Grateful Dead Family Discography: In The Midnight Hour

In The Midnight Hour

Steve Cropper / Wilson Pickett

In The Midnight Hour was first performed by the Grateful Dead in 1966. It was performed a few times most years through to 1971. The song returned to the repertoire in 1982 and was performed, very infrequently, through to 1994. In total the Grateful Dead performed the song about 40 times. It was also performed by Furthur, the Dead, the Other Ones, 7 Walkers, Phil Lesh & Friends, Ratdog and the Rhythm Devils.

The original recording of In The Midnight Hour was made at Stax Records on May 12, 1965. Accounts of the session indicate that it was mainly composed in the studio during recordings. Peter Guralnick describes the events in Sweet Soul Music.

As usual nothing was fully prepared when Pickett arrived. Steve Cropper, who by now exercised de facto control in the studio, had been listening to the few Pickett records he's been able to get hold of, which included an appearance on Atlantic's live recorded Saturday Night At The Uptown album. On one of the songs, I'm Gonna Cry, Pickett kept making reference to "late in the midnight hour" at the fade. "I thought that would be a heckuvan idea for a tune," Cropper told Rolling Stone editor Jan Wenner in 1968, "and when he came in I presented it to him, and he said 'That's a good idea, I've got this little rhythm thing I've been working on for a good while.' It was really nothing to it, it was just a couple of changes and we just started working with this."

An answer record You Can't Love Me (In The Midnight Hour) was recorded by Ann Mason in 1965

