The Midnight Special, October 18, 2026

By Marilyn Rea Beyer |

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Playlist

  1. Lead Belly: The Midnight Special THEME (excerpt 1); Lead Belly; Midnight Special; RCA Victor LPV-505
  2. Tom Paxton: “The Pizza That Ate Chicago”; Tom Paxton; Your Shoes, My Shoes; Red House RHR 152
  3. Mim Eichmann & Doug Lofstrom: I Love Pizza; Mim Eichmann & Doug Lofstrom; Why Do Ducks Have Webby Toes?; Mim Eichmann & Doug Lofstrom 00261 40008
  4. Harley String Band: Thank You For Calling PizzaCo; Harley String Band; Didn’t Come to Stay Long; Harley String Band 00261 24748
  5. Dan Bern: Pope Deep Dish; Dan Bern; single; danbern.com 05.09.25
  6. Rev. Robert Jones, Sr.: Lightnin’s Barack Obama Blues; Rev. Robert Jones, Sr.; Folkstage: Rev. Robert Jones, Sr. & Matt Watroba, Disc 2; WFMT Folkstage 10.29.2016
  7. Susan Werner: Big Car; Susan Werner; New Non-Fiction; Susan Werner S. W. 6566134372
  8. Eric Bibb: Pink Dream Cadillac; Eric Bibb; Blues People; Stony Plain SPCD 1379
  9. Steve Goodman: “Lincoln Park Pirates”; Steve Goodman; Live at the Earl of Old Town; Red Pajamas RPJ-017
  10. Richard J. Daley: Press Conference on the Riots at the Democratic Convention; Richard J. Daley; Great Speeches of the 20th Century, Disc 4; Rhino World Beat RWB 70567 4
  11. Steve Goodman: “Daley’s Gone” (Trad./Goodman); Steve Goodman; Say It In Private; Red Pajamas RPJ-012CD
  12. David Olney: Dillinger; David Olney; Through a Glass Darkly; Philo CD PH 1224
  13. Laurie Lewis & Tom Rozum: Millionaire (Olney); Laurie Lewis & Tom Rozum; The Oak and the Laurel; Rounder CD 0340
  14. The Empty Pockets: Dear Billionaires; The Empty Pockets; Dear Billionaires; theemptypockets.bandcamp.com 10.23.2026
  15. Allan Sherman: You Went the Wrong Way, Old King Louie; Allan Sherman; My Son, The Box: Disc 2; Rhino Handmade RHM2 7891-2
  16. Jeb Brown, Erik Della Penna, and the Dead Outlaw band: Dead; Jeb Brown, Erik Della Penna, and the Dead Outlaw band; Dead Outlaw – Audible.com Soundtrack; Audible.com 7.17.2025
  17. Cosy Sheridan: I Cannot Wish That Man Well; Cosy Sheridan; single; cosysheridan.com 10.10.2026
  18. Jenny Bienemann: Worst Enemy (Bienemann/Wilson); Jenny Bienemann; Good Times Come Again; jennybienemann.com 10.2026
  19. Andrew Beyer: “The Midnight Special – Melodica”; Andrew Beyer; Midnight Special Collection; Midnight Special Collection AABeyer/MS 005
  20. Memphis Minnie: In My Girlish Days; Memphis Minnie; Blues Guitar Women, Disk 2; Ruf Records 1110 Disk 2
  21. Susan Werner Band: “Chicago Any Day”; Susan Werner Band; Live at the Center for the Arts in Natick; Sleeve Dog 8 84501 59423 3 Disk 2
  22. Michael Smith: The Dutchman talk and song; Studs Terkel & Michael Smith; Studs Terkel Archives: 8.15.88 Michael Smith re: The Grapes of Wrath; WFMT Studs Terkel Archives 8.15.88
  23. Chuck Berry: The Dutchman; Chuck Berry; Chuck; Dualtone 80 302-01793-25
  24. Chuck Berry: Johnny B. Goode; Chuck Berry; Johnny B. Goode/Around & Around 7″ 45RPM single; Chess 1691
