Music Television 4

Live at the Waterfront
From Belfast, a mixed concert (a couple of comedians, a couple of poetry readings, but mostly music) included Ash, Cara Dillon, Foy Vance, and Gary Lightbody of Snow Patrol. As good a reason as any.

Joseph Calleja - Lead Me Home
The Maltese tenor sings and pays tribute to Morricone, Mantovani and more.

Britain's Biggest 70s Hits: Grease and other 70s Hit Movie Soundtracks
Shown in tandem with the show on 1978 (just as well Superman didn't have any songs; even Star Wars' theme was a big smash in the USA). Some odd inclusions but at least they used the Theme from Shaft, not to mention the Theme from New York, New York.

The Big Xmas Gig for "Love Not War"
A charity event with some sketches and sincere pledges, but also a showcase for the like of Elbow, Bastille, Sting and others.

Best of Capital's Jungle Bell Ball
Another compilation-fest, this time at the more young mainstream end of the market, hence Harry Styles, Rita Ora, Jason Derulo, Little Mix and Justin Bieber, plus others.

Lindisfarne's Geordie Genius - The Alan Hull Story
Young new star Sam Fender relates the all too short (he died suddenly at 50) story of a NE England legend, and gets to talk to many others from Sting to Mark Knopfler to Jimmy Nail, and with further respectful contributions from Peter Gabriel, Elvis Costello and Dave Stewart.

Death Songbook
Charles Hazlewood led his Paraorchestra and guest vocalist Brett Anderson through a choice of 9 songs on the theme of death, some of which weren't already by Suede. Along the way they had bashes at The Killing Moon, Night Porter, Wonderful Life and End of the World.

MTV Unplugged: Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga
Presumably from the time they did their album together, since his health is poor these days. It allowed her to show range and not just seem like a shocker.

Christmas at the Quay
Roddy Hart himself introduced material from Kyle Falconer, Bow Anderson, and the current line-up of Wet Wet Wet. Christmas songs included Fairytale of New York and Happy Xmas (War is Over).

Music Box - Jagged
Presumably "that" new documentary on Alanis Morissette about her life up to just after the success of Jagged Little Pill. Her teeny-bop career in Canada in the late 80s came as a surprise. That You Oughta Know alone did all the ground-work for her magnum opus is less of a surprise. Opinions differed on her other hits. Taylor Hawkins, the affable drummer for the Foo Fighters, was in her touring band in those heady years.

Top of the Pop Christmas
A half-decent reflection of the year, with Sigrid singing a Christmas number, Ed Sheeran singing none of his #1's, and ending with the execrable LadBaby.

Britain's Biggest 70s Hits: 70s Greatest Pop
A selection of the broadly predictable, though M, Sparks and Wild Cherry were at least a bit different, and Gary Numan and Toto just about fitted too.

The Spike Jones Story
A great theatre act who spread to television and created a handful of still-remembered gems like I Went To Your Wedding and Cocktails For Two. He sadly died of emphysema. This 1988 prodile included many of his surviving cohorts, plus comic admirers like Milton Berle.

Eisteddfod AmGen: Ty Gwerin O Bell
A vague show from the National Library of Wales in August, with Pedair, Eve Goodman and the triple-harpist Cerys Hafana all getting to do their stuff.

Carpenters
Possibly seen before, a show from Sept 1971, supposedly their first time in England. They managed to do their version of Help!, a lengthy Bacharach & David medley, and several other hits like Rainy Days and Mondays.

Songs of Praise: Daniel O'Donnell
The Irish soft-pop sensation recently turned 60. He sang a few songs including Silent Night. He got married in 2002 to the fair Majella. He got video thanks from other SoP folk including Aled Jones and Cliff Richard.

A Musical Family Christmas, with the Kanneh-Masons
The seven prodigies, and their parents, congregated in Nottingham to chat and watch old home movies of themselves, and eventually do some tunes, including We Three Kings, In The Bleak Midwinter and Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.