Wilson Pickett

In The Midnight Hour, Wilson Pickett, 1965
no info Single (In The Midnight Hour / I'm Not Tired), Wilson Pickett, 1965
The Exciting Wilson Pickett, Wilson Pickett, 1966
no info Solid Gold Soul, Various Artists, 1966
no info The Best of, Wilson Pickett, 1967
no info The Super Hits, Various Artists, 1967
no info Single (In The Midnight Hour / Danger Zone), Wilson Pickett, 1968
no info Best Of Wilson Pickett, Wilson Pickett, 1969
no info History of Rhythm & Blues, Volume 7: The Sound of Soul 1965-66, Various Artists, 1969
no info Soul To Soul Soundtrack, Various Artists, 1971
no info Wilson Pickett's Greatest Hits, Wilson Pickett, 1973
Superstars of the 70's, Various Artists, 1973
no info The Atlantic Soul Years, Various Artists, 1973
Live In Japan, Wilson Pickett, 1974
no info The Hollywood Knights Soundtrack, Various Artists, 1980
no info Sweet Soul Music, Volume 2, Various Artists, 1981
no info Atlantic Soul Classics, Various Artists, 1985
no info Our Generation, Various Artists, 1988
no info Rock Party, Various Artists, 1990
Atlantic Rhythm & Blues 1947-1974, Various Artists, 1991
no info Rhythm & Blues: 1965, Various Artists, 1991
A Man And A Half: The Best Of Wilson Pickett, Wilson Pickett, 1992
no info Spirit of the 60's: 1965: Still Swinging, Various Artists, 1992
no info The very Best Of, Wilson Pickett, 1993
no info Soul Hits, Vol. 1, Various Artists, 1993
Let There Be Drums, Vol. 2: The 60's, Various Artists, 1994
60s Rock Classics, Vol. 2, Various Artists, 1994
no info Rock and Rhythm Gold, Various Artists, 1995
no info No. 1 Classic Soul Album, Various Artists, 1995
no info Best Sixties Album in the World Ever, Various Artists, 1995
no info My Fellow Americans Soundtrack, Various Artists, 1996
Only Rock'n Roll (1965-69), Various Artists, 1996
My Fellow Americans Soundtrack, Various Artists, 1996
Rock'n Roll Relix: 1960-69, Various Artists, 1996
no info In the Midnight Hour & Other Hits, Wilson Pickett, 1997
no info Try a Little Tenderness: '60s Soul, Various Artists, 1997
no info Classic 60s Soul, Vol. 1, Various Artists, 1997
no info Solid Gold Soul: 1965, Various Artists, 1998
no info 25 Years of R&B, Various Artists, 1998
no info Ultimate 60's Soul Sensations, Various Artists, 1998
Frat Rock! Box, Various Artists, 1998
The Definitive Sound of Atlantic Soul, Various Artists, 1999
no info Where It's At: Soul in the Midnight Hour, Various Artists, 1999
Classic Rock: 1965, Various Artists, 199?
no info The Classic Rhythm & Blues Collection: 1964-1967, Various Artists, 2000
no info Respect: The Soundtrack to the Soul Generation, Various Artists, 2000
no info The Classic Rhythm & Blues Collection, Vol 5: The Sixties, Various Artists, 2001
New Millennium Party, Various Artists, 2000
Back to Black: 1900-1999, Various Artists, 2001
no info The Essentials, Wilson Pickett, 2002
no info Soul Spectacular! The Greatest Soul Hits of All Time, Various Artists, 2002
no info Express Yourself: The Best of Soul, Various Artists, 2002
Red, White & Rock, Various Artists, 2002
Ultimate Soul, Various Artists, 2003
no info Chartbusters USA, Vol. 3, Various Artists, 2003
no info Only the Strong Survive Soundtrack, Various Artists, 2003
no info The Incredible Soul Collection, Various Artists, 2003
no info This Is the Modern World, Various Artists, 2004
no info John Lennon's Jukebox, Various Artists, 2004
no info Night of Super Soul, Various Artists, 2005
no info Atlantic Gold, Various Artists, 2005
Ultimate 16 Originals: Ultimate Soul, Various Artists, 2005
The Definitive Soul Collection, Wilson Pickett, 2006
no info The Immortal, Wilson Pickett, 2006
no info The Soul Story, Vol. 2, Various Artists, 2006
Atlantic Rhythm & Blues 1947-1974, Vol 6: 1965-1967, Various Artists, 2006
no info 100 Hits: Soul, Various Artists, 2007
Sweet Soul Music: 1965, Various Artists, 2008
Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Live (DVD), Various Artists, 2009
no info 60's Hits & Flicks, Various Artists, 2009
101 Pirate Radio Hits, Various Artists, 2009
no info The Collectables Classics: The Immortal, Wilson Pickett, 2010
no info Original Album Series, Wilson Pickett, 2010
no info Mod Mania, Various Artists, 2010
no info Party Rock, Various Artists, 2012

