Featuring a script by Stephen Sondheim, Tony Palmer's landmark series discovers how operetta, burlesque and vaudeville gave birth to the musical.

Leonard Cohen - Under Review 1935 -1977 is a 90-minute documentary film which reviews the poetry, music, performances, and career of one of contemporary Canada's greatest artists. Features include musical performances of Leonard Cohen reviewed by our team of esteemed experts, obscure footage, rare interviews, and scarcely seen photographs of and with Leonard and review, comment, criticism and insight from; official Cohen biographer, Ira Nadel; Leonards regular guitarist and band leader, Ron Cornelius; producer on the New Skin For The Old Ceremony and New Positions albums, John Lissauer, Cohens backing vocalist, Ronee Blakley and many more.

In the feature documentary, Summer '82 - When Zappa Came to Sicily, filmmaker and Zappa fan Salvo Cuccia tells the behind-the-scenes story of Frank Zappa's star-crossed concert in Palermo, Sicily, the wrap-up to a European tour that ended in public disturbances and police intervention. Cuccia had a ticket to the concert but never made it. Thirty years later, collaborating with Zappa's family, he re-creates the events through a combination of rare concert and backstage footage; photographs; anecdotes from family, band members, and concertgoers; and insights from Zappa biographer and friend Massimo Bassoli. The story is also a personal one, as Cuccia interweaves the story of Zappa's trip to Sicily with his own memories from that summer. The film looks at the rise and heyday of Frank Zappa's career as an innovative composer and libertarian provocateur, and includes tales of the relationship of a busy father with his children. While in Sicily for the concert, Zappa visited Partinico, the birthplace of his father and grandfather; and in the film's warm and loving coda, three of Zappa's children, Dweezil, Moon Diva and his wife Gail, return to meet their relatives there for the first time.

David Bowie, Kiss, Elton John - with these musical giants came a transformation of rock and roll. Slick costumes, garish theatricality, and extensively produced sounds contrast the raw sounds that had previously dominated the airwaves. Is glitter rock a sign of the death of rock and roll?

"Silence is the most powerful instrument I have. Spirit is everything, and technique is always secondary." Mark Hollis, Talk Talk Thirty years after the release of Talk Talk's fourth album Spirit of Eden, Gwenaël Breës, a Belgian journalist and longtime admirer of the 1980s British art-rock band, found himself crisscrossing the UK in an attempt to unravel the mystery surrounding the record. The challenge was huge. For years until his death in 2019, Talk Talk's lead singer Mark Hollis had declined all interview requests, with the rest of the band following suit, and refusing to allow their music to be used on film. Armed with little more than determination and a boom mic, Breës willingly attempted the impossible - to make a film about a band that did not want to be filmed, and recount the story of the making of a mysteriously timeless album without playing any of its music. A filmic journey full of detours, diversions and discoveries, and a quest with silence as a horizon line and punk as a philosophy, In A Silent Way is a film that contends that, despite all obstacles, music is accessible to all and the human spirit is above technique.

Tony Palmer's epic series concludes by looking at the role of spirituality and religion in pop music and why many artists fled the big stage for a quieter life.

Unquestionably American, pop music has a profound debt to blues. This episode explores the tumultuous history of blues from its New Orleans origins to its current state.

This release features rare live and studio performances of the band playing some of their best known hits, rare and classic Queen interview footage plus a host of other features, all interspersed with the independent review and criticism from a panel of esteemed experts. These include broadcaster, journalist and long time friend of Freddie Mercury Paul Gambaccini; rock author, journalist and Queen expert Malcolm Dome; guitarist and journalist Simon Bradley; contributing editor from Uncut Magazine Nigel Williamson; ex Melody Maker features editor Chris Welch and many others. Features rare performances of the following classic Queen tracks: 'Keep Yourself Alive', 'Seven Seas Of Rhye', 'Killer Queen', 'Stone Cold Crazy', 'Somebody To Love', 'Bohemian Rhapsody', 'Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy', 'We Will Rock You', 'We Are The Champions', 'Bicycle Race', 'Don't Stop Me Now', 'Crazy Little Thing Called Love' and 'Another One Bites The Dust'.

David Bowie - Under Review 1976 - 1979 The Berlin Trilogy features live and studio performances by Bowie, rare interviews and a host of other features all interspersed with the independent review and criticism from a panel of esteemed experts. These include; former members of both Neu! And Cluster (and key Bowie influences), Dieter Moebius and Michael Rother; broadcaster, journalist and ambient author, Mark Prendergast; author and Melody Maker/Mojo journalist, David Stubbs; Journalist and author Daryl Easlea; style aficionado, Paolo Hewitt and many others.

