(Stan Harris and Tom Trbovich, 2020, USA, 572 minutes)
The biggest soul, funk, and R&B stars of the 1970s appear on this five-disc Time Life set (condensed from the 10-disc version).
Film and TV producer Burt Sugarman, who created NBC's live music series The Midnight Special (1972 to 1981), had a knack for recognizing emerging artists in addition to masters of the form, like James Brown ("Sex Machine," "The Payback") and Ray Charles ("Georgia on My Mind," and "It Takes Two to Tango," a duet with Aretha Franklin), who were still going strong decades after they launched their careers.
Wolfman Jack served as announcer and host, while Helen Reddy filled the host spot from 1975-1976. The two appear in clips at the top of the show, though artists often introduced other artists, giving them the opportunity to share their thoughts about each other. Paul Williams, for instance, marvels at the height of the black and yellow-clad Stylistics ("Betcha by Golly Wow," "I'm Stone in Love with You"). It's not simply that Williams is short, but that most every man who performed on the show between 1973 and 1976 wore platform heels (Williams also marvels at their dance moves).
It was a different era in other respects, too, since there's no evidence of lip-syncing, though some artists perform to prerecorded backing tracks. Consequently, the strongest voices rise to the top, like Gladys Knight & the Pips ("I Heard It through the Grapevine") and Mavis Staples of the Staple Singers ("Do It Again," "Respect Yourself"). Knight also appears in a bonus interview from 1995 in which she goes into detail about her career. As she notes, "Midnight Train to Georgia" began life as "Midnight Plane to Houston," but the group had no interest in flying and no connection to Texas.
For a few performances, solo singers and vocal groups perform on a bare stage. Barry White, dressed in a rhinestone-studded brocade jacket, takes the opposite tack when he performs several songs, including swirling instrumental "Love's Theme," with the sprawling Love Unlimited Orchestra. It's truly amazing they could all fit on one stage. Bill Withers, by contrast, just needed a guitar for "Ain't No Sunshine When She's Gone" and a piano for "Lean on Me."
When artists, especially less experienced ones, appeared on the show, they knew it might be their only shot, so there isn't an act phoning it in. As interviewee Gerald Alston of the Manhattans (“Shining Star") puts it, "The Midnight Special gave us a time to shine, and boy, did we shine."
Everybody is giving it their all, though some performers have that extra something, like a sensual Al Green ("Tired of Being Alone," "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart"), rollicking Wilson Pickett ("In the Midnight Hour"), and an impassioned Sly Stone ("I Want to Take You Higher").
In addition to their energetic performances, they benefit from sartorial excellence, from Green's tailored suit to Pickett's leather pants and chiffon shirt to Stone's black jumpsuit and wide-brimmed hat, both covered with rhinestone-studded stars and moons. In addition to Knight and Alston, other interviewees include James Brown and Patti LaBelle. Recommended.
The Soul of the Midnight Special is available through Time Life. Images from Pic Click AU (Sly Stone) and BB Product Reviews (Gladys Knight).