Other recordings

no info EP (In The Midnight Hour / Mr Pitiful / Satisfaction / Who Can I Turn To), Chris Farlowe, 1965
no info Little Mac and The Boss Sound, 1965
no info Hole In The Wall, Billy Larkin And The Delegates, 1965
The Young Rascals, The Young Rascals, 1966
And Now...Booker T. and the MG's, Booker T. & the MG's, 1966
Dance the Cool Jerk, The Capitols, 1966
The Two Sides Of..., Mary Wells, 1966
Darling Baby, The Elgins, 1966
Breakout..!!!, Mitch Ryder and The Detroit Wheels, 1966
no info And I Know You Wanna Dance, Johnny Rivers, 1966
no info Look Out For The Cheater, Bob Kuban & The In-Men, 1966
no info Soul And Inspiration, Righteous Brothers, 1966
no info Wildest Organ In Town!, Billy Preston, 1966
no info I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry, B.J. Thomas, 1966
no info Single (In The Midnight Hour You Can't Love Me (In The Midnight Hour)), Little Mack and The Boss Sounds, 1966
no info Single (You're Gonna Cry / In The Midnight Hour), The Berkeley Five, 1966
no info Single (Advice / In The Midnight Hour), Billy Preston, 1966
no info Single ("In The Midnight Hour / Now Is The Time), Ray Brown & The Whispers, 1966
no info Single (Midnight Hour / Stick In My Corner Baby), The Pigeons, 1966
no info And Now, Booker T and The Mgs, Booker T and The MGs, 1967
No Way Out, Chocolate Watch Band, 1967
Travelin' Men, The Astronauts, 1967
Turn On Your Lovelight, Bill Black's Combo, 1967
All Hits!, Mitch Ryder, 1967
no info Memphis Golden Hits, Ace Cannon, 1967
no info The Time Has Come, The Chambers Brothers, 1967
no info Sharpest Sax, Mike Sharpe, 1967
no info Ding Dong the Witch Is Dead, Fifth Estate, 1967
no info Calm Before..., The Rising Storm, 1967
no info Bugalu Party, The Lively Ones, 1967
no info Single (In The Midnight Hour / It's Not Easy), The Swamp Rats, 1967
no info Single (In The Midnight Hour Greyhound Blues), Benny Gordon and The Soul Brothers, 1967
no info Single (In The Midnight Hour / Nothing You Do), The In Crowd, 1967
no info Single (It Ain't No Big Thing In The Midnight Hour), The Electrons, 1967
WCFL: 21 Hit Icebreakers, Various Artists (Michael & The Messengers), 1967
no info Single (To Love Somebody / In The Midnight Hour), The Mirettes, 1968
Manufacturers of Soul, Jackie Wilson and Count Basie, 1968
no info In the Midnight Hour, Mirettes, 1968
no info Rocky Roberts and the Airdales, Rocky Roberts and the Airdales, 1968
no info Tighten' Up, Archie Bell and The Drells, 1968
Time Peace: The Rascals' Greatest Hits, The Rascals, 1968
no info Plays Great Memphis Hits, King Curtis, 1969
no info Rhythm and Brass, Young Brass, 1969
no info Them, Them, 1969
no info Soul Bag, Mongo Santamaría, 1969
no info The Soul Of, Paul Mauriat, 1969
no info Plays, Charles Coleman, 1969
no info With a Little Help from My Friends, Steve Cropper, 1970
no info Greatest Hits, The Chambers Brothers, 1971
no info Single (In The Midnight Hour / Broken Eggs), Skin Alley, 1972
no info Single (In The Midnight Hour / A Smile Song), Cross Country, 1973
no info Cross Country, Cross Country, 1973
no info Single (In The Midnight Hour / Funky Lady), Chopyn, 1975
no info This Is The Modern World, The Jam, 1977
no info Goodbye King Of Rock & Roll (A Tribute To Elvis), Everette Leon, 1977
no info Jeff Kutash & the Dancin' Machine, Jeff Kutash & the Dancin' Machine, 1979
no info From Dance to Love, Samantha Sang, 1979
no info Single (Keep On Running / In The Midnight Hour), Casino, 1979
no info Single (Put Me In The Picture / In The Midnight Hour), The Merton Parkers, 1980
no info Single (In The Midnight Hour / Berta), The Pharoahs, 1980
no info Flesh + Blood, Roxy Music, 1980
no info Plain from the Heart, Delbert McClinton, 1981
Your Basic Dave Van Ronk, Dave Van Ronk, 1982
no info Atlantic Years: 1973-1980, Roxy Music, 1983
The Sound Of The Sixties, Various Artists (Ingoes), 1983
no info Midnight Hour, Razzy Bailey, 1984
no info Six Silver Strings, B B King, 1985
