American live concert TV series
Soundstage
Logo
Country of origin United States Running time 60 minutes Network
PBS Release
1974 (1974 ) – 1985 (1985 )
2003 (2003 ) – 2010 (2010 )
2016 (2016 ) – 2018 (2018 )
Soundstage is an American live concert
television series produced by
WTTW
Chicago and HD Ready. The original series aired for 13 seasons between 1974 and 1985; a new series of seasons began in 2003, with the latest (Season 11) starting in April 2018, each presented in
high-definition with
surround sound . Some performances have been made available on
DVD . The performances are taped on stage at the WTTW television studio in Chicago, as well as large venues throughout the United States.
Airing nationally on
PBS ,
MTV Live ,
CMT , Rave HD, and
GAC , as well as internationally in over 20 countries, the program features intimate performances by well-established as well as up-and-coming artists.
Initial series
The series originated in 1972 as Made in Chicago , and was taped and broadcast by
WTTW . It presented a dramatic contrast to the way music had been televised until that point; variety shows (such as
The Ed Sullivan Show ) and lip-synched cabaret shows (such as
The Andy Williams Show ) were the norm. Made in Chicago (originated by
Ken Ehrlich , who had previously produced The
Marty Faye Show ) foregrounded the music and emphasized live performance and, at times, improvisation.
In 1974, the show's name was changed to Soundstage , and it became more widely distributed by PBS.
[1] Artists who appeared in the early years of the show included figures from rock (
Bob Dylan ,
Tom Waits ), pop (the
Bee Gees ), blues (
Bonnie Raitt and
Muddy Waters ), jazz (
Professor Longhair ,
Dizzy Gillespie , and
Benny Goodman , as well as specials dedicated to the
Down Beat Readers Poll Award winners), folk (
Jim Croce ,
Janis Ian ,
Arlo Guthrie , and
Harry Chapin ), and gospel/soul/R&B (
Al Green and
Aretha Franklin ). The 1980 appearance by
John Prine is "the only archival concert of Prine available on DVD".
[2] One of the most unusual episodes, broadcast in 1983, was devoted to
Andy Kaufman , who hosted it in a (somewhat bizarre) variety show format; it was his last major television appearance.
Artists
Original series
Season 1: 1974
"Blues Summit in Chicago" with
Muddy Waters ,
Willie Dixon ,
Koko Taylor ,
Junior Wells ,
Pinetop Perkins ,
Mike Bloomfield ,
Buddy Miles ,
Johnny Winter ,
Dr. John , and
Nick Gravenites . Band members: Rollow Radford,
Robert Margolin ,
Willie "Big Eyes" Smith ,
Calvin "Fuzz" Jones ,
Luther "Georgia Boy" Johnson ,
Jerry Portnoy . July 1974
[3]
José Feliciano , 1974
Randy Newman , 1974
"The Book of Chapin" with
Harry Chapin , 1974
"Arlo's Gang" with
Arlo Guthrie ,
Steve Goodman and
Hoyt Axton with
David P. Jackson Jr. and
John Pilla . This episode is sometimes referred to as "Arlo and Friends" Nov. 11 1974
[1]
"Yes, We Can Can" with
The Pointer Sisters , Dec. 1974
"
Bonnie Raitt & Friends" w/
Buddy Guy and
Junior Wells . Dec 14 1974
"New Jazz" with
Return To Forever featuring
Chick Corea ;
Herbie Hancock with
The Headhunters ; Chick Corea & Herbie Hancock in duet, 1974
"New Orleans Swamp" with
Professor Longhair ,
Earl King ,
The Meters , and
Dr. John and the Night Trippers, 1974
