The Midnight Special (1972)
The Midnight Special is an American late-night musical variety series that aired on NBC during the 1970s and early 1980s, created and produced by Burt Sugarman. It premiered as a special on August 19, 1972, then began its run as a regular series on February 2, 1973; its last episode was on May 1, 1981. The ninety-minute program followed the Friday night edition of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. The show typically featured guest hosts, except for a period from July 1975 through March 1976 when singer Helen Reddy served as the regular host. Wolfman Jack served as the announcer and frequent guest host. The series also occasionally aired vintage footage of older acts. As the program neared the end of its run in the early 1980s, it began to frequently use lip-synched performances rather than live. The program also featured occasional comedic performances such as Richard Pryor and Andy Kaufman.
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Episode 1 - Host: Curtis Mayfield
Release Date: 1973-09-14Curtis Mayfield (host) - ""Future Shock,"" ""Back to the World"" & ""Right On for the Darkness"" --The Bee Gees - ""Lonely Days"" & ""Run to Me"" --Jim Croce - ""I've Got a Name"" & ""Bad Bad Leroy Brown"" --Gladys Knight & the Pips - ""Where Peaceful Waters Flow"" --Natural Four - ""Can This Be Real"" --Wilson Pickett - ""Get Me Back on Time Engine 9"" & ""Don't Knock My Love"" --Helen Reddy - ""Delta Dawn"" --Sly & the Family Stone - ""Everybody Is a Star"" --War - ""Gypsy man""
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Episode 2 - Host: Wilson Pickett
Release Date: 1973-09-21Wilson Pickett (host) - ""Land of 1000 Dances,"" ""Funky Broadway,"" ""Never My Love"" & ""In the Midnight Hour"" --Brian Auger's Oblivion Express - ""Whenever You're Ready"" & ""Listen Here"" --Canned Heat - ""Dust My Broom"" & ""Lookin' for My Rainbow"" --The Chi-Lites - ""Stoned Out of My Mind"" & Oh Girl"" --Curtis Mayfield - ""Freddie's Dead"" --Brenda Patterson - ""Dance with Me Henry"" --Spooky Tooth - ""Cotton Growing Man"" --B.W. Stevenson - ""My Maria"" & ""Don't Go to Mexico"
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Episode 3 - Hosts: Seals & Crofts
Release Date: 1973-09-28-Seals & Crofts (hosts) - ""Diamond Girl,"" ""Dust On My Saddle,"" ""We May Never Pass This Way Again,"" ""Ruby Jean and Billie Lee"" & ""Pop Goes the Weasel"" --Paul Butterfield's Better Days - ""New Walkin' Blues"" & ""Broke My Baby's Heart"" --Ramblin' Jack Elliot - ""Talkin' Fishing Blues"" --Arlo Guthrie - ""Gypsy Davy"" ""Bling Blang"" --Leo Kottke - ""Bean Time"" --T. Rex - ""Hot Love"" & ""Bang a Gong (Get It On)"" --Uriah Heep - ""Stealin'"" & ""Sweet Freedom""
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Episode 4 - Hosts: Gladys Knight & the Pips
Release Date: 1973-10-05Gladys Knight & the Pips (hosts) - ""Daddy Could Swear I Declare,"" ""Heavy Makes You Happy"" & ""Midnight Train to Georgia"" --Gladys Knight and B.B. King - ""The Thrill Is Gone"" --Earth, Wind & Fire - ""Evil"" & ""Power"" --Focus - ""Hocus Pocus,"" ""Sylvia,"" ""House of the King"" & ""Focus III"" --B.B. King - ""To Know You Is to Love You"" & ""How Blue Can You Get?"" --Chris Smither - ""Mail Order Mystics"" --Stories - ""Mammy Blue"" & ""Broken Love"" --Wolfman Jack and Monda - ""Ling Ting Tong""
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Episode 5 - Host:The Bee Gees
Release Date: 1973-10-12--The Bee Gees (hosts) - ""Massachusetts,"" ""Lay It on Me,"" ""Alive,"" ""Bye Bye Blackbird"" & ""Alone Again"" --The Bee Gees and Chuck Berry - ""Reelin' and Rockin'"" & ""Johnny B. Goode"" --Chuck Berry - ""Maybellene"" ""Sweet Little Sixteen"" --Apple and Appleberry - ""Landlord"" --King Crimson - ""Lark's Tongues in Aspic Part 2"" & ""Easy Money"" --Barbara Mason - ""Yes I'm Ready"" --Lee Michaels - ""Do You Know What I Mean,"" ""Barefootin'"" & ""Same Old Song""
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Episode 6 - Hosts: War
Release Date: 1973-10-19War (hosts) - ""Cisco Kid,"" ""Me and Baby Brother,"" ""The World Is a Ghetto"" & ""City Country City"" --Bachman-Turner Overdrive - ""Hold Back the Water"" & ""Gimme Your Money Please"" --Climax Blues Band - ""Shake Your Love"" & ""Constant"" --Mott the Hoople - ""All the Way from Memphis"" & ""Rose"" --New York Dolls - ""Trash"" & ""Personality Crisis"" --Danny O'Keefe - ""Good Time's Charlie's Got the Blues"" & ""Angel Spread Your Wings"" --Piper - ""Bungle Rye"