  25. Steve Goodman: You Never Even Call Me By My Name (Goodman/Prine); Steve Goodman; Steve Goodman; Buddah 7446599625 2
  26. John Mulaney: The Phone Used to Be A Wooden Box; John Mulaney; Kid Gorgeous At Radio City; Drag City DC724CD
  27. Dave Carter: 236-6132; Dave Carter & Tracy Grammer; Drum Hat Buddha; Drum Hat Buddha Signature/SIG 1266
  28. Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen: Rikki Don’t Lose That Number (Steely Dan); Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen; If You Can’t Stand The Heat; Fiddlemon Music 7 4720 2
  29. Tret Fure: My First Guitar; Tret Fure; Stone by Stone; Tomboy Girl Records Tomboy Girl 2020
  30. Joni Harms: Catalog Dreams; Joni Harms; Cowgirl Dreams; Warner Western 9 47119-2
  31. AJ Roach: Sears & Roebuck Suit; AJ Roach; Revelation; Waterbug Records 7 5311400782 2
  32. Ryan Burns: Tall, Tall Towers; Ryan Burns; Just Keep Growing; rburnsmusic.bandcamp.com 10.23.2026
  33. Scott Cook: Something to Do with Love; Scott Cook; Troubadourly Yours; Groove Revival GRP010
  34. Colby Maddox: “The Midnight Special – fiddle”; Colby Maddox; Midnight Special Collection; Midnight Special Collection CMaddox/MS 009
  35. Beyond The Stars: I Winter in Chicago; Beyond The Stars; One Planet; www.beyondthestars.band 1.18.2024
  36. Robert Johnson: “Sweet Home Chicago”; Robert Johnson; Martin Scorsese Presents the Blues: Robert Johnson; Martin Scorsese Presents the Blues: Robert Johnson/Columbia Legacy CK90494
  37. David Ackles: American Gothic; David Ackles; American Gothic; Collectors’ Choice Music CCM-311-2
  38. Jamie O’Reilly: Waving to Picasso (Smith); Jamie O’Reilly; Swimming Deeper; Bird Avenue BA003
  39. The Volcano Brothers: Stompin’ the Uke; The Volcano Brothers; Under the Light of the Hilo Moon; volcanobrothers.bandcamp 9.25.2026
  40. Jimmy Buffett: Volcano Song; Jimmy Buffett; Songs You Know By Heart; MCA 5633
  41. Aliotta, Haynes and Jeremiah: “Lake Shore Drive”; Aliotta, Haynes and Jeremiah; Lake Shore Drive; QSCD QSCD-1019
  42. Ellen Jenkins & Chorus: Chicago, It’s the People; Ellen Jenkins & Chorus; Come Dance By the Ocean; Smithsonian Folkways SFW45014_104
  43. Special Consensus: Chicago Barn Dance (Raines, Buller, Brown); Special Consensus; Chicago Barn Dance; Compass 7 4756 2
  44. Birds of Chicago: Barley; Birds of Chicago; Real Midnight; Five Head Entertainment FHE009
  45. Donna Herula: Things Can Change; Donna Herula; Cold Feet; Donna Herula DH004
  46. James Curley: When the Universe Throws You a Bone; James Curley; Mortal; jamescurley.com 9.15.2026
  47. Jenny Bienemann: Oh, Sunshine; Jenny Bienemann; Good Times Come Again; jennybienemann.com 10.2026
  48. Mandy Patinkin: “I’ll Be Seeing You”; Mandy Patinkin; Mandy Patinkin; CBS Mandy Patinkin / MK 44943
  49. Laura Love: I Still Believe (Unplugged); Laura Love; She Loved Red; Laura Love 88295 68276
  50. Andrew Beyer: “The Midnight Special – cigar box slide”; Andrew Beyer; Midnight Special Collection; Midnight Special Collection AABeyer/MS 004