmacrone]

So, I supposed the question is "Where is the tape of the show, it had to have been recorded."

[@wilcojunkie]

Same day Nixon resigned. Wild!

[@rebelradio70]

the music in this video isn't MS 74? we can at least try to find the audio...I'm on it.

[@john-wu2zb]

Are you related to Woody?

[@drwoodwork1]

He said “…a midnight special”.

[@jontalbot1]

Christ on a bike Sly Stone hosting a tv show. Producers must have had little understanding of risk

[@scottmcwhinney9688]

Cool but photos are not footage

[@earlguthrie7196]

You are correct. Photos are not footage, but the footage is not in circulation and this video was made to see if anyone has any additional information. It's all explained in the opening title. I have been asking people about this footage for years with no information or response. So, this KZbin link was worded specifically to get people to click , watch, and respond, which is exactly what you did. Let's try to be helpful and not critical. Thanks for watching.