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Episode 7 - Hosts: Sly and the Family Stone
Release Date: 1973-10-26-Sly and the Family Stone (hosts) - ""Stand,"" ""Higher,"" ""Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin),"" ""If You Want Me to Stay"" & ""Dance to the Music"" --Mark Almond - ""Get Yourself Together"" & ""The City"" --Little Sister - ""I'm the One You're the One"" --Melissa Manchester - ""Oh Heaven How You've Changed Me"" --Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons - medley of hits & ""The Scalawag Song"" --Freddy Weller - ""The Perfect Stranger"" & ""The Roadmaster"" --Atlee Yeager - ""I Wanna Be Alone with You""
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Episode 8 - Chuck Berry
Release Date: 1973-11-02Chuck Berry (host) - "Tulane," "School Days," "Johnny B. Good," "Got It and Gone" & "Rock and Roll Music" --Rick Derringer and the Edgar Winter Group - "Rock and Roll Hootchie Koo" --Fleetwood Mac - "Miles Away" & "Believe Me" --Shawn Phillips - "Technotronic Lad" & "Spaceman" --Johnny Taylor - "Who's Making Love" & "I Believe in You" --Muddy Waters - "Can't Get No Grindin'" & "Got My Mojo Working" --The Edgar Winter Group - "Free Ride" & "Dying to Live"
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Episode 9 - Host: Jerry Lee Lewis
Release Date: 1973-11-09Jerry Lee Lewis (host) - ""Breathless,"" ""Hold On I'm Coming,"" ""Chantilly Lace,"" Lonely Weekends,"" ""Silver Threads Among the Gold"" & ""Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On"" --Jerry Lee Lewis and Linda Gail Lewis - ""Jackson"" --Ballin' Jack - ""This Song"" --Dalton and Dubarri - ""Any Other Man But Me"" & ""Take a Change"" --Flash - ""Dead Ahead"" & ""Psychosync"" --B.B. King - ""Hummingbird"" & ""Why I Sing the Blues"" --Ike and Tina Turner - ""River Deep Mountain High"" & ""Nutbush City Limits""
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Episode 10 - The 1980 Floor Show starring David Bowie
Release Date: 1973-11-16Opening credits: male dancers pose forming letters spelling out ""Bowie The 1980 Floor Show"" (dancers appear throughout show). --David Bowie - medley: ""1984,"" ""You Didn't Hear It from Me"" and ""1984"" reprise --David Bowie - ""Sorrow"" --Dooshenka (female impersonator) introduces Carmen --Carmen (band from Spain) - ""Bulerias"" --David Bowie - ""Everything's Alright"" & ""Space Oddity"" --David Bowie - ""I Can't Explain"" --Marianne Faithfull - ""As Tears Go By"" --David Bowie - ""Time"" --The Troggs - ""Wild Thing"" --Carmen - ""Bullfight"" --David Bowie - ""Jean Genie"" --Marianne Faithfull - ""20th Century Blues"" --David Bowie and Marianne Faithfull - ""I Got You, Babe"" --The Troggs - ""I Can't Control Myself"" & ""Strange Movies"" --Closing credits: David Bowie - ""You Didn't Hear It from Me"" and ""1984"" (same performance as earlier in sh
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Episode 11 - Host: Peter Noone
Release Date: 1973-11-23Show taped in England: --Peter Noone (host) - ""Last Blues Song,"" ""Getting Over You"" & ""Oh You Pretty Thing"" --Peter Noone and Herman's Hermits - ""No Milk Today"" & ""There's a Kind of Hush"" --The Bee Gees - ""Bad Bad Dreams"" & ""Don't Wanna Be the One"" --Electric Light Orchestra - ""Showdown"" & ""Ma-Ma-Ma Belle"" --David Essex - ""Rock On"" & ""Lamplight"" --Manfred Mann's Earth Band - ""Joy Bringer"" & ""In the Beginning"" --Gilbert O'Sullivan - ""Ooh Baby,"" ""Get Down"" & ""Who Knows Perhaps Maybe"" --Robin Trower - ""Lady Love"" & ""Man of the World""
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Episode 12 - Hosts: Procol Harum
Release Date: 1973-11-30Show taped in London, England: --Procol Harum (hosts) - ""Conquistador,"" ""Whiter Shade of Pale,"" ""Grand Hotel,"" ""Fires Which Burn Brightly,"" ""Drunk Again,"" ""T.V. Caesar"" & ""Rule Brittania"" --Humble Pie - ""Oh La De Da,"" ""I Don't Need No Doctor"" & ""30 Days in the Hole"" --Alvin Lee and Mylon LeFevre - ""Rockin' Till the Sun Goes Down,"" ""Carry My Load"" & ""The World Is Changing"" --Steeleye Span - ""Cam Ye O-er Frae France"
