Thank you again Burt for starting my weekend off on the right note with the MS full episodes. Footage of the late Johnny Nash and Freeman and Murray is awesome. Can’t wait for the next full episode on Friday. Have a peaceful and productive week ahead!
From David A. Wood: David from Kettering, Ohio here. Though I was way too young to have actively watched "The Midnight Special" when the show was at the top of its blessed game, as I think that the show's final year was within the 1980-1981 season when I was a seventeen-years-old, High School Junior, I still nevertheless have quite fond and youthful memories of the late night show and its quite wacky host, Wolfman Jack! Now, please do pardon me for I must take my pleasurably required trip down Memory Lane via UA-cam by enjoyably watching a 1973 episode of The Midnight Special. Goodbye for now and have yourselves a really nice evening (Friday, July 28, 2023)!
Thought I knew every notable act from the '70s. Altho' I knew the song "Thunder & Lightning," I've never heard of Chi Coltrane. Thanks MNS for another great watch!!
I was 6 years old when this aired and way too young to stay to watch it. I am just greatful to see it as a reminder of how special Johnny Nash was as a singer. What a truly amazing voice.
Chi Coltrane's performance of Thunder and Lightning is amazing! The studio version (single) was just part of the top 40 mix of the time. But this is off the charts fantastic. So committed to the song and so perfectly executed. The two Raspberries performances are also excellent, and the second one (in particular) demonstrates just how good Eric Carmen's vocals were.
I had never heard of either band, but Chi absolutely brought the house down with that "Thunder and Lightning" song. That was amazing. I didn't care for The Raspberries at all, as they felt too artificial, but to each their own. I will absolutely be coming back to hear this Chi Coltrane performance again though.
Chi had hits with Thunder and Lightning and Go Like Elijah in 1973, and then promptly disappeared. I bought Thunder 45 after I heard it on the radio! Don't think Columbia Records put any effort into promoting her after '73. Another great talent lost in the wilderness of the Music Industry...
AWESOME! Another great episode, takes me back to those late nights, staying up and watching on a 13in B&W TV. The Picture is better on my 45in TV, the sound quality too, but the memories are just as precious.
This was Kenny Rankin's second appearance on the series. His guitar playing is breathtaking and this is the first video I've ever seen of him scat-singing too...this is HUGE for Kenny fans...
About 25 years ago I sent Chi an email. I was shocked when she replied back. I have an autographed picture and a few years ago I got an email wanting to know if I wanted tickets in Germany. I couldn't afford the plane ticket. I met Tom T Hall and asked for an autograph, he said I probably couldn't name any songs he did. I named off a few and a big smile came across his face, i think I made him happy.😊
Waited a long time to see The Raspberries performance. They were awesome! "Let's Pretend' should have been a huge hit. If I were a DJ back then I would have played it every hour! Those mighty guitar sounds & awesome harmonies. The definitive "power pop" song.
Love Johnny Nash song ‘Steer It Up’ and the Raspberries band ahhh…Eric Carmen is so handsome, their harmonies are superb! Had never heard~seen Chi Coltrane before wow she’s so bluesy with a great soulful voice! Thank you Midnight Special! ♥️
Love the episode. Johnny Nash did a great job at hosting. Love the Raspberries, Tom T Hall and Gladys Knight. I don't remember Chi Coltrane but she was outstanding, amazing performance of Thunder and Lightning. I believe Murray from Freeman and Murray was known as the Unknown Comic on The Gong Show. Great show, thanks for uploading.
I was so surprised by Chi Coltrane! I knew the first song she sang but didn't know who she was. That was an awesome performance! Loved Johnny, Kenny, The Raspberries, Tom, and Gladys most of all! Thanks again for a great show!✌
Awww! I feel like i want to cry! Such a good music! Oldies whatever you wanna call. 50, 60, 70, 80’s Now days garbage!!!!! Just garbage!!! Thank you!!!!
It will be great to see the Raspberries (with Eric Carmen). They have done reunion tours but this is rare footage from their early days. Much the same can be said for Chi Coltrane. TIA
How in the HELL did Chi Coltrane NOT become a household name!?!? She was flat-out amazing!!! Why is today the first time I’ve ever heard her name!??? That’s criminal!!!
The Raspberries were on tour that winter/spring (1973) w some guy named Bob Seager as the opening act 😉 they played in West Palm Beach that January, I always liked them, and the tune I Wanna Be With You which was their minor follow up to Go All The Way, Chi Coltrane always gave 100% with every performance (in addition to being a total knock out, such a talented lady) but it was Kenny Rankins interesting almost quasi-Bossa nova "feel" of Stevie Wonder's 'You Are The Sunshine Of My Life' that intrigued me...