"Paradise Club of '58" with
Jackie Wilson ,
Della Reese ,
George Kirby , and Red Saunders Orchestra, 1974
John Sebastian ,
David Bromberg , 1974
Tom Rush ,
Tom T. Hall , 1974
Seals and Crofts with
England Dan & John Ford Coley and Walter Heath
Donovan ,
Dave Mason , 1974
[4]
Don McLean ,
The Persuasions , 1974
Kris Kristofferson ,
Rita Coolidge ,
Larry Gatlin ,
Bill Swan , 1974
Season 2: 1975/1976
"The World of
John Hammond , Part One"
[5]
[6] with hosts
Goddard Lieberson ,
Jerry Wexler , performers
Marion Williams ,
Jessy Nixon ,
Milt Hinton ,
Bennie Carter ,
Benny Morton ,
Red Norvo ,
George Benson ,
Teddy Wilson ,
Jo Jones ,
Helen Humes ,
Benny Goodman , Dec. 13
"The World of
John Hammond , Part Two" with hosts
Goddard Lieberson ,
Jerry Wexler , performers
Benny Goodman ,
George Benson ,
Teddy Wilson ,
Milt Hinton ,
Leonard Feather ,
Sonny Terry ,
Mitch Miller ,
John P. Hammond ,
Bob Dylan , Dec. 14
Barry Manilow , 1975
Blood, Sweat & Tears ,
Janis Ian , 1975
Tom Waits ,
Mose Allison Dec. 22
Three Dog Night
Waylon Jennings ,
Jessie Colter ,
Johnny Rodriguez , 1975
Bee Gees ,
Yvonne Elliman , 1975
"Sixty Minutes to Kill" with
Martin Mull and His Fabulous Furniture and
Flo & Eddie
Phil Everly and
Dion DiMucci aka "Dion"
Anne Murray ,
Dobie Gray , 1975
"Downbeat Jazz Awards" with
Chick Corea ,
Quincy Jones ,
George Benson ,
Stanley Clarke ,
Freddie Hubbard ,
Hubert Laws ,
Bill Watrous ,
Lenny White ,
Airto Moreira ,
Roland Kirk ,
Sonny Rollins ,
McCoy Tyner , 1975
Stan Kenton ,
The Four Freshmen ,
Anita O'Day , 1976
Judy Collins ,
Leonard Cohen , 1976
Asleep at the Wheel ,
Leon Redbone , 1976
Season 3: 1976/1977
Jean-Luc Ponty ,
Doug Kershaw , and
Itzhak Perlman - "Fiddlers Three",
[7] 1976
"Sing Me a Jazz Song" with
Jon Hendricks ,
Annie Ross ,
Leon Thomas ,
Eddie Jefferson , 1976
"Woodie Guthrie's America" with host
Studs Terkel , performers
Arlo Guthrie ,
Pete Seeger ,
Judy Collins ,
Fred Hellerman , 1976
The Spinners , 1976
"Dizzy Gillespie's Bebop Reunion" with
Dizzy Gillespie ,
Al Haig ,
James Moody ,
Milt Jackson ,
Kenny Clarke ,
Ray Brown ,
Sarah Vaughan , Joseph Carroll, 1976
"Downbeat Jazz Awards" with
George Benson ,
Gary Burton ,
Ron Carter ,
Stanley Clarke ,
Billy Cobham ,
Jean-Luc Ponty ,
Bill Watrous ,
Sonny Fortune ,
Thad Jones ,
Chick Corea , 1976
Loudon Wainwright III , 1977
"An Evening with
Jackson Browne ", 1977
B.B. King and
Bobby Blue Bland , 1977
The Charlie Daniels Band , with special guest
Leo Kottke , 1977
"A
Santana Festival" with
Carlos Santana ,
Gato Barbieri ,
Tower of Power , 1977
Season 4: 1977/1978
Kenny Loggins ,
Jesse Winchester ,
Michael Murphey , Live at
Red Rocks , 1977
Burton Cummings and
Randy Bachman , 1977
Hank Williams Jr. ,
Vassar Clements ,
Katy Moffatt , 1977
Phoebe Snow ,
David Bromberg , 1977
Graham Parker and
The Rumour ,
Rick Danko , 1977
The Doobie Brothers
"
Dave Brubeck and Sons",
Darius Brubeck ,
Chris Brubeck ,
Dan Brubeck , The
Murray Louis Dance Company, 1977
"
David Amram and Friends",
Dizzy Gillespie ,
Steve Goodman ,
Jethro Burns ,
Bonnie Koloc ,
Chicago Symphony Orchestra , 1978
Al Green , 1978
The Crusaders ,
Roy Ayers , Ubiquity Starbooty, 1978
Peter Allen ,
Patti LaBelle , 1978
"The World of