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Episode 13 - Hosts: The Four Tops
Release Date: 1973-12-07The Four Tops (hosts) - ""I Can't Help Myself,"" ""Love Music,"" ""Reach Out I'll Be There,"" ""Standing in the Shadows of Love,"" ""Sweet Understanding Love,"" ""Keeper of the Castle"" & ""One Woman Man"" --Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show - ""The Cover of Rolling Stone,"" ""Life Ain't Easy"" & ""Insane Asylum"" --John Mayall - ""California Campground"" & ""Room to Move"" --Mott the Hoople - ""Drivin' Sister"" & ""Hymn for the Dudes"" --Shawn Phillips - ""Baby's Breakthrough"" --Todd Rundgren - ""Black Maria"" & ""Hello It's Me""
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Episode 14 - Hosts: Loggins & Messina
Release Date: 1973-12-14Loggins & Messina (hosts) - ""My Music,"" ""Danny's Song,"" ""Your Mama Don't Dance,"" ""You Need a Man,"" ""Coming to You"" & ""Sailin' the Wind"" --The Guess Who - ""Albert Flasher,"" ""Undun,"" ""Straighten Out,"" ""Star Baby"" & ""Glamour Boy"" --Leo Kottke - ""Vaseline Machine Gun #2"" --Martin Mull (comedy segment) - sings ""The Name Is Mull"" and ""Eggs"" --Billy Preston - ""Space Race,"" ""How Long Has the Train Been Gone"" & ""I'm So Tired"" --On film: clip from ""American Graffiti""
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Episode 15 - Host: Jose Feliciano Guests: Clarence Carter, Roger McGuinn, Linda Ronstadt, Sha Na Na
Release Date: 1974-12-21Jose Feliciano (host) - ""Purple Haze,"" ""I Like What You Give,"" ""I Want to Learn a Love Song"" and ""Susie-Q"" --Clarence Carter - ""I'm the Midnight Special"" & ""Slip Away"" --Freshflavor with Richie Havens - ""Prometheus Bound"" --Roger McGuinn - ""Mr. Spaceman"" & ""Sweet Mary"" --Linda Ronstadt - ""You're No Good"" & ""Love Has No Pride"" --Sha Na Na - ""Get a Job,"" ""Sh-Boom"" & ""Tossin' and Turnin'"" --Also: Sha Na Na
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Episode 16 - Host: Marty Robbins
Release Date: 1973-12-28Country Music Show: --Marty Robbins (host) - ""Gotta Travel On,"" ""20th Century Drifter,"" ""(Take Me Home) Country Roads,"" ""Beyond the Reef,"" ""Cool Water,"" ""Tumbling Tumbleweeds,"" ""El Paso"" & ""My Woman My Woman My Wife"" --Marty Robbins and Barbi Benton - ""Help Me Make It Through the Night"" --Bobby Bare - ""Detroit City"" & ""The Mermaid"" --Barbi Benton - ""Top of the World"" --Doug Kershaw - ""Mama's Got the Know How"" & ""Cajun Joe (Bully of the Bayou)"" --Barbara Mandrell - ""Show Me"" & ""The Midnight Oil"" --Charlie Rich - ""Break-Up (medley)"" & ""Behind Closed Doors"" --Johnny Rodriguez - ""Pass Me By"" & ""Bosier City Backyard Blues"" --Tanya Tucker - ""Jamestown Ferry"" & ""What's Your Mama's Name?"
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Episode 17 - Million Sellers hosted by Wolfman Jack
Release Date: 1974-01-04Wolfman Jack (host) Taped clips of performers: --Loggins & Messina - ""Your Mama Don't Dance"" --Billy Preston - ""Will It Go Round in Circles?"" --Stories - ""Brother Louie"" --Gladys Knight & the Pips - ""Midnight Train to Georgia"" --Edgar Winter Group - ""Frankenstein"" --The Spinners - ""Could It Be I'm Falling in Love?"" --Curtis Mayfield - ""Superfly"" --Eric Weissberg (on banjo) and Deliverance (Steve Mandel on guitar?) perform ""Dueling Banjos,"" a song from the movie ""Deliverance"" --Jim Croce - ""Bad, Bad Leroy Brown"" --Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show - ""The Cover of Rolling Stone"" --Gilbert O'Sullivan - ""Get Down"" --Al Green - ""Call Me (Come Back Home)"" --Charlie Rich - ""Behind Closed Doors"" --The O'Jays - ""Love Train"" --Dobie Gray - ""Drift Away"" --Edward Bear - ""Last Song""
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Episode 18 - Hosts: Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show