Note To The Channel Managers: PLEASE upload an isolated video of Chi Coltrane's performance of "Thunder And Lightning" from this episode! This has to be one of the absolute highlights from the entire series.
Raspberries steal the Show! Tight and polished with Carmen's soaring lead vocals. Add Wally Bryson's chiming Rickenbacker and 3 part harmony vocals. "I Wanna Be With You" and "Let's Pretend" were solid 70's Power Pop!
EC had two Melody Makers at the time, this black one and a white one, both retrofitted with humbuckers. You can see them used interchangeably in photos from the period. The white one went to Joan. (There are conflicting stories about one of them originally being a different garish color and repainted, and one of them being a gift from Wally--not sure which tale applies to which axe and/or whichever is true.)
Except "American Bandstand" from May (when they performed "I Wanna Be With You" & "Let's Pretend") & September of 1973 (performed "Tonight"). Have not seen that back then because I was 8 years old.
Been rewatching the first 14 shows (rewatching because I watched originally them when they were on in the &0's). One thing I have noticed, I haven't seen a single thumbs down on any of these. Must be because these shows were nothing but quality.
Holy Crap Chi Coiltrane-talk about a timeless performance-she could be playing that song on live TV tonight and the song would be perfectly in time with today. Talk about an artist ahead of their time. Wow. Love it! Also, Johnny Nash what an amazing smooth voice he was blessed with. Man, I am so lucky to have grown up with this music
@@burtsugarman-pq3mp Dear Mr. Sugarman: I am honored to receive a note from you. As a young child, I stayed up late and watched many of your shows live. God bless you for producing all these legendary shows and then restoring them to their full glory for us to enjoy today. Thank you.
Another great lineup for the next episode from May 11, 1973. It was hosted by comedy duo Burns and Schreiber, and it included performances from Mark Almond, Kenny Colman, The Crusaders, Ronnie Dyson, The Hollies, The Incredible String Band, actor/comedian Steve Martin, and The O'Jays.
Do you know which episode the eagles did… is it a live performance or something else? Never could figure out if the eagles played live or not. Would love an answer, thanks for all the posts :) hopefully you guys will post it eventually
The Raspberries really had it all: perfectly crafted melodic hooky songs, wonderful harmonies, great musicianship, an appealing update of 60's pop into the 70's, a good looking frontman in Eric Carmen who had an incredible voice. So why didn't they become much bigger?
As an outsider looking in (born in '78), I had never heard of this band until today, and no offense but I thought they were pretty painful to listen to. It felt like a band patched together by a record label to try to mimic the craze of the early 60's Beatles.
@@jeremyc9593 That's exactly how alot of critics saw them back in the day. What they actually were was experienced musicians who came from a time when their idols were The Beatles, The Beach Boys, The Small Faces and The Who and they were trying to capture the excitement and unpretentious fun of the days when the pop single mattered in a time of overblown prog rock and heavy music. Check out the second album Fresh that these two songs came from, very enjoyable music but yeah, it's mainly for people that appreciate great pop.
@@deirdre108 After four albums that charted less than the one before. They threw in the towel after that cause of lack of both record company promotion and public interest.
Saw The Raspberries at the Scene Pavillion in their hometown of Cleveland back on July 15, 2005!! The Knack (with the late Doug Fieger) & Bruce Springsteen Tribute Band were the openers!! There was no meet & greet for The Raspberries afterwards. 😠
Watching this a few days after Eric Carmen passed. Man, where have the years gone….
He was awesome to say the least..and underappreciated.
The Raspberries ❤️ seeing this for the first time .great stuff
This is so dang good
Great performance by Chi, simply amazing. Actually saw the Raspberries one year later in May of 74 at a high school gym in Western New York.
lucky you!
Thank you again Burt for starting my weekend off on the right note with the MS full episodes. Footage of the late Johnny Nash and Freeman and Murray is awesome. Can’t wait for the next full episode on Friday. Have a peaceful and productive week ahead!
From David A. Wood: David from Kettering, Ohio here. Though I was way too young to have actively watched "The Midnight Special" when the show was at the top of its blessed game, as I think that the show's final year was within the 1980-1981 season when I was a seventeen-years-old, High School Junior, I still nevertheless have quite fond and youthful memories of the late night show and its quite wacky host, Wolfman Jack! Now, please do pardon me for I must take my pleasurably required trip down Memory Lane via UA-cam by enjoyably watching a 1973 episode of The Midnight Special. Goodbye for now and have yourselves a really nice evening (Friday, July 28, 2023)!