Proctor and Bergman ",
Philip Proctor ,
Peter Bergman ,
Hirth Martinez , 1978
Season 5: 1978/1979
Leo Sayer , 1978
Emmylou Harris ,
Buck White , The Hot Band,
The Whites 1978
[8]
Journey , with
Albert King ,
Luther Allison ,
Pinetop Perkins ,
Jerry Portnoy , 7/9/1978
Pablo Cruise , 1978
Ry Cooder , with
The Golden Gate Quartet , 1978
"Fifth Anniversary Show" with host
Harry Chapin , 1978
"
George Benson ,
Chet Atkins and
Earl Klugh " 1978
Garland Jeffreys ,
Carmen McRae ,
Sonny Rollins , 1979
"
Shel Silverstein and
Dr. Hook "
[9]
Freddy Fender ,
Doug Sahm ,
Huey Meaux ,
LeBlanc and Carr , 1979
Bruce Roberts , with guests
Alice Cooper ,
Bernie Taupin , 1979
Eddie Rabbit ,
Bobby Bare , 1979
Season 6: 1979/1980
Gordon Lightfoot 1979
[10]
The Temptations , 1979
The Doobie Brothers , 1979
"
Chick Corea and
Al Jarreau ", with
Gary Burton ,
Gayle Moran ,
Bunny Brunel ,
Tom Brechtlein , 1979
Ella Fitzgerald , with
Count Basie ,
Joe Pass ,
Roy Eldridge ,
Zoot Sims ,
Paul Smith ,
Keter Betts ,
Mickey Roker , 1979
Elvin Bishop , with
Mighty Joe Young ,
Son Seals , 1979
Joan Armatrading 1979
"Sixth Anniversary Show", 1979
John Prine , 1980
Rupert Holmes , 1980
Southside Johnny and The Asbury Jukes , with
Junior Wells , 1980
"
Tom Johnston (Doobie Brother)" 1978,
[11] 1980
Johnny Paycheck ,
Mickey Gilley , 1980
Season 7: 1980/1981
"An Evening with
Dionne Warwick ", 1980
Victor Borge - "Comedy in Music", 1980
The Manhattan Transfer , 1980
Little River Band , 1980
Don Williams , 1981
Lacy J. Dalton and
Con Hunley , 1981
"Just Folk" with
Odetta ,
Tom Paxton ,
Bob Gibson ,
Josh White Jr. , 1981
"An Evening with
Roberta Flack " with guest Dwight Watkins, 1981
The Oak Ridge Boys , 1981
Season 8: 1981/1982
Chicago Jazz Festival , with
Herbie Hancock ,
Carmen McRae ,
Sun Ra and His Arkestra, 1981
Doc Severinsen and Xebron, with
Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago, 1981
Cheap Trick at
ChicagoFest , 1981
Roger Miller , 1982
The Blasters , with
Carl Perkins ,
Willie Dixon , 1982
Ronnie Milsap , 1982
"Full Swing" with
Charlotte Crosley ,
Lorraine Feather ,
Steve March , 1982
The Marshall Tucker Band ,
Micheal Smotherman , 1982
"Doo Wop!" with
The Capris ,
The Harptones ,
The Jive Five ,
The Mystics ,
Randy & The Rainbows , 1982
Etta James , with
Dr. John ,
Allen Toussaint , 1982
Season 9: 1983
Loverboy , 1983
The Roches , 1983
Tina Turner , 1983
Joe Cocker , 1983
V.S.O.P. , with
Herbie Hancock ,
Wynton Marsalis ,
Branford Marsalis , 1983
Peabo Bryson and
Angela Bofill , 1983
Marshall Crenshaw , 1983
"The
Andy Kaufman Show", 1983
"The Chicago Bluegrass Festival" with
John McEuen ,
Jimmy Ibbotson ,
Doc Watson ,
Merle Watson ,
Peter Rowan ,
David Bromberg , 1983
Greg Kihn , 1983
Season 10: 1985
Chicago Jazz Festival with The
Buddy Rich Big Band,
Bud Freeman Sextet,
Doc Cheatham , A Tribute to
Count Basie , with
Clark Terry ,
Buddy DeFranco ,
Gus Johnson ,
Charlie Rouse ,
Nat Pierce ,
Milton Hinton , 1985
Chicago Jazz Festival , A Tribute to
Charlie Parker , with
Lou Donaldson ,
James Moody ,
Ira Sullivan ,
Duke Jordan ,
Mongo Santamaria , 1985
Aretha Franklin , 1985
"Tenth Anniversary Special" with host
Dionne Warwick , 1985
New series
Season 1: 2003
Lyle Lovett ,
Randy Newman , and
