About this season
The Midnight Special is an American late-night musical variety series that aired on NBC during the 1970s and early 1980s, created and produced by Burt Sugarman. It premiered as a special on August 19, 1972, then began its run as a regular series on February 2, 1973; its last episode was on May 1, 1981. The ninety-minute program followed the Friday night edition of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. The show typically featured guest hosts, except for a period from July 1975 through March 1976 when singer Helen Reddy served as the regular host. Wolfman Jack served as the announcer and frequent guest host. The series also occasionally aired vintage footage of older acts. As the program neared the end of its run in the early 1980s, it began to frequently use lip-synched performances rather than live. The program also featured occasional comedic performances such as Richard Pryor and Andy Kaufman.
Episodes (41)
1. Helen Reddy / Nitty Gritty Dirt Band / Phoebe Snow
Aired 19 September 1975 âą 90 min
Helen Reddy (host) - ""I'll Be Your Audience,"" ""Bad Bad Leroy Brown"" (an animated film of the Jim Croce recording) ""Time"" & ""I Am Woman"" --Billy Braver (comedy segment) --The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band - ""Dream,"" ""Bayou Jubilee,"" The Battle of New Orleans"" & ""Mother of Love"" --Phoebe Snow - ""I Don't Want the Night to End"" & ""Poetry Man"" --Paul Williams - ""Cried Like a Baby"" & ""Old Souls"" --Midnight Special salute to David Bowie --Hit of the Week:
2. Helen Reddy / Isaac Hayes / Barry Manilow
Aired 26 September 1976
Helen Reddy (host) - ""Raised on Rock,"" ""You and Me Against the World"" & ""I Am Woman"" --Helen Reddy and Isaac Hayes - ""Body Language,"" --Isaac Hayes - ""Feel Like Makin' Love,"" ""Come Live with Me"" & ""I Can't Turn Around"" --The Committee (comedy troupe) - perform 2 sketches. --Barry Manilow - ""Could It Be Magic?"" & ""I Want to Be Somebody's Baby"" --Midnight Special tribute to Chuck Berry
3. Helen Reddy / Roger Miller / Keith Carradine
Aired 11 June 1976
Helen Reddy (host) - ""Mrs. Robinson,"" ""Songs"" & ""Ain't No Way to Treat a Lady"" --Larry Beezer (comedy segment) --Keith Carradine - ""I'm Easy"" & ""Honey Won't You Let Me Be Your Friend"" --Keith Carradine and Helen Reddy - ""It Don't Worry me"" --The Crusaders - ""Creole"" & ""Soul Caravan"" --Janis Ian - ""In the Winter"" & ""Bayonne Blues"" --Roger Miller - ""All I Love Is You,"" ""The Day I Jumped from Uncle Harvey's Plane"" & ""Fraulein"" --Roger Miller & Helen Reddy - ""In the Summertime
4. Host: Helen Reddy / Bee Gees / Ike & Tina Turner
Aired 10 October 1975 âą 90 min
Helen Reddy (host) - ""This Must Be Wrong"" & ""You're My Home"" --The Bee Gees - ""Nights on Broadway,"" ""Wind of Change"" and a medley of hits. --Billy Joel - ""Travelin' Prayer"" & ""Ballad of Billy the Kid"" --Mel Tillis - ""Rainy Day Woman"" & ""Mental Revenge"" --Ike and Tina Turner - ""Sexy Ida"" & ""Baby Get It On"" --Midnight Special salute to Joan Baez (narrated by Wolfman Jack)
5. Host: Glen Campbell / Mac Davis
Aired 24 October 1975
Glen Campbell (guest host) - ""Rhinestone Cowboy,"" ""Coutry Boy (You Got Your Feet in L.A.),"" ""When Will I Be Loved?"" ""Marie"" & ""Gentle on My Mind"" --Glen Campbell and Mac Davis - ""Baby Don't Get Hooked on Me"" --Mac Davis - ""Naughty Girl"" --Glen Campbell and Gwen McCrae - ""Rockin' Chair"" --Gwen McCrae - ""Love Insurance"" & ""Move Me Baby"" --Glen Campbell talks with L.A. Police Chief Edward Davis. --""Star Talk"" - Three segments with celebrities answering questions (on film).
