Ep 36 - The Midnight Special Episode | October 5, 1973

[@njhampster]

i find it impossible to listen to anything after Hocus Pocus! Simply astounding!

[@stephengriffin1428]

Focus were outstanding in this episode and goes to enhance Midnight Special’s reputation for a variety of great music from the USA and beyond. Jan Akkerman is the Dutch guitar God and he had a minor hit later in the U.S. with She’s so Devine so please check that out.

[@henryhoward8341]

Focus' Thijs Van Leer is a freak of nature. Not to mention guitarist Jan Akkerman was one of the world's best guitarist. They certainly deserved the standing ovation. RIP bassist Bert Ruiter.

[@Kgio-2112]

Going to see them July 7th at the Paramount in Huntington NY.

[@miguelmolinayvedia8969]

Focus, BB King and Earth Wind & Fire on the same night. Those were the days

[@softshoes]

I've had a crush on Gladys since I first laid eyes on her. I"m 70 and still in love.

[@toomuchinformation]

She doesn't sound much different either.

[@rondothard1698]

Now I can see that you all loved Gladys, Chaka, Natalie Cole Dionne Warwick yall thought all of them were sexy but yall never said nothing about Patti LaBelle. Did you all find her sexy?

[@cautiousotter]

The world definitely needs more operatic yodeling whistling rocking freak-outs right now. What great performances from a great line-up. 💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼

[@paulsmith9542]

Gladys is beyond genius ...one of the greatest voices EVER !!!!! So attractive !!!!!

[@JamieAndersonMusic]

Especially enjoyed Gladys Knight and the Pips, and BB King. Even better, when Gladys and BB did "The Thrill is Gone." Blew my hair back.

[@chriskroll4166]

Gladys Knight was Killin it . And BB King is always great. And that singer from the stories also was laying it down . What a great show 😊

[@davew5161]

I love these original live performances on Midnight Special. Most we've never heard before. Some of the very best performing all time hits live w just a mike and guitar. RAW TALENT

[@valerieschoen7494]

If Jethro Tull had been on this show, The Midnight Special would have achieved the rare rock flute hat trick. Wonderful episode!

[@DebbieZoppina]

I can’t count how many Jethro Tull concerts I went to in the 70’s but each one was just amazing. Loved Tull! Ian Anderson sure could play that flute. 👍🏻

[@kevingoins9858]

Earth Wind & Fire burning up the stage! Love it!

[@Bigeazy87]

Here for Gladys ❤

[@FleagleSangria]

Killer show! Earth 🌎Wind 💨And Fire 🔥

[@KittyGrizGriz]

Yes! ♥️ EW&F band, too! Saw them a few years back and EVERYONE in the venue was dancing along. SO fantastic and Fun! Energetic! 💃🕺🎶

[@GuiitarBilly]

I saw them in NYC in early 1973, third bill on a show that also had Dr Hook and was headlined by a prog band called Flash who kinda disappeared pretty quickly. EWF seemed to jam a lot that night, with a lot of energy…kinda like here. I enjoyed them but never would’ve guessed that they’d become one of the biggest and best bands of the 1970s, who’s well written and tightly arranged songs would create their own genre of pop/R&B and would still be being played and loved by millions around the world 50 years later. I now consider myself lucky to have seen them at the very start, when they were just planting the seeds.

[@RonaldWilliams-qh7zc]

​​​@@GuiitarBilly and also remember they were also one of the first bands to actually perform real magic on stage I read an article back in 1997 in this magazine that was popular at the time called vibe magazine and it was a short interview with Maurice White talking about in 1973 how they were introduced to the world of magic and there were things that were taught to them things to this very day that he couldn't reveal to the public at that time

[@toomuchinformation]

​@@RonaldWilliams-qh7zcWas the levitation? I remember references to this in their shows in the late 70s.

[@Dan-zq5wt]

Focus were freakishly good! Mesmerizing

[@David-tv3dk]

I can't believe they could pull off Hocus Pocus live. And it sounds just like the record only faster. What a great guitarist, What a great yodellist too..... And House of the King was faster and good too.