Release Date: 1974-01-11Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show (hosts) - ""The Cover of 'Rolling Stone',"" ""Sylvia's Mother,"" ""Roland the Roadie and Gertrude the Groupie,"" ""Joe's Bar"" (or ""The Loneliest People in the World"") & ""The Soup Stone"" --Canned Heat - ""One More River to Cross"" --Canned Heat - Fats Domino medley (""We Remember Fats intro, ""The Fat Man,"" ""I'm in Love Again,"" ""I'm Walking,"" Whole Lotta Loving,"" ""Let the Four Winds Blow,"" ""I'm Ready"" & ""So Long"") --El Chicano - ""Tell Her She's Lovely"" and ""Viva Tirado Pt. II"" --Jo Jo Gunne - ""Run, Run, Run"" & ""I Wanna Love You"" --Leo Sayer - ""Tomorrow,"" ""Everything's Gonna Be Alright"" & ""The Show Must Go On"" --The Spinners - ""Ghetto Child,"" ""Life Ain't So Easy"" & ""How Could I Let You Get Away"" --Livingstone Taylor - ""Somewhere Over the Rainbow"" --Dr. Hook and cast sing a few bars of ""Happy Trails"" (finale)
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Episode 19 - Host: Smokey Robinson
Release Date: 1974-01-18Smokey Robinson (host) - ""Show and Tell,"" ""Tracks of My Tears,"" ""Tears of a Clown,"" ""Mickey's Monkey,"" ""Baby Come Close"" and ""Just My Soul Responding"" --Paul Butterfield's Better Days - ""Take Your Pleasure Where You Can Find It"" & ""Down in the Bottom"" (or ""Meet Me in the Bar Room""??) --Grin - ""Beggar's Day,"" ""Believe"" & ""You're the Wait I've Been Waiting For"" --Eddie Kendricks - ""Keep On Truckin'"" & ""Boogie Down"" --Ann Peebles - ""I Can't Stand the Rain"" --Edwin Starr - ""Ain't It Hell up in Harlem"" & ""War"" --Johnny Taylor - ""It's Cheaper to Keep Her"" & ""We're Getting Careless with Our Love Affair"
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Episode 20 - Host: Steve Miller Guests: Brownsville Station, Tim Buckley, The James Cotton Blues Band, Genesis, The James Gang
Release Date: 1974-01-25Steve Miller Band (hosts) - ""The Joker,"" ""Shu Ba Da Du Ma Ma Ma Ma,"" ""Fly Like an Eagle"" & ""Sugar Babe"" --Brownsville Station - ""Smokin' in the Boys Room"" --Tim Buckley - ""Dolphins"" & ""Honey Man"" --James Cotton Band - ""Rocket 88"" --James Cotton Band - ""Big Boss Man"" (with Steve Miller) --Genesis - ""Watcher of the Skies"" & ""The Musical Box"" (another source listed the songs as ""This Is Your Fate"" & ""This Is My Song"") --James Gang - ""It Must Be Love""
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Episode 21 - Host: Helen Reddy
Release Date: 1974-02-01Helen Reddy (host) - ""Leave Me Alone,"" ""Delta Dawn,"" ""Don't Mess with a Woman,"" ""Time"" & ""I Am Woman"" --Franklin Ajaye - ""Spot"" --The Impressions - ""Preacher Man"" --Curtis Mayfield - ""If I Were a Child Again"" --Kenny Rankin - ""Why Do Fools Fall in Love"" & ""Haven't We Met"" --Rare Earth - ""Big John Is My Name,"" ""Born to Wander"" & ""Don't Fight It"" --Ike and Tina Turner - ""Land of 1000 Dances"" & ""It's Gonna Work Out Fine""
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Episode 22 - Hosts: Ike and Tina Turner
Release Date: 1974-02-08Ike and Tina Turner (hosts) - ""City Girl Country Boy,"" ""With a Little Help from My Friends,"" ""Proud Mary"" & ""I Smell Trouble"" --Electric Light Orchestra - ""Showdown"" & ""Bluebird Is Dead"" --David Essex - ""Rock On"" & ""Streetfight"" --Jose Feliciano - ""I Like What You Give"" & ""Blame It On the Sun"" --Flash Cadillac & the Continental Kids - ""Dancin' on a Saturday Night"" & ""Muleskinner Blues"" --Mandrill - ""Git It All"" --Todd Rundgren - ""Couldn't I Just Tell You?"" & ""The Dream Goes On Forever""
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Episode 23 - Host: Roy Orbison
Release Date: 1974-02-15"Golden Oldies"" episode: --Roy Orbison (host) - ""Oh, Pretty Woman,"" ""Dream Baby (How Long Must I Dream),"" Running Scared"" & ""Only the Lonely"" --The Drifters - ""Up on the Roof"" & ""Save the Last Dance for Me"" --Duane Eddy - ""Rebel Rouser"" & ""Ramrod"" --Lloyd Price - ""Personality"" & ""Stagger Lee"" --Tommy Roe - ""Sheila,"" ""Everybody"" & ""Jam Up Jelly Tight"" --Del Shannon - ""Runaway,"" ""Hats Off to Larry"" & ""Keep Searching (We'll Follow the Sun)"" --Bobby Vee - ""Take Good Care of My Baby,"" ""The Night Has a Thousand Eyes"" & ""Devil or Angel"" --Jackie Wilson - ""(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher,"" ""Lonely Teardrops"" & ""That's Why (I Love You So)""
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Episode 24 - Host: Gordon Lightfoot