6. Helen Reddy / J. Geils Band / Hudson Brothers
Aired 31 October 1975
Gabe Kaplan (cameo) - introduces Helen Reddy --Helen Reddy (host) - ""Angie Baby,"" ""Pretty Pretty,"" ""Long Hard Climb,"" ""Talk"" & ""I Am Woman"" --The J. Geils Band - ""Love Itis,"" ""Orange Driver"" & ""Give It to Me"" --The Hudson Brothers - ""Ma Ma Ma Baby"" & ""Stop"" --Tavares - ""It Only Takes a Minute"" & ""Free Ride"
7. Helen Reddy / Merle Haggard / Roger Daltrey
Aired 7 November 1975
Helen Reddy (host) - ""Travelin' Band,"" ""You Have Lived"" & ""I Am Woman"" --Roger Daltrey - ""Come and Get Your Love"" & ""Near to Surrender"" --Merle Haggard - medley of songs & ""Working Man Blues."" Plus a fiddle medley. --Merle Haggard & Helen Reddy - ""Today I Started Loving You Again"" --Ohio Players - ""Fire"" & ""Sweet Sticky Thing"" --""Hit of the Week"": Carly Simon - ""You're So Vain"" --Midnight Special salute: Glen Campbell
8. Host: Helen Reddy
Aired 14 November 1975 âą 90 min
-Helen Reddy (host) - ""Delta Dawn,"" ""Emotion"" & ""I Am Woman"" --Helen Reddy and Neil Sedaka - ""Sad Eyes"" --The Captain and Tennille - ""Natural Woman"" --The Captain and Tennille with Neil Sedaka - ""Love Will Keep Us Together"" --KC & the Sunshine Band - ""(That's the Way) I Like It"" & ""Get Down Tonight"" --Freddie Prinze (stand-up comedy) --Neil Sedaka - ""Bad Blood,"" ""Breaking Up Is Hard to Do,"" ""Lonely Night (Angel Face),"" ""When You Were Loving Me"" --""Hit of the Week"": The Rolling Stones' ""Brown Sugar""
9. Helen Reddy / David Essex / Brenda Lee / Jimmie Walker
Aired 21 November 1975
Helen Reddy (host) - ""Angie Baby"" & ""Somewhere in the Night"" --David Essex - ""Rock On,"" ""All the Fun of the Fair"" & ""Won't Get Burned Again"" --Brenda Lee - ""Bringing It Back"" & ""Too Hard to Handle"" --Tom Scott & L.A. Express - ""Good Evening Mr. and Mrs. America,"" ""Tomcat"" & ""Rock Island Rocket"" --Jimmie Walker (stand-up comedy)
10. Helen Reddy / Frankie Valli / KISS / Barry Manilow
Aired 28 November 1976 âą 1 min
Helen Reddy (host) - ""Birthday Song,"" ""Belle of the Blues"" & ""I Am Woman"" --David Brenner (comedy segment) --KISS - ""Deuce"" & ""She"" --Barry Manilow - ""Something's Comin' Up,"" ""Tryin' to Get That Feelin' Again"" & ""I Want to Be Somebody's Baby"" --Frankie Valli - ""My Eyes Adored You"" --Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons - ""Who Loves You?"" Midnight Special tribute to Harry Nilsson
11. Helen Reddy / Natalie Cole / Bee Gees / Olivia Newton-John
Aired 5 December 1975
Helen Reddy (host) - ""Don't Mess with a Woman,"" ""Are You Alright?"" & ""I Am Woman"" --The Bee Gees - ""Nights on Broadway,"" medley of hits & ""Jive Talkin"" --Natalie Cole - ""This Will Be,"" ""Inseparable"" & ""Your Face Stays in My Mind"" --Mickey Gilley - ""Honkey Tonk Wine"" & ""If You Were Mine to Lose"" --Olivia Newton-John - ""Let It Shine"" & ""He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother"
12. Helen Reddy / Anne Murray / Rufus feat. Chaka Khan
Aired 12 December 1975
