X - "Blue Spark" (1982) - MDA Telethon

If you enjoyed this performance of "Blue Spark" by X, then check out MDA's Rockin' Out Through The Ages playlist here: • Rockin' Out Through Th...
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Check out X as they perform "Blue Spark" during the 1982 MDA Labor Day Telethon! This is a rockin' performance guaranteed to lift your spirits!
The MDA Labor Day Telethon was an enchanting yearly variety show that ran for half a century. Hosted for many years by Jerry Lewis, the telethon featured top stars from the world of music, comedy, and Broadway and was like no other show on earth.
The telethon was created to help support the Muscular Dystrophy Association, which is leading the fight against muscular dystrophy. MDA dedicates itself to strength, independence and life. To learn more about MDA and to donate, please visit www.MDA.org.

[@michaelbruns449]

Jerry Lewis introducing X, like that in itself is friggin mind blowing, like another dimension.

[@mosesberkowitz3298]

Not Jerry Lewis, my friend. That was Casey Kasem, the guy that did the “American Top 40” radio show for 20+ years. But you’re right about it being surprising- I would think he’d never heard of X.

[@michaelbruns449]

​​@@mosesberkowitz3298 Jerry's standing next to Casey so he is there during the introduction and he does actually verbally introduce them.

[@donnasfix-it3861]

@@michaelbruns449 It is super weird, especially with those sparkly drapes behind them. Seems incredibly dated now. The other thing that gets me is that X played lots of small shows even though they were already famous. I saw them at Great America, a Santa Clara University lounge, and other small venues just a year or two after this. Every show was great!

[@larryhuston8433]

No S***, this is something else.

[@AldousHuxleysCat]

​@@donnasfix-it3861I would say that while X was famous, outside of a few pockets they were never big. I think the biggest hit they had was Breathless, I got a little bit of AirPlay here and there but not enough to really crack into what I would call public consciousness. In some ways they were a lot like The Blasters, a band with a great core following but never that popular. And of course members of the two bands formed another band called The Knitters. I would bet most people have never even heard of that arrangement. I was talking about Dave Alvin once, and a friend of mine said I didn't know there was a chipmunk named Dave I thought that was the human in the group.

[@danallison4138]

I knew Exene in Florida when we were kids. So proud of her accomplishments.

[@mucketymuck6723]

As a 12-year-old at the time, watching the telethon late in the early morning hours, this mesmerized me and made me immediately follow the band.

[@chrisandersen5635]

Wow! I had no idea that X was on the Jerry Lewis telethon back then. Under the Big Black Sun indeed.

[@sandraolivas4085]

I was about 14 years old the first time i saw X in concert I'm 56 now , still see them live when i can still my favorite X❤

[@jeffdawson2786]

Amazing version. God bless Jerry.

[@craiglevitan2537]

All outstanding talented and all underrated

[@stacyblue1980]

I have been waiting for years to get a glimpse of this. I have seen backstage photos of the band at this event but never actual footage. I am very touched and I am very thankful that you all put this up on YT for the world. X cares. X makes a difference. And so can others, if we try. Im crying. I am so happy to see this. God bless.

[@indiglo1971]

I just found this. Like you I have been looking for.

[@drclueful]

love billy zoom's guitar zooms

[@IStandAlone1]

Best guitar player ever. He has some of the best guitar runs and solos ever recorded on More Fun In The New World. He doesn't get credit for being as good as he is.

[@johnIZaUWL]

I’m IMPRESSED Jerry let them do the Telethon lol

[@jamesgretsch4894]

He was a big X fan.

[@christophervaldez8746]

@@jamesgretsch4894 He liked X more than he liked Gary Lewis & the Playboys!😅

[@stacyblue1980]

@@jamesgretsch4894 was he really? Ive always wondered how he felt about this.

[@TheSlowoldman]

My folks watched the MDA telethon every year..... I remember this vividly, I couldn't wait until X came on. I remember my folks looking at me afterward, they were country folk and they just didn't get it at all. 😄

[@troygaspard6732]

OMG, can't believe Jerry Lewis is introducing X!

[@OroborusFMA]

They always seemed to be on the brink of a mainstream breakthrough but it never quite happened.

[@bobthebear1246]

Exactly. Even with Ray Manzarek producing their first 4 albums!!!! 😳

[@danielmedina1136]

Me and Heather Oleson long beach 1985 . . . Best goddamn years of my life.

[@rich-c8v]

my first punk album ,still love playing it

[@c.7610]

Me too, on both counts.

[@ChevyRae]

This is seriously too damn good

[@stacyblue1980]

X are the greatest. This is beautiful. And I like how the album cut is playing but theyre actually singing. And Exene is just the best ever.