[@ronaldtiracchia2017]

​@David-tv3dk I read once that they speeded it up on purpose because the midnight special wanted a shorter version. So Focus just played faster to fit everything in.

[@JeddorianJalapeno]

There's just such a sheer abundance of talent and joy in the show. Even the acts I didn't listen to much back then will bring a tear of rejoicing for such awesome pure talent...

[@robmatlock7675]

What a range of talent, R&B, Blues, Rock, I love the variety. Gladys if you need me I could be a Pip (Claps hands, spins, Sing "I know you will") I know all the moves. BB King, Earth Wind and Fire, Focus (though I haven't seen Focus live before) I know, Stories and Chris Smith may be one of those songs I remembered that never gets played on the oldies channel. Can't hardly wait!

[@robmatlock7675]

Does anyone remember stack stereos, you know amplifier, equalizer, tuner, dual cassettes, turntable, maybe an 8-track or reel to reel, 4ft tall speakers with 15in woofer, 3in tweeter, 2 smaller speakers just above the bed for the 4-channel effect. Also, a headphone jack so you can put your can headphones after your parents went to sleep.

[@gordonspond]

I had to buy mine piecemeal and I never got around to buying an equalizer... didn't have a lot of disposable income between the ages of 14 - 18... Good times!

[@robmatlock7675]

@@gordonspond That was the magic of putting together a quality stereo. You buy an amplifier, turntable, and a set of headphones (Cans), head down to the pawn shop, get a receiver with a built in 8-track so you can record songs off records and America's Top 40s to play in the car. Then save up a couple of weeks proceeds from the lawn mowing operation, then go down to an audio store, pawn shop, or JC Penny's and get a set of Pioneer, Klipsch horns, or Bose speakers, then piss the neighbors off. Eventually the upgrades begin, an equalizer, more speakers, cassette or reel to reel, or a better turntable. Next thing I had a room full of gear, and a profound hearing loss, LOL.

[@acme.videos]

Thank you for the Focus performances on this episode!! They were so damn good! ☺👍🙏

[@newyorkval1478]

GLADYS KNIGHT- one of the greatest women to ever take the stage.

[@brötzmannsax]

Everyone should check out the infamous appearance of Focus performing Hocus Pocus in advance, to ramp up the anticipation. Plus, more B.B. King, wow!

[@brötzmannsax]

@@Royale_with_Cheeze Yes, the greatest KC version with Fripp, Bruford, David Cross and John Wetton performing Easy Money and Lark's Tongues In Aspic!

[@stephencarroll230]

Focus is ridiculous, but their musicianship is unquestionable!

[@dannystrat]

@@stephencarroll230 There's MUCH more to Focus than Hocus Pocus! A criminally underrated 70s Prog band.

[@jmack619]

Going to take your advice! Haven't head it in a while !

[@StephanieJeanne]

Well, that was a terrific show! Gladys and the Pips were awesome, as always. Focus had me out of focus! lol Stories were great, too. Even the acts I wasn't familiar with were good. Thanks to all the party people in the chat, and to you The midnight Special!🤩😊

[@vincentdavis3453]

What a spectacular show. Gladys Knight & the Pips as host were amazing. And then, ​Focus III to end off the show. Happy New Year to all! Thank you Midnight Special.

[@henryhoward8341]

Focus and Stories are going to be good!

[@richardtaylor8595]

Saw B. B King in the 80s in Cleveland. Ohio and I was without words. Blew me away..

[@agumperz]

I discover something new in each of these old shows. Chris Smither was my discovery here, awesome!

[@FleagleSangria]

Gladys and Mavis, similar singers and I love them both ❤And that Pips harmony on Midnight Train..woo woo..! Keep the train rollin Midnight Special and thank you thank you thank you! Humble request: Allman Brothers, if a show with them hasnt been done😎👍🏻

[@eric_in_florida]

EWF killing it!!

[@samiam5557]

Gladys Knight and the PIPS!!! plus BB KING! wow....

[@bluebear1985]

The next show after this from October 12, 1973, is another good one. It was hosted by The Bee Gees, and featured appearances by Chuck Berry, Apple and Appleberry, King Crimson, Barbara Mason, and Lee Michaels.