Helen Reddy (host) - ""Keep On Singing,"" Get Off Me Baby"" & ""I Am Woman"" --Glen Campbell - ""Country Boy (You Got Your Feet in L.A.)"" & ""My Girl"" --George Miller (stand-up comedy) --Anne Murray - ""Blue Finger Lou"" ""Sunday Sunrise"" --Anne Murray and Johnny Rivers - ""You Won't See Me"" --Rufus, featuring Chaka Khan - ""Sweet Thing,"" ""Fool's Paradise"" & ""One You Get Started"" --The Whitneys - ""I Got the Music in Me"" & ""I Need Your Loving Everyday"" --Midnight Special salute: Gordon Lightfoot
13. Helen Reddy / Petula Clark / Peter Frampton
Aired 19 December 1975
Helen Reddy (host) - ""Where Is My Friend?"" & ""I Am Woman"" --Petula Clark - ""My Love"" --Helen Reddy & Petula Clark - ""Super Loving Lady"" --Ohio Players - ""Love Rollercoaster"" & ""Honey"" --Peter Frampton - ""Show Me the Way,"" ""Baby I Love Your Way"" & ""Do You Feel Like We Do"" --Cotton, Lloyd & Christian - ""I Can Sing I Can Dance"" & ""I Go to Pieces"
14. Host: Helen Reddy / Dolly Parton / Charlie Rich
Aired 26 December 1975
Helen Reddy (host) - ""Somewhere in the Night,"" ""Lady Chain"" & ""I Am Woman"" --Dolly Parton - ""Jolene"" & ""We Used To"" --Allan Price - ""Jarrow Song"" & ""City Lights"" --Charlie Rich - ""Midnight Blues"" & ""All Over Me"" --Leo Sayer - ""Another Time"" --Roy Wood's Wizzard - ""This Is the Story of My Love"" & ""Forever
15. Host: Helen Reddy
Aired 9 January 1976 âą 90 min
--Helen Reddy (host) - ""Angie Baby"" --Joan Baez - ""Diamonds and Rust"" & ""Children and All That Jazz"" --Glen Campbell - ""Rhinestone Cowboy"" --Earth, Wind & Fire - ""Shining Star"" --Electric Light Orchestra - ""Can't Get It Out of My Head"" & ""Laredo Tornado"" --Freddy Fender - ""Wasted Days and Wasted Nights"" --Janis Ian - ""At Seventeen"" --LaBelle - ""Lady Marmalade"" --Minnie Riperton - ""Lovin' You"" --Neil Sedaka - medley of hits & ""Bad Blood""
16. Staple Singers / Poco/Kenny Rankin
Aired 16 June 1976
Helen Reddy (host) - ""I've Been Wanting You,"" ""Loneliness"" & ""I Am Woman"" --The Staple Singers - ""Let's Do It Again"" ""Respect Yourself"" ""Funky Love"" --Olivia Newton-John - ""Let It Shine"" & ""Lovers"" --Poco - ""Kep On Tryin',"" ""Sagebrush Serenade"" & ""Makin' Love"" --Kenny Rankin - ""In the Name of Love"" & ""Lost Up in Loving You"" --Midnight Special salute: B.B. King
17. Helen Reddy / Natalie Cole / Petula Clark
Aired 23 January 1976
Helen Reddy (host) - ""Sweet Sympathy,"" ""You Know Me"" & ""I Am Woman"" --Petula Clark - ""Give Me a Smile"" & ""Going Out of My Head"" --Natalie Cole - ""This Will Be"" & ""I Can't Say No"" --C.W. McCall - ""Convoy"" & ""The Silverton"" --Uriah Heep - ""Shady Lady"" --Ted Neely - ""Paradise"" & ""Gethsemane"" --Billy Braver (stand-up comedian)
18. Helen Reddy / 5th Dimension / Tom T. Hall
Aired 30 January 1976
Helen Reddy (host) - ""Our House,"" ""God Bless the Child"" & ""I Am Woman"" --The 5th Dimension - ""Just Too Many People"" & medley of hits (""Up, Up and Away,"" ""Stone Soul Picnic,"" ""Wedding Bell Blues,"" ""One Less Bell to Answer,"" ""Aquarius"" & ""We're Going Places Together"") --Tom T. Hall - ""I Like Beer"" & ""Pamela Brown"" --Janis Ian - ""This Must Be Wrong"" & ""Jesse"" --Queen - ""Bohemian Rhapsody"" (probably a music video) --Tim Thomerson (comedy segment) --Midnight Special salute to Frank Zappa
19. Host: Wolfman Jack (3rd Anniversary Show, Part 1)
Aired 13 February 1976
