Music Television 4

Music Icons: The Spector Years
How a frizzy-haired producer and his "Wall of Sound" made such an impact on the Righteous Brothers, The Ronettes and The Shirelles (with whom he didn't apparently work). His effect on Ronnie Spector would seem to count against his genius, though.

Focus On: Mariah Carey
Suggestive song titles, flirty videos, collaborations with many men at once... all here.

MTV World Stage: Snoop Lion
From May 2013, at the Africa All Stars concert in Durban. Snoop ran through hits old and new, and brought on other acts from the concert for his big finale. 

From Cradle to Stage: Pharrell Williams
Like Dave, he's from Virginia. He launched his own festival "Something in the Water". His turning point was that hot producer Teddy Riley had a studio next to Pharrell's school. There's a bit of luck, eh?

Music Icons: The Motown Sound
A very familiar story, really, focusing this time on the cases of the Temptations, Martha and the Vandellas, and the Miracles. The highs, the lows, the production line mentality, Berry Gordy and Smokey Robinson.

The Doobie Brothers - Live from the Beacon Theatre
A show in 2018 centred around playing 2 of their albums. They started and ended with Listen To The Music, and fitted in Long Train Running around the middle.

Music Icons: Doo Wop
Perhaps a little further back than often fits in the remit of this show, from barbershop beginnings and acoustic gateways. The acts on display were the Drifters, the Ink Spots, and the Clef-Tones. The Drifters endured partly by moving to the UK in the 1970s.

Rollermania
Possibly seen this 2015 effort before; repeated to mark the recent death of lead singer Les McKeown. The disparity between the songwriters and the band over writing and performing were rather dismaying, and though they blazed brightly, it was also briefly.

Radio 1 Big Weekend of Live Music 2021
Partly marking the beginnings of a return to live music, this happened around the UK at various locations, and this show simply presented 2-3 tracks from many if not all of the acts, so this ranged from Jorja Smith and Celeste, to Anne-Marie and AJ Tracey, plus London Grammar, Royal Blood and Wolf Alice, and even Mabel. With Coldplay and Ed Sheeran to top it off.

The Live Revival
A major 3-part series considering the impending reopening of gigs in the UK, and the very many smaller venues around the place, with many of the acts who have positive anecdotes about playing in them. The UK government has funded a few things during the pandemic, but none of these. From the 100 Club to King Tut's Wah-Wah, from the George Tavern to the Brudenell, and from the Leadmill to the Dublin Castle. The acts are ready and waiting to perform, and if the audiences can cope with the necessary hoops to jump through, then the reopening cannot come too soon.

Music Icons: Glam Rock
Last in the series, except the one I managed to miss, this was a more familiar topic area, considered as ever through the careers of T-Rex, the Sweet and Mott the Hoople. The latter only had a handful of hits, but the vitality of the frontmen was a key part of this genre, and Ian Hunter certainly stands mention along with Marc Bolan and Brian Connolly.

Radio 1 Big Weekend: Royal Blood
They're cool and they've got some good songs, so good things should follow. Their new album has stuff like Boilermaker.

Matt Deighton: Overshadowed
A great lost talent, who led Mother Earth for a while, then filled in for Oasis during a hiatus for Noel, and has delighted many other musicians and some critics. Chris Difford was a friend, Paul Weller and Marti Pellow spoke highly, and he worked with Dr Robert as his producer. A charming story, hopefully with a happy ending.

Cher at the BBC
Another cheap compiled filler, with a few interview spots, but mainly performance. Certainly Believe seemed to revive things more than The Shoop Shoop Song, oddly. Some video clips, which seems a bit spurious to the format too.

Texas and the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
A gig from 2017 at the Glasgow Barrowland Ballroom, perhaps repeated to note that Texas have a new album out. A solid show, as you'd expect.

Imagine Dragons - Rocks Special
Dan Reynolds talks via Zoom to Jack Saunders about the new album. Jack introduced the band as the "best selling rock band of the 2010s" which seems a bit unlikely. It's their 5th album, and they're 13 years down the line. Dan refutes a rumour about working on a Spiderman musical. Rick Rubin was producer.

Radio 1 Big Weekend - Jorja Smith
A decent little set from Alexandra Palace, Jorja in fine fettle, and assisted by Enny, Shayno and Amia Brave as and when.

