I saw a Bee Gees Bio on the local PBS Feb 26, cried hearing the regret in Barry's voice over his last, harsh phone call to Andy, he was being the tough older brother, I know we all have those conversations we want to take back.
@@keithheitner1020 there are some live vocals in there-- particularly noticeable in the ELO performance when after the break, Jeff's voice is the loudest I've ever heard it
Nice try Midnight Special 😢you almost fooled us. But the overdubbed soundtrack playing in the background was just too obvious to dismiss!😮. Example Robin Trower playing both lead guitar and rhythm guitar at the same time! How does he do that?😮
I didn't know that these episodes taped in London, England, even existed. I love the idea of having the performances outdoors. The Midnight Special was always trying to come up with new and innovative ideas to make the show more interesting. Thank you Mr. Sugarman for making these episodes available for us to enjoy.
@@steveprudell9976 Yes, you'd almost believe that was pre-recorded in a studio. 😉........however it's great to see London in the early 70s and the fashions!
Robin Trowers group stole the show!! Scotsman-James Dewar bassist-singer on “Lady Love” (a favorite song) oh my I love his voice. It’s so very hard to sing lead while playing bass but he does it so effortlessly. Sadly, James died very young at only age 59 in 2002 from CADASIL, a rare condition that causes strokes. Love Robins white fur coat, he’s just too cool, his voice compliments Dewars perfectly and his guitar skills are phenomenal (it’s in the pedals). I was glad to enjoy a live show of his a few years back, which was deliciously trance-inducing wonderful!
@@robmatlock7675True haha! I’ve got a mad lady-crush 🥰 on Robin Trower, whew! Love his music it’s so trance inducing good, my older brother had “Bridge of Sighs” album when I was a young teen, 1st time hearing it - I was hooked.
@@johnahearn7964 He’s still alive @ age 78, just read he has a hand full of show dates in the UK, this May. His wife passed away in 2014 after a long illness, sad. Love his music.
Do the privileged generation of 2024 have ANY comprehension of the limitations that sound engineers and TV companies had in 1973 when it came to recording and filming musical artists full stop! Let alone bloody Trafalgar Square in the English winter time?? Surprised that no one has mentioned the absence of life jackets on Manfred Mann as he 'keyboarded' very close to the water!!
Highlights for me were both Robin Trower songs!!, the second Manfred Mann song, both E.L.O. songs, "Rock On" by David Essex, and the first song by the Bee Gees. Good episode!
What a great lineup of British artists!. Can't wait to see ELO, Manfred Mann's Earth Band & Robin Trower in performances not seen in 50 years! Next week will also feature British performances not seen in 50 years from Procol Harum, Humble Pie and Alvin Lee (from Ten Years After). This is the only channel to watch every Friday with some daily surprises throughout the week!. 🥰
@@paulvincer199 More than likely, correct. The mics would have to be wrapped in heavy foam or whatever Jimi Hendrix used in Maui, HI on July 30, 1970. His mic ended up looking like a boxing glove 🥊, tis wild. Can’t wait for ALL the bands you mentioned, thank you…I love them!
Always thought Peter Noone was underrated as a singer. Great voice and energy as we see here. Thanks for the upload. My first time seeing this episode.
Imagine video production 30 years from now. The cut aways happen 3 times a seconds. 10 years after that they have a camera spin like a top. That way you get 50 shots per second.
I’m in my sixties and the decades of the 60’s,70’s,80’s were filled with great music and great artists, amazing musicians who made music an art, amazing singer/songwriters whose words and music could make you feel the spectrum of emotions. There were some great ones that came along in the 90’s into the early 00’s, as well but not as many. The music of today 2024 doesn’t make me feel like doing anything but looking for something else to listen to like this old Midnight Special. Today I listened to James Taylor, Billy Joel, Rod Stewart, U2, The Police, Boz Skaggs, Hall and Oates, Coldplay, Michael Jackson (a strange dude but man could he sing) , Tears for Fears(amazing stuff), Tina Turner, Fleetwood Mac, Stevie Wonder, Toto (so underrated), Chicago, America (also underrated), The Eagles, Simon and Garfunkel and the best cover group on RU-vid bar none they are the Foxes and Fossils (If you haven’t checked out their channel you are really missing something great) they do covers of 60’s,70’s and more and they are amazing! You gotta see their live version of Suite Judy Blue Eyes it is the best version I’ve ever heard or seen anywhere! A real treat to listen to this hidden gem of a cover group.
Woah! The description to this sounds awesome!! I'm so excited this is premiering on my birthday. I'll be watching this as soon as I'm done celebrating with my family on that night! I've never seen the bee gees perform bad bad dreams and don't wanna be the one!!! I'm so hyped!!😁😆😊
@@kthor Thank you so much! I really loved watching this episode! It was so cool to see what the Bee gees looked like in this episode! One of my favorite photos of them is from this episode! I watched the episode with my dad and it was fun to talk about all my favorite brit bands with him. Peter Noone did a great job hosting this episode!!