Third Anniversary Show --Wolfman Jack (host) --Herb Alpert (from 20-Jun-75) - ""Desert Dance"" and a medley of hits (""Lonely Bull,"" ""Spanish Flea,"" ""This Guy's in Love with You,"" ""Taste of Honey"" and ""Zorba the Greek"") --Glen Campbell - ""Rhinestone Cowboy"" --George Carlin (stand-up comedy) --Gladys Knight and the Pips - ""Midnight Train to Georgia"" & ""I've Got to Use My Imagination"" --Randy Newman - ""All His Love"" --The O'Jays - ""Put Your Hands Together"" and a medley (""People Keep Telling Me,"" ""Time to Get Down,"" ""This Air I Breathe,"" ""992 Arguments"" and ""Backstabbers"") --Linda Ronstadt - ""When Will I Be Loved"" --Frankie Valli - ""My Eyes Adored You"" and a medley of hits (""Sherry,"" ""Walk Like a Man,"" ""Big Girls Don't Cry"" and ""Bye Bye Baby"") --Salute to Elton John
20. Host: Wolfman Jack (3rd Anniversary Show, Part 2)
Aired 20 February 1976
Wolfman Jack (host) --Paul Anka - ""You're Having My Baby"" & ""Jubilation"" --The Captain and Tennille - ""(You Make Me Feel Like a) Natural Woman"" --Mac Davis - ""Something's Burning"" --Janis Ian - ""At Seventeen"" & ""When the Party's Over"" --Barry Manilow - ""Could It Be Magic"" --Richard Pryor (stand-up comedy segment) --Neil Sedaka - ""Laughter in the Rain"" and a medley of hits --Midnight Special salute to Neil Young
21. Host: David Brenner
Aired 27 February 1976 âą 90 min
David Brenner (guest host) - stand-up comedy segments throughout show --Fleetwood Mac - ""Over My Head"" & ""Rhiannon"" --Lesley Gore - ""Immortality"" & ""Can't Seem to Live Our Good Times Down"" --B.B. King - ""Breaking Up Somebody's Home"" & ""Reconsider Baby"" --Michael Murphy - ""Renegade"" & ""Wildflower"" --Anne Murray - ""Sunday Sunrise"" --Midnight Special salute to Dion
22. Helen Reddy / Miracles / Tanya Tucker / ELO
Aired 5 March 1976
Helen Reddy (host) - ""Somewhere in the Night"" --Frankie Avalon - ""Venus"" --Frankie Avalon and Helen Reddy - ""Why"" --David Bowie - ""Fame"" (music video?) --Billy Braver (comedy segment with Helen Reddy) --Electric Light Orchestra - ""Evil Woman,"" ""Nightrider"" & ""Strange Magic"" --The Miracles - ""Love Machine,"" ""Ain't Nobody Straight in L.A."" & ""Do It Baby"" --Tanya Tucker - ""Don't Believe My Heart Can Stand Another You"" & ""You've Got Me to Hold On To"" --Midnight Special salute to Little Richard
23. Helen Reddy / Peter Frampton / Rufus feat. Chaka Khan
Aired 19 March 1976
Helen Reddy (host) - ""The Immigrant,"" ""Nice to Be Around"" & ""I Am Woman"" --Peter Frampton - ""Show Me the Way"" & ""Baby I Love Your Way"" --Melissa Manchester - ""Just You and I,"" ""Rescue Me"" & ""Sing Sing Sing"" --Rufus featuring Chaka Khan - ""Sweet Thing"" & ""Fool's Paradise"" --Jimmie Walker (comedy segment) --Midnight Special salute to Johnny Rivers
24. Helen Reddy / Gordon Lightfoot / Little Richard
Aired 26 March 1976
-Helen Reddy (host) - ""Modern Day Magic,"" ""Hold Me in Dreams Tonight"" & ""I Am Woman"" --Eric Carmen - ""All By Myself"" & ""That's Rock 'n' Roll"" --Gordon Lightfoot - ""Summertime Dream,"" ""Spanish Moss"" & ""I'm Not Supposed to Care"" --Little Richard - ""Call My Name"" --Little Richard & Helen Reddy - ""Since I Met You Baby"" --Barbara Mandrell - ""Rocky Top"" --Donna Summer - ""Love to Love You Baby"" & ""Could It Be Magic"" --Midnight Special salute: Jimmy Webb
25. Host: Natalie Cole
Aired 2 April 1976