Release Date: 1974-02-22Gordon Lightfoot (guest host) - ""The List,"" ""If You Could Read My Mind,"" ""Don Quixote,"" ""Affair on Eighth Avenue,"" ""High and Dry"" & ""Sundown"" --The Guess Who - ""Share the Land"" & ""Star Baby"" --The James Gang - ""Standing in the Rain"" & ""The Devil Is Singing Our Song"" --Byron MacGregor - ""Americans"" --Maria Muldaur - ""Midnight at the Oasis"" & ""Don't You Feel My Leg"" --Redbone - ""Come and Get Your Love"" & ""Maggie"" --Ravi Shankar - ""Raga Jogiya""
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Episode 25 - Hosts: Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show
Release Date: 1974-03-01Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show (guest hosts) - ""Ever Come"" (or ""Never Come""), ""The Yodel,"" ""Marie Lavaux"" & ""Cops and Robbers"" --Foghat - ""Home in My Hands"" & ""Honey Hush"" --Melissa Manchester - ""Never Never Land"" --The Stylistics - ""Rockin' Roll Baby"" & ""You Make Me Feel Brand New"" --Uncle Crusty - ""Badly Bent"" --Peter Yarrow - ""Old Father Time"" & ""Jelly Jelly"" --Al Wilson - ""Show and Tell"" & ""Touch and Go""
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Episode 26 - Hosts: Gladys Knight and the Pips
Release Date: 1974-03-08Gladys Knight and the Pips (guest host) - ""I've Got to Use My Imagination,"" ""Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me,"" ""On and On"" & ""Midnight Train to Georgia"" --Freshflavor with Richie Havens - ""Prometheus Bound"" & ""Loser"" --Jobriath - ""I'm a Man"" & ""Rock of Ages"" --Curtis Mayfield - ""Right On for the Darkness"" & ""To Be Invisible"" --Spooky Tooth - ""I Am the Walrus"" --Les Variations - ""Moroccan Roll"" & ""I Don't Know Why"" --Jim Weatherly - ""Loving You Is Just an Old Habit"" & ""Same Old Song and Dance""
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Episode 27 - Hosts: The Pointer Sisters
Release Date: 1974-03-15-The Pointer Sisters (guest hosts) - ""Yes We Can Can,"" ""Little Pony,"" ""Salt Peanuts"" (with Wolfman Jack), ""Bangin' on the Pipes,"" ""Steam Heat"" & ""Wang Dang Doodle"" --The Butts Band - ""Love Your Brother"" & ""Kansas City"" --The Crusaders - ""Lay It on the Line"" --Focus - ""Hocus Pocus"" & ""House of the King"" --Dan Hicks - ""There Ain't a Guy That Wouldn't Like to Be in My Shoes"" & ""Hummin' to Myself"" --Billy Paul - ""Thanks for Saving My Life"" & ""The Whole Town's Talking"" --Bonnie Pointer - ""Black Coffee"" --The Strawbs - ""Hero and Heroine"" & ""Round and Round"
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Episode 28 - Host: Bill Withers
Release Date: 1974-03-22Bill Withers (guest host) - ""Ain't No Sunshine,"" ""The Same Love That Made Me Laugh,"" ""Lean on Me"" & ""Green Grass"" --Bill Withers & Cliff de Young - ""Sunshine"" film clip --Bill Withers, Bobby Womack and Buddy Miles - ""Railroad Man"" --Rory Gallagher - ""Tattoo'd Lady"" & ""Cradle Rock"" --Melissa Manchester - ""Bright Eyes"" & ""He Is the One"" --Buddy Miles - ""You Really Got Me"" --Montrose - ""Rock the Nation"" & ""Good Rockin' Tonight"" --Bobby Womack - ""Lookin' for a Love"" & ""Nobody Wants You When You're Down and Out"" --Cliff de Young - ""My Sweet Lady"" & ""Sunshine on My Shoulders""
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Episode 29 - Hosts: The Guess Who
Release Date: 1974-03-29The Guess Who (guest hosts) - ""American Woman,"" ""Star Baby,"" ""These Eyes,"" ""Clap for the Wolfman"" & ""Hand Me Down World"" --David Essex - ""Lamplight,"" ""On and On"" & ""Rock On"" --Leo Kottke (folk singer) - ""Bean Time"" --Judi Pulver - ""Statler Hilton"" & ""Sing for Your Supper"" --Sha Na Na - ""Rock Around the Clock,"" ""Teenager in Love"" & ""Tell Laura I Love Her"" --Slade - ""My Friend Stan"" ""Do We Still Do It"" & ""Everyday"" --Wishbone Ash - ""Blowin' Free"" & ""Vas Dis""
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Episode 30 - Hosts: The Righteous Brothers
Release Date: 1974-04-05-The Righteous Brothers - ""Hello Rock 'n' Roll""; medley #1 (""Soul and Inspiration,"" ""Unchained Melody,"" ""You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'"" and ""Ebb Tide""); ""Roberto and Bill""; ""Lighten Up""; medley #2 (""Little Latin Lupe Lu,"" ""Koko Jo"" and ""My Babe""); medley #3 (""Swing Low Sweet Chariot,"" ""Swing Down Chariot,"" ""Down by the Riverside"" and ""Oh Happy Side"") & ""Rock 'n' Roll Loser."" --The Righteous Brothers and Paul Williams - ""Mr. Sandman"" --Bobby Hatfield - ""He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother"" --New Riders of the Purple Sage - ""Panama Red"" ""Sunday Susie"" --Rosemary - ""Wildflower"" --The Staple Singers - ""If You're Ready (Come Go With Me)"" & ""Touch a Hand Make a Friend"" --Paul Williams - ""You and Me Against the World"" & ""Nice to Be Around""
