The Midnight Special

Background

"The Midnight Special" is an album track on Willy And the Poor Boys, the fourth long-player of Creedence Clearwater Revival. 

This rough folk blues is supposed to originate among prisoners in the American South. The traditional song is historically performed from the viewpoint of the prisoner. The title refers to the passenger train.

As a kid, John Fogerty attended Berkeley Folk Festival where Pete Seeger exposed a film of Lead Belly performing "Cotton Fields" and "The Midnight Special" (Eric Alper, Interview with John Fogerty, That Eric Alper, January 19th, 2015). 

Equipment

John Fogerty used a Gibson Les Paul Custom guitar in the recording session. He tuned his guitar down one step straight across the board, 6th to 1st string DGCFAD. He was playing an E, and it came out D. 

Live versions

The first documented Creedence Clearwater concert with "The Midnight Special" in the selist was played at Oakland Arena on January 31st, 1970. The show was released on the live album The Concert 11 years later. The TV version of the Oakland show was exposed In Concert series in 1971. 

Creedence Clearwater performed the song regularly as a quartet in 1970 but the trio didn't touch it in 1971 and 1972. The concert at Royal Albert Hall in London, UK, was filmed by TVR for the BBC but it was never screened in England. 

Solo artist John Fogerty played the folk blues for the first time live at Vets Rousing Home concert on July 4th, 1987. After beginning regular touring in spring 1997, he has performed it in practically each show. That's why it's surprising that it hasn't ended up on any of the three concert DVDs John Fogerty has released.

In the movies

Creedence Clearwater Revival's version appears in the film Twilight Zone: The Movie (1983) as a motif during the prologue and epilogue which also features the last words of the film: "I love 'em, Creedence."

Critical reception

"--- there's really nothing special about that song but I love it for the tasteful guitar/vocals arrangement and the steady, catchy beat." -George Starostin. 

"Both "Cotton Fields" and "The Midnight Special" have been transformed into CCR songs but still retain what made the originals strong. John Fogerty overdubbed his vocals several times in both songs to create a chorus sound that greatly adds to the tracks. The songs have a distinct soul sound to them which differentiates them from the other songs on the album." -Jimmy, Sputnik Music, April 19th, 2006. 

Fans' views

"Lot of sentimental value-used to warm up to it before football games ... it really helped me think about what needed to be done, I guess that's kinda weird."

"Was great in the Twilight Zone the movie ... it made the scene it was in awesome."

"One of the best moody songs ever."

previous | next