It’s time for a way back playback on Burt Sugarman’s Midnight Special. You may remember this American late-night musical variety series that first broadcasted on NBC during the 1970s and 1980s, produced and hosted by Burt Sugarman. If you don’t remember, this was a 90-minute segment that became a hit. It aired Friday nights after The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, and it’s where plenty of rock bands got their foot in the door into the music industry. Famous bands ABBA, Journey, and Dolly Parton, to name a few, got to play. Even top-notch comedians Richard Pryor, Andy Kaufman, and George Carlin appeared live on air.
Linda Ronstadt, considered to be one of the most popular, outlasting and successful rock singers of the 1970s, also made an appearance on Burt’s show. She was known for her rock ‘n roll image and vocal range that embodied strength and many styles.
Linda grew up surrounded by many styles of music, including Mexican music, among many more like gospel, rhythm and blues, opera and country. Following her passion for music, at 18-years-old she moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career, and carve one out she did! Some of her biggest singles included “Blue Bayou,” “Hurts So Bad,” and in this video, we get to see her perform her biggest #1 country hit “You’re No Good.” She’s on the Midnight Special in 1973, ready to give it her all.
Fun fact: this song was performed two years before she released it on her album “Heart Like a Wheel,” already garnering acclaim way before she recorded it on vinyl!
The host leads her in with an introduction, and we are brought to the stage where she’s on the mic, with a full band and two backup singers behind her. The footage is wonderfully grainy and vintage, and brings us back in time to an era of bellbottoms, collared floral shirts and long hair, giving it that blast from the past, groovy vibe. It is from the seventies after all, and it’s wonderful.
Linda treats everyone to a real and grassroots performance (at least by today’s standards, anyway) where the band is on point (notice the bongo drums?), helping to carry Linda’s voice alongside the soulful backup. Right from the get-go, she sings with heart and starts low, her voice resonating as she slowly builds up momentum.
By the chorus, the singer is warmed up, throwing her voice a little more to show off her range. The band takes over for the instrumental interlude, and then Linda joins back in with a vengeance, unleashing her voice full on and really showing us what she’s got. Hitting her hip with the tambourine, she and the band eventually start to taper off, closing down one heck of a nostalgic and catchy song.
Click on the video below to see the performance for yourself.