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Episode 31 - Host: Roy Clark
Release Date: 1974-04-12-Roy Clark (host) - ""Rollin' in My Sweet Baby's Arms,"" ""Yesterday When I Was Young,"" ""Honeymoon Feelin',"" ""Thank God and the Greyhound,"" ""Riders in the Sky"" & ""Black Mountain Rag"" --Roy Clark & Buck Trent - ""Dueling Banjos"" --Lynn Anderson - ""Listen to a Country Song"" & ""Smile for Me"" --Tom T. Hall - ""I Love"" & ""The Year That Clayton Thomas Died"" --Charlie McCoy - ""Orange Blossom Special"" --Tommy Overstreet - ""(Jeannie Marie) You Were a Lady"" --Mel Tillis - ""Midnight Me and the Blues"" & ""Sawmill"" --Diana Trask - ""When I Get My Hands On You"" --Conway Twitty - ""You've Never Been This Far Before,"" ""It's Only Make Believe,"" ""There's a Honky Tonk Angel"" & ""I'm Not Through Loving You Yet""
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Episode 32 - Host: Curtis Mayfield
Release Date: 1974-04-19Curtis Mayfield (host) - ""If There's a Hell Below We're All Gonna Go,"" ""To Be Invisible,"" ""Give Me Your Love"" & ""No Thing on Me"" --The Impressions - ""I'm a Changed Man"" & ""People Get Ready"" --Gladys Knight & the Pips - ""Best Thing That's Ever Happened to Me"" & ""On and On"" --Phil Ochs - ""The Power and the Glory"" & ""Changes"" --Status Quo - ""Big Fat Mama"" --Sugarloaf - ""Green Eyed Lady"" & ""I've Got a Song""
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Episode 33 - Host: Charlie Rich
Release Date: 1974-04-26--Charlie Rich (host) - ""Lonely Weekends,"" ""Life Has Its Little Ups and Downs,"" ""How I Became a Country Singer,"" ""Behind Closed Doors"" ""The Most Beautiful Girl,"" ""A Very Special Love Song,"" ""Big Boss Man"" & ""Dance of Love"" --Charlie Rich and Anne Murray - ""Break My Mind"" --Dobie Gray - ""Rockin' Chair,"" ""I Never Had it So Good"" & ""Drift Away"" --Anne Murray - ""You Won't See Me"" & ""A Love Song"" --The Staple Singers - ""I Ain't Raisin' No Sand"" ""Touch a Hand Make a Friend"" --The Treasures - ""The Right Combination""
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Episode 34 - Hosts: The Spinners
Release Date: 1974-05-03The Spinners - ""One of a Kind Love Affair,"" ""Mighty Love,"" ""I'm Coming Home,"" ""It's a Shame"" & ""Could It Be I'm Falling in Love"" --Bedlam featuring Cozy Powell - ""Dance with the Devil"" & ""Set Me Free"" --Bloodstone - ""Outside Woman"" & ""Everybody Needs Love"" --Martha Reeves - ""Power of Love"" --Bobby Womack - ""Let It All Hang Out"" & ""Copper Kettle"" --Peter Yarrow - ""Isn't That So"" & ""That's Enough for Me
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Episode 35 - Host: George Carlin
Release Date: 1974-05-10George Carlin (host) --The Dramatics - ""Choosing Up on You"" & ""And I Panicked"" --Waylon Jennings - ""Good Hearted Woman"" & ""Louisiana Women"" --Puzzle - ""Everybody Wants to Be Somebody"" & ""My Love"" --Buffy Sainte-Marie - ""Sweet Little Vera"" & ""Generation"" --Leo Sayer - ""The Show Must Go On"" & ""Goodnight Old Friend"" --Livingston Taylor - ""Hallelujah I Love Her,"" ""Sit on Back"" & ""Cornbread and Buttermilk""
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Episode 36 - Host: Frankie Avalon
Release Date: 1974-05-17Frankie Avalon (host) - ""Why,"" ""Just Ask Your Heart,"" ""De De Dinah,"" ""Gingerbread,"" ""Bobby Sox to Stockings"" & ""Venus"" --Frankie Avalon and Fabian - ""Scrapbook"" & ""Fireball 500"" --Lou Christie - ""The Gypsy Cried"" & ""Lightnin' Strikes"" --Fabian - ""Rock Around the Clock,"" ""Turn Me Loose"" & ""Tiger"" --The Fleetwoods - ""Come Softly to Me"" & ""Mr. Blue"" --Frankie Ford - ""Sea Cruise"" --Jimmie Rodgers - ""Kisses Sweeter Than Wine,"" ""Honeycomb"" & ""Oh Oh I'm Falling in Love Again"" --The Royal Teens - ""Short Shorts"" & 'the Great Midnight Special Rock 'n' Roll Opera"" --Sam and Dave - ""Hold On I'm Comin'"" & ""Soul Man"" --Shirley and Lee - ""Let the Good Times Roll"
