Thunder and Lightning - Chi Coltrane | The Midnight Special

Chi Coltrane performed May 4, 1973
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[@aidanflynn1577]

She should’ve been a superstar in the 1970s. She was a real belter☝️

[@lanceprzybyla7662]

Powerful...her voice and structure dominate the instruments...DAMN!!!🎉❤

[@DonDixit]

Strong, beautiful, independent and creative woman. Brilliant songs. Teleport Chi to 2024 and a billion views guaranteed

[@thequintanashow5058]

The record industry owes the world a fu*^ing apology for not allowing her to be the biggest thing in music - sh was electrifying!!!!!!

[@camvillar8177]

Chi is laying it DOWN! Incredible power voice.

[@mickylawless1941]

I'm "thunder" struck! I had forgotten all about Chi. She should have been a major star back in the day. What an amazing woman!

[@eluberimabib4070]

The fuck man. What a voice. Beyonce thinks she's a singer? Think again.

[@wrightchix]

She went on to play in Europe for many years.

[@genem3681]

Stunning ...Love this woman...

[@rjs2005]

Just a fabulous performance by an electrifying musician- yet another who wouldn't play the corporate game in the states and thus tossed into the dustbin of talent, while the American music machine moved onto the next pretty face. Fortunately, the rest of the world took notice and she has a decent catalog of great music for all to enjoy. Thunder & Lightning indeed!

[@freedom7880]

I was 10 when this hit the airwaves and I instantly loved it! The only thing missing in this live version was the Sax 🎷

[@lanceprzybyla7662]

I love this song!!!❤

[@dabeage]

I can't believe how long it's been.

[@babywah3290]

Wow, what a gorgeous woman❤❤

[@sharimason2977]

Chi Coltrane and Kiki Dee don't get enough credit

[@MikeE_Fab4]

I liked the single back in September-November 1972, but, WOW, this live performance is 1000x better! Thank you!!

[@fredflintstone3956]

Watching Midnight Special was my Friday night back then, and I remember this one well. Hard to imagine this was 😲 51 years ago!

[@LuciferSatan-xs3cr]

Had a HUGE celebrity crush on Chi when I was a tween. She should have been much bigger than she was. Still love this song.

[@donnyarmstrong9559]

You have put a huge smile on the 13 year old kid in this 65 year old man! I have been in love with this tune since DAY 1 of hearing this way back when on KTKT in Tucson AZ. I was too young to see her, and as AnthonyKimball7463 has so elequently mentioned, so many of us were deprived of her voice, talent and stage presents! Its a damned shame that so many of the folks commenting have stated they have never heard of her or this tune! I am so grateful that you fine folks at The Midnight Special have released this treat!

[@edwardvasquez3678]

99 KTKT Tooshawn, Dr. Scar KGUN Channel 9, Uncle Bob in the afternoon, Tucson Toros. Do you recall "Hot Lucy"? Tucson Rock band! I saw them at Sunset Rollerama- Skating Rink @Swan and 22nd St.

[@donnyarmstrong9559]

@@edwardvasquez3678 Dude! 99 KTKT, boy I do remember that one! Uncle Bob, me & my brother were on that show many times! Always got that goodie bag at the end of the show! Tucson Toro's @ Randolph Park Stadium... many seasons there! Do you remember the Pretzel girl? I will never forget her! Don't remember Hot Lucy, but I too spent alot of time at that roller rink! Memories dude, alot of good memories!

[@4catmomma150]

I’m 58, and remember this performance because Midnight Special was the ONLY time I was given permission to stay up past 9pm . I had to sit right next to the tv( no remote controls back then)and keep the sound low, as to not wake my 3 siblings. Those 60 minutes alone every Saturday night were the best part of growing up in the 1970’s.

[@larrytate4586]

You and me both brother. We are the same age and I share in your sentiment. 70’s we’re the best.

[@genem3681]

Me too. One of the best songs ever.

[@joseenriqueagutaya131]

Beauty and thundering voice.

[@jimfritz2087]

We saw her at The Quiet Knight , Chicago USA . She was FAN DAM TASTIC.We also saw Joe Ely and a few others there. Tiny venue of immense importance.

[@EazyCheeze]

WHOOO! Awesomeness. FIrst time I saw Chi, actually - what a beautiful woman! And so talent - I'd heard this awesome song before but never ever heard the artist's name... Weird! THANK YOU AGAIN Midnight Special! The Internet continues to be thoroughly blessed by your revival of this, your timeless material which entertained, continues to entertain and will doubtless entertain generations to come! The biggest musical event of 2023 (late 2022 IIRC!) was when you decided to start this up.