MTV Unplugged: Bastille
They went to Porchester Hall in London to help plug their imminent new album, and play a few of their old hits like Pompeii, and also they covered Killing Me Softly With His Song.

Top of the Pops New Year
Another round-up from 2021, with middling acts like Dermot Kennedy and Arrdee but some star power from Ed Sheeran and Rag N Bone Man too.

Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga - Cheek to Cheek
From New York in 2014, a special show plugging their collaboration by running through some of the Great American Songbook, and a lot of costume changes.

Music Box - Woodstock 99: Peace, Love and Rage
How a good intention turned fatally sour, and inadequate preparations led to near anarchy by the final night. Various contributors blamed others for things going so wrong. There seemed a social malaise at its heart, too.

New Year's Concert
As ever with the Vienna Philharmonic, with Daniel Barenboim conducting this year, his 3rd turn, he likely to be 80 later this year. A heavily Strauss family collection, with a few surprises and old favourites at the end. Dan even offered words of hope and encouragement too.

Lady Gaga at the BBC
Curious compilation given her career hasn't been that long, really. Some informative song notes along the way about the meanings of some songs (maybe not so surprising given her work generally).

Carly Simon - A Moonlight Serenade on the Queen Mary 2
From 2005 amazingly, presumably to help push an album, she did finish with Nobody Does It Better and You're So Vain though.

Face to Face - Stephen Sondheim
Another tribute to the late legend, he talked to Jeremy Isaacs in the mid-90s about his association with Oscar Hammerstein, and his many ups and downs with productions. He was an only child.

Rewind! MTV Push: The Hits
A handy compilation to pat themselves on the back for previous years of promotion. The more amusing were therefore the more vague, like Juice WRLD or 24kGoldn or Jack Harlow.

Face 2 Face: Mmzy
I'm enjoying this series mostly. He's from Nigeria and his actual name seems to be Emanuel. He has French-speaking and English-speaking fans, and can himself speak both. He's done a few collaborations. Covid slowed things down, but he's getting back to the performance groove, and has Instagram success too.

Otway the Movie
This 2013 gem tells the story of the indefatigable John Otway, who shot to brief fame in the late 1970s with Really Free and a lively turn on the Old Grey Whistle Test. What the subsequent decades showed was that he was a really good live act, and the records were never in the race. When the Internet started and he found a fanbase, they bought him a theremin, and helped get him another big hit with Bunsen Burner. Other wacky ideas included hiring prestigious venues like the Royal Albert Hall and Abbey Road Studios for projects. He's still going.

Other, Like Me - The Oral History of COUM Transmissions and Throbbing Gristle
Revolutionary art collective who eventually turned to a brief musical career before splitting up. They did reform quite successfully later, though, having created the "industrial" genre.

Sam Cooke - Legend
A solid effort from 2003, who helped a young Bobby Womack on his way, wrote and sang some of the biggest hits of the 1950's, but then flew close to Muhammad Ali and Malcolm X, and was abruptly shot dead at the age of 33. At least we still have the music.

Face 2 Face - Nanky
Music was just a hobby when he was just a child in Ghana, but he's developed a style and made success with it. He's had some good collaborations, and survived a rough journey.

Ronnie Spector at the BBC
A half-hour bringing together musical performances and a few chat spots. The overuse of Be My Baby was a bit of a back-handed insult really.

Curadur: Gwion ap Iago
A largely dance music selection for once, as our host put together a gig with DJ Esther, Sackasom, Llwybr Claethog, his own double act Roughion, and finally Ty Gwydr System Sain. Pleasant enough in its way.

Dean Martin - King of Cool
How being Italian-American made him reticent, and how most people who worked and/or lived with him didn't ever really know him. Tales of his preferring an early night to carousing socially were good, and it spoke volumes that he turned down the invite to JFK's inauguration out of solidarity with Sammy Davis Jr. His partnership with Jerry Lewis went well until he started getting laughs too, and his solo film career was probably far more successful than anyone expected. His telly series succeeded where Sammy's and Frank's failed. The death of his son started a downward spiral. He also regretted the break-up of one of his marriages. But he loved Christmas.