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Episode 37 - Host: Richard Pryor
Release Date: 1974-05-24Richard Pryor (host) - appears in comedy segments throughout the show --Bobby ""Blue"" Bland - ""Ain't That Loving You"" & ""Gotta Get to Know You"" --Marvin Hamlisch - ""The Entertainer"" & ""The Way We Were"" --New Riders of the Purple Sage - ""Glendale Train"" & ""South American Man"" --Olivia Newton-John - ""Let Me Be There,"" ""If You Love Me Let Me Know"" & ""If Not for You"" --Melvin Van Peebles - ""Eyes on the Rabbit"" & ""A Birth Certificate Ain't Nothin' But a Death Warrant Anyway"" --Boz Scaggs - ""You Make It So Hard to Say No"" & ""Slow Dancer""
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Episode 38 - Host: Marty Robbins
Release Date: 1974-05-31-Marty Robbins (host) - ""I Couldn't Believe It Was True,"" ""Home on the Range,"" ""Down in the Little Green Valley,"" ""La Paloma,"" ""If I Were Howard Hughes,"" ""Don't You Think"" & ""Lord You Gave Me a Mountain"" --Bill Anderson - ""If You Can Live with It"" & ""My Life"" --Don Gibson - ""Touch the Morning"" --Freddie Hart - ""Easy Loving"" --George Jones - ""A Picture of Me"" --Charlie McCoy - ""Silver Threads and Golden Needles"" --Anne Murray - ""You Won't See Me"" & ""Children of My Mind"" --Tommy Overstreet - ""Gwen (Congratulations)"" --Johnny Rodriguez - ""Louisana Man"" & ""Something"" --Diana Trask - ""Lean It All on Me"" --Tammy Wynette - ""My Man""
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Episode 39 - Hosts: The Kinks
Release Date: 1974-06-07The Kinks - ""You Really Got Me,"" ""Money Talks,"" ""Here Comes Yet Another Day,"" ""Celluloid Heroes"" & ""Skin and Bone"" --Electric Light Orchestra - ""Showdown"" & ""Bluebird Is Dead"" --Rory Gallagher - ""Hands Off"" & ""Who's That Comin'"" --Buddy Miles - ""Life Is What You Make It"" --Alan Price - ""In Times Like These"" & ""Between Today and Yesterday"" --Suzi Quatro - ""All Shook Up"" & ""Glycerine Queen"
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Episode 40 - Host: David Steinberg (All-Comedy show)
Release Date: 1974-06-28David Steinberg (host) - appears in comedy segments throughout show, one segment with Wolfman Jack --The Ace Trucking Company (comedy troupe) --Franklin Ajaye - comedy segment --Kentucky Fried Theater - fashion show parody & ""Shaving Blindfolded"" --Freddie Prinze (comedy segment) --Monty Python's Flying Circus - comedy segment
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Episode 41 - Host: Anne Murray
Release Date: 1974-07-05-Anne Murray (host) - ""You Won't See Me,"" ""A Love Song,"" ""Robbie's Song For Jesus,"" ""He Thinks I Still Care"" & ""Ease Your Pain"" --Golden Earring - ""Radar Love"" --Eddie Kendricks - ""Son of Sagittarius"" & ""Boogie Down"" --Country Joe McDonald - ""Jesse James"" & ""All My Love in Vain"" --Rufus - ""Tell Me Something Good"" & ""You Got the Love"" --Buffy Sainte-Marie - ""Sweet Fast Hooker Blues,"" ""Hey Baby Howdja Do Me This Way"" & ""That's the Way You Fall in Love"" --The Wet Willie Band - ""Keep On Smilin'"" & ""Trust in the Lord""
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Episode 42 - Host: Bobby Womack
Release Date: 1974-07-12-Bobby Womack (host) - ""Nobody Wants You When You're Down and Out"" ""Lookin' for Love,"" ""You Send Me,"" ""Fact of Life,"" He'll Get There When the Sun Goes Down"" & ""I Take It On Home"" --Bobby Womack and Wolfman Jack - ""Tired of Living in the Country"" --Chi Coltrane - ""Who Ever Told You"" & ""Let It Ride"" --David Essex - ""Lamplight"" & ""Streetfight"" --Kool & the Gang - ""Hollywood Swinging"" & ""Jungle Boogie"" --Elliott Murphy - ""How's the Family"" & ""Last of the Rock Stars"" --Tim Weisberg - ""Dreamspeaker"" & ""Streak-Out""
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Episode 43 - Host: Helen Reddy
Release Date: 1974-07-19Helen Reddy - ""Keep on Singing,"" ""Pretty Pretty,"" ""Love Song for Jeffrey"" & ""You and Me Against the World"" --Peter Allen - ""More Than I Like You"" --Brownsville Station - ""I'm the Leader of the Gang"" & ""Kings of the Party"" --Janis Ian - ""Applause"" & ""The Man You Are In Me"" --Gabe Kaplan (comedian) - stand-up comedy segment --Dave Loggins - ""Please Come to Boston"" & ""Sunset Woman"" --Paul Williams - ""You Know Me"" & ""Driftwood""