[@onusgumboot5565]

I remember this song, and the name. I never saw her perform though. I always assumed she was black.

[@slomotrainwreck]

Wow from 1973! The footage looks amazing! 👍

[@Jim-fp3kt]

Just fantastic. I haven’t heard this in years.

[@mhlevy]

I barely remember Chi and this song from the early 70s, but it's amazing. Another amazing group, made up of young ladies, who also played on the Midnight Special and "The Sonny & Cher Show," was Fanny! I'm so glad that this channel exists to breathe life into the fantastic songs of the 70s, and show the artists performing them!

[@wmkyle1]

A couple of the girls from Fanny also sang backup vocals to Barbara Streisand's song Stoney End.

[@kevingoins9858]

Remembering hearing "Thunder & Lightning" on the radio as a kid. Had no idea Chi appeared on the Midnight Special. Great performance!

[@demetriusdillard2863]

Fabulous performance!

[@jamesmanolakis2420]

This is the reason i love the Midnight Special. I had never heard of Chi Coltrane before. Wow what a performance! What a beautiful lady, I'm definitely going to search out more of her music. Mahalo my friends....

[@timhoovermusicman]

This has been a favorite for me since way back.😊

[@Alekx-gq2vt]

A M A Z I N G !!!!!!! ...... thanks many Brothers . ❤

[@antlers163]

This chick could wail…!

[@Jeffrey.Seelman]

Live is great. Stunning.

[@josephroman8568]

I've been looking for this song for a long time! Thank you Midnight Special!

[@littleogeechee223]

She looks a lot like the actress Kate Bosworth. Very gorgeous!

[@TheTobesOfHades]

OH YEAH!

[@DallasPix]

I'm in love for sure. 😉What a talent & what a L@@KER too!!! Always have loved this song since it came out back in Aug of 1972.. AND I was only 12 when this came out.. Randy A Carlisle // DJ // KSGV // Seagoville Tx

[@pongsakvittayarumpa9233]

Brilliant !

[@anthonykimball7463]

YES!! 👍 Thanks very much for responding to my earlier request regarding this! Chi, as anybody can pretty clearly see from this performance, had the potential to really be THE American Rock Goddess of the 1970s, but because she wouldn't play the standard record industry games, that didn't happen. Luckily for her, audiences in parts of Europe kept her career going, but in the US it was pretty much over. At least we have this incendiary piece of video to show how incredible she was and to feel deep outrage at how the "business" conspired to erase her (in the minds of American record buyers, anyway).

[@donnyarmstrong9559]

Well spoken Anthony!

[@WhyTheHorseface]

Or it could be that her attractiveness wasn’t enough to compensate for that mediocre voice and song.

[@Chilly_Billy]

I actually think this was a pretty poor performance. Her singing reminded of an open mic night at the local bar.

[@WhyTheHorseface]

@@Chilly_Billy agreed. 💩

[@johnnybala5112]

Would you mind expanding on the "She wouldn't play the standard record industry games". comment? I am being sincere, I have never heard of any issues She had

[@margarethitou6212]

Nao conhecia... Fabulosa!

[@Testing-123]

Joe Puerta (AMBROSIA) killing that bass (like always!!)

[@joneysparkles4312]

Top unit

[@Brad_Bane]

God, she just destroyed it. Damn, what a talent.

[@themidnightspecialtvshow]

Absolutely!

[@JSwitz]

This is awesome!

[@hamsterdiving7593]

As a free-range teenager who often stayed out until 2 a.m. most Friday nights (I had a generous curfew and my friends and I were big Irish pub music regulars), I often missed The Midnight Special even though I loved it I'm so happy I've discovered this channel because now I have a chance to catch up. Better late than never! 😅 Subscribed ❤

[@darrenrunning5415]

I didn't realize until just recently that I had actually heard her before. She's part of my Time Life Sounds of the Seventies CD collection. Good song.

[@theoriginalchefboyoboy6025]

couldn't save this to my Tunez playlist fast enough... Edit: How is she not a Marvel superhero?

[@genem3681]

She is beyond a superhero. Captain Marvel has nothing on Chi...

[@LongOnSol]

She was really good. Easy to look at too

[@cherigayles6087]

You can see some more recent performances by Chi on YT, I’m sure she’s in her seventies now, but still got the pipes!

[@Jjf-ep3mf]

Thanks again Burt!

[@daktarioskarvannederhosen2568]

fantastik !

[@612Taper]

Knew the song but had no idea how kick ass she was.

