Midnight Special

Filmed 11 October 1976
Location Los Angeles, (not New York), USA
Broadcast Friday 29 October 1976 at 1am (EST) on Channel 4 (NBC); 5 (or 4th?!) February 1977; 4 March 1977 & 13 May 1977
Released This performance has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Notes ABBA recorded Midnight Special before their visit to Canada and was probably the first thing they did in Los Angeles ie. before Dinah Shore and Don Kirshner's Rock Concert.

It would appear that ABBA performed four songs during their October 1976 visit to the Midnight Special studios.  Their performances would then be shown in various episodes as follows:-

29th October 1976
According to the VH1 book, "The Midnight Special 1972-1981" this show was hosted by KC and the Sunshine Band and it was episode 193 of Season 4 in 1976.  (Another source claims this was Episode 181 in Season 5). Performances:
KC & the Sunshine Band - "(Shake Shake Shake) Shake Your Booty," "That's the Way (I Like It)," "Get Down Tonight" & "Baby I Love You (Yes I Do)"
ABBA - Fernando (LIVE)
ABBA - Mamma Mia (LIVE) and
ABBA - SOS (LIVE)
The Bay City Rollers - "I Only Want to Be with You," "Saturday Night" & "Rock 'n' Roller"
-Billy Braver (comedian)
Rick Dees & His Cast of Idiots - "Disco Duck"
Midnight Special salute to Gladys Knight & the Pips 

5th February 1977 (Another source claims 4th February)
(episode 205, hosted by Glen Campbell).  (Another source claims this was Episode 192 of Season 5). Show Stars: Wolfman Jack (Announcer & frequent host).  Performances:
Glen Campbell (host) - "Southern Nights"
On film: A clip from the Barbra Streisand movie "A Star Is Born"
Queen - "Somebody to Love" (probably a music video)
Seals & Crofts with Glen Campbell - "Dust on My Saddl
Fernando (LIVE)
David Dundas - "Jeans On"
Glen Campbell - "Sunflower" (or "For Crying' Out Loud")
Midnight Special salute to the Spinners with clips from past performances, medley of hits: "Mighty Love," "It's A Shame," "One of a Kind Love Affair" & "Rubberband Man."
Dancing Queen
Sly and the Family Stone - "Heard Ya Missed Me Well I'm Back"
Seals & Crofts - "Goodbye Old Buddies"
Glen Campbell - "This Is (Sarah's Song)"
Glen Campbell - "God Only Knows" (or "Without You") & "Early Morning Song"
Sly and the Family Stone - "What Was I Thinkin' in My Head"
Seals & Crofts - "Cause You Love"
Glen Campbell thanks his guests and reprises "Southern Nights" (with closing credits)

4th March 1977
(episode 209) (Another source claims it was Episode 195 of Season 5)
Show Stars: Wolfman Jack (Announcer & frequent host).  Performances:
 KC & The Sunshine Band once again hosted. Show Stars: Wolfman Jack (Announcer & frequent host).  Performances:
KC & the Sunshine Band - "(Shake Shake Shake) Shake Your Booty"
Heart - "Magic Man"
Gordon Lightfoot (performance taped in Canada) - "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald"
On film: clips from "Rocky" starring Sylvester Stallone
ABBA - Dancing Queen
Jose Feliciano - "Every Woman"
KC & the Sunshine Band - "Get Down Tonight"
Gordon Lightfoot (on tape) - "Race Among the Ruins"
Andy Kaufman - sings "I Trusted You" in a comedy song routine
Jose Feliciano - "The Hungry Years"
Wolfman Jack presents Jose Feliciano with a "Best Guitar Player of the Year" award from "Guitar Magazine"
Heart - "Dreamboat Annie (Fantasy Child)"
KC & the Sunshine Band - "That's the Way (I Like It)"
Heart - "Crazy on You"
Heart - "White Lightning and Wine"
KC & the Sunshine Band - "Baby I Love You" (with closing credits)

13th May 1977
Wolfman Jack hosted a COMPILATION episode (Million sellers of 1977) on 13th May 1977 (this is the version most people seem to have on video, not the original broadcast episodes) with the same two performances from 5th February (ie. "Fernando" and "Dancing Queen").  This was Episode 203 from Season 5.  Performances:
Glen Campbell - "Southern Nights"
Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr. - "Your Love"
Natalie Cole - "I've Got Love on My Mind"
Manfred Mann's Earth Band - "Blinded By the Light"
ABBA - Dancing Queen
Heart - "Magic Man"
Mary MacGregor - "Town Between Two Lovers"
Stephen Bishop - "Save It for a Rainy Day"
Brick - "Dazz"
Manfred Mann's Earth Band - "Spirit in the Night"
ABBA - Fernando" (LIVE)
Stephen Bishop - "On and On"
Wolfman Jack closing comments
Manfred Mann's Earth Band - "Blinded By the Light" (reprise, with closing credits)
Also: Heart - "Crazy on You" 

 

           "Fernando (edit)"                     "Fernando" (extended)
 (If you're clever, you can play them both at the same time and spot the differences!)
    

              "Dancing Queen"                             "Mamma Mia"                                       "SOS"
      
 
Watch Out For "Fernando" - it has an extra two bars of instrumental break just before the second verse on some versions
"SOS" - rather than sing in unison with Agnetha for the chorus, (as on all the other live TV performances of this song), Frida sings a variation on the lower vocal line she sings on the original track.
Pictures Click on image for a larger view and to expand song:

Fernando

Dancing Queen

Mamma Mia

SOS

Related Links Midnight Special Episode List;
Credits

Thanks to Philip Muytjens, Jozsef, Yuri, Dean Morrison, Matti Crocker, Carl Magnus Palm, Slavek Kwaniewski, Lendy, Sam Shervz and David Schrubba
YouTube links c/o qmebtcsamy, balverid, 7ABBA7and bhjsa20