Come join me for a very special edition of If I Could Blog Back Time Thursdays! We'll be taking time out to share some memories. We'll Blog Back Time with possible ways to right past wrongs or about how times have changed. We'll share childhood memories, school/work memories, family and friend memories.Today's topic is: Favorite Music Related Television Show
By that I mean, the one that featured the top acts of your time. What were your favorite artists that you saw on that show? Before I age myself and tell you mine, can you guess what the longest running 'music related television program' was? Make your guess, then I'll tell you what mine is and at the end I'll give the answer.
I grew up in the 1970's, graduated in 1979. My Friday nights were devoted to THE MIDNIGHT SPECIAL. Saturday mornings, it was AMERICAN BANDSTAND and then after that SOUL TRAIN.
My favorite though had to be THE MIDNIGHT SPECIAL. They definitely had a wide cross section of acts, both music and comedy. Where else could you see John Denver, Harry Chapin, Paul Williams, Ray Charles, The Bee Gees, Jose Feliciano, Joan Baez, Loretta Lynn, David Bowie, Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show, Steve Miller, George Carlin, Frankie Avalon, The Kinks, Randy Newman, Tom Jones, ELO, BOA, EWF, Herb Alpert, Barry Manilow, KISS, Peter Frampton, Fleetwood Mac, Wild Cherry, KC & The Sunshine Band, Judy Collins, The Bay City Rollers, The Captain & Tennille, Kenny Rodgers, Shaun Cassidy, Donna Summer, Rick Nelson, England Dan & John Ford Coley, Martin Mull, Eddie Money, Leo Sayer, REO Speedwagon, Dolly Parton, The Cars, Ted Nugent, The Village People, Alice Cooper, The Beach Boys, Journey, Suzi Quatro, LRB, The Commodores, Christopher Cross, Cher, Andy Kaufman, AC/DC, Rod Stewart, Melissa Manchester, Bread, Joni Mitchell, Starland Vocal Band, CCR, War, Steely Dan, Golden Earring, Heart, Elton John, Aerosmith, Billy Joel, ABBA. This isn't even a complete list (My favorites are in red, and some are quite embarrassing to admit). Here's a blast from the past from the show:
Got your guess on the longest running 'music related television program'?
Here's the stats:
1964-2006 TOP OF THE POPS (BBC).
1965-2006 SOUL TRAIN.
1952-1989 AMERICAN BANDSTAND.
1972-1981 THE MIDNIGHT SPECIAL.
1980-1988 Solid Gold. Remember the Solid Gold Dancers?
1979 1987, 2003 Dance Fever. Remember Deney Terrio?
1981 - Present MTV.
1984 - 1988 Puttin’ on The Hits.
1986 - 1992 Dance Party USA.
1985 - Present VH1. (Remember VH1's Pop-up Videos? and VH1's Behind The Music?)
(**MTV and VH1 no longer play the relentless number of music videos they did back in the day. Sad, because some of them were so bad, they were entertaining just for the "bad" factor.)
Don’t forget to visit the other participants! It’s a great way to make new bloggy friends!
I grew up in the 1970's, graduated in 1979. My Friday nights were devoted to THE MIDNIGHT SPECIAL. Saturday mornings, it was AMERICAN BANDSTAND and then after that SOUL TRAIN.
My favorite though had to be THE MIDNIGHT SPECIAL. They definitely had a wide cross section of acts, both music and comedy. Where else could you see John Denver, Harry Chapin, Paul Williams, Ray Charles, The Bee Gees, Jose Feliciano, Joan Baez, Loretta Lynn, David Bowie, Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show, Steve Miller, George Carlin, Frankie Avalon, The Kinks, Randy Newman, Tom Jones, ELO, BOA, EWF, Herb Alpert, Barry Manilow, KISS, Peter Frampton, Fleetwood Mac, Wild Cherry, KC & The Sunshine Band, Judy Collins, The Bay City Rollers, The Captain & Tennille, Kenny Rodgers, Shaun Cassidy, Donna Summer, Rick Nelson, England Dan & John Ford Coley, Martin Mull, Eddie Money, Leo Sayer, REO Speedwagon, Dolly Parton, The Cars, Ted Nugent, The Village People, Alice Cooper, The Beach Boys, Journey, Suzi Quatro, LRB, The Commodores, Christopher Cross, Cher, Andy Kaufman, AC/DC, Rod Stewart, Melissa Manchester, Bread, Joni Mitchell, Starland Vocal Band, CCR, War, Steely Dan, Golden Earring, Heart, Elton John, Aerosmith, Billy Joel, ABBA. This isn't even a complete list (My favorites are in red, and some are quite embarrassing to admit). Here's a blast from the past from the show:
Got your guess on the longest running 'music related television program'?
Here's the stats:
1964-2006 TOP OF THE POPS (BBC).
1965-2006 SOUL TRAIN.
1952-1989 AMERICAN BANDSTAND.
1972-1981 THE MIDNIGHT SPECIAL.
1980-1988 Solid Gold. Remember the Solid Gold Dancers?
1979 1987, 2003 Dance Fever. Remember Deney Terrio?
1981 - Present MTV.
1984 - 1988 Puttin’ on The Hits.
1986 - 1992 Dance Party USA.
1985 - Present VH1. (Remember VH1's Pop-up Videos? and VH1's Behind The Music?)
