MIDNIGHT MAN / THE JAMES GANG

[basshenery]

Mary Sterpka has a gorgeous voice.

[sling3shot]

As much as I like the EAGLES.....I'll take these guys anytime.

[TFTDougrich]

A fav James Gang tune. Listen to Joe Walsh's "Second Hand Store" too

[flatgone]

I fucked your wife on my couch listening to this!

[sling3shot]

Joe walsh is great with the eagles....but give me "THE JAMES GANG" everytime.

[steed3902]

i dig this!!

[arai59]

I remember this from when I was in my teens Does it ever get old ? Not to me..........

[losenut6]

I listened to this band in my teens, still a classic today.......

[SarahGray07]

@rockman1754 Some of us kids had pretty neat parents who showed us what real music is :)

[Trixiekitsch2008]

I love Mary Measle's soaring vocals. Her vibrato is so pure and joyful.

[singer041756]

Also...Some of the comments I have seen give Me hope that there are some People out there that LOVE GREAT MUSIC ! Good to know in this Day and Age !

[singer041756]

This is one of the most amazing songs I have EVER heard..BAR NONE ! The credits on My Album show Dickey Betts and Warren Haynes co-wrote it with Joe...is that really true ?..If itis...that's GREAT !

[mhs513]

@singer041756

I doubt it's true. For one, Warren Haynes was born in '60 so he would've been 12 or 13 when this came out.

[BigMikeatChicago1]

I listened to this song when I was in Vietnam. I played it on my car cassette player (state of the art at that time) coming home from California to Chicago with my wife after being discharged in 1974. I remember playing Funk 49 while driving through the Rocky Mountains. I was in Jackson Hole Wyoming on my birthday, June 5, 1974. My wife Pamela gave me a pair of binoculars for my birthday. I still have them.

[Satchmoeddie]

@BigMikeatChicago1 Wow the cassette was almost as advanced as the 8 track FM converter! I remember those days. I was very young, but have memories from when I was very young of a pirate hippie commune radio station playing Hendrix's 1983 in a Colorado mountain valley very late one night, and my dad being non too impressed. We were stuck in a convoy of cars backed up by a forest fire (in the rain) waiting for hours until the road was deemed safe. Modern radio programming sucks!

[fatbowlingguy1]

@BigMikeatChicago1 thanks for your service im a marine vet of the nam dong ha khe shan phu bai  ,1/9 26 marines

[basssman]

@BigMikeatChicago1 That's an awesome story! I'm really curious to know what kind of car you were driving across states? B.T.W, Thanks for your service!

[alexandriabay1]

Nice to know that "WE OLDERS" (HAHA) really remember what great music is having been brought up with this. The song was on the THIRDS vinyl!!!! & it was the late sixties,67. 68,Joe Walsh is so cool even after all these years. And with the Eagles he was hilarious ,while watching the videos. Joe was also in a band named BARNSTORM & his solo albums rock too. Glad you responded.

[TheTangome]

omg, I'm cryin' from the joy of this song. Its so fine

[deweydell]

Great song....always has been...just heard it on Deep Tracks on Sirius Radio channel 16..3/28/2011.......that station plays some great stuff

[dldiroll]

I just heard the woman doing these vocals sing at Cajun Dave's in Kent, Ohio....a good friend of my husband....went to school with her husband...She still sounds like an angel......

[rpm88able]

Yes Nader, I can relate for sure. Way back in the early 70's, whenever this came out, it was almost WORN off the vinyl. Everything about it was perfect, and the chick's voice just sent it way over the top. It's been about 35-40 years since I've heard it and it sounds better than ever today. Btw, my college roommate said one of his friends was their first drummer. I have no idea how true that is, but he, my rommate, introduced me to their music.

[naderchaser]

WOW! I cannot believe this, but I just heard this song for the first time since 1974. I was a freshman at college in Nebr. I had this album, and this was one of my favorite songs. Good God. You know, life flies by...this album got stuck away in a pile of others and is long gone with the rest...given away to old girlfriends. Can anybody relate to what an absolute joy I'm feeling right now? Oh man, the memories. So many miles ago. Can't believe I'm still alive, still diggin' the same stuff. Joel

[bucky468]

Is the female voice that of Chryssie Hynde?

[beyondonethousand]

@bucky468

Nope. It is Mary Sterpka.

[watertonrivers]

One of the most forgotten bands of the golden age of rock...James Gang. And also a very underrated guitarist--Joe Walsh...

[jenbar54]

twin lead guitars...ahahhaha

[notmorphy]

Melody. Harmony. The beat. Probably the closest thing I'll ever hear of the perfect pop song.