[@robmatlock7675]

and Monty Python

[@KittyGrizGriz]

Yes! Lee Michales song “Do You Know What I Mean” is a fav, hope he sings it 😃

[@jmack619]

Now we know where line dancing came from ! Go PiPs !

[@caryheuchert]

“House of the King” by the magnificent Focus!!!

[@jenbloom6848]

I’m ready for some rockin’ yodel from Focus!

[@matthewbaduria]

Earth Wind & Fire is one of my all time favorite bands,along with Stories & 70's rock band Focus,on this episode,is worth watching Great episode,RIP Maurice White and Bert Ruiter.

[@moorlock2003]

Stories, that’s who I want to see.

[@archimedesscrew3710]

Great times. Gladys Knight is class....

[@paulburns1333]

Great version and performance of Mamy Blue by The Stories, the depth of talent in this era was incredible.

[@Largo3point0]

Gladys on that Midnight Train…a superb rendition.

[@robmatlock7675]

Whooo Hoo!

[@jmack619]

The thrill is gone, could have gone on and on and on. Great man to woman to man, call response right there

[@Doones51]

Some say it's about kicking drugs, and not a love song.

[@jmack619]

@@Doones51 gotta listen again ! Thank you! Drugs increased the artistic ability but lots of times crushed everything else

[@mthivier]

Wow! "Mammie Blue" by the Stories. Haven't heard that one in a few decades!

[@outtathyme5679]

The epicatude of Focus is measured in parsecs

[@MJ-oc7ep]

earth wind and fire Power performance was mind blowing

[@tlister67]

1973 must have been peak flute. Great lineup!

[@Magravated]

Can't wait for this one!!! Woo Woo! 🚂🙌🏻

[@Debbie_George]

53:25 With each listening, I've come to understand this song better and better.

[@crlaw75]

Nice to see Focus' "Hocus Pocus" clip in its entirety (past clips had a section cut out).

[@rebeccawagner4167]

I love Gladys Knight and the Pips they were awesome on the Midnight Special 🎉🎉

[@bene.divinocordeiro6196]

Aguardando com muita expectativa

[@Debbie_George]

48:30 Loved this song as a child. Just now understanding the lyrics.

[@John60s70s]

EWandF 34:29. BB King -The Thrill is Gone 38:59. Stories- Brother Louie 46:01. Gladys Knight and the Pips50:18. Love these songs.❤

[@loilt5091]

Killer lineup on this episode...THANKS ❤ 🇨🇦

[@KittyGrizGriz]

Whew!! Can they play any faster? Love Thijs Van Leer’s yodeling-singing-fluting-whistling-keyboards-his shirt (did I miss anything?) and his high pitch is outta sight great! 🇳🇱 Dutch Perfection! 😳 🥰 “Stories” band are so very bluesy-sexy, their guitarist Steve Love is darn 🥵! Haven’t heard this Groovy tune before (their 1st one), and like it! 💃

[@KittyGrizGriz]

@@chriskroll4166 Oopsie 😬, his name is “Steve” not Mike, I’ll change it. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find anything online about him. 🤷‍♀️

[@chriskroll4166]

@@KittyGrizGriz Yeah right . Steve . I'm sorry I was thinking of the dude from The Beach Boys . I looked up the stories on Wikipedia and they don't even have him listed for a Wikipedia page or anything and I tried pulling him up on Facebook and no go. It's as if the guy didn't even exist. 🙋

[@stephengriffin1428]

Stories turned the tables and copied songs from the British charts: Firstly Brother Louie was a hit in England by the great Hot Chocolate and Mamie Blue was a hit for the recently deceased Roger Whitaker. Stories I believe had some connection with the 60’s group Left Banke but I could be entirely wrong about that.

[@KittyGrizGriz]

@@stephengriffin1428Thank you, I remember Hot Chocolate did the 1st version of Louie song. Doing a rendition of another’s song shows respect. I love Mamie Blue song too my 1st time hearing it, so darn groovy

[@stephengriffin1428]

@@KittyGrizGrizagree on all counts especially as Hot Chocolate were a racially diverse band.

