In 1973, the producer Burt Sugarman launched The Midnight Special, a weekly 90-minute televised music program which followed the popular Tonight Show, starring Johnny Carson. The Special, which ran until 1981 and was hosted by the legendary DJ Wolfman Jack, was unique in several respects, most notably for its wide diversity of artists. If you were a teenager or young adult in the 1970s, watching the Special on Friday nights often provided the gateway to discovery of new artists or the first chance to see your favorite artists live.
Among the many terrific acts that appeared on the Special that debut year were The Spinners, who had just released their first #1 album, Spinners. The band’s live performance of their hit single, “Could It Be I’m Falling In Love,” made clear that they were the complete R&B entertainment package: tight, multi-layered harmonies, silky-smooth dance steps, and the comforting, mellifluous lead vocals of the ever-so-debonair Bobbie Smith.
Enjoy.
By Robb Patryk