[marbleheadband]

play that one over & over & over & over....i aint' going anywhere

[annagrow1]

A song ahead off its time..stil renosonce today.

[boneypart]

one of my fave mid-song guitar solos. great phrasing and tone! thanks, Joe!

[lancethrustworthy]

THIS was the first James Gang/Joe Walsh cut that really grabbed me. I was a goner from then on. Super cut. Thanks, very much, for posting this!

[TruthAxe]

The female singer is Mary Sterpka.

[ryankralik]

@TruthAxe True! She's my cousin.

[augustjohnnycrashed]

Am i crazy, but does this sound like a Beatles tune?

[muzweli13]

@augustjohnnycrashed "Don't they all"?

[TruthAxe]

@augustjohnnycrashed It sounds nothing like a George Martin song with hired musicians in the studio so those poseurs, the Beatles could take credit for all which they never played.

[mysg4ever]

Love that guitar tuned to 'G'. Same as Rolling Stones use so frequently.

[TSaxman74]

@mysg4ever I couldn't find the key first try. Thanks.

[TheDBER]

I agree 100%...this is an amazing song and performance. Didn't think I would miss those days as much as I sometimes do.

[oldmick]

I thought Linda Ronstadt had been the female vocalist on "Midnight Man." I did some web searches, and it appears to have been someone named Mary Sterpka.

[BettyVanSneeIV]

Yes ... who is The Mystery Woman?

[HangDogLow]

Re: female vocals/could it be Stevie Nicks? She and Joe were supposedly linked at one time.

[colofan10]

who sung the female vocals on this song? Never could find out her name but she wails

[colofan10]

who sung the femaile vocals on this song? Never could find out her name but she wails

[ensconse]

James Gang recorded But I Try (unreleased) with Little Richard. Does anyone know if Richard's piano is on White Man-Black Man or this song (piano mixed back).

This song went to #51 on Cash Box, so JG had a modest hit! Thanx!!

[brats1940]

midnight man you're pretty, midnight man you're kind.............

[notnaws2]

what fun Joe is to listen to.............then and still now.

[2327sunbear]

Man I love this song, it really takes me back.

[republicansrule]

His best hit from the James Gang that rarely gets played.

[ddarkshark]

@republicansrule -- isn't that true of a lot of bands? the nerds who ruler the media

never seem to get it right. republicans will kick ass soon, lets hope they aren't like the

jerks who select songs in the bullshit media.

[buckeye0327]

@ddarkshark have a clue

[wchunko]

Thanks Manual!

[areyoureadyeddy]

Joe Walsh is the bomb!

[republicansrule]

You never hear this song on radio even on classic stations what a shame!

[AstraMusicOfficial]

Very enjoyable song. Thanks for uploading, Manuel !

[funkster007]

First time I heard this I was taken aback that Joe had such a mellow side. But this is easily one of my faves. Beautiful guitar playing, and that lady sure has a purty voice yeeaw.

[panhead1219]

So where is Dale Peters?

[CaptKundalini]

This is one of my favorite tracks by The James Gang featuring Joe Walsh.

[jamminjack11]

saw joe and the gang in 1970 at waverly beach in beloit wis saw hin again at sedalia missouri 1974 the mans better than jimmy page!!!

[walshfan2470]

@jamminjack11 Your luck to have seen that...were they good gigs?

[timsricochet]

Joe Walsh was one of the very best guitar players that I ever saw..live on stage.. imho

[MrBluesrules]

I don't know why everybody get's all excited about Joe Walsh, he's just an average ordinary guy who tends his garden. Ain't he great?

[winterwind49]

Mary is my sister. She has been for the last, oh, 60 or so years.I use to be introduced as "Mary's brother Larry." She still sounds like and angel when she sings. With Mary's ex, Mike, and many friends from the Kent area, we have recorded a couple of CD's worth of music. These include several songs I wrote, some specifically for Mary to sing. Anyone interested in getting copies of some of the songs featuring Mary leave your information here, and I will respond.

[neorunt]

@winterwind49

That vocal she does at the end cuts through me like a winterwind.

I would be very much interested to hear what she's doing now.

I think it's my all-time favourite female vocal, wish it had been longer but maybe it's right that it was so brief.

Like the best things in life.

[smokeemonkee]

Does anyone else think this sounds like a Neil Young song?

[jayvizer8]

@smokeemonkee it does sound like a neil young song i agree

[mrstenify]

There are so many good Bands from the time, I haven't heard these guys in years, thanks, it's a great song and a great band

[deafgeorge2]

Wow that's great. Thanks

[pilesovinyl]

One of James Gangs best, and this song has it all. Great melody, beautiful guitar work and a lovely Mary Sterpka verse...Why does Joe Walsh continue to get overlooked as a guitar player?