Hey David, I went to UD and used to live in Kettering at one time.
Chi Coltrane & the Raspberries on the same program. As close to heaven as we can get on earth.
Yeah, but missing that charge of a live in front of an actual n audience performance... like " Live" at the BBC....
I have been wanting to see the Raspberries performances forever! Thank you!!!
As a young 15 year old white boy in 1973, Gladys was my first interracial crush! Still love her today.
Thought I knew every notable act from the '70s. Altho' I knew the song "Thunder & Lightning," I've never heard of Chi Coltrane. Thanks MNS for another great watch!!
I was 6 years old when this aired and way too young to stay to watch it. I am just greatful to see it as a reminder of how special Johnny Nash was as a singer. What a truly amazing voice.
Chi Coltrane's performance of Thunder and Lightning is amazing! The studio version (single) was just part of the top 40 mix of the time. But this is off the charts fantastic. So committed to the song and so perfectly executed. The two Raspberries performances are also excellent, and the second one (in particular) demonstrates just how good Eric Carmen's vocals were.
I had never heard of either band, but Chi absolutely brought the house down with that "Thunder and Lightning" song. That was amazing. I didn't care for The Raspberries at all, as they felt too artificial, but to each their own. I will absolutely be coming back to hear this Chi Coltrane performance again though.
Chi had hits with Thunder and Lightning and Go Like Elijah in 1973, and then promptly disappeared. I bought Thunder 45 after I heard it on the radio! Don't think Columbia Records put any effort into promoting her after '73. Another great talent lost in the wilderness of the Music Industry...
Yes, great song.
Thank you Midnight Special. Chi one of my favorites at the time, great version of thunder and lightning.
We know what a precious gift you are bringing to us all. Thank you to The Midnight Special.
Johnny Nash is the star of all.. I can see clearly, what song can match that
Kenny Rankin is tragically under rated.
Love the variety, from Gladys Knight to Tom T Hall. So much of it was live too. I especially enjoyed hearing Knight's band.
Gladys Knight & The PIPS!!! That was the best of this show, my kinda music. 🎼🎵🎶
This is the one I’ve been waiting for-Raspberries live! ❤
The pride of Shaker Hts , Ohio Eric Carmen hitting it out of the park. Nothing screams the 70s more then the Raspberries. Great memories !
When Chi Coltrane's performance started, there was actual thunder and lightning outside my window, along with tons of rain !
AWESOME! Another great episode, takes me back to those late nights, staying up and watching on a 13in B&W TV. The Picture is better on my 45in TV, the sound quality too, but the memories are just as precious.
Kenny Rankin has one of the most beautiful voices ever! I recommend listening to more of him.
This was Kenny Rankin's second appearance on the series. His guitar playing is breathtaking and this is the first video I've ever seen of him scat-singing too...this is HUGE for Kenny fans...
Man, Gladys Knight's voice can still break my heart 50 years later.
She is amazing.
Incredible footage of Raspberries in their prime! Wow!!!
This show always has something for everyone. Pop, soul, rock, country, folk, comedy, you name it.
About 25 years ago I sent Chi an email. I was shocked when she replied back. I have an autographed picture and a few years ago I got an email wanting to know if I wanted tickets in Germany. I couldn't afford the plane ticket. I met Tom T Hall and asked for an autograph, he said I probably couldn't name any songs he did. I named off a few and a big smile came across his face, i think I made him happy.😊
Brings back so many great memories!!
Fantastic as always great memories
Tom T. Hall's "Watermelon Wine" was exemplary. An immense talent.
Too bad he killed himself. 😢
Loved Johnny Nash's Music!!!!!!!!
The camera work and lighting showed the performers at their best! Excellent!
Waited a long time to see The Raspberries performance. They were awesome! "Let's Pretend' should have been a huge hit. If I were a DJ back then I would have played it every hour! Those mighty guitar sounds & awesome harmonies. The definitive "power pop" song.
Awesome! Kenny Rankin is in top form!!! 😀
Chi Coltrane...terribly underrated!
Love Johnny Nash song ‘Steer It Up’ and the Raspberries band ahhh…Eric Carmen is so handsome, their harmonies are superb! Had never heard~seen Chi Coltrane before wow she’s so bluesy with a great soulful voice! Thank you Midnight Special! ♥️
Thanks so much for re-releasing this great episode. Kenny Rankin died way too young...
Thanks so much, your support is greatly appreciated.