Mark Isham , March 2003
Chicago , live in concert, June 2003
[12]
Michael McDonald , July 2003
Alison Krauss and Union Station , July 2003
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers , July 2003
Lucinda Williams and
Kasey Chambers , July 2003
Chris Isaak and
Raul Malo , August 2003
Trace Adkins and
Travis Tritt , August 2003
Tori Amos , August 2003 Taped May 2, 2003
Wilco and
Sonic Youth , September 2003
John Hiatt and the Goners,
Dar Williams ,
Robinella and the CCString Band , September 2003
Peter Cetera and
Amy Grant , October 2003
Farm Aid 2003 at
Germain Amphitheater , Columbus, Ohio, featuring
Willie Nelson ,
Neil Young and Crazy Horse ,
John Mellencamp ,
Dave Matthews ,
Sheryl Crow ,
Brooks & Dunn ,
Emmylou Harris ,
Los Lonely Boys ,
Hootie & the Blowfish ,
Billy Bob Thornton and
Trick Pony , November 2003
Season 2: 2004
Fleetwood Mac at the
FleetCenter in West End Boston, June 2004 taped September 24, 2003
[13]
Sheryl Crow , June 2004
Ronald Isley and
Burt Bacharach , July 2004
Alanis Morissette , July 2004
Lisa Marie Presley and
Peter Wolf , July 2004
Cyndi Lauper , August 2004
Joan Baez ,
Gillian Welch , and
Nickel Creek , August 2004
Counting Crows and
Shelby Lynne , August 2004
Dan Fogelberg , September 2004
Steve Winwood , September 2004
30 Odd Foot of Grunts and
Kris Kristofferson , September 2004
Yes at
Tsongas Arena , Lowell, Massachusetts, Taped May 15, 2004. Premiered September 2004
Chris Isaak Christmas album Special, with guests
Michael Bublé ,
Brian McKnight and
Stevie Nicks , Taped September 23–24, 2004 Premiered December 2, 2004
Season 3: 2005
Michael McDonald with guests
Billy Preston ,
Toni Braxton ,
Take 6 and
India.Arie in Tennessee, June 2005
John Mayer with
Buddy Guy , July 2005
The Wallflowers , July 2005
Heart , July 2005
America with guest
Christopher Cross , August 2005
Ringo Starr & the Roundheads with guest
Colin Hay at Genesee Theatre,
Waukegan, Illinois , August 2005
Lindsey Buckingham with
Stevie Nicks , September 2005
Chris Isaak , September 2005
Trisha Yearwood with guests
Billy Currington and
Sugarland , September 2005
Joss Stone with guest
Mavis Staples , October 2005
Martina McBride at Genesee Theatre, Waukegan, Illinois, October 2005
Dave Matthews Band with guests
Robert Randolph ,
Rashawn Ross and
David Cast at
Red Rocks Amphitheatre , November 2005
Season 4: 2006–2007
Robert Plant and the Strange Sensation, June 2006
Garbage , July 2006
Bill Laswell , AXIOM SOUND SYSTEM, and Musical Freezone featuring
Tabla Beat Science ,
Pharoah Sanders backed by
Material , and two
Praxis members
Buckethead and
Bootsy Collins , July 2006
The All American Rejects and
Fountains of Wayne , July 2006
KT Tunstall , July 2006
Train , August
Tom Petty Live from Gainesville 30th Anniversary Concert, November 2006
Peter Frampton , January 2007
New York Dolls , February 2007
Lee Ann Womack with
Julie Roberts , February 2007
Jewel at
Meyerson Symphony Center , Dallas, February 2007
Rickie Lee Jones , February 2007
Mark Knopfler and
Emmylou Harris at
Gibson Amphitheatre , Los Angeles, March 2007
Season 5: 2007
Rob Thomas , January 2007
NY Dolls, February 2007
Rickie Lee Jones, February 2007
Mark Knoffler & EmmyLou Harris, February 2007
Rob Thomas at