[@lauriebarnes2999]

Can't wait, The Midnight Special!

[@craiganderson6880]

Wow! What a show!

[@jmack619]

Thank you Midnight! Happy two four !

[@RonaldWilliams-qh7zc]

Damn this was also a good episode wow !

[@RalfHusch-cp5fl]

Danke!

[@Gearhound62]

Bonus points for the band backing Wolfman Jack...

[@BRINABOO-s2k]

THIS WAS A GREAT TAPING MOST PERFORMANCES WERE SPECTACULAR. BB KING IS THE MAN. TWO SONGS FROM THE SHOW WERE THE SOUNDTRACK OF THE SUMMER 1973 FOR ME. EVIL BY EARTH WIND AND FIRE AND TO KNOW YOU BY BB KING. THAT IS THE SUMMER I SPENT AT MY GREAT AUNT AND UNCLE HOUSE. THERE WAS A RECORD SHOP LOCATED NEAR THE APARTMENT BUILDING UNDERNEATH THE TRAIN STATION ON 51ST STREET IN CHICAGO. EVERYDAY WHEN MY SISTER AND I PASSED THAT TRAIN STATION ON OUR WAY TO SUMMER CAMP. THAT RECORD STORE WAS BLASTING FOR THE WHOLE STREET NEIGHBORHOOD THE MOST POPULAR RNB SONGS OF THE DAY. EVIL WAS ONE AND SO WAS BB KINGS TO KNOW YOU. GYPSY MAN BY WAR AND I BELIEVE IN YOU BY JOHNNY TAYLOR.

[@John-ls2gp]

Can you imagine having to follow Focus? That dudes vocals have very few equivalents.

[@dougeldredge]

ive had a crush on gladys since i was a kid, im 66 now

[@chuckm4540]

Big standing O for Focus!

[@zeppearl]

Great episode packed with great music !!!

[@fumanchu1977]

Earth Wind and Fire totally on Fire!!

[@henryhoward8341]

Stories' record label (Karma Sutra) forced "Brother Louie" on them. A song they didn't care for but was stuck with when it became their summer 1973 #1 hit single. Of course, their label wanted an immediate follow-up. Resulting in the similar "Mammy Blue". Neither song truly represented the band. As their next album (that featured "Mammy Blue") was more progressive rock. RIP drummer Bryan Madey.

[@greggates1137]

Wow! I hadn't realized Madey had passed away. Stories is one of my favorite bands of all time. I knew that Michael Brown who cofounded the band had passed away some years ago but I didn't know about Brian.

[@chriskroll4166]

Yeah but that's a great great version of that song so it should have been done by them by the powers that be. The original version is cool but that singer from the stories is doing something with his voice that most singers wish they can do . Even BB King was probably impressed. Do you know whatever happened to Mike love that guitar player?

[@greggates1137]

@@chriskroll4166 Steve Love was in a band after Stories. I can't remember their name. He also did a lot of session work. I believe that he is still alive.

[@henryhoward8341]

@@chriskroll4166 All I know is he left soon after the "Travelling Underground" album (February 1974). Perhaps disgruntled they were now billed as Ian Lloyd & Stories. He hooked up with that bizarre Bowie wannabe Jobriath. Both Steve Love and new Stories keyboardist Ken Bichel played on Jobriath's 1973 debut album. After that, he was in a Canadian disco studio group named Black Light Orchestra. Then nothing.

[@henryhoward8341]

@@greggates1137 Yes. No details on his death. But his brother posted on Bryan's Facebook page that he died suddenly on June 2, 2022.

[@paulcooper-n2v]

Love brother louie by stories.

[@stephenharris]

Wish I could have seen an entire set by EWF!

[@RIXRADvidz]

Focus. just Wow.

[@eduardoalmeida61]

FOCUS 🤘🤘 PROG ON !