Love the episode. Johnny Nash did a great job at hosting. Love the Raspberries, Tom T Hall and Gladys Knight. I don't remember Chi Coltrane but she was outstanding, amazing performance of Thunder and Lightning. I believe Murray from Freeman and Murray was known as the Unknown Comic on The Gong Show. Great show, thanks for uploading.
Wow watching this now after hearing of Eric Carmen's passing 💗 I wasn't allowed to stay up for this show but it was my eighth birthday.
Kenny Rankin- what an awesome voice!
Murray ended up being The Unknown Comic on The Gong Show years later. Very cool to see Murray in his pre-Gong days.
I was so surprised by Chi Coltrane! I knew the first song she sang but didn't know who she was. That was an awesome performance! Loved Johnny, Kenny, The Raspberries, Tom, and Gladys most of all! Thanks again for a great show!✌
Awww! I feel like i want to cry! Such a good music! Oldies whatever you wanna call. 50, 60, 70, 80’s
Now days garbage!!!!! Just garbage!!!
Thank you!!!!
Raspberries!!… incredible footage.
It will be great to see the Raspberries (with Eric Carmen). They have done reunion tours but this is rare footage from their early days. Much the same can be said for Chi Coltrane. TIA
How in the HELL did Chi Coltrane NOT become a household name!?!? She was flat-out amazing!!! Why is today the first time I’ve ever heard her name!??? That’s criminal!!!
Rough riding Rawlings jeans wearin hot mama silver haired biker women were not yet in vogue to a mass audience...
Chi Coltrane.....what a surprise!
The Raspberries were on tour that winter/spring (1973) w some guy named Bob Seager as the opening act 😉 they played in West Palm Beach that January, I always liked them, and the tune I Wanna Be With You which was their minor follow up to Go All The Way, Chi Coltrane always gave 100% with every performance (in addition to being a total knock out, such a talented lady) but it was Kenny Rankins interesting almost quasi-Bossa nova "feel" of Stevie Wonder's 'You Are The Sunshine Of My Life' that intrigued me...
Chi Coltrane deserves way more love than she gets.
She was a one hit wonder here in the Netherlands with You where my friend. I think I hadn't heard that song for 40 years!
Kenny Rankin was a stellar stylist of hit songs from other artists. ❤
Wow! They don’t make music like this anymore. Thanks you. 🤙🇺🇸
That comic duo Freeman & Murray...Murray was just a couple yrs away from becoming the Unknown Comic.
Their comedy was dumb however the coloured jokes would never be allowed in today’s uptight society.
Eric Carmen and the Raspberries.....oooohhhhh yeah!
Raspberries were simply 5 star!
Kenny Rankin's Do It In The Name Of Love was the standout this week.
The Raspberries I Wanna Be With You is priceless here
Log on tomorrow morning … another one coming.
Yeah but I miss the live audience, that was canned applause.
Gladys Knight, I always wanted to be a Pip, I love her music sooo much!
Chi Coltrane...wow... she brought her A game!
The one performer I had never heard of and HOLY SH*T!!!! She. Stole. The. Show.
What more can you say about Gladys Knight except..... perfection!
Damn that Kenny Rankin guy is on fire on his second song.
Note To The Channel Managers: PLEASE upload an isolated video of Chi Coltrane's performance of "Thunder And Lightning" from this episode! This has to be one of the absolute highlights from the entire series.
Raspberries steal the Show! Tight and polished with Carmen's soaring lead vocals. Add Wally Bryson's chiming Rickenbacker and 3 part harmony vocals. "I Wanna Be With You" and "Let's Pretend" were solid 70's Power Pop!
It's so rare to see a performance by Iohnny Nash.
The black guitar Eric Carmen is playing was later painted white.. then given to Joan Jett.. its THE Joan jett Guitar
EC had two Melody Makers at the time, this black one and a white one, both retrofitted with humbuckers. You can see them used interchangeably in photos from the period. The white one went to Joan. (There are conflicting stories about one of them originally being a different garish color and repainted, and one of them being a gift from Wally--not sure which tale applies to which axe and/or whichever is true.)
Oh wow, Ty for the backstory on guitar; Joan’s a total bad a z z, love her music & saw her perform before!
It's great that a lot of the early Raspberries footage seemed to have survived the videotape wipeage of that era.
Except "American Bandstand" from May (when they performed "I Wanna Be With You" & "Let's Pretend") & September of 1973 (performed "Tonight"). Have not seen that back then because I was 8 years old.
Yeah, that's the lost era of American Bandstand from 1970-1975.