[imokyrok2]

just love it

[Trixiekitsch2008]

Does anyone know who the girl is singing? Is it Marcy Levy?

[billand714]

@Trixiekitsch2008 IT'S MARY STERPKA.

[AxisDimension]

this sounds like an early Beatles song

[rjpancerniCAUSA]

@AxisDimension Nowhere Man.

[jm3004]

A guitar masterpiece

[alexandriabay1]

Another one of Joe,s great songs with the James Gang. Too bad songs like this are not around. Most of todays music is ho-hum. PS I also know that not everyone will agree with me, you had to have been in your early 20's to know these and remember this great music.

[pkappel006]

@alexandriabay1 this was out in what year??? 67/68??? I remember it well.............now I'm an old man of 58, but still rocl'iun to the James Gang

[JurisArcane]

@alexandriabay1

To hell with those people who "don't" agree. If they don't like this song, that means they wouldn't know decent music if it jumped up and bit them in the ass. You can feel this music, especially around 1:38 on.

Rock On!

[MrTorchyBurns]

@alexandriabay1 I just recently sat down and almost started crying because I miss the late 60's and 70's so bad! I wish to God I could relive it all over again. I miss great music like this. Once every 5-8 years a good single comes out like The New Radicals "You Get What You Give" :-) or The Verve's "Bittersweet Symphony". I seen P/F Dark Side of The Moon Tour, Zep 3 X's & The Swan Song Tour twice in one weekend @ Richfield Collisuem, Deep Purple, Joe Walsh, CSN&Y!!!, ELP, I'm STUCK...HELP:-)!

[rainbow555ish]

@alexandriabay1 the day I turned 20 My dad Gave me the James gang album for my birthday, needless to say my life has never been the same,love it

[1a12]

Brilliant and well crafted, been loving this song for ages! I always cite this particular tune as guitar tone 101. Does anyone know what Joe used guitar and amp-wise in the studio on this particular track?

[bigjjuice1965]

I,m pretty sure he used a Leslie amp and a Tele..might be wrong though...pretty sure about the Leslie though

[bobmon54]

@bigjjuice1965 -Howdy- I have loved "thirds" since it came out in the 60's. The track is over dubbed so I think Joe used a couple of guitars. I think,He used a Strat and a Les Paul. He may have used a Tele I don't think so. A Leslie is an organ Speaker and I own 2 with a B3 and a B2 Hammond organ. I don't think these are used. I also don't think Marcy Levy is the vocalist- You are listening closer than most so big ups- for your opinion- you appreciate the tunes-so do I!

[klcc66]

Greatest song ever

[MegaDumkopf]

Good Lord Jesus God that was good.

[hyarke]

@MegaDumkopf that's what she said!

[pduvall100]

@MegaDumkopf Amen.

[larrygr90]

yes..thumbs up..what you said.."the unknown musican"

[R0bbiam]

Cannot believe how good this is, thanx 4 posting.

[cutlasjohn25]

Mary, Thanks for meeting up with us and signing the book. Your beautiful voice matches your personality quite well. Best Wishes !!

[MSD12350]

John, was great meeting you and Jan, and I am flatter you wanted me to sign your book. Thanks.

[cutlasjohn25]

Our pleasure. It''s always nice meeting people who helped make Cleveland Rock !!

[bcc335]

Mary, You really nailed it! I use to drift off to sleep with this on. I Always wondered about the beautiful voice who sang the female parts in midnight man. Greart Job Girl!

[04460]

If my ancient memory serves me correctly,  the album cover showed Mary Sterpka in the shortest shirt I've ever seen.

[pilesovinyl]

One of my favorite tracks of Walsh/James Gang. And as many have said Mary`s vocals are heavenly. A truly CLASSIC cut.

[TSaxman74]

Thanks Manuel. My old friend Joe Walsh, with his great guitar, youthful vocals and poignant lyrics, gave this to us as a theme song in the early 70s.

Mary Sterpka, eh? She sounds so sweet. Only gets one verse.

[neorunt]

TSaxman74,

When her voice enters my heart breaks.

Matter of fact the whole song busts me down, used to listen to it drivin home late alone.

Only Joe coulda written this, his solo music is so underrated.

[ravennaslim]

Hi Mary Sterpka D.

You are my favorite female vocalist of all time.

[midnightjames81]

SUPERBBBBBBBBBBBBB

[Blkojo]

Killer tone on the solo.