Youth and rebellion are inextricably linked to rock music of the 60s. More than a aesthetic, its music has a strong influence over culture and politics. In this powerful episode, Tony Palmer explores the role of music as protest, and propaganda.

The raw honesty and danceable beats of rhythm and blues drew executives by the flock. During segregation in America, this form has a fascinating and intensely influential relationship with white American pop culture.

This 90-minute film reviews the music and career of one of the world's most influential performers, singers and songwriters; arguably the most unique female artist ever. It includes rare musical performances never available before on DVD. It also includes obscure footage, rare interviews and photographs of and with Kate Bush from all periods of her astonishing career. The film features: rarely seen promo films; interviews with Kate and with colleagues, producers, musicians and friends; TV clips; location shots and a host of other features.

With a wide array of influences, rock and roll often evades definition. It's influence however, cannot be denied, sparking fiery debate from its inception. Featuring Jerry Lee Lewis, Conway Twitty, and Elvis Presley.

February 17, 1981. Reagan was the new President. Iran had just released its American hostages, and Israel and the PLO had rejected Egypt's peace plan. It was a grim moment and TV Party decided to do something about it. The TV Party Orchestra, featuring Chris Stein, Lenny Ferrari on flute, sorcerer Patrick Geoffrois slide guitar and Walter Steding, performed punk medieval music.

At the height of their fame in September of 1991, Guns N' Roses released Use Your Illusion I and II, a pair of albums that spawned a number of memorable videos. This documentary goes into detail about the recording of those two records using archival footage of the band along with interviews given by music-industry veterans and critics.

This episode plays with ideas of time and space, ("time is money" and "dead air") alternating between aggressive boredom and quick wit. The TV Party Orchestra (Walter Steding on violin, Lenny Ferrari on the New Yorker magazine, and Tim Wright on guitar) jams while host O'Brien performs the sublime feat of rolling a joint blindfolded while smoking a joint.

This DVD contains the ultimate review and critical analysis of U2's most pivotal album. It offers a previously unobtainable level of insight into the band during the recording of their most dynamic and well respected album. Via the use of live footage, long forgotten videos and the review, criticism and insight of a panel of highly opinionated experts, this package delivers the finest documentary film yet to emerge on Dublins favorite sons. Achtung Baby was the album that fired U2 into the 90s when the four-piece dramatically overhauled their traditional approach to songwriting.

Syd Barrett - Under Review features rare live and studio performances from this hugely influential and legendary musician, interspersed with the independent review and criticism from a panel of esteemed experts. These include; Melody Maker contributor during the 1960s and early champion of Syd Barrett, Chris Welch ; Barrett biographer and all round expert, David Parker ; Uncut Magazine's features editor, Nigel Williamson; former Soft Machine bassist who backed Syd on Madcap Laughs, Hugh Hopper; Total Rock DJ and journalist, Malcolm Dome and many more. Features rarely seen promo films, interview footage with Syd and other Floyd members, TV clips and more.

In 1978, two revolutionary trends emerged in New York City, public access cable TV and punk rock. These two phenomena came together spectacularly in Glenn O'Brien's TV Party. Hipsters tuned in to follow the antics of the TV Party gang and such guests as Iggy Pop, David Bowie, P-Funk's George Clinton, The Clash's Mick Jones, Kid Creole, Klaus Nomi were featured; also live performances.

The Small Faces Under Review features rare live and studio performances by this hugely influential band, interspersed with the independent review and criticism of a panel of esteemed experts. These include; Steve Marriot biographer, Paolo Hewitt; Melody Maker features editor Chris Welch; Small Faces biographer, John Hellier; 1960s NME editor Keith Altham and many, many more. The film also includes rarely seen promo films, interview footage with the band members, TV clips and a host of other features making it not just the only full length Small Faces DVD on the market, but also an inspiring, revelatory and downright entertaining look at a truly exceptional band.

Hailed by John Lennon as "a monumental achievement", Tony Palmer's series traces the history and influence of popular music from its beginnings to the golden age of rock. Featuring interviews and performances by musical giants such as Leonard Cohen, Elvis Presley, The Beatles, and Bob Dylan, this landmark series shows the power and cultural impact of the music that shapes our lives.