Natalie Cole (guest host) - ""This Will Be,"" ""Mr. Melody,"" ""Inseparable"" & ""Sophisticated Lady"" --The Bee Gees - ""Nights on Broadway"" & ""Jive Talkin'"" --Keith Carradine - ""I'm Easy"" --Charo - ""La Salsa"" --Earth, Wind and Fire - ""Mighty Mighty"" & ""Shining Star"" --KC and the Sunshine Band - ""That's the Way (I Like It)"" & ""Get Down Tonight"" --Gwen McCrae - ""Rockin' Chair"" & ""He Don't Ever Lose His Groove"" --Midnight Special salute to Alvin Lee and Ten Years After
26. Host: Helen Reddy
Aired 9 April 1976 âą 90 min
-Helen Reddy (host) - ""This Masquerade"" & ""I Am Woman"" --Fleetwood Mac - ""Rhiannon"" & ""World Turning"" --Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds - ""Winners and Losers"" & ""Everyday Without You"" --Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds with Helen Reddy - ""Fallin' in Love"" --Barry Manilow - ""Tryin' to Get the Feelin' Again"" & ""Something's Comin' Up"" --Queen - ""Bohemian Rhapsody"" (probably a music video) --Gary Wright - ""Dream Weaver,"" ""Are You Weeping"" & ""My Love Is Alive""
27. Janis Ian
Aired 23 April 1976
28. Host: Ray Charles
Aired 30 April 1976
Ray Charles - ""Every Saturday Night,"" ""Georgia on My Mind,"" ""Living for the City,"" ""Blues for Big Scotia, ""American the Beautiful"" & ""What'd I Say."" --Ray Charles and Sarah Vaughan - ""What'd I Say"" --Aaron and Freddie (ventriloquist act) --The Bay City Rollers - ""Money Honey"" & ""Rock 'n' Roll Love Letter"" --The Cate Brothers - ""Union Man"" --Freddy Fender - ""You'll Lose a Good Thing"" --Sarah Vaughan - ""The Man I Love"" --Midnight Special salute to Otis Redding
29. Host: Paul Anka
Aired 21 May 1976 âą 90 min
Paul Anka (host) - ""Put Your Head on My Shoulder"" --Joan Baez - ""The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down"" & ""Simple Twist of Fate"" --The Beatles (on film) - ""Hey Jude"" --The Bee Gees - ""Run to Me"" --Chuck Berry - ""Maybellene"" & ""Sweet Little Sixteen"" --The Carpenters - ""Please Me. Postman"" --Chubby Checker - ""The Twist"" --Jim Croce - ""Big Bad Leroy Brown"" --Peter Frampton - ""Show Me the Way"" & ""Baby I Love Your Way"" --Bill Haley and the Comets - ""Rock Around the Clock"" & ""See You Later Alligator"" --Herman's Hermits - ""I'm Henry VIII I Am"" & ""Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Daughter"" --Elvis Presley (on film) - ""Don't Be Cruel"" --Helen Reddy - ""Delta Dawn""
30. Host: Neil Sedaka
Aired 4 June 1976
Neil Sedaka (host) - ""Steppin' Out,"" ""Love in the Shadows,"" ""Good Times Good Music Good Friends,"" ""You Gotta make Your Own Sunshine,"" ""Teach Your Children"" & ""Number One Heartache"" --Neil Sedaka and Kim Carnes - ""Perfect Strangers"" --Eric Carmen - ""Never Gonna Fall in Love Again"" & ""All By Myself"" --Kim Carnes - ""You're Part of Me"" & ""Nothing Makes Me Feel as Good as a Love Song"" --The Commodores - ""Sweet Love"" & ""Slippery When Wet"" --Midnight Special salute to Yes --Hit of the Week: ""Teach Your Children"" by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
31. Host: Helen Reddy
Aired 11 June 1976 âą 90 min