(**MTV and VH1 no longer play the relentless number of music videos they did back in the day. Sad, because some of them were so bad, they were entertaining just for the "bad" factor.)
Don’t forget to visit the other participants! It’s a great way to make new bloggy friends!
IF YOU SEE THAT MR. LINKY APPEARS TO NOT BE WORKING, PLEASE POST A LINK TO YOUR "FAVORITE MUSIC RELATED TELEVISION SHOW" IN THE COMMENTS TO MAKE SURE WE ARE AWARE OF YOUR PARTICIPATION. THANK YOU!
PLEASE PUT THE LINK TO YOUR "FAVORITE MUSIC RELATED TELEVISION SHOW".
MR LINKY IS ONLY FOR PARTICIPANTS.
ANY OTHER LINKS WILL BE REMOVED!
PLEASE PUT THE LINK TO YOUR "FAVORITE MUSIC RELATED TELEVISION SHOW".
MR LINKY IS ONLY FOR PARTICIPANTS.
ANY OTHER LINKS WILL BE REMOVED!
Lola's Diner
©2008-2009
©2008-2009
I remember watching MTV when I was a kid. Now when my daughter watches music videos on TV I wonder what I was so excited about then. :o)
ReplyDeleteOh, my gawd, Midnight Special was AWESOME! And I have a particular nostalgic affinity for the early days of MTV, back in 82-83 when they were just starting out. I worked at a pizza restaurant on campus, and we had the only satellite TV at the time. We used to watch MTV for HOURS.
ReplyDeleteI confess also to loving VH1 Pop-Up Videos and Behind the Music. I really miss BtM. I wish they'd do more . . .
Thanks for dropping by my blog! This is an AWESOME idea!
ReplyDeleteYou and I are about the same age. I am, of course, younger--but that doesn't matter here, does it??! ;)
ReplyDeleteI graduated in '81. Not much younger--but younger just the same.
I liked Midnight Special, but my big place for new artists was Saturday Night Live. I remember to this day, Elvis Costello coming on stage--I was floored! I love him to this day.
My guilty pleasure and my honest-to-goodness first intro to music on TV was The Partridge Family. Ooooh, David Cassidy! You know, I STILL have my albums. And no, you may not borrow them to get even with Drummer Boy.
Now I'm up. My If you could Blog by time is on my site. Enjoy
ReplyDeleteMy guess for the longest running is American Band Stand. I do remember watching Soul train also. Mom kept us busy so TV wacthing was at a premium:-)
ReplyDeleteI watched American Bandstand but I will up the corniness level...
ReplyDeleteDoes the Carol Burnett Show count?
I LOVED that show....
nice and easy......lol.
ReplyDeleteOh, i gave you an award on my new blog...http://specialneedsinmunchkinland.blogspot.com/
Solid Gold was one of my favorite shows when I was a kid.
ReplyDelete@ Tammy - It was a really big deal back then. Now you just don't see new Music Videos anymore.
ReplyDelete@ JD - Lucky you! To be working, getting paid AND watching The Midnight Special.
@ Jamie - Thank you!
@ Lin - You're dating yourself back farther than me if you crushed on David Cassidy. I'm just saying...
@ Auntie E - I've been by already. Great post.
@ Auntie E - My guess was Soul Train, because it started so early in Chicago, but Top of the Pops (which I don't think I've ever seen) ran longer on the BBC.
@ Priscilla - I did enjoy the Carol Burnett Show too. They need to bring back that kind of show. It's way more enjoyable than these crappy reality shows.
@ John - Thank you so much!
@ Days of Whine & Noses - Solid Gold (1980-1988), Saturday nights. I forgot about that. And those Solid Gold Dancers, that was the height of cheesedom. Lol!
Love this posting!!!! I still listen to most of the bands you listed, we have a great classic rock radio station here. I also was Crazy about the Moody Blues, Chicago, and Seals and Crofts.
ReplyDeleteGroovy,I graduated in '79 too!giggle.
Hugs, Katherine
Anyone remember that show on USA....gosh I think it was called Dance Party?? I used to love watching that when I was a pre-teen.
ReplyDeletePop Up videos is another good one.
This was a very hard blog for me.. sheesh.. of course I read everyone's and it made me think of the great music of my childhood. I guess all things considered it was a great memory, hard post..
ReplyDeletebut keep it up Lola, I know it is hard but great idea...
Pop up video was one of my favorite shows in the 90's. It sill saddens me that VH1 and MTV have gone so far downhill with reality shows.
ReplyDeleteI use to love to watch MTV -- now well I don't know what happen. Thanks for coming by today.
ReplyDeleteLOL...Guess who has commented on my blog a whopping 89 times....
ReplyDeleteRemember SOOOOOOUUUUUULLLLL TRAIN? It use to come on rain out days or during the off season.
ReplyDeletejust stopping but to give you some comment love for june
ReplyDeleteI'm listening to the video you have on. I love Tina Turner! I don't really remember this show I was 3 when it started - lol. I do remember Sonny & Cher & Donny & Marie show. My family used to love those when they were on.
ReplyDeleteI had never seen Midnight Special. But thanks so much for sharing this. Loved the video :)
ReplyDeleteCOOLEST name/idea for a repeat. Blog back Time. WITH MY IDOL CHER!
ReplyDelete