[nesasite]

WHAT?........It's NOT Linda Ronstadt???

Crikey, there's me thinking it was for ...well, I don't know how many years....I guess somebody (at some point) must've said it was her (does sound very much like her, mind :o))

Thanks for that, rockinroller.

How come Mary Sterpka, with such a great voice, has never come to any great public success?? Just done a bit of Googling and only credits that come up are for ......guess what......lol.

Such a shame that she's not more well known - great voice.

[MSD12350]

Thank you...I recorded this with Joe and The James Gang at Cleveland Recording, downtown Cleveland, one week before my 21st. birthday, in 1971! Yikes...it has always been a kick for me. I knew Joe and Dale and Jimmy when we lived in Kent, late '60s early, '70s, when The James Gang and the band I sang in at the time, The Measles, played at J.B.s in Kent. Great times, great memories.

[TSaxman74]

My gosh Mary, you got one verse and you just nailed it, and you go down in my music history as a very sweet mystery.

[knuckles362]

Were you in The Measles when Joe Walsh was in them?

[dudehorner]

wow, Mary! Beautiful voice.

They mystery after all these years is now revealed.

[nesasite]

soramusic....it's Linda Ronstadt.

[rockinroller7]

nesasite, with all due respect:

At the time the album, "Thirds," was released, I was curious to hear the sound of what I thought might be Linda Rondstadt, singing part of "Midnight Man," but when reading the credits on the album at the time, as I have over the years when the question of who is singing with Joe on this song comes up.

Being 54, my memory is not the best, so I am now sitting here with the album, and it states that Mary Sterpka sang backup on this song.

Peace.

Rock

[spook394]

I really like Mary's voice on here. Wish I knew what she looks like.

[sorasmusic]

who sing with Joe?

[rockinroller7]

sorasmusic,

Mary Sterpka is singing that beautiful voice, sounding so close to that beautiful voice of Linda Ronsdtatd.

Peace.

Rock

[cindrellasunshine]

They were so good in person in 1971, just loved them!!!

[dryrubribs]

man, did joe have some killer guitar tones on this track, or WHAT ?!!!!!

[skydogblues]

I remember this song when it was brand new and it hasn't lost a thing! Another one of Joe's many brilliant moments. Thanks for posting!

[joe22589]

This is guitar work at its best. There are so many guitar players, who play as fast as hell - but Joey has the sound, the feeling and is a musician who knows that music also is the time between two notes. Walsh and Gilmore - they are the masters.

[neorunt]

You're right joe22589.

Often less is more. Rather than just run pentatonics Joe seeks the the song.

A true 'master'!

[joe22589]

Thank you, neorunt. Now I know that we are two who know it :-) And Mr. Henley and Mr. Frey - they know it, too. We are 4!!!

[jazzermonk]

right! ... as a guitarist i learn a lot about phrasing i.e. taking one lick and placing it in different spots in a givin measure.

[ZR1Terror]

and Felder.

[1952FMS]

speed is not the master, it's the soul between notes that get's me off. I stand w/you friend.

[AstraMusicOfficial]

@joe22589 Yes, I agree Joe. Some guitarists tend to think the more notes the better. But what is actually important is to do what is right for the song. A fast passage or two is alright but as long as it doesn't sound like a widdle, widdle exercise, you know the "say Dad, look how fast I can play" attitude. One learns exercises to build up proficiency in a given instrument but this does not mean it is of any musical value to parrot them in a song. Imagine if a singer only sang arpeggiations !

[LorettaLove55]

i think i have a midnight man.

[lothy59]

i tell ya what.. this is MUSIC

[Midnightman3741]

Song reminds me of a summer trip to Wildwood Beach in 2005. I was 17 years old and it was the first time I ever heard this song. Didn't stop listening to it the whole trip or ever since.

[neorunt]

Know whatcha mean Midnightman3741.

I remember driving downtown on warm summer nights back in the 80's, this song just blasting away, windows down, hopin to run into the woman I'd fallen for at the time.

Time's brief Dude, enjoy your youth and good tunes. You've got good taste.

[ElderxxDaniel]

You are a true idiot!!!!

[charliedontsurf70]

to this day i dont know who sings the female bridge i heard it was linda ronstadt or bonnie rait-does anyone know?

[jrmrinaz]

mary sterpka

[kfc63822]

BET MANY HAVE FORGOTTEN OR DIDNT KNOW JOE WALSH CAME FROM THE JAMES GANG ROCK BAND FROM THE LATE 1960s

[randallpaulcom]

one of the best

[vazmo14850]

the early 70's never sounded better!!!!