no info Single (In The Midnight Hour / Heed My Warning), B.B. King, 1985
no info Into The Night Soundtrack, Various Artists (B. B. King), 1985
no info Street Life: 20 Greatest Hits, Bryan Ferry/Roxy Music, 1986
no info Tina Live in Europe, Tina Turner, 1988
no info Soul Shots, Volume 8: Sweet Soul Sisters, Various Artists (The Mirettes), 1988
no info Single (In The Midnight Hour / Yamomi), Maloko, 1989
More Songs from the Big Chill Soundtrack, Various Artists (The Rascals), 1990?
no info The Commitments Soundtrack, The Commitments, 1991
no info Scene 20: 20th Anniversary Concert, Seldom Scene, 1991
no info Razzy Unwrapped, Razzy Bailey, 1991
no info The Soulful: The Immediate Collection, Chris Farlowe, 1991
no info Rockin' the Hits, Johnny Rivers, 1992
no info Calm Before.../Alive Again at Andover, The Rising Storm, 1992
no info Anthology 1965-1972, The Rascals, 1992
Live!: Standing Room Only, Outcasts, 1993
Into the Twangy-First Century, Run C&W, 1993
no info Beat Surrender, The Jam, 1993
no info Dancing in the Street, Martha Reeves, 1993
no info Dear Lover: The Atco Sessions, Mary Wells, 1995
no info On the Right Track, Invaders, 1995
no info I'm A Jockey, Jimmie Johnson, 1995
no info Emerald Rock, Various Artists (The Commitments), 1995
no info Blues & Soul, Various Artists (Martha Reeves), 1995
no info Immediate R&B: Charly R&B Masters, Vol. 8, Various Artists (Chris Farlowe), 1995
Look out for the Cheater, Bob Kuban & the In-Men, 1996
no info All the Hits, The Righteous Brothers, 1996
no info Misty Sax/Memphis Golden Hits, Ace Cannon, 1996
no info Baby Please Don't Go, Tony Lane & The Fabulaous Spades, 1996
Detroit Breakout!: The Ultimate Anthology, Mitch Ryder & the Detroit Wheels, 1997
Ultimate Collection, Tom Jones, 1997
no info Direction Reaction Creation, The Jam, 1997
no info The Great, The Righteous Brothers, 1997
no info Mercy, Mercy, The Comets, 1997
no info The Complete Mod Collection, The Merton Parkas, 1997
no info Bringing It Home, The Bonne Villes, 1997
no info Good Lovin' & Other Hits, The Rascals, 1997
no info Hang Loose With, The Varcels, 1997
no info Walking the Dog in the Midnight Hour, The Speckulations, 1997
no info Down The Line / Travelin' Men, The Astronauts, 1997
no info This Is Soul: Romantic Soul, Various Artists (Martha Reeves), 1997
no info Great R&B Female Groups: The Hits of the 60's, Various Artists (Mirettes), 1997
Plays the Great Memphis Hits/King Size Soul, King Curtis, 1998
Green Crystal Ties Vol. 7: Mind Expanding Punk of 60's, Various Artists (Kings Court), 1998
no info Monster Mash Rock & Roll Party, Various Artists (Martha Reeves), 1998
no info 100% British Ska, Various Artists (Pharaohs), 1998
no info His Definitive Greatest Hits, B.B. King, 1999
no info Red Green & Golden Hits, John Holt, 1999
no info Crazy Cajun Recordings: Earliest Hits & Great Covers, B.J. Thomas, 1999
no info Second Wind, The Rising Storm, 1999
no info Sweetest Feelin': The Very Best of, Jackie Wilson, 1999
Shake a Hand/Manufacturers of Soul, Jackie Wilson, 1999
no info Anthology, Razzy Bailey, 1999
no info Reggae Jamaica Stylee, Vol. 1, Various Artists (John Holt), 1999
no info Where It's At: Soul in the Midnight Hour, Various Artists (Little Mack and The Boss Sounds), 1999
Hey! Look What I've Found, Vol. 11, Various Artists (The Mirettes), 199?
'66 And All Those Hits, Various Artists (Ray Brown & The Whispers), 19??
Out of Time: The Immediate Anthology, Chris Farlowe, 2000
no info Classic: The Universal Masters Collection, B.B. King, 2000
no info This Is the Modern World/All Mod Cons, The Jam, 2000
no info Greatest Hits, Chris Farlowe, 2000
no info Reggae Explosion, Various Artists (John Holt), 2000
no info Cover Me, Various Artists (The Commitments), 2000
Jealous Kind/Plain from the Heart, Delbert McClinton, 2001
no info All I Really Need: The Complete Atlantic Recordings, 1965-1971, The Rascals, 2001
no info Crystal Days: 1979-1999, Echo & the Bunnymen, 2001
no info Hannibalism!, The Mighty Hannibal, 2001