Stephen Sondheim at the BBC
An extra-length compilation of performances of many of his songs, though a couple were doubled up. But the breadth of performers really told: Sarah Vaughn, Ethel Merman, Eartha Kitt, Kiri te Kanawa, Elaine Stritch, Cleo Laine, Angela Lansbury, Shirley Bassey and of course Judi Dench.

Journey - ESC4P3 - Live in Houston
A famous gig from November 1981. Pleasant but forgettable.

Ozzy Osbourne - Live at Budokan
From February 2002, quite an impressive set. It's easy to forget rocking Ozzy is the real deal, not telly clown Ozzy. His efforts to encourage crowd participation did seem to mean the same hand clapping gesture over and over though.

Voices of Ireland
Imelda May presents a two-part trip around parts of Ireland, talking to poets and actors as well as musicians, and paying homage to legends like Samuel Beckett and Oscar Wilde among others.

Nick Cave - Alone at Alexandra Palace
A special solo turn from 2020 as he worked his way through 21 songs including The Mercy Seat.

The Human Factor - Puttin' On The Style
A series from 1989, ostensibly with a faith-based angle, though Lonnie Donegan was more concerned to relate his story and struggles than get too bogged down with that. His father was a violinist, and he suffered with heart issues from the age of 4. He made a big impact with skiffle, but was badly underpaid (perhaps unaware that Leadbelly's tracks he covered were being credited to him). He moved to California for his health, and regretted some family failings.

Music Vault - Robert Burns Special
A curious selection process, but more chance to enjoy Big Country, Deacon Blue, KT Tunstall and Barbara Dickson.

Omnibus - Sunday in the Park with... Stephen
Another repeat (from 1990) in memory of the late Mr Sondheim. Here, he talked about the creative process, partly to a group of students, whilst turning a Seurat painting into a three act musical.

Cliff Richard - The Great 80 Tour
From the Royal Albert Hall sometime last year. He did a fair few oldies, but some more recent material too (his latest album came out in 2020). 

Face 2 Face: Addi Self
He's from Ghana, and took inspiration from Jamaica. He played Radio 1 Xtra with Shatta Wale, and his album is coming in April. His tag is "Self Nation", and his birthday is September 19th. He's been the subject of a documentary called The Journey.

Classic Albums - 2112 / Moving Pictures
Rush get their turn in the spotlight, and band members talk of their inspirations and how prog rock worked for them. David Fricke and Jim Ladd were appreciative too.

Face 2 Face: Camidoh
Another one from Ghana. He makes Afropop R&B, he says. Akon is his big inspiration, and his name is his surname. He was in a team act for 9 years before going solo in 2017. He made a wedding song and video and does indeed get wedding bookings. His album will be called Love Is The Answer. He's had royalties issues by the sound of it, too.

BBC Four Sessions - Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
This 2008 set was at St Luke's again, and was chivvied along by a bemusing heckler who wanted Nick to play a certain song which wasn't in the set. He did do The Mercy Seat and a few other solid gems from around the Dig, Lazarus, Dig! era.

Burns Night w/the BBC SSO & Friends
Jamie MacDougall introduces Eddi Reader, Robyn Stapleton and Karen Matheson as they run through various Burns works.

Greatest Pop Videos: 1980
Another series but without the competitive element. As this was very early days for promos, the show veers from the already accomplished (David Bowie, Peter Gabriel) to the largely hopeless and uninspired. Selections seem as much inspired by the contributors as anything (if Andy Summers is happy to talk Police, then fair enough).

Cameron Mackintosh - The First 50 Years
How the impresario helped put shows on and make big successes, finding love along the way, developing many friends and supporters, and becoming a theatre magnate. Writers and production types were as talkative as stars, which helped.