[@jamesgerrardbrown5169]

Riding with the King...♡ ☆ & .... Gladys has a " Licence to Kill" ...( the song from a Bond movie, that Eric Patrick Clapton and others were involved in pre-final whistle ! ♡ ) God bless ♡

[@gordonspond]

I desperately need a time machine... I'm OK if it can only go as far back as the 1950s...

[@Elias_Veine_Wiig]

Forget BB King, forget Earth, Wind & Fire, forget everything. I don’t care. Focus is the band! Focus is the best! Focus is the highlight here! Focus is the best ever. Just forget anything else!

[@KittyGrizGriz]

Chris Smither is wonderful, haven’t heard of him before love those writers-strummers-singers. The close up shots of his finger picking are cool, so is the drumming sound, is that his feet making it??

[@janicetrimmell6897]

And he's still playing at 79. I love him.

[@JamieAndersonMusic]

@@janicetrimmell6897 I enjoyed him too. He wrote "Love Me Like a Man" that Bonnie Raitt made famous and yeah, he's still performing.

[@KittyGrizGriz]

@@JamieAndersonMusic I’ll check it out too; love Bonnie’s music.

[@Doones51]

Yeah, he has a resonant wood board under him that he taps with his feet while he plays.

[@KittyGrizGriz]

@@Doones51 Thank you, for your reply 😀

[@Dan-zq5wt]

Jan Akkerman was an early shredder and really unique. He sounds like a combo of John McLaughlin, Steve Howe and Allan Holdsworth

[@matthewclark9652]

Gladys Knight & The Pips doing The Staple Singers remake "Heavy Makes You Happy". Never heard of the Focus song "House Of The King" before!! Did Focus toured with Jethro Tull back then??? Thought it was Dick Monda (known back then as Daddy Dewdrop) who did the song "Chick-A-Boom" in 1971. The song "Mammy Blue" was first done by The Pop-Tops & also the late Roger Whittaker in 1971.

[@FORTYFIVERECORDINGS]

This was an awesome episode, what happened to great music from all genres???

[@robmatlock7675]

My local AM channel would play pop, soul, country, rock, one right after the other, so good. That with the Friday night dedications, it was "must hear" radio. On KZbin, they have clips of music from my station from that era, I listen and go back in time.

[@richardblock2458]

Gladys and BB - nice,

[@gregoryduncan3067]

This is the first time the logo has been blocked by people's heads in the thumbnail. How observant am I?

[@StephanieJeanne]

🤣 You kill me!

[@brötzmannsax]

You are a stickler for those Midnight Special neon background logo, I nominate you for stage designer.

[@brötzmannsax]

@@StephanieJeanne You have been nominated for wardrobe director, from head to toe, wigs to shoes.

[@StephanieJeanne]

@@brötzmannsax 🤣 If I get to wear all those 70s clothes, I'm in.

[@gregoryduncan3067]

I have no issue whatsoever with Gladys Knight blocking the logo. She can even block the neon letters if she wants to.

[@Patriotic545]

Hocus focus, their performance is not hocus focus only the song title. Great talents of the 70s era .Gladys Knight is fabulous singing midnight train to Georgia. WOW EWF, Philip Bailey in his younger days.

[@개끌고산으로-c2p]

와우~~

[@deja75m]

The bassist for Earth, Wind and Fire..a black spirit of Jaco,Pastorius!!..yumm

[@frankbartoszak7637]

Stories where a really good band the lead singer had a great rock and roll voice,they just needed more hits

[@toomuchinformation]

"Mamy Blue" has been done several times; the one I saw featured a band called the Pop Tops.

[@GalaxyRover1020]

Yes they were, and great bassist Kenny Aaronson was in the group then.

[@frankbartoszak7637]

Saw kenny aaronson playing bass for Rick Derringer at a small club in Hialeah, he's great

[@GalaxyRover1020]

@@frankbartoszak7637 That must of been his "Derringer" band I'm guessing. Big fan of that group. Vinny Appice - drums, Danny Johnson , guitar. If you like that stuff and you haven't checked it out give a listen to Axis - "It's A Circus World". That's where Derringer picked up both of those guys. Good heavy three piece band.

