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CAUTION: Check this out before buying the sampler DVD because it's probably an enrollment scheme.

Posted by Audiophilander (A) on December 3, 2006 at 01:36:42

In Reply to: Anyone get The Midnight Special DVD? posted by ArdRi on December 2, 2006 at 23:14:17:

This has been mentioned and discussed by the folks at TVShowsOnDVD.com (link to site below, but you'll have to navigate around to locate the Midnight Special information because I read this awhile back and I'm pretty sure that it is now archived elsewhere on the site).

This isn't a negative criticism of the content or the remastered quality, because it's quite good, even excellent, but the problem is that with an enrollment the costs go up after the initial purchase and, IMHO, not every year is desireable content-wise.

The best way to go it to search ebay DVD concert for individual listings of Midnight Special and then bid on specific discs with groups or performers you like. It ends up being much cheaper than subscribing and you'll get exactly what you want in high quality. For instance, I've picked up 1973 & 1974 Midnight Special DVDs from sellers at very reasonable prices without subscribing. Note: These are configured for stereo or remixed 5.1 as well; the sound and original 4:3 academy video is excellent, IMO. Best of all, little or no Wolfman Jack (at least that I've seen in the videos I've been watching)!

A bit of digression about about the concert program formula, which includes the weekly Don Kirshner's Rock Concert and monthly(?) In Concert series.

I caught The Midnight Special on and off throughout the 70's. Of the three concert oriented programs that were the precursors of MTV, Midnight Special was the weakest, IMHO. In Concert (on ABC as I recall), which often featured unfiltered live shows and documentaries on different groups was about the best followed closely by CBS's Don Kirshner's Rock Concert.

AFAIC, In Concert was the best and as luck would have it the first cancelled, if memory serves. Don Kirshner's Rock Concert followed closely on it's heels and lasted throughout the 70's, but mostly in reruns or limited syndication after the first three or four seasons; again, this is as memory serves as I was only able to catch these shows now and then due to college studies and *ahem* extracurricular activities.

Midnight Special on NBC was the last concert program to be introduced and as luck would have it, the most successful due to it's pretentiously unhip carnival approach which pandered more to the mainstream audience than to real rock fans. The program was more of a variety show, with comedians and nauseatingly unhip comments by guest hosts and the show's head guru cum DJ, Wolfman Jack. It's main failings however were it's general formula of airing 3 to 5 minute performances perfectly slotted for commercial breaks and, as the show progressed, it's increased reliance on pre-recorded, lip-sync'd performances.

The new Burt Sugarman Midnight Special discs are being touted as having ALL live segments (indeed some ARE, but not all) and there are quite a few memorable ones that are high calibre, even essential live performances (more live footage in the early years of the series; examples include Arrowsmith, Steely Dan, Doobie Brothers, Edgar Winter, etc.).

That said, other performances are clearly lip-sync'd or at least partially pre-recorded, so even in the series advertising promotion there is somewhat misleading information (There are several otherwise excellent segments from the '73 & '74 discs marred by overdubbing part or all of the performances; these include Argent & Golden Earring, the most glaring examples that come to mind).

Sorry about the digression, but I thought everyone should have some idea of what is on these discs before openning their wallets. Note: I still highly recommend seeking individual years of Midnight Special according to personal preferences (the earlier the better, IMO), but be aware of what you're getting into and avoid subscription unless you absolutely have to have everything from Burt Sugarman's Midnight Special archives; there are cheaper ways to obtain the years you want.

BTW, here's to hoping that someday In Concert and Don Kirshner's archives will also be made available for collector consuption; then we can all rejoice! :o)

AuPh

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