[megalomanicalkid]

this has always been one of joes shining moments, this song is the shit

[prospectus91]

I love this song and the music video you've made for it is a perfect fit. THANK YOU!

[ottowes]

Midnight man you're pretty/midnight man you're fine/midnight man be careful/midnight man be mine-Sing it, baby!

[NAV0791]

Great song for drinking down some Bud or your favorite brew

[Sk8idiot]

any live midnight man videos?

[manjothegreat]

This tune served me well at the late night parties in the early 80s when I could still play and sing it to the remaining gals. Love this song! I WOULD sing the last verse which turned some drunken' heads.

[stev9090]

One of my favorite tunes during that time when music was real music, when people with good voices, actually sang songs with real melody and musicians actually were proficient in their musical instruments.

Unlike the kind of cRAP that is pimped nowadays, where people just basically run their mouths put it on cd try to sell it and call it "musik".

[ndnredman]

i love both styles. open your mind. if you have 1.

[stev9090]

Replying to ndnredman:

"i love both styles. open your mind. if you have 1."

I have both eyes on my head.

On the otherhand, it seems you have at least one eye stuck deep inside your STUPID ASS.

[ndnredman]

make since when you retort. dumb ass

[stev9090]

Replying to ndredman:

"make since when you retort."...

LoL. I was hoping for an intelligent response.

Obviously, NOT.

That's what happens when nigger rappers and nigger luvers like you use their ASSHOLES to do their thinking.

[karaokekills]

dude..its people like you that keep racist ideas alive..are you teaching your children to hate too?..open your mind and heart..and please stop hating people whose skin color or way of life is different from yours..ignorance breeds fear..fear breeds hate..hate breeds racism ..ignorant people shouldn't breed!!!

[stev9090]

dude, just go fuck yourself or drop dead.

ASSHOLE!

[nohwhey]

Gay lifestyle and skin color/race are about as similar as apples and oranges. I don't condone mistreating homosexuals, and "racism" is not the correct term for it.

[The096757]

@nohwhey

i agree.. apples and oranges.. gays make good music, blacks ruin it.

love this woman's voice. i wish the whole song had been given to her..

.

[KuriPango]

Just check out what Videos stev9090 loves....He loves guys in spandex and ear rings with lovely long flowing hair.

If i was gonna be a troll like you i`d make sure I didn`t have a lot of Pansy Gay fake tuff guy metal hair videos on favourited you sad little man.

[bjbhappy]

This whole "album" was CLASSIC--IT STILL LIVES! :-)

[chev202]

I got turned on to the james gang late but instantly loved this album. I could not believe I hadn't heard them before due to Walsh's play on the radio but that is radio for ya'.

[tullynewyork]

To this day one of the best guitar tones during a solo I have ever heard.

[buellosaurusrex]

I believe Joe was playing either a Les Paul or SG with the single coil "soapbar" pickups, which gives the solo that "bite"

[republicansrule]

classic I never hear this song thanks!!!

[dbeatlefreak]

Great tune, thanks for the post. This was originally from the LP 'Thirds' from 1971.

[JohnA559]

this woman singing only had a small part in the song - this is Joe Walsh singing lead throughout the song

[TonyJenRock1]

gotta love the lead half way thru the song reminds me when I was 15 in 74

[ls1phsyco]

Super nice song, perfect for a nice cold Christmas night!!!

[DoobieWah]

This song has WINTER written all over it, thank you Joe!!!

[bigskydaddy]

I believe her name was/is Mary Sterpka. It is NOT Linda Ronstadt

[sara31tx]

Bigskydaddy is right about the guest vocal on this song, it was Mary Sterpka

[Ariamaluum]

Sounds a bit like the Beatles "Nowhere Man" or other songs from the Rubber Soul album with the rhythm guitar and the harmonies. Guitar solo is definitely Joe's.

[ray1bradbury]

THANK YOU for this I loved it, just discovered this band yesterday and they're great, cheers 5/5 ;D

[nesasite]

Linda Ronstadt

[KnowhereMan123]

More than I'm willin' to say at this time: Thank you so very, very, very much...!

[Jimmy221951]

THIS IS A GOOD SONG LOVE THE VIDEO

[JohnA559]

This is a great old song. How many times are you going to hear this on the radio, satellite OR terrestrial? Never i believe.

[TonyJenRock1]

you are so right they don't play anything interesting on the radio I can't care what station you listen to

[cutlasjohn25]

Awesome song from a GREAT group from Cleveland Ohio. Thanks for posting it.

[n1temairdr1fter]

goood one...