Midnight Special

The Midnight Special is a 1962 album by Jamaican-American singer, Harry Belafonte. The album notably contains the first officially-released recording by Bob Dylan, who plays harmonica on the title track. For many years the Belafonte session was thought to have been Bob Dylan’s first professional recording, simply because this RCA Victor album was released first. However, documentation found in 2001 in the RCA vaults along with the tapes dates the session definitively as having been recorded at Webster Hall, New York City, in February 1962. This places it later than Bob's recording session with folksinger Carolyn Hester, which dates from September 1961, also in New York City, although her album was not released until later in 1962. Track listing Critical reception Pig River Records praised "The Midnight Special" on its 50th anniversary giving it 8.1/10. Personnel Harry Belafonte – vocals Ernie Calabria – guitar Millard Thomas – guitar Norman Keenan – bass Percy Brice – drums Danny Barrajanos – drums Don Lamond – drums Joe Wilder – trumpet solo Jerome Richardson – saxophone Bob Dylan – harmonica on track 1 Production notes: Hugo Montenegro – producer Conducted and arranged by Jimmy Jones Bob Simpson – engineer, mastering Peter Perri – cover photo Bob Bollard – liner notes