"Midnight Special" is a traditional American South folk song originated by prisoners. In 1926 Dave Cutrell recorded the first vinyl version titled "Pistol Pete's Midnight Special" in St. Louis with McGuinty's Oklahoma Cow Boy Band.

Lead Belly (Huddie Ledbetter) is more associated with the song than anyone else. This is just one of many versions of "The Midnight Special" (Ledbetter - J. Lomax - A. Lomax) he recorded starting in 1934.

The Weavers (Ronnie Gilbert, Lee Hays, Fred Hellerman and Pete Seeger) and Gordon Jenkins Orchestra took "Midnight Special" (Paul Campbell) to the Billboard top thirty in 1952.

Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper had a top five Country hit with "Big Midnight Special" in 1959.

Paul Evans peaked at number sixteen with his cover "Midnite Special" (Schnapf) one year later.

The 1965 album "Johnny Rivers (Ramistella) Live At the Whisky A Go Go" contains "Midnight Special" (Arr. & Adapted by Johnny Rivers) which peaked in the top twenty.