Good evening and welcome to Friday Night Live, our summer series looking back at late night TV concert appearances from the 70’s, with an occasional trip back to the 60’s.
Tonight’s guests performed on NBC’s The Midnight Special.
She hosted the very first Midnight Special, and would be a frequent host. Wolfman Jack, The Bee Gees, and Helen Reddy hosted more of the Midnight Special programs than any other performers.
Reddy gained instant fame with this anthem.
Let's stay with the ladies.
Before she donned arm-length white gloves and long gowns to sing old standards, Linda Ronstadt roller-skated, dated California politicans, and was a bona fide pop star.
I believe our next act performed at State Fair in 2007 and didn't look anything like this....
This next clip is quite interesting. Talk about looks changing, and they sure will in 30 years. When this vocalist was a guest on Sunday Night with Mike Gousha not too long ago, he looked extremely conservative with short hair and business-type clothing. Not so back on The Midnight Special. Todd Rundgren is actually singing and he's really playing the piano. But he's performing to a pre-recorded track in which he's playing ALL the instruments. That's right. All of them.
We close with a legend who just played State Fair and is a fine gentleman.
If your record was at the top of the charts back in the day, you were a guest on shows like The Midnight Special.
Next week, our final installment for Friday Night Live as we
really go 70's on Friday Night Live.
Thanks for tuning in.
Good night!
