Saturday Night Special

Powered by the quiet storm favorite "Valentine Love," 1975's Saturday Night Special was a major step forward in Norman Connors' transition from jazz instrumentalist to R&B producer.

Features Vocals from Jean Carn, Michael Henderson.

FunkyTownGrooves' 2013 reissue of Saturday Night Special contains two bonus tracks:
the 7" single version of "Kwasi" and the 7" Single version of "Valentine Love,"

Liners Notes By Alex Henderson

Digitally Remastered from the master tapes by Sean Brennan at Battery Studios.


"Valentine Love," the soul/quiet storm gem that made 1975's Saturday Night Special (originally released on LP by Buddah Records) his best-selling album up to that point, was not the first time he had worked with singers. Connors had featured singers on some of his previous albums, but he did so in a jazz context. "Valentine Love," a romantic male/female duet boasting lead vocals by Michael Henderson and Jean Carn, was straight-up R&B and had a strong Stevie Wonder influence.
Plenty of accomplished jazz musicians join Connors on Saturday Night Special, including Herbie Hancock on piano, Gary Bartz on alto and soprano saxophone, the late Carter Jefferson on tenor and soprano saxophone, Buster Williams on acoustic bass, Lee Ritenour on electric guitar, Onaje Allan Gumbs on acoustic piano and electric keyboards and John Blake on violin.