Powerful line up, Robin Trower was an 8-track I wore to tatters listening to him, guitar genius! So much music, it'll be a wonder to get so much in one hour!
@@Royale_with_Cheeze I believe the first were installed in Fords on 65, I know we're in the 1979 mustang my daughter had, they were making tapes for a while after that. the Columbia Record company will still selling them on magazines cause my youngest sent of and got 12 for a penny in 1985
Que registro mas historico de Midnight Special 1973, show al aire libre en una plaza de Gran Bretaña. Emocionante ver 2 bandas que se hicieron grandes como Electric Light Orchestra y los Bee Gees. Ademas de H.Hermits, Manfred Man Earth Band, Gilbert O'Sullivan. Gracias!! Saludos desde SANTIAGO DE CHILE
Saw Robin Trower open for Jethro Tull in Vancouver in ‘73. Didn’t really know him that well at the time but in the years after became a big fan. The incredible James Dewar(RIP) may be the most underrated rock singer of his era.
@@ricardohardy7696 There's one in the July 25, 1975 episode, but is listed as a "Midnight Special Tribute". I believe is a rerun of some of this 1973 performances.
RIP. James Dewar, bassist for the Robin Trower Band, one of the most beautiful voices in rock. Apparently some vocals in the performances were not dubbed, it seemed to me like the case of the Robin Trower Band...but I can't say for sure. I have to watch it all again and pay more attention.
All songs were supported by the instrumental of the master tape. Some with vocals with the volume reduced. But almost all of the vocals were done live over the backing instrumental. The TV series The Midnight Special has always aimed to bring together various artists from various eras in just over an hour long. It wasn't a Festival, like Woodstock. It would be impossible and very expensive to bring all the instruments and musicians to a square, or small stage, for only two performances. It would be a dream if this kind of musical TV show ever had it again. Wonderful and rare episode. It was a pleasure and delight to be able to hear one of the most beautiful voices in the universe, SIR ROBIN HUGH GIBB (R.I.P.), more than 50 years later. A rarity I can only thank.
Robin Gibb was in Brazil on November 24, 2005, for the first and only performance. I watched the show that night and it was wonderful. I met him at the international airport in Sao Paulo the morning before the show and we had a quick chat. I personally thanked him for being the soundtrack to my life. When he was supposed to return for another performance in 2011, the show was canceled and the money returned, as his health was poor for such a long trip. In 1984, I attended Andy Gibb's only concert in Brazil. I haven't been able to see the Bee Gees live, but I've been listening to their music since 1973, when here in Brazil there was a compilation with the song Cherry Red. In these performances of theirs in the Midnight Special video, I can assure you that all of Barry, Robin, and Maurice's vocals are live. In fact, Maurice makes a mistake in the lyrics at the end of the song I DON'T WANT TO BE THE ONE, he makes a mistake and changes ONE for GUY.
You can clearly hear the support from the master tape. Robin kindly let Barry do lead vocals on "Bad Bad Dreams", even though there are no lead vocals on the original. All three sing the song throughout, with Barry's voice dominating somewhat. But this performance by the boys is a real gem.
@@bgs3006Not sure what you're referring to "Robin kindly letting Barry do lead vocals on Bad Bad Dreams", when Barry's credited on first lead. It was also a song written by the 3 of them. But....I Don't Wanna be the One was written by just Barry, & he kindly allowed Robin to do any lead much less 1st lead during this performance & on the studio recording.🎼
Yes everyone remembers him for the downbeat stuff like " Alone Again Naturally " . Definitely a real tear jerker. But he had lots of cool upbeat stuff. Definitely underrated singer songwriter
I've been a Trower fan since his days with Procol Harum. His studio albums are great, of course, but old timers like me know his that his 1975 LP "Robin Trower Live" with James Dewar and Bill Lordan ranks with the best live albums of all time. It's available on RU-vid if you want to hear some exquisite rock.
Fantastic Midnight Special. Once again prepared to enjoy this great episode with the music of my musical hero Jeff Lynne and his great orchestra ELO of him. Thank you very much for this great joy.
Very interesting. Seems like a lot of the bands are doing the standard television trick of singing and some instruments to a backing track. But still entertaining. Interesting to see pre disco Bee Gees. And Peter Noone doing Bowie's Oh You Pretty Things ( pay attention Midnight Special RU-vid team) which actually was a hit in the UK 🇬🇧
@WhosieWhatNow It popped in my head a few months ago after 50 years! I searched to find what song it was. Surprised to find out it was the guy who sang "Alone Again"! Lol
Judging by the performance, this is shortly after cellist Colin Walker left ELO, but before Hugh McDowell returned from Wizzard; hence the roadie miming the second cello part.
It's weird that they are all performing live but all we're hearing is the actual songs. Surely everyone's performances or the sound quality wasn't that bad that they could've kept it.
There is too much fake looks going on today, the big horrible top lips that many young women seem to think look great?!!! Tattooed eyebrows, butt fills omg! I can’t believe people think that looks good, personally I think they look awful but we live in a strange world today.