[@frankbartoszak7637]

@GalaxyRover1020 hey galaxy when I saw them Myron grombacher was the drummer, later he became pat benatars drummer

[@fpep5]

That Wolfman Jack song is wild 💀

[@stevenholquin2127]

Ian Lloyd Is Still Playing Clubs At 77 Years Old He is Classically Trained Gladys Knight Just Beautiful Through and Through The Elements I Mean Earth Wind & Fire BBKing Ladies and Gents Let Me Share a Story I Was in a Elevator With Wolfman Jack in The Mid 1980’s in The Old Security Pacific Bank Building on Hollywood Boulevard and Cahuenga Blvd The Day Was For a Star ⭐️ on The Hollywood Walk of Fame Which None Other Than Wolfman Jack Was To Honor Alan Freed Those of You Whom Don’t Know Who Alan Freed is Alan Freed Was Wolfman Jack’s Influence He Was The Top Radio DJ in The Early Days of Rock n Roll Whom Got Caught Up In a The Big Payola Scheme of The 1960’s None The Less That Ruined Alan Freed’s DJ Career and Wolfman Jack Was in The Elevator With Me To Honor His Idol Mr. Alan Freed There is a Star on The Walk of Fame on Cahuenga Blvd and Hollywood Boulevard On The North East Corner Thank you Music 🎶 Makes The World Go Round

[@Branner]

They give Gladys & the Pips a big hand at the end of their first number but, Jesus, they just sat there, not clapping, not moving, during that energetic performance. Sometimes the hipper-than-thou crowd just didn't "get" Motown and r & b. Btw - the group had just left Motown at this point and were starting a great second career.

[@jeffm8480]

Any info on Monda? Who they were and what became of them? Web search comes up empty for me. Another fantastic show BTW.

[@Gabrielterminator2]

I did some research and apparently Monda is Dick Monda, the guy with the glasses and moustache playing behind Wolfman Jack and sometimes singing with the girls. According to Discogs, he produced Wolfman Jack EP "Ling, Ting, Tong" from 1973. He is mostly known for his pseudonym Daddy Dewdrop who reached number nine on Billboard in 1971 with the song "Chick-A-Boom (Don't Ya Jes' Love It)". As for the backup singers I think two of them are Patty and Kate Harris who sang with Monda in the 70s but I could be wrong on that.

[@jamesgerrardbrown5169]

BB ♡ the ... King ☆

[@reversefulfillment9189]

8:22 Ahhĥ!

[@raymondbonington9355]

Midnight in Georgia didn’t hit the uk chart till 3 years later in 1976 .

[@HyakuMusicOohbaby]

34:26 🌐🍃🔥

[@zapzeus988]

SIDEBURNS!!!!!!

[@felipehelder1388]

O pop atual caiu muito

[@JamieAndersonMusic]

Did we have to hear Wolfman sing?

[@Sincopare]

That was awful. 1950s Bill Hailey song, misappropriated.

[@matthewclark9652]

Check out Episode 2 (host Johnny Rivers) doing "I Ain't Never Seen A White Man".

[@Dr_Paul_Proteus]

Funny thing about Wolfman's "I Ain't Ever Seen A White Man." At the end of this song about racial harmony, he walks into the crowd and says to someone: ''Go ahead. Get close to that ugly red-head kid.'' It's at 43:22.

[@luvbasses5487]

Focus was like Tull on steroids times ten!

[@bigcartoonyIIV]

are these combinations of various shows?

[@thevoid99]

EARTH WIND & FIRE!!!!!! SHAQUILLE O'NEAL!!!! SISQO!!!!! NO!!!!!!!!!! WAAAAAHHH!!!!! i just bought those! oh, sorry man.

[@fueledbylove]

When your just 14 this audience looks like an older demographic.

[@trevorcoole4197]

nimbala is great too

[@saramaya3302]

Gladys was beautiful

[@richardperusse4299]

love all that music but unfortunately , they edit the last Focus song , they maybe had not let Wolfman jack sings and keep it for another program, or have less talking by G.Knight / pips .... Focus were so much a musical band influenced by jazz/classical and medieval music, it's a near a crime to edit that band ....