The Midnight Special: Gabe Kaplan

The Midnight Special: Gabe Kaplan
NBC
April 8, 1977
Variety
DVD
C+

No, he doesn't tell uncle jokes.  It's mostly an Ed Sullivan impression.  The Tom Jones performance aside, this is a pretty good DVD collection, averaging out to a B- and offering a wide variety of the pop and rock of its day.

The Midnight Special: Heart

The Midnight Special: Heart
NBC
March 4, 1977
Variety
DVD
B

The Wilson sisters offer "Magic Man" and if it's not quite magical, it's still a solid, professional performance.  This is the 900th television program or segment I've reviewed.

The Midnight Special: Hot Chocolate and England Dan & John Ford Coley

The Midnight Special: Hot Chocolate and England Dan & John Ford Coley
NBC
January 7, 1977
Variety
DVD
B

Both segments aired as part of a Best of '76 episode hosted by Wolfman Jack.  They represent two strands of pop music of the Ford era: early disco that incorporates funk and other elements ("You Sexy Thing"), and sensitive ballads with a '70s cynicism blended with undying romanticism ("I'd Really Love to See You Tonight").  It probably means something that I have a mondegreen that makes "I'm not talkin' 'bout movin' in and I don't want to change your life" into "I'm not talkin' 'bout the linen...."  I would've gone with a B+ but the staging is a little blah, especially for Hot Chocolate, particularly compared to Donna Summer or the Spinners.

The Midnight Special: Tom Jones

The Midnight Special: Tom Jones

NBC
December 17, 1976

Variety

DVD
D

Jones sings the creepy song "Delilah."  Wolfman Jack hosts again.

The Midnight Special: Eric Carmen

The Midnight Special: Eric Carmen
NBC
December 3, 1976
Variety
DVD
B-

Carmen sings "All By Myself," with some accompaniment.  Helen Reddy hosts again.

The Midnight Special: Diana Ross

The Midnight Special: Diana Ross
NBC
November 26, 1976
Variety
DVD
B+

Miss Ross shows why she was and is a legend, decked in gold and turning the studio into a discotheque, through her voice and her charm.  It's not that "Love Hangover" is a great song, but this is a great performance, especially when she gets some of the crowd onstage.  The joyful smile on the lady in denim and a rainbow T-shirt looks genuine and it's hard not to smile back.

The Midnight Special: Franklyn Ajaye and Wild Cherry

The Midnight Special: Franklyn Ajaye and Wild Cherry
NBC
October 22, 1976
Variety
DVD
B

Black comic Ajaye tells jokes about show biz and being black (using the N-word a few times, with little or no reaction from the audience), with the James Brown jokes probably the best.  Meanwhile, Wild Cherry plays funky music right.  Helen Reddy hosts again.

The Midnight Special: The Spinners

The Midnight Special: The Spinners
NBC
September 17, 1976
Variety
DVD
B-

Watch this performance of "The Rubber Band Man" for the choreography, including giant rubber bands!

The Midnight Special: Elton John

The Midnight Special: Elton John
NBC
July 16, 1976
Variety
DVD
B-

Paul Anka plays the beginning of "Your Song," and Elton finishes it.

The Midnight Special: George Benson

The Midnight Special: George Benson
NBC
July 2, 1976
Variety
DVD
C+

Benson sings "Masquerade," introduced by Glen Campbell.

The Midnight Special: Fleetwood Mac

The Midnight Special: Fleetwood Mac
NBC
June 11, 1976
Variety
DVD
B+

Lovely rendition of "Over My Head," introduced by David Brenner.  This is the 800th program (or part of a program) I've reviewed.

The Midnight Special: Ray Charles

The Midnight Special: Ray Charles
NBC
April 30, 1976
Variety
DVD
B-

I'm not a big Ray Charles fan, but this is a nice performance of "Georgia."

The Midnight Special: Donna Summer

The Midnight Special: Donna Summer
NBC
March 26, 1976
Variety
DVD
B-

Kitschy version of "Love to Love You, Baby," with Summer's mildly orgasmic singing supplemented with bare-chested male back-up dancers and vaguely Egyptian costumes and choreography.  I'm not sure if this is good, but it is hard to look away.

The Midnight Special: Michael Murphey

The Midnight Special: Michael Murphey
NBC
February 27, 1976
Variety
DVD
C+

Murphey sings "Wildfire."

The Midnight Special: Janis Ian

The Midnight Special: Janis Ian
NBC
January 9, 1976
Variety
DVD
B

"At Seventeen" is still a little heart-breaking, although someone with a talent like this could never be "ugly."  Introduced by Helen Reddy.