The ‘Midnight Special’ Coming To DVD In September [VIDEO]

I have fond memories of The Midnight Special, and all the amazing performances I got to witness on the late-night  variety show. Created by Bert Sugarman, and hosted (usually) by Wolfman Jack, the show was a way to see the biggest names in rock, pop and comedy stars performing in front of a live audience.

Many music lovers not born at the time will soon have a chance to experience these performances as well. The Midnight Special ran form 1972 to 1981, on NBC and is coming to DVD which will be available next month.

The largest of these, an 11-DVD set called The Midnight Special Collector's Edition, will be sold exclusively online at MidnightSpecialDVDs.com. The package, which lists for $99.95, can be pre-ordered now and will be shipped starting on September 8.

Among the many famous rock acts featured in the collection are Aerosmith, The Bee Gees, Blondie, Captain & Tennille, Jim Croce, John Denver, The Doobie Brothers, Earth, Wind & Fire, Electric Light Orchestra, Fleetwood Mac, Peter Frampton, Marvin Gaye, Heart, KC and the Sunshine Band, Gordon Lightfoot, Linda Ronstadt, Steely Dan and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. The set also offers a disc of stand-up comedy from Richard Pryor, Billy Crystal, George Carlin, Andy Kaufman, Steve Martin and Freddie Prinze; a variety of featurettes; and interviews with such stars as Frampton, Eddie Money, Helen Reddy, Loggins & Messina, Todd Rundgren, REO Speedwagon's Kevin Cronin and Neil Sedaka.

In addition to the Collector's Edition, a six-DVD set titled The Midnight Special Collection and a single-disc release called, simply, The Midnight Special will be sold via retail outlets beginning on September 9. These package are available for the respective list prices of $59.95 and $12.95.

Here is just a sampling of the performances featured on The Midnight Special Collector's Edition:

"Dream On" -- Aerosmith

"Nights on Broadway" -- The Bee Gees

"Bad, Bad Leroy Brown" -- Jim Croce

"Take Me Home, Country Roads" -- John Denver

"Leaving on a Jet Plane" -- John Denver & Cass Elliot

"Listen to the Music" -- The Doobie Brothers

"Shining Star" -- Earth, Wind & Fire

"Evil Woman" -- Electric Light Orchestra/

"Over My Head" -- Fleetwood Mac/

"Show Me the Way" -- Peter Frampton

"Takes Two to Tango" -- Aretha Franklin & Ray Charles

"Let's Get It On" -- Marvin Gaye

"Crazy on You" -- Heart

"That's the Way (I Like It)" -- KC and the Sunshine Band

"Lady Marmalade" -- LaBelle

"Sundown" -- Gordon Lightfoot

"I Am Woman" -- Helen Reddy

"To Love Somebody" -- Helen Reddy & The Bee Gees

"Keep on Loving You" -- REO Speedwagon

"When Will I Be Loved" -- Linda Ronstadt

"Breezin'" -- Carlos Santana & George Benson

"Love Will Keep Us Together" -- Neil Sedaka with Captain & Tenille

"American Girl" -- Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers