VIA PRESS RELEASE | Like never before The Soul of the Midnight Special brings home audiences and music lovers everywhere an unforgettable collection of legendary soul artists performing their hits in the prime of their careers—uncut performances, just straight-from-the-heart soul singing with live musicians in front of a live audience. Now available at Barnes & Noble and Amazon for the first time on October 6, 2020.
In the period between American Bandstand and MTV, there were several shows that tried to bring new music to television, but it wasn’t until The Midnight Special, premiered on August 19, 1972, that live music found a home on the air. Burt Sugarman, producer of Grammy Awards telecasts, was frustrated by television’s lack of programming after The Tonight Show ended—the screen reverting to test patterns at 1:00 a.m.. Recognizing this valuable airtime could cater to a brand-new audience that craved its latest musical heroes, he created The Midnight Special, which ran every Friday night on NBC from 1972 to 1981.
The’70s was a special time for soul music and The Midnight Special truly had an affinity for the genre. Week after week, home audiences would have virtual front row seats for performances by the greatest soul performers of the time including Al Green, Earth Wind & Fire, Patti LaBelle, Bill Withers, Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin, Spinners, The O’Jays, Teddy Pendergrass, The Stylistics, Chaka Khan, Gladys Knight and The Pips and so many more. The Midnight Special was the only show where you could see real live performances week after week.
This October, for the first time ever, Time Life’s The Soul of the Midnight Special brings together the greatest soul performances handpicked from thousands in one very special 5-disc set. Included is an incredible collection of true soul classics—many of which haven’t been seen since their original broadcast: from Let’s Stay Together to Midnight Train to Georgia to love songs like the Stylistics’ Betcha by Golly, Wow to dance grooves like Sly & the Family Stone’s Dance to the Music and Ohio Players’ Fire.
All-time classic performances include Back Stabbers by the O’Jays, Tired of Being Alone by Al Green, Could It Be I’m Falling in Love by Spinners, Lean on Me by Bill Withers, The Love I Lost by Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, and I Want to Take You Higher by Sly & the Family Stone. Also included are exclusive interviews with James Brown, Gladys Knight, Patti LaBelle, Maurice White of Earth, Wind & Fire The O’Jays, Russell Thompkins Jr. of The Stylistics, Bobby Womack, Ted Mills of Blue Magic, Kenny Gamble & Leon Huff, Gerald Alston, The Manhattans and George Benson.
The Soul of the Midnight Special includes (in alphabetical order):
Al Green — Tired of Being Alone (8/3/73), How Can You Mend a Broken Heart (8/3/73), I’m Still in Love with You (11/29/74), Let’s Stay Together (11/29/74)
Al Wilson — Show and Tell (3/1/74)
Barry White — You’re the First, the Last, My Everything (11/15/74), Can’t Get Enough of Your Love, Babe (12/13/74), Never, Never Gonna Give You Up (12/13/74)
Bill Withers — Ain’t No Sunshine (3/22/74), Lean on Me (3/22/74)
Billy Preston — Will It Go Round in Circles (1/4/74)
Blue Magic — Sideshow (12/13/74)
Bobby Womack — Lookin’ for a Love (12/13/74)
Chuck Berry — Johnny B. Goode (11/2/73)
Curtis Mayfield — Back to the World (6/8/73), Freddie’s Dead (Theme from Superfly) (9/21/73), Superfly (1/4/74)
Earth, Wind & Fire — Devotion (4/18/75)
George Benson — This Masquerade (7/30/76)
Gladys Knight & the Pips — Neither One of Us (Wants to Be the First to Say Goodbye) (4/6/73), I Heard It through the Grapevine (4/6/73), Midnight Train to Georgia (10/5/73), Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me (12/20/74)
Gladys Knight/B. B. King –The Thrill Is Gone (10/5/73)
Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes — Bad Luck (5/23/75), The Love I Lost (5/23/75), Let’s Get Together Soon (Hope That We Can Be Together Soon) (5/23/75)
James Brown — Sex Machine (8/6/76), Get Up Offa That Thing (8/6/76), Cold Sweat/Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag (10/8/76),
Johnnie Taylor — Who’s Making Love (11/2/73)
Kool & the Gang — Hollywood Swinging (12/20/74), Jungle Boogie (12/20/74)
LaBelle — Lady Marmalade (4/18/75)
Love Unlimited Orchestra — Love’s Theme (11/15/74)
Minne Riperton — Lovin’ You (7/18/75), Inside My Love (7/18/75)
Ohio Players — Fire (4/4/75), Skin Tight (4/4/75)
Ohio Players — Love Rollercoaster (12/19/75), Honey (12/19/75)
Ray Charles — Georgia on My Mind (3/30/73), What’d I Say (3/30/73)
Ray Charles/Aretha Franklin — Takes Two to Tango (3/30/73)
Rufus featuring Chaka Khan — Sweet Thing (12/12/75), Once You Get Started (12/12/75)
Sly & the Family Stone — Stand! (10/26/73), I Want to Take You Higher (10/26/73), Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin), (10/26/73), Dance to the Music (10/26/73)
Spinners — Could It Be I’m Falling in Love (2/9/73), I’ll Be Around (2/9/73), One of a Kind (Love Affair) (6/8/73), Sadie (2/14/75), Then Came You (2/14/75)
The Brothers Johnson– I’ll Be Good to You (10/8/76)
The Chi-Lites — Oh Girl (9/21/73)
The Main Ingredient — Just Don’t Want to Be Lonely (10/11/74), Everybody Plays The Fool (10/11/74)
The Manhattans — Kiss and Say Goodbye (12/3/76)
The Miracles — Love Machine (12/3/76)
The O’Jays — Back Stabbers (3/23/73), Love Train (3/23/73), Put Your Hands Together (913/74), Sunshine (9/13/74)
The Staple Singers — Let’s Do It Again (1/16/76), Respect Yourself (1/16/76)
The Stylistics — Betcha by Golly, Wow (6/1/73), Break Up to Make Up (6/1/73), I’m Stone in Love with You (6/1/73), You Make Me Feel Brand New (3/1/74)
The Sylvers — Boogie Fever (7/30/76)
Wilson Pickett — In the Midnight Hour (9/21/73)
