It was 1972. NBC decided to take a plunge on a rock-and-roll variety show, The Midnight Special. The pilot aired on August 19, 1972. It was a surprise late night hit following The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. It became regularly scheduled programming in 1973.

I’m a heathen but it’s a holiday, so I decided to give the Sunday Dozen the day off and share this small piece of musical history with you.