Yes, none of the plastic looking people of today’s look. Big lips, big butt, cheek fillers that make people look like chipmunks storing nuts and tattooed eyebrows lol.
I’ve left 2 other comments on this thread that seem to be getting removed and they’re not rude or anything. Just saying about some of the stuff people get surgery wise these days.
It was the technology of that time which made things difficult to replicate live outdoor performances unlike what we have in 2024 with advanced features.
Just want to thank the channel for putting these up, especially the full episodes. I've been watching them with my parents, as the music is from their era but I don't think this was ever broadcast in the UK, so they know the bands but seeing the banter and interactions is like brand new content for them. Much better than just binging band documentaries on Sky Arts for a bit of music in between all the talking head interviews!
I'm prepared for the possibility that I'm the only one here who cares, but I was pleasantly surprised to see Peter Noone reunited with most of the old Hermits. Anyone know who the bass player is?
Not sure....interesting how the original bass player (Karl Green) was on guitar. Could never get a good enough look at the drummer to tell if he was their original drummer Barry.
So great. It was Thanksgiving weekend, i was 12, living in Michigan. This exposed me to international music. Loved Trower playing Lady Love with the late Jim Dewar. Takes me right back to that 12” color TV in my room.
I have been to see many huge rock shows from the late 70's ,80's and 90's with some of the biggest groups touring. But i have to say one of the most enjoyable shows i saw was when Peter Noone put on a show in the 90's in our small town city park that was free to the public. We sat on the grass in the shade of a tree and it was great. He played all his Herman Hermit's hits and then some.
James Dewar!! What a voice!! No lip syncing or autotune here. Just God given pure talent. Always loved Robin and his power trio. Don't ever recall seeing this before! What a gem!!!
Love trower, fantastic Soundsystem by the river!! In the middle of a windy day. It’s amazing how clean the sound is. Clearly, he the network got for in England, the next week for when procol harum hosted it was indoors completely live.
This show was all lip syncing.....perhaps some live singing was layered over the recordings used......not to say that it could not be enjoyed for what it was....
@@rschier1 -- The Midnight Special was never lyp-synced. Ever. In fact it was one of it's main selling points. A quick googling confirms this: _Was Midnight Special live or lip sync?_ *The Midnight Special was noted for featuring musical acts performing live, which was unusual since most television appearances during the era showed performers lip-synching to prerecorded music.*
@@Arasteele I wouldn't trust a google search to reveal the correct answer. As a musician, I can easily determine what parts are being played vs not being played. There have actually been instances where even live concert performances were not truly live; ELO was guilty of this, as well as others such as Queen, who used taped material to enhance their performance. As I stated, it was very common for the VOCALS to be live, vs the music.
Looks like the next episode after this from November 30, 1973, is the last of the shows they filmed in London. It was hosted by Procol Harum, and also featured appearances from Humble Pie, Alvin Lee, Mylon LeFevre, and Steeleye Span.
THANK YOU SO MUCH for posting this video ❤Untill today I only saw pictures of the Bee Gees in Trafalgar... I could only dream to watch this performance... and now I could! 🥰 you made me so happy!!! 🎉😭
Boo to painfully obvious lip-syncing. Trower's drummer seems to be able to play the intro fill in his mind. Even better, Gilbert O'Sullivan keeps a full band inside his piano.
There will mever be another Bee Gee's. If they only knew what awaited them in just a few short years!! Wow. Trowers tone is smoking and sounds awesome.RIP James D.
Turned it up loud and listened to James Dewar beautifully sing Man of the world. I recall the first time I heard his voice in '75. I'll enjoy til I die.
Hey, kid, rock 'n' roll, rock on Ooh, my soul Hey kid, boogie, too, did ya? Hey, shout, summertime blues Jump up and down in my blue suede shoes Hey, kid, rock 'n' roll, rock on...David Essex.
Definitely a weird and cool song years ahead of its time . Almost sounds like a DJ remix. It wasn't but the production with lots of mixing and space anticipated the remix and reeediting craze in music that would only start happening years later. "And where do we go from here ". Absolutely prophetic
As a very young child with a musical sister eight years older I got into music early on. One of the first albums my mom ever let me buy was Herman Hermits Greatest Hits. I listened to it over and over. I remember it was on MGM records which was a thing in those days. Music moved pretty fast in those days. It seemed that in maybe just three years I was gobsmacked by Led Zeppelin's Whole Lotta Love. I love these TMS specials as they are great time capsules.
Lot of comments about not actually being live I heard there were Union laws that prevented live performances anyone no anything about this subject? In UK
Trower is definitely the studio versions I hate to say,u can hear the guitar overdudes,endings fade out, vocals are the same,Listen to WINTERLAND OR POP 2 1973 if in doubt, all of Trower video performances I have even seen were 100% live except for these 2 clips,great seeing Trower footage that most people have never seen before thou.😊
