The Midnight Special

LP mono RCA LPM2449
LP stereo RCA LSP2449
LP stereo RCA ANL1-2324
LP Victor RA-5085
LP Victor SHP-5062
LP RCA-5121
LP RCA CDS6022
LP RCA RD27262
Reel to Reel: RCA FTP1108
see also CD29454

And on the CD box RGMCD071

Recorded in 1962.
Ernie Calabria, guitar, Millard Thomas, guitar, Norman Keenan, bass, Percy Brice, drums, Danny Barrajanos, drums, Don Lamond, drums, Joe Wilder, trumpet solo, Jerome Richardson, saxophone, Bob Dylan, harmonica
Accompanying song book HERE.

A1 Midnight Special # 3:55
A2 Crawdad Song # 3:32
A3 Memphis Tennessee # 4:53
A4 Gotta Travel On # 4:20
A5

Did You Hear About Jerry #

2:52
B1 On Top Of Old Smokey # 5:54
B2 Muleskinner # 3:26
B3 Makes A Long Time Man Feel Bad # 5:40
B4 Michael Row The Boat Ashore # 3:54

Known to rock collectors as being the first album to feature Bob Dylan (he plays harmonica on the title track), The Midnight Special is also a record that best exemplifies Harry Belafonte's uniqueness as a recording artist. Belafonte's main strength as a performer has been his ability to effect unique interpretations of traditional material. Combining blues, big band, gospel, and soul, Belafonte utilizes mainly traditional material on one of his best programmed albums of the sixties. The folk warhorse "On Top of Old Smokey" becomes a bluesy, supercharged six-minute epic which generates excitement as it increases in intensity, only to fade away in its denouement. "Muleskinner" is country music legend Jimmie Rodgers' "Blue Yodel No. 8," made all the more exciting by the Belafonte Folk Singers' whistles, shouts, and slaps. Other highlights include "Makes a Long Time Man Feel Bad," a prison work song transformed into an after hours blues and the folk standard "Crawdad Song," which becomes a rousing big band stomp.
~ Cary Ginell, All Music Guide
 

ANL1-2324 front

ANL1-2324 back

RD27262 front

RD27262 back
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CDS-1100