no info The Complete Collection, The Astronauts, 2001
no info Looking Back, John Holt, 2001
no info The Legends Collection, John Holt, 2001
no info Beat Club: The Best Of 66 (DVD), Various Artists (The Boots), 2001
The Best Of Beat Club 65 to 73 (DVD), Various Artists (The Boots), 2001
no info Jackie Wilson + Count Basie, Jackie Wilson and Count Basie, 2002
no info Do You Love Me?, John Holt, 2002
no info Hits, Chris Farlowe, 2002
no info Sings Handbags and Gladrags and Other Great Hits of the 60s, Chris Farlowe, 2002
no info Chris Farlowe Vs. Long John Baldry: Greatest Hits, Chris Farlowe/Long John Baldry, 2002
no info Laying in the Cut, Jackie Ivory, 2003
no info Universal Masters Collection, The Righteous Brothers, 2003
no info Forgotten Lovers, Gary Wilson, 2003
no info 1966: The Soundtrack, Various Artists (Chris Farlowe), 2003
no info The Wildest Organ in Town!/Club Meeting, Billy Preston, 2004
no info Handbags and Gladrags: The Immediate Collection, Chris Farlowe, 2004
no info Tighten Up/I Can't Stop Dancing, Archie Bell, 2004
no info Dance the Cool Jerk/We Got a Thing That's in the Groove, The Capitols, 2004
no info The Best of, The Commitments, 2004
no info The Essential Collection, B.B. King, 2004
no info Night of Blistering Blues, B.B. King & Friends, 2005
Melts in Your Brain Not on Your Wrist, The Chocolate Watch Band, 2005
no info And I Know You Wanna Dance/Whisky a Go-Go Revisited, Johnny Rivers, 2005
no info His Story, John Holt, 2005
no info The !!!! Beat: Legendary R&B and Soul Shows from 1966, Vol. 3, Various Artists (The Mighty Hannibal), 2005
no info Highway Rock, Various Artists (The Commitments), 2005
The !!!! Beat: Legendary R&B and Soul Shows from 1966, Vol. 5, Various Artists (Beat Boys), 2005
Into the Twangy-First Century / Row vs. Wade, Run C&W, 2006
no info Everything Under the Sun, The Walker Brothers, 2006
no info Ride on Baby: The Best of, Chris Farlowe, 2006
no info Foot Stompin' Soul: The Best of Geno, 1966-1972, Geno Washington, 2006
no info The Colour Collection, B.B. King, 2006
no info Bad Words and Evil People: The Transatlantic Anthology 1972-73, Skin Alley, 2006
no info Cool Jerk, The Capitols, 2006
no info R&B Soul, Martha Reeves, 2006
no info 50 of the Very Best of Reggae, Various Artists (John Holt), 2006
no info The Platinum Collection, King Curtis, 2007
no info Memphis Album, Guy Sebastian, 2007
no info Closer To The Sun/Memphis Album, Guy Sebastian, 2007
no info The Colour Collection, The Righteous Brothers, 2007
no info Reggae Classics, Various Artists (John Holt), 2007
no info Soul, Seal, 2008
14 Things to Think About, Chris Farlowe, 2008 (CD bonus track)
no info Rock 'N' Roll Legends, The Righteous Brothers, 2008
no info Stax 50th Collection, Various Artists (Steve Cropper), 2008
no info Other Covers, James Taylor, 2009
no info The Guest List, Martin Belmont, 2009
no info I Can't Stand the Rain Single, Seal, 2009
no info Classic, The Righteous Brothers, 2009
no info Souvenirs, B.J. Thomas, 2009
no info You Heard Them Here First: Rock's Icons Before They Were Famous, Various Artists (The Pigeons), 2009
no info The Mojo Albums, Plus, Billy Lee Riley, 2010
Live at The Fillmore Auditorium 10/15/66: Late Shows: Signe's Farewell, Jefferson Airplane, 2010
no info By Request, Paulo Gonzo, 2010
no info Before We Were Blossom Toes, The Ingoes, 2010
no info Hoss Allen's 1966 Rhythm and Blues Review: The !!!! Beat, Various Artists (The Mighty Hannibal), 2010
no info Feelin' Groovy: 60 Swinging 60s Singles, Various Artists (Ray Brown & The Whispers), 2010
no info The Essential, Roxy Music, 2011
no info Siren/Manifesto/Flesh and Blood/Avalon, Roxy Music, 2011
no info The Best of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame + Museum: Live, Various Artists (Bruce Springsteen), 2011
6/29/18, Terrapin Crossroads, San Rafael, CA, moe., 2018
From The Archives 2/12/17, Voodoo Dead, 2020
Comes From Nowhere, Stone Biscuit, 2021