Red Rocks Amphitheatre , June 2007
Macy Gray , July 2007
Dashboard Confessional at
Madison Square Garden , July 2007
Jewel at
Rialto Square Theatre , Joliet, Illinois, July 2007 Taped November 28, 2006
George Jones 50 Years Special, with guests
Alan Jackson ,
Kenny Chesney ,
Wynonna ,
Martina McBride ,
Aaron Neville ,
Harry Connick Jr. ,
Randy Travis ,
Lorrie Morgan ,
Vince Gill ,
Trick Pony ,
Amy Grant ,
Sammy Kershaw ,
Trace Adkins ,
Uncle Kracker ,
Connie Smith ,
Emmylou Harris ,
Joe Diffie ,
Kris Kristofferson ,
Shelby Lynne and
Tanya Tucker , November 2007
Season 6: 2008
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers , January 2008
Lifehouse , January 2008
Daughtry , January 2008
John Fogerty , February 2008
Josh Groban at
EnergySolutions Arena , Salt Lake City, June 2008 taped August 28, 2007
REO Speedwagon , July 2008
Bon Jovi , July 2008
Stevie Nicks , July 2008
Matchbox Twenty , July 2008
Kenny Chesney , August 2008
Faith Hill , Joy to the World, A Soundstage Special Event at Sears Centre Arena, November 2008 Taped September 10, 2008
Season 7: 2009
Counting Crows , Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings, January 2009
Idina Menzel with special guests
Josh Groban and
Ravi Coltrane at Rose Hall at Jazz at Lincoln Center, New York, January 2009
Foreigner , January 2009
B.B. King with special guests
Terrence Howard ,
Richie Sambora , and
Solange Knowles , January 2009
Umphrey's McGee , February 2009
Seal , February 2009
Jackson Browne , June 2009
OneRepublic , June 2009
Sugarland , July 2009
Death Cab for Cutie , July 2009
Billy Idol at the
Congress Theater , July 2009
Fall Out Boy , July 2009
Josh Groban : An Evening in New York City, July 2009
Michael McDonald : This Christmas
Season 8: 2010
Season 9: 2016
Season 10: 2017
Season 11: 2018
References
^ personal interview with Ken Ehrlich, January 2008
^ Robert Hilburn, Los Angeles Times , March 21, 2007.
^
"Muddy Waters and Friends Soundstage: Blues Summit In Chicago, 1974 DVD" . Amazon . April 21, 2015. Retrieved August 13, 2019 .
^ Billboard Magazine 11/30/1974
^
"The World of John Hammond" . IMDb.com . Retrieved November 4, 2018 .
^ Palmer, Robert (October 23, 1975).
"Bob Dylan, Jazz Stars Salute Label Pioneer John Hammond" . Rolling Stone . Retrieved November 4, 2018 .
^ 11db11 (4 June 2013).
"Jean-Luc Ponty Live 1976" .
Archived from the original on 2021-12-14. Retrieved 28 June 2018 – via YouTube. {{
cite web }}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (
link )
^ Larry Musicman (29 May 2017).
"Emmylou Harris, The Hotband & The Whites live in concert 1978" . Archived from
the original on 2020-12-06. Retrieved 28 June 2018 – via YouTube.
^ Ronja´s Dr Hook Channel (20 September 2011).
"Shel Silverstein - "Show It At The Beach" " .
Archived from the original on 2021-12-14. Retrieved 28 June 2018 – via YouTube.
^
"Soundstage 1978" . Retrieved 28 June 2018 – via
YouTube .
^ pandoval13 (3 August 2011).
"Tom Johnston" .
Archived from the original on 2021-12-14. Retrieved 28 June 2018 – via YouTube. {{
cite web }}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (
link )
^
Soundstage Presents: Chicago DVD , Shoppbs.org
^
Press Release , September 10, 2005, Fleetwoodmac-uk.com
External links