The Beatles - Strange Fruit: The Beatles' Apple Records
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In 1968, under a haze of publicity, The Beatles opened their collective door to all manner of musicians, writers, artists, film-makers, inventors, designers, freaks and more than a fair share of opportunist sharks. But, despite a hefty investment, little of substance was forthcoming from these assorted misfits outside of the music that emerged from one division of the potential empire; Apple Records. Even discounting those Apple platters that featured as artist the collective or individual names of the company's bosses, music that stands the test of time superbly was released under the stamp of this enterprise. Music which remains available still and both popular and exciting more than 40 years after the majority of it was produced.
Tom Waits - Under Review: 1983-2006
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An 80 minute documentary film which looks at this extraordinary musician and performer's music from 1983 through 2006. After Waits' marriage to Katherine Brennan in 1980, his music became more experimental, through album after album during the 1980s, the 1990s and the 2000s, Waits stunned his audience time and again. This program looks again at these records, and the man who made them.
Pink Floyd: Meddle - A Classic Album Under Review
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In-depth review of Pink Floyd's 1971 album Meddle, featuring live and studio performance footage, previously unseen photos and comment and criticism from those in the know.
Frank Zappa - Summer '82
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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.
All You Need Is Love 116 - Whatever Gets You Through the Night: Glitter Rock
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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?
All You Need Is Love 111 - Making Moonshine: Country Music
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Maligned by the rock and pop industries, country music nonetheless command a place in the history of popular music. From the settlement of the west to the powerhouse of Nashville, this episode explores its deep and compelling history.
TV Party: Makeup & Time Show
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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.
Sandy Denny - Under Review
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This documentary film reviews the music and career one of Britains finest female vocalists and songwriters: Sandy Denny. She is revered deeply amongst fans of folk music and the singer-songwriter genre, but has never received universal acclaim for her tremendous talent. This program attempts to redress this imbalance and reveal why she remains such an inspiration to so many. The features include obscure footage and rarely seen photographs, musical performances reviewed and re-assessed by a team of esteemed experts, and live and studio recordings of Sandy Denny classics, reappraised by our panel of contributors.
Rolling Stones - Under Review 1975-1983: The Ronnie Wood Years Part 1
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After much tribulation, at the end of 1974 Ronnie Wood arrived to breath new life into the Rolling Stones. This documentary film covers the Stones' career and music between 1975 and 1983 and includes exclusive interviews, contributions from the finest experts and writers, and rare and classic footage, all soundtracked by the music that, despite it all , remained 'only rock 'n' roll'
Wesley Willis - The Daddy of Rock 'n' Roll
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"God gave me this rock career to keep me busy. Back in 1991 I used to hit old people with folding chairs. Suddenly, I moved to the north side of Chicago, Illinois in 1992. It made a rock star out of me at last. I'm the daddy of rock 'n' roll! I'm Wesley Willis, I'm 36 years old. I play music and do art. I have schizophrenia. I have chronic schizophrenia. Roger Lee Carpenter asked me for $600. He told me that if I don't give him $600, he was going to blow my brains out. That's when I started hearing demons. I have three demons: Nervewrecker, Heartbreaker, and Meansucker....I yell, I scream, I holler at people on buses"
Joy Division - Under Review
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This 70-minute documentary covers the entire career of Joy Division, one of Manchester and Post-Punks most respected bands. It charts the entire short lifespan of the group, from their origins in their days as Warsaw to the more well known incarnation of Joy Division. Features include rare musical performances, obscure footage of rare interviews and rarely seen photographs. Plus review, comment, criticism and insight from; Mick Middles, co-author of Torn Apart: The Life Of Ian Curtis; former NME and Melody Maker journalist, Barney Hoskyns; Ex-Mojo Magazine editor, Pat Gilbert; Manchester punk musician and author, John Robb; music journalist and author David Stubbs; and more.
Jack Bruce: Rope Ladder to the Moon
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Only on Night Flight Plus: Music filmmaker par excellence Tony Palmer crafts an intimate and deeply personal portrait of British bassist (and former Cream member) Jack Bruce. In 1969, Bruce released Songs for a Tailor, a jazz-oriented LP of original compositions. Filmed at the same time, this 55-minute documentary traces his journey from the Gorbals, through Cream, to his island home of Sanda.
Green Day - Under Review 1995-2000 The Middle Years
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Rightly regarded as the founding fathers of pop-punk, Green Day are also lauded nowadays for their newfound political leanings. Between 1995 and 2000, the band made three of their most catchy, melodic and finely crafted albums. This DVD features live and studio performances by Green Day, rare interviews, and a host of other features.
All You Need Is Love 108 - Diamonds as Big as the Ritz
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Featuring a script by Stephen Sondheim, Tony Palmer's landmark series discovers how operetta, burlesque and vaudeville gave birth to the musical.
All You Need Is Love 113 - Hail! Hail! Rock'n'Roll!
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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.
The Weird World of Blowfly
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This film explores both sides of this hilarious and controversial artist, providing a rare, inside peek at the infamous linguist's daily life. Now 69-years-old, with a gold-spangled superhero costume and a catalog of the world's raunchiest tunes, Blowfly tours the world, still struggling for success and recognition after 50 years of making music.
Bruce Springsteen - Under Review 1978-1982: Tales Of The Working Man
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Although Bruce Springsteen's huge body of work has had its highs and its not so highs, there is one distinct period within his career that remains, almost inarguably, his most creative, consistent, and satisfying. We talk of course of the trilogy of albums he released between 1978 and 1982, comprising Darkness On The Edge Of Town, The River and Nebraska. Across these records Bruce's storytelling was up there with Steinbeck's, his songs ranked with Dylan's best and the live shows were as exciting as anything James Brown had ever delivered. This documentary film looks again at these albums, and the shows he performed around them, and charts Springsteen's journey through this dark but glorious period. FEATURES INCLUDE Historical musical performances, reassessed by a panel of esteemed experts and obscure footage, rare interviews (with Springsteen and with others) and seldom seen photographs
TV Party: Crusades Show
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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.
All You Need Is Love 102 - God's Children: The Beginnings
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Tony Palmer explores the link between African music and modern American pop.
TV Party: Documentary
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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.
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