Elaine Paige at the BBC
From an early appearance in a Terry Scott series in 1971, through the forgotten One More Time!, then on to Evita and beyond, finishing with I Know Him So Well. A surprising collection.

Daniel Barenboim In His Own Words
A new special as he approaches 80, with him relating his musical life story, mixed with various clips where appropriate, and some new performance work. His parents were both music tutors, and Dan was playing with an orchestra from the age of 8. He met greats like Rubinstein, Furtwangler and Boulez. He married Jacqueline du Pre, who later suffered with MS. He remarried after her death and has two sons. He didn't expect to become a conductor, but spent 15 years running an orchestra in Paris, and has been doing the same in Berlin for 27 years, as well as for other outfits too. He started the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra in 1999, and has also founded the Barenboim-Said Academy to encourage other young musicians.

Red Elvis - The Cold War Cowboy
How Dean Reed found the US wouldn't listen, but Chile would. This led to sorties in East Germany and so on, but he came to a mysterious end in 1986. A curious story which perhaps was always likely to end badly.

Lwp - Ar Dap - Miwsig Cymru
Another showcase of sorts, with Sister Wives, Pys Melyn, Yr Ods, 9bach, 3 Hwr Doeth and Yr Eira. Various band members discussed their craft, and the state of Welsh music.

Radio 2 In Concert - Simple Minds
Surprisingly from 2016, when they must have done an acoustic project, which either passed me by or was forgettable. Jim got some good banter going between songs, and they brought Steve Harley on for the finale which was their cover of his big hit Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me).

Greatest Pop Videos: 1981
Again a mixed-up selection ranging from genuinely impressive and iconic works by Adam and the Ants or Talking Heads, though to frankly quite humdrum choices. Russell Mulcahy was mentioned frequently as a director responsible for many of those featured, though he wasn't interviewed himself. To be fair, neither were Godley or Creme.

The Great Songwriters - Richard Ashcroft
The voice and words behind the Verve, he sang and talked about Bittersweet Symphony, Lucky Man, and others. He has a recent album project which I think revisited some of his tracks like these.

Peggy Lee Entertains
A show from 1981 in which the great singer changed through almost as many frocks as she sang songs. Besides obvious choices like Fever, she did Witchcraft, The Best is Yet to Come, I'm A Woman and others.

Curadur - Kizzy Crawford
Trying to keep to a theme of "hope", Kizzy brings on Neli, Asha Jane, Izzy Rabey and Kai Cartwright. 

Greatest Pop Videos: 1982
No Seven Tears alas, but the presence of Nick Heyward meant 3 discussions on Haircut 100, an actual Madness member was able to chat about them for once, as well as comment on the passing of Meat Loaf during a chat on Dead Ringer For Love, so these shows aren't made massively in advance (or not completed anyway). Don Letts directed the Pass The Dutchie clip. They managed to veer from The Message and Shock The Monkey to Ebony & Ivory and Annie, I'm Not Your Daddy. Well, it's their show.

The Stone Roses - Live
From the Empress Ballroom in Blackpool, in August 1989, so a few months before their infamous eponymous debut album, which they largely performed here, and very entertaining most of it was.

Elaine Paige - I'm Still Here
A special from 2017, marking her half-century in the business, and performing songs from all sorts of shows, backed by the BBC Concert Orchestra, at the Royal Albert Hall, London. Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd-Webber came on for some sort of presentation near the end, and she coped with doing I Know Him So Well all by herself.

We Are The Thousand
An Italian rock fan hatches a plan to goad the Foo Fighters to come to their town, Cesena. So they arrange 1000 musicians (drummers, bassists, etc) to perform "Learn to Fly" in sync. Much preparation is involved, but they manage it (in July 2015). A clip goes viral, and several key organisers fly to Walla Walla in the USA to meet Dave Grohl and the rest of the band. In return, the Foos do come to Cesena to do a gig, by which time Dave's leg is in plaster. The "Rockin' 1000" reform for a further gig in a stadium the year after. Despite rain issues, the show goes on.