Centennial Birthday Celebration Concert
Marking 100 years at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Los Angeles Philharmonic were conducted at times by Zubin Mehta, Esa-Sekka Pelonen, and then Gustavo Dudamel, before finishing on the world premiere of a piece for three conductors (there's a bit of luck).

Tafwyl 2021
A Welsh festival at Cardiff Castle, marking its 15th year. Acts included Thallo, Derw, Lewys and Glain, before Geraint Jarman headlined.

My Life on MTV: Rock
In a change from earlier episodes, two heavier groups - Linkin Park and Green Day. The former evolved their sound and seem to be still around even after Chester's death. The latter built over a run of albums, and turned a run of nominations into a positive when they actually won some awards.

Al Jazeera World: Rebel Radio Ships
The twin tales about Radio Caroline, which broadcast a pirate radio channel in UK waters in the 1960s (or to UK audiences anyway), and the Voice of Peace, which operated to a Middle East audience. Despite the government shutdown in 1967, Caroline actually prevailed until the 1980s.

Son of Cornwall
Lawrence Richards' emotional film about his father, the tenor John Treleaven. John delighted opera houses, but struggled with alcoholism. He had clearly recovered and was quite sanguine as his son took him to various places from his youth. John got to unleash his voice a couple of times.

Download Festival Reloaded
In the continuing absence of most festivals, this was a 2-part compilation from the years 2011-9, and thus brought together hits from Kiss, Linkin Park, Def Leppard, Muse, Iron Maiden, Slipknot, System of a Down and many more.

The Live Revival: Let The Music Play
A follow-on to the recent series, chiefly just live performances, though again reiterating the general "support small venues" message. Among the acts here were James, Paul Weller, Amy McDonald and David Gray.

From Cradle to Stage: Tom Morello
His mother Mary, in her 90s, had a CV that puts most politicians to shame, and she was her son's biggest supporter. His great uncle was Kenyan leader Jomo Kenyatta, which is quite the name-drop. Libertyville is their base. It figures.

Dennis Miller Plus One - Debbie Gibson
She's in Las Vegas, and releasing her first new pop album for 20 years, called The Body Remembers. She was 50 last year. She's a big Liberace fan, and has his old piano. She's doing some duet with Joey McIntyre, whom she met in the late 80s. She likes Katy Perry, and appeared in her "Last Friday Night" video. Her fans are called "DebHeads". She has live dates in Vegas in August.

MTV World Stage: Foo Fighters
In September 2017, Dave and the lads went to Barts Theatre in Barcelona (amongst others, I'll warrant).

Mike Judge presents - Tales from the Tour Bus - Jerry Lee Lewis
The Killer was quite the character (or still is for now). His former teen bride, Myra, was among the contributors, as well as his sister Linda, and various band members and relations. He had a tricky rivalry with Elvis Presley, and Chuck Berry, and just about everyone. He did works in country, but he told a Grand Ole Opry crowd he was a rock n roller, and I agree with that self-assessment 

Noel Gallagher - Out of the Now
Part-chat, part-performance, he's got a new compilation from his first 10 years leading the High Flying Birds, and was in good form.

The South Bank Show - Arlo Parks
As part of the Times Breakthrough award nominees, Melvyn spent half a show on this rising star, her background and recent debut album. She started writing at 8, took piano and guitar lessons and has a weak memory, but is a quick writer.

My Life on MTV - Teen Idols
Depending on categories, this could be a long series. This time came the stories of the Jonas Brothers, and Usher. The latter certainly had more variety of shows on his list.

From Cradle to Stage - Geddy Lee
The Rush legend 's mother was 95 and a Holocaust survivor. Dave credited Rush with inspiring him. There was an end of series meal with Dave's mother and others from the series (and her book) meeting up. Dave suggested "drive matters more than talent".

Al Green - Glastonbury Festival 1999
He did the legends spot that year, and looked very sprightly. He started off with some "Reverend" stuff which I suspect took the audience by surprise. Then he did some hits, then he did some medleys of other hits. Then he threw red roses to the crowd.

Glastonbury 98
A compilation from a year when Robbie Williams was a surprising wow, but Catatonia, Blur, Underworld and Pulp were more the usual thing, and Tony Bennett did the legends spot.

Arctic Monkeys - Glastonbury Festival 2013
A curiously truncated bit of their headline set. They seem to have gone off the boil since then.

Glastonbury Festival 2003
Another compilation, this time with R.E.M., Radiohead and Manic Street Preachers, and more left-field stuff from Jimmy Cliff and Kanda Bongo Man. 