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Episode 44 - Host: Leon Russell
Release Date: 1974-07-26--Leon Russell - ""Queen of the Roller Derby,"" ""Roll Away the Stone,"" ""Ain't That Peculiar,"" ""Tight Rope"" & ""Delta Lady"" --Leon Russell with the Gap Band - ""Alcatraz,"" ""Going Back,"" ""Smashed"" & ""Streakers Ball"" --The Gap Band - ""Magician's Holiday,"" ""Tommy's Groove"" & ""You Can Always Count on Me"
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Episode 45 - Host: Leon Russell
Release Date: 1974-08-02Leon Russell - ""Jambalaya"" & ""Goodnight, Irene"" --Bobby Bare - ""Marie Lavaux"" --David Carradine - ""A Country Mile"" --John Hartford - ""Turn Your Radio On"" --Waylon Jennings - ""Pick Up the Tempo,"" ""Willie the Wandering Gypsy and Me"" & ""Can You Save Her"" --Doug Kershaw - ""Louisiana Man"" & ""Cajun Joe"" --Michael Murphy - ""The South Canadian River Song"" --Rick Nelson - ""Someone to Love"" & ""Garden Party"" --Willie Nelson - ""Stay All Night a Little Longer""
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Episode 46 - Hosts: Sly and the Family Stone
Release Date: 1974-08-09Sly and the Family Stone (hosts) - ""Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin),"" ""Time for Livin',"" ""Small Talk,"" ""Family Affair,"" ""Dance to the Music,"" ""Music Lover,"" ""I Want to Take You Higher,"" ""If You Want Me to Stay,"" ""Stand"" & ""Loose Booty"" --Elvin Bishop - ""Travelin' Shoes,"" ""Sunshine Special"" &""Groundhog"" --Henry Gross - ""Come On Say It"" & ""Simone"" --Little Feat - ""Tripe Face Boogie""& ""Willin'"" --Roger McGuinn - ""Gate of Horn"" & ""Peace on You"
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Episode 47 - Host: Little Richard
Release Date: 1974-08-16Little Richard (host) - ""The Midnight Special,"" ""In the Name,"" ""Ooh Poo Pah Doo,"" ""Greenwood Miss"" & ""Freedom Blues"" --Aerosmith - ""The Train Kept A Rollin'"" & ""Dream On"" --David Clayton-Thomas - ""Anytime Babe"" & ""And When I Die"" --Golden Earring - ""Radar Love"" --Eddie Kendricks - ""Hooked on Your Love"" & ""Keep On Truckin'"" --Kool & the Gang - ""Funky Stuff"" & ""Who's Gonna Take the Weight""
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Episode 48 - Host: B.B. King
Release Date: 1974-08-30B.B. King (host) - ""Why I Sing the Blues,"" ""I Like to Live the Love,"" ""The Thrill Is Gone,"" ""I Got Some Help I Don't Need"" & ""Why I Sing the Blues"" --B.B. King, John Lee Hooker and Papa John Creach - ""Gettin' It Together"" --Bobby ""Blue"" Bland - ""Goin' Down Slow"" --Paul Butterfield's Better Days - ""Meet in the Bottom"" --Papa John Creach - ""John's Other"" --John Lee Hooker - ""Boogie with the Hook"" --Big Mama Thornton - ""Ball and Chain"" --Joe Williams - ""Who She Do"" & ""Tell Me Where to Scratch"" --Jimmy Witherspoon - ""Nothing's Changed"" & ""Love Is a Five Letter Word""
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Episode 49 - Marvin Gaye
Release Date: 1974-09-06Marvin Gaye concert taped August 1974 in Atlanta, Georgia. --Marvin Gaye performs ""Trouble Man,"" ""Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler),"" ""Come Get to This"" and ""Keep Gettin' It On"" --Marvin Gaye - medley of hits: ""I'll Be Doggone,"" ""Try It Baby,"" ""Can I Get a Witness,"" ""You're a Wonderful One,"" ""Stubborn Kind of Fellow,"" ""How Sweet It Is,"" ""Distant Lover,"" ""Let's Get It On,"" ""Jan"" and ""What's Going On"" The show included interview segments, filmed at Marvin Gaye's house in Washington D.C., of Marvin Gaye with his parents Mrs. Alberta Gaye and Marvin Gaye, Sr.
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Episode 50 - Hosts: The O'Jays
Release Date: 1974-09-13The O'Jays (hosts) - ""For the Love of Money,"" ""Sunshine,"" ""Love Train"" and a medley (""Put Your Hands Together,"" ""People Keep Tellin' Me,"" ""Time to Get Down,"" ""This Air I Breathe"" and ""People Keep Tellin' Me"") --Elvin Bishop - ""Stealing Watermelons,"" ""Calling All Cows"" & ""Sunshine Special"" --James Brown - ""Payback,"" ""Cold Sweat,"" ""I Can't Stand to Live,"" ""Papa's Got a Brand New Bag,"" ""Hell,"" ""Papa Don't Take No Mess"" & ""My Thang"" --Mick Jagger (music videos) - ""Happy,"" ""Tumbling Dice"" & ""Midnight Rambler"