Grateful Dead

Fallout From The Phil Zone, 1997
Ladies and Gentlemen ... The Grateful Dead, 2000
GD Download A Night At The Family Dog 2/4/70, 2005
Road Trips: Vol 2, No 2: Feb 14, 1968, 2009
30 Trips Around The Sun Box Set, 2015
Dave's Picks Vol 30: Fillmore East, 2/1/70, 2019
Dave's Picks Vol 36: Hartford, 3/26&27/1987, 2020
Dave's Picks Volume 43: 11/2/69 & 12/26/69, 2022

The Dead

Hartford, CT, June 21, 2003
Morrison, CO, July 11, 2003
Darien Center, NY, August 8, 2003
Morrison, CO, June 16, 2004
Camden, NJ, August 7, 2004
Dead '09: Wilkes-Barre, PA, April 22, 2009

Furthur

Feb 14, 2010, Ithaca, NY
Mar 6, 2010, Denver, CO
July 2, 2010, Columbus, OH
July 11, 2010, Philadelphia, PA
September 22, 2010, Las Vegas, NV
November 19, 2010, Worcester, MA
March 12, 2011, New York, NY
March 23, 2011, Upper Darby, PA
July 23, 2011, Philadelphia, PA
Oct 4, 2011, Las Vegas, NV
July 11, 2012, Cary, NC
October 4, 2012, Las Vegas, NV
January 19, 2013, Mill Valley, CA
April 27, 2013, Atlantic CIty, NJ
July 18, 2013, Boston, MA
Sept 24, 2013, Redmond, WA

Dead & Company

Burgettstown, PA, 13 July, 2016
Saratoga Springs, NY, 18 Jun, 2019
San Francisco, CA, 31 Dec, 2019

Ratdog

Louisville, KY, March 12, 2014

Phil Lesh & Friends

Bonnaroo Music Festival, June 18, 2006: 2006
June 25, 2006, Atlanta, GA, 2006
July 3, 2006, Hartford, CT, 2006
July 12, 2006, Essex Junction, VT, 2006
July 19, 2006, Kansas City, MO, 2006
April 12, 2014, Port Chester, NY, 2014
November 8, 2014, Port Chester, NY, 2014
November 29, 2014, Port Chester, NY, 2014
March 19, 2015, Port Chester, NY, 2015
March 17, 2016, Port Chester, NY, 2016
May 29, 2016, Port Chester, NY, 2016
September 15, 2016, Brooklyn, NY, 2016
October 29, 2016, Port Chester, NY, 2016
March 17, 2017, Port Chester, NY, 2017

Bill Kreutzmann

May 2, 2015, New Orleans, Voodoo Dead, 2015