Helen Reddy (host) - ""You Are a Song,"" ""No One Told Me"" & ""I Am Woman"" --David Brenner (comedian) - comedy segment with Helen Reddy --Fleetwood Mac - ""Rhiannon,"" ""Why"" (1974 song) & ""Over My Head"" --Dorothy Moore - ""Misty Blue"" & ""Funny How Time Slips Away"" --Gary Wright - ""My Love Is Alive,"" ""Dream Weaver"" & ""Can't Find the Judge"" --Midnight Special tribute to Paul Anka (2-part salute with clips from past performances) --Plus, a demonstration of the latest disco dances
33. Host: Natalie Cole
Aired 25 June 1976
Natalie Cole (host) - ""Sophisticated Lady,"" ""Keep Smiling,"" ""Touch Me"" & ""No Plans for the Future"" --The Captain and Tennille - ""Shop Around"" & ""Lonely Night (Angel Face),"" --Billy Crystal (comedian) - stand-up comedy monologue (re: compaires NY to California; Disneyland) --Electric Light Orchestra - ""Strange Magic"" & ""Evil Woman"" --Sonny James - medley of his hats --Sonny James with Pratt and McClain - ""Devil with a Blue Dress"" --Pratt and McClain - ""Happy Days"" --Midnight Special tribute to Jethro Tull (with taped interview of band leader, Ian Anderson) Clips of Jethro Tull are also shown during the closing credits
34. Host: Glen Campbell
Aired 2 July 1976
Glen Campbell - ""Don't Pull Your Love,"" ""Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye,"" ""Bloodline"" & ""By the Time I Get to Phoenix"" --Glen Campbell and George Benson - ""Affirmation"" --Glen Campbell and Dorothy Moore - ""Funny How Time Slips Away"" --Glen Campbell and Jim Stafford - ""Everybody Wants to Boogie"" --George Benson - ""This Masquerade"" & ""Breezin'"" --Stephen Cohn - ""American Cheese"" & ""Sunshine for You"" --Dorothy Moore - ""Misty Blue"" --Jim Stafford - ""Wildwood Weed"" & ""Star Spangled Banner"" routine (Jim does impressions of Jonny Cash & Charley Pride) --Midnight Special tribute to Donovan (filmed interview, performance clips of some of his songs) --Hit of the Week: ""Big Yellow Taxi"" by Joni Michell
35. Host: Rita Coolidge
Aired 9 July 1976
Rita Coolidge (host) - ""I Feel the Burden"" ""Hula Hoop,"" ""Taking It All in Stride"" ""Yellow Beach Umbrella"" --Rita Coolidge and Willie Nelson - ""Will the Circle Be Unbroken"" (another source lists ""Goodnight Irene"") --Rita Coolidge and Jackie DeShannon - ""I Wanted It All"" --Rita Coolidge, Booker T. Huffman, Willie Nelson and Jackie DeShannon - ""Amazing Grace"" and ""The Midnight Special"" --Booker T. Huffman (of Booker T and the MG's) - ""Time Is Tight"" & ""Tie Stick"" & ""Time Is Tight"" --Jackie DeShannon - ""All Night Desire"" & ""Boat to Sail"" --Willie Nelson - ""If You've Got the Money, Honey (I've Got the Time),"" ""Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain"" and a medley (""Funny How Time Slips Away"" and ""Night Life"") --Midnight Special salute to Leadbelly (with old film clips of Leadbelly & scenes from the movie ""Leadbelly"
37. Hosts: The Spinners
Aired 23 July 1976
The Spinners (hosts) - ""Wake Up Susan,"" ""Games People Play,"" ""It's a Shame"" & ""Love or Leave"" --The Captain and Tennille - ""Shop Around""& ""The Wedding Song (There Is Love)"" --Eric Carmen - ""Never Gonna Fall in Love Again"" & ""All By Myself"" --Henry Gross - ""Shannon,"" ""Springtime Mama"" & ""Southern Band"" --Starbuck - ""Moonlight Feels Right"" & ""I Got to Know"" --Midnight Special salute to Jim Croce
38. Host: David Brenner
Aired 30 July 1976