Imagine... - Labi Siffre : This Is My Song
How a singer-songwriter made a mark, produced a song taken up by the anti-apartheid movement, how his career went on hold while he cared for his partner, and how he got sampled by Eminem, Jay Z and others, and how he's now working on a new album.

Face 2 Face: Skiibii
Likeable chap from Nigeria. He rapped originally until he developed into a better singer. He has his own label, and likes to experiment with styles. Has played the O2 in London, and plans to return in March. He feels easy to work with, and like collaborations with upcoming talent. He was #1 on Apple Music, somehow or other.

This Cultural Life - Evelyn Glennie
The world's foremost solo percussionist talked to John Wilson about growing up on a farm north of Aberdeen, how her hearing deteriorated, how her audition for the Royal Academy didn't plan out, though she did make it eventually. She was encouraged by a tutor named James Blades, and gave a legendary Proms performance in 1992. She's expanded the repertoire for solo percussion by commissioning over 200 new pieces, and now makes it her career.

Greatest Pop Videos: 1983
Possibly the last word from Andy Summers on the Police videos, plenty of Paul Young as his career took off, rueful words from Tom Bailey about the Thompson Twins, and praise for classics from Michael Jackson, David Bowie, and many more. One running theme was praise for Annie Lennox as a singer and in terms of videos, performer.

BBC Proms: A Celebration of Classic MGM Film Musicals
Clive Anderson was a presenter back in 2009, but sure enough, it was John Wilson conducting the John Wilson Orchestra through various big (and to be fair not so big) numbers, with vocal help from Sir Thomas Allen, Curtis Stigers, and Seth MacFarlane, among others.

Stevie Wonder at the BBC
Another selection. Odd to be reminded his last album was over 15 years ago. Interesting to catch some rarities like Love's In Need Of Love Today or From The Bottom Of My Heart. Also the odd bit of chatshow work.

Cymry ar Gynfas - Mei Gwynedd
He was from Caernarfon and joined the band Beganifs at 13. When they went to Amsterdam, an inspired rasta introduced them as Big Leaves instead and it stuck. He seems to be more on the production/label-owning side these days. Steffan Dafydd did his portrait, which was a bit pop-art-esque.

A Concerto For Evelyn
The 1992 Prom where she performed Veni, Veni, Emmanuel with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra.

Janet Jackson.
Major new 4-part documentary on the life and times of the youngest Jackson sibling, her early acting efforts, her ill-starred early musical exploits, and how she finally hit big with Control and Rhythm Nation. Her love life was less successful (notably her current partner wasn't interviewed - I see she's single again anyway!). She seemed to forgive Justin Timberlake, even though he threw her under the bus in their Superbowl appearance (and she took the bulk of the flak for it).

Katherine Jenkins - Intimate & Romantic
A show from 2008, with Kath singing to an invited crowd, sometimes doing Italian versions of hits like I Will Always Love You, whilst her guests Blake did a Spanish version of I'll Make Love To You. She also got through more dress changes in one hour than was entirely necessary.

Songs For While I'm Away
Another look at the story of Phil Lynott and Thin Lizzy. Huey Lewis and James Hetfield were fans, Midge Ure and Scott Gorham were band members, and Eric Bell was a treasure. Phil's widow and daughters also contributed. It was a tale of triumph over adversity, tempered by issues with touring the USA, and eventually health matters.

Inside Art - Derek Jarman - Protest! at Manchester Art Gallery
Kate Bryan checked out a new career exhibition to show the late director was about more than just directing Jubilee and a few Pet Shop Boys videos. Jon Savage was also on hand, and Maggi Hambling was a friend and fellow artist.

Greatest Pop Videos: 1984
Many infamous works here, from Wild Boys to Like A Virgin to Relax AND Two Tribes to I Want To Break Free to Hello to Pipes of Peace and so on. Was Cyndi Lauper just America's answer to Toyah?