[@gogoyubari366]

One of my favorite X songs!

[@2005CessnaPilot]

I'm calling in with $25! Awesome.

[@indiglo1971]

Tax deductible?

[@staywellandstrong4199]

​@@indiglo1971 But of course

[@grahamcarver4527]

What a fantastic underrated Band ..love this Punk Harmony!!Thanks !

[@phillipphinney206]

Incongruous is an understatement. This was back in tbe day when the MDA Telethon was still televised over the 3 day Labor Day weekend. Can only wonder when X went on; looks like in the wee hours from the shots of early morning(?) Vegas.

[@bobthebear1246]

That's probably why I missed it.

[@rickytrux]

Wow! Saw these guys on this tour in Omaha Nebraska….sweet 16 summer and my mind was blown! Didn’t know then that John & Exene were Slavic like me….felt a connection tho’!

[@peterdaigle4772]

I was 20 when i bought this on cassette. FACK

[@ZeusKingOfAllGods]

Me too but it was in the 90's. 😂

[@steveoh9285]

What a great song from a great band!

[@mikenealon4042]

vivaX

[@stacyblue1980]

They are Eternal 💗🌹

[@judasplow25]

This is the song that turned me on to X. Couldn't wait to get home and do a proper youtube investigation.

[@jefffd200]

Casey Casem knew "one of the most important bands in America today"

[@Clodrock]

Been watching them live since the 80s. Just saw them this past Saturday in Highland, CA. THEY STILL ROCK!!!

[@Pedroisanickname]

The Smiling guitarist

[@bobthebear1246]

I used to watch the MBA telethon every single year and somehow I missed this. However, I first caught X on the Rock & Roll gameshow "The Poppin' Rocker" hosted by Jon "Bowzer" Bauman in 1984, was blown away, and became an X fan right away, buying *More Fun In The New World* which I loved, *Wild Gift* which I didn't, and *Under The Big Black Sun* which I liked (and LOVED "The Hungry Wolf"). Again, I don't know how I missed this performance, but it's obviously great.

[@halenbud]

He waits in a beach apartment Blue spark thousands Of lights thousands Of people she's forgotten Him for the bodies around her blue shock, Exchange blue shock, Exchange blue spark what goes Between the eyes downtown Blue spark loudspeakers And search lights the boulevard She comes home later just To give him blue spark

[@4tuneagent]

Watching the Tony Hawk documentary, and then,"Hey, I know this tune!".

[@kevincarlson668]

As surreal as the (then notorious)Patti Smith being on that 70's kid's show.

[@gregf.4814]

Had no idea this existed! Yow! 😳

[@keplertagapan2912]

X English British 🇬🇧 English American 🇺🇸 Synth Punk Pop Waves New Waves Pop Rocks Punk Waves United States Band Decades 80s 90s Disband Legendary

[@CKerns-st0ke64]

Terribly disrespectful directing. But the mainstream exposure was amazing for the times. "X" always superb!

[@geojorge1369]

The stage lighting was terrible!

[@elizabethflynr7561]

Jerry was an effing jerk. X is sublime! The real soul behind MDA. !

[@staywellandstrong4199]

Actually, Jerry Lewis was a true gentleman to us all, there. Very interested in learning how to introduce them, and happily appreciative of their support of his cause.

[@alvillanueva2525]

X should have been huge. Jerry Lewis's head exploded.

[@perryiampietro5785]

Bizarroworld!

[@nullvoid244]

MDMA telethon

[@nankypooh655]

X was actually on the Jerry Lewis MDA telethon? Why am I finding out about this NOW?

[@gasutrias9961]

😍

[@WmJ-x7j]

How cool. I never knew they did this. Does anyone know what year?

[@4tuneagent]

1981 or '82. Under the Big Black Sun album..

[@mauriceortiz8817]

They were so good they should have been called triple X or for the slower kids X and X and X

[@bobthebear1246]

Wut

[@mauriceortiz8817]

@@bobthebear1246 who?

[@keplertagapan2912]

Top 5 Five Single Hitsongs Billboard Chart John Doe Lead Vocalist Songwriter Guitarist X English American 🇺🇸 Band New Waves Eighties 80s Nineties 90s Legendary United States Waves

[@ribonucleic]

This is like when Husker Du played The Joan Rivers Show.

[@RadioMcRadioface]

also when Today show did a 'where in the world is matt lauer" and hes in like Minneapolis. 88 maybe? 90?

[@EricSmith-fp4gq]

That is tastey.

[@bujindork]

Still blows my mind Excene was married to Aragorn

[@darrylgoodwin7947]

Wtf

[@frogmantoad8110]

Trump in 2024! Now that’s punk!

[@bujindork]

Punk is the complete antithesis of MAGA