David Brenner (host) - introduces other guests and does comedy monologues --George Benson - ""This Masquerade"" & ""Breezin'"" --Hot Chocolate - ""You Sexy Thing"" & ""Brother Louie"" --Phoebe Snow - ""Poetry Man"" & ""Harpo's Blues"" --The Sylvers - ""Boogie Fever,"" ""Free Style"" & ""Cotton Candy"" --Gary Wright - ""My Love is Alive"" & ""Dream Weaver"
39. Host: James Brown
Aired 6 August 1976
James Brown - ""Sex Machine,"" ""Get Up Offa That Thing,"" ""Try Me,"" ""A Man's World"" & ""Everybody Wanna Get Funky One More Time"" --Peter Frampton - ""Baby I Love Your Way"" --Rhythm Heritage - ""Baretta's Theme (Keep Your Eye on the Sparrow)"" --Seals & Crofts - ""Get Closer"" & ""Goodbye Old Buddies"" --J.D. Souther - ""Black Rose,"" ""Banging My Head Against the Moon"" & ""Silver Blue"" --Midnight Special salute to Alice Cooper (2-part tribute) --Music video: Elton John and Kiki Dee - ""Don't Go Breakin' My Heart""
40. Host: Paul Williams
Aired 11 June 1976
Paul Williams (host) - ""Life Goes On,"" ""Time and Tide"" & ""Traveling Boy"" --The Brothers Johnson - ""I'll Be Good to You"" & ""Get the Funk out Ma Face"" --Anthony Newley - ""Teach the Children,"" ""What Kind of Fool Am I?"" & ""The Man Who Makes You Laugh"" --Vicki Sue Robinson - ""Turn the Beat Around"" & ""Wonderland of Love"" --Candi Staton - ""Young Hearts Run Free"" & ""Run to Me"" --Midnight Special salute to Jackie Wilson --Queen (music video) - ""You're My Best Friend""
42. Host: Jimmie Walker
Aired 27 August 1976
-Jimmie Walker (host) --Lynn Anderson - medley (""Rose Garden,"" ""Top of the World"" and ""Cry"") & ""Gone At Last"" --Elvin Bishop - ""Struttin' My Stuff"" --Cate Brothers - ""Union Man"" & ""Can't Change My Heart"" --1st National Rotagilla Band - ""Rotagilla Chorus"" & ""I Feel Like Singing"" --Henry Gross - ""Springtime Mama"" & ""Southern Band"" --Johnnie Taylor - ""Disco Lady"" & ""Somebody's Gettin' It"" --Midnight Special salute: Neil Sedaka
43. Host: Aretha Franklin
Aired 10 September 1976
Aretha Franklin (host) - ""Respect,"" ""Sparkle"" (theme from the movie) & ""Mr. D.J."" --Aretha Franklin does impressions of Billy Holiday (""Easy to Remember""); Gladys Knight (""Midnight Train to Georgia"") and Diana Ross (""Ain't No Mountain High Enough"") --Bob Greenberg persents Aretha with a gold album for ""Sparkle"" --Lou Rawls - ""You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine,"" ""Groovy People"" & ""This Song Will Last Forever"" --The Marshall Tucker Band - ""Long Hard Ride,"" ""Fire on the Mountain"" & ""Searchin' for a Rainbow"" --The Movies - ""Dancin' on Ice"" --Midnight Special salute to Paul Williams
44. Host: Neil Sedaka
Aired 4 June 1976
-Neil Sedaka (host) - ""Steppin' Out,"" ""Love in the Shadows,"" ""Good Times Good Music Good Friends,"" ""You Gotta make Your Own Sunshine,"" ""Teach Your Children"" & ""Number One Heartache"" --Neil Sedaka and Kim Carnes - ""Perfect Strangers"" --Eric Carmen - ""Never Gonna Fall in Love Again"" & ""All By Myself"" --Kim Carnes - ""You're Part of Me"" & ""Nothing Makes Me Feel as Good as a Love Song"" --The Commodores - ""Sweet Love"" & ""Slippery When Wet"" --Midnight Special salute to Yes --Hit of the Week: ""Teach Your Children"" by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young