[@klopptillyoudropp1263]

WOW🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@brendamelvoin2043]

Thanks !

[@eugeniuszmalaj3614]

Righteous 😁👍

[@dannystrat]

Chi Coltrane really could've been on a par with Elton John. She's that good. Luckily, she did make it "big in Europe".

[@onusgumboot5565]

She didn't have a lyricist as good a Bernie Taupin. This song is OK lyrically, but not astoundingly good like a lot of Bernies songs. I listened to another one from the same episode, and it wasn't much good at all.

[@dannystrat]

@@onusgumboot5565 I agree about the lyrics. But with competent guidance, she really could have been quite the 70s icon.

[@rebeccacasey1823]

​@@dannystrat0

[@russbrown6453]

This version is Bad A** CC really worked for this performance!

[@ricknorris1466]

Female Leon Russell.

[@felipehelder1388]

Que diva não conhecia

[@bredmon]

I'm begging you guys to upload Season 9 Episode 14, there is no footage of the Temptations performing that day on any of the official DVD's, or anywhere for that matter. It's like lost media.

[@chukcanuk]

Is it just me or is her voice almost buried by the instruments at the beginning? That aside, a great performance. As are all the Midnight Special shows. Not all my cup of tea but they all sound great. Thanks for sharing them.

[@Music--ng8cd]

Would be nice to hear this with a down-home horn section.

[@jeffcrocker1078]

Her time is incredible tempo maybe a bpm faster at the end

[@littleogeechee223]

Every teenage white girl in the 1970s wanted to look like her! I know I did!

[@aidanflynn1577]

That look came back in the 1990s and has remained through the present times 👍

[@lundworks9901]

One of many who's career was destroyed by record company execs grifting performers. Even big hit makers were bankrupted into dissolving their bands.

[@johnnybala5112]

explain please

[@babywah3290]

@@johnnybala5112Not owning their song publishing. See Badfinger for worst case scenario.

[@CatherineBurk]

It Seems a bit scary wondering if I have Alzheimer's because I watch this and it seems like I remember watching this on the television just last week. Do miss wolfman jack.

[@tedfurlo2268]

😳

[@DrTomoculus]

Is that Ambrosia backing her??

[@chrisnemec5644]

She did work with the Who, the Eagles and Stevie Wonder.

[@ericbachmann8037]

@@chrisnemec5644 You forgot Rod Stewart.

[@DrTomoculus]

The dude on Bass looks so much like that Ambrosia dude. Joe Puerta.@@chrisnemec5644

[@chrisnemec5644]

​@@ericbachmann8037 True. Sorry about that.

[@DavidPackluvr]

Joe Puerta of Ambrosia is playing on this. ❤

[@willardarmbruster8111]

Joe Puerta.

[@chicagotransferservicessch2303]

Female Elton John

[@williamdrijver4141]

Odd how most of her songs have the same buildup: they start calmly, and after about half a minute she starts screaming and continues to do so till the end. Quite awkward.

[@chrismartin3197]

Grace Potter’s mom?

[@Afterburner2]

Wow another upload of an obscure artist, Gary Wright passes away and we get this?, Where's the Spooky Tooth video?, I've asked numerous times only to be snubbed by you over and over, thanks for ignoring real rock history😝😜

[@eric_in_florida]

lol they make the rules on their channel, not you.

[@MrGrouchofan]

Relax….

[@Afterburner2]

@@MrGrouchofan that's an old reply, they've stepped it up since then and it will be turning up soon, no worries

[@lowellcalavera6045]

This was a boring song then, and it still is.

[@dannystrat]

Then you must be dead.

[@timhoovermusicman]

Your wife has been bored since day one...🤷‍♂️

[@mchavez219]

If you think this is boring then you must be dead. This performance was Electric by a Beautiful Young Lady!!🥰❤️

[@timhoovermusicman]

@@mchavez219 I don't see my comment... Maybe he deleted it...😹

[@timhoovermusicman]

@@mchavez219 I told him his wife has been bored since day one on the honeymoon😂

[@haeuptlingaberja4927]

The female version of Leon Russell, rocking out with none of Leon's support in the male-centric bidness.

[@dotell3359]

I want to go back to the 70s 5:48

[@chrisnemec5644]

Paul Buckmaster was right when he said she was "rip-snorting female vocalist/composer/producer whose performances are nothing less than searing." Great job capturing her energy here.

[@EdKazO-Vision]

He didn’t say that. You read the Wikipedia entry incorrectly. But I agree with that sentiment 100%.