Been rewatching the first 14 shows (rewatching because I watched originally them when they were on in the &0's). One thing I have noticed, I haven't seen a single thumbs down on any of these. Must be because these shows were nothing but quality.
Eric Carmen looks just like Chris Kattan playing "Mango" on SNL in the 90s...just with a poofy 70s wig. Same exact face though...
Holy Crap Chi Coiltrane-talk about a timeless performance-she could be playing that song on live TV tonight and the song would be perfectly in time with today. Talk about an artist ahead of their time. Wow. Love it! Also, Johnny Nash what an amazing smooth voice he was blessed with. Man, I am so lucky to have grown up with this music
Seems like everyone wanted to sing Stevie Wonder's songs, even Kenny Rankin that edition.
Can't wait, The Midnight Special!
Cousins and brother
What?
You are crazy!
🙏🤗🍺cheers
Looking forward to the Johnny Nash songs
Tom T sure can make you feel like you are in the story.
love that Chi! ♥♥♥
Joe Puerta of Ambrosia on bass with Chi Coltrane
Good catch
Let’s jam sometime mister Sugarman …🙏
Tom T Hall stands the test of time
Thank you so much for producing this high quality video. Hard to believe it's from more than 50 years ago. Thanks for another early Christmas present!
Thank you for watching, Burt
@@burtsugarman-pq3mp Dear Mr. Sugarman: I am honored to receive a note from you. As a young child, I stayed up late and watched many of your shows live. God bless you for producing all these legendary shows and then restoring them to their full glory for us to enjoy today. Thank you.
Burt Sugarman is a National Treasure if not royalty
Why wasn't Kenny Rankin more of a huge deal?! So unfair. He was so good.
Yeah, like that Boss Nova version of the Stevie Wonder song!
I'm here for the Raspberries.
Two of my favorites by the Raspberries. They are why I play 12-string guitars.
(:
Another great lineup for the next episode from May 11, 1973. It was hosted by comedy duo Burns and Schreiber, and it included performances from Mark Almond, Kenny Colman, The Crusaders, Ronnie Dyson, The Hollies, The Incredible String Band, actor/comedian Steve Martin, and The O'Jays.
Why tip the bit?
Google Shields and Yarnell while you're at it😂
that dress Gladys has on probably weighs as much as she does, Sequins for Weeks !!
Chi Coltrane. mic drop.
Do you know which episode the eagles did… is it a live performance or something else? Never could figure out if the eagles played live or not. Would love an answer, thanks for all the posts :) hopefully you guys will post it eventually
1975. One of These Nights
The Raspberries really had it all: perfectly crafted melodic hooky songs, wonderful harmonies, great musicianship, an appealing update of 60's pop into the 70's, a good looking frontman in Eric Carmen who had an incredible voice. So why didn't they become much bigger?
As an outsider looking in (born in '78), I had never heard of this band until today, and no offense but I thought they were pretty painful to listen to. It felt like a band patched together by a record label to try to mimic the craze of the early 60's Beatles.
@@jeremyc9593 That's exactly how alot of critics saw them back in the day. What they actually were was experienced musicians who came from a time when their idols were The Beatles, The Beach Boys, The Small Faces and The Who and they were trying to capture the excitement and unpretentious fun of the days when the pop single mattered in a time of overblown prog rock and heavy music. Check out the second album Fresh that these two songs came from, very enjoyable music but yeah, it's mainly for people that appreciate great pop.
If I'm remembering correctly, Eric Carmen went solo so that might have something to do with them not getting bigger.
@@deirdre108 After four albums that charted less than the one before. They threw in the towel after that cause of lack of both record company promotion and public interest.
45:41 your welcome
Chi Coltrane roc😅😂
Saw The Raspberries at the Scene Pavillion in their hometown of Cleveland back on July 15, 2005!! The Knack (with the late Doug Fieger) & Bruce Springsteen Tribute Band were the openers!! There was no meet & greet for The Raspberries afterwards. 😠
I was there too. How's things up in Sanford?
what happened to episode 13 ?Any Chance it can be uploaded?
Who was on ?
Kenny Rankin never forgotten RIP
I had no idea Chi Coltrane was a woman! In any case she could give Jerry Lee Lewis some competition on the piano!
This episode had a great line up! Not true of every episode.
what happened to episode 13?
Chi has Epstein from "Welcome Back Kotter" on the bass
Really?
🎉❤😅Make no Mistake this iz Gladis Night & The Pips not the "😮Pimps !😢😢"
Loved Chi Coltrane. Don't know why she didn't make it bigger.
Too Joplinesque
Eric Carmen já se destacava .
The Raspberries show you why they were rock n roll monsters…