Glastonbury 99
Also a compilation, with Blondie, Gomez, The Cardigans and Skunk Anansie, besides more mainstream choices like The Corrs, Texas and Travis.

MTV World Stage: Africa Day 2021 - Concert Highlights
Idris Elba presents/links from Cape Town, but some of the performances were from Lagos. Ten acts do their stuff in specially shot performances.

Glastonbury 07 - Iggy and the Stooges
A reasonable set enlivened in the middle when Iggy invites the crowd on stage, most of them come, and then won't leave, only slowly.

Live at Worthy Farm - Highlights
More than 3 hours culled from multiple performances over a number of weeks, featuring acts ranging from Michael Kiwanuka and George Ezra, through Idles and Wolf Alice, to Coldplay and Kano and Jorja Smith, with an extended dance section to finish led by DJ Honey Dijon.

Going A Bundle - Music
Another in this children's series, with Harry Fowler and James Villiers working through the various instrument groups in the orchestra, and getting help from experts like Randy Edelman.

Glastonbury in the 90s
How the festival made tentative moves onto telly, and overcame issues like fire and flood. A rare admittance that the place did change with time.

Glastonbury in the 21st Century
Concluding the story, how dance music and other forms staked  their place, sometimes in spite of spirited defiance, and how the legends slot helped expand the nature of what the event could be.

Pride Hits at the BBC
Somewhat belated compilation of the old and the less old, hitting most obvious boxes.

Nicola Benedetti - Young Musician 2004
A short compilation from her semi-final success (before she went on to win the final). A pleasant filler.

Guy Garvey - From the Vaults - 1980
A 2nd series for this tribute to ITV's regional music shows, covering the height of 2-Tone, the early days of U2, the success of the Jam, and even a little look at Iron Maiden for a change.

Legends of Glastonbury
A wider selection than in some previous years, allowing for Madness, Blondie and The Pretenders, as well as others from the "Legends" spot like Lionel Richie, Willie Nelson and Neil Diamond.

My Life on MTV - Triple Threats
A term to cover singing dancers who also act, in this case Justin Timberlake and Jennifer Lopez. His bit was enhanced to also cover his life in N Sync too.

Live at Worthy Farm - Backstage
Jo Whiley talks about the 6 day shoot for the 3 hour concert film which was screened after it (but makes more sense watched before this). The weather only posed issues when it came to Kano. I was pleased to have confirmed that the concluding dance section was intentionally about the late night crowd.

Fela Live - Midsummer Concert
From his 1984 appearance at Glastonbury, with his Egypt 80 backing collective, and an amusing antidote to the three minute pop song.

Santana - Live at the Us Festival
Carlos & co were in good form in 1982, and interview footage of Carlos broke up the concert footage well.

KSI: On Shoot
Likeable rising Brit star, here pushing a new single Holiday, which involved no other acts for once. Various romantic scenes spelled out the story.

From The Vaults - 1983
Mainly stuff from The Tube, but also a little Razzmatazz. A rare run-out for Gang of Four, and again some early stuff from U2. Rarer yet was a number from King Sunny Ade.

The South Bank Show: Mishka Rushdie Momen / Alex Woolf
She is a 29 year old pianist who started out at the age of 4, and was at college at 6. A recent album saw her interpret Schumann works, and she did streamed concerts during lockdown with a famous old cellist.
He is a 26 year old composer with musical parents, who soon related to opera, and earned a music degree at Cambridge. He started on piano and violin at 7, and has Sondheim for a hero.

The Big Interview w/Dan Rather - Lynyrd Skynyrd
Dan talked to Gary Rossington, a surviving member, Rickey Medlocke, who initially rejected the band for his health, but joined up after the fateful 1977 crash, and Johnny Van Zandt, who replaced his late brother Ronnie, in this 2018 interview. The band formed back in 1964, and gave us timeless tunes like Sweet Home Alabama and Freebird. They discussed politics, a lot, and gun ownershop too, and even music.

Snow Patrol - In Concert - Baloise Session 2019
Gary and the gang were pushing their first new album for many years, even at one stage comparing their hiatus with the Beatles 60s prolific output. They did a good set of hits and new ones.

TUNE - Bothy Bass : Traditional Tunes and Techno Beats
Two guys from Aberdeenshire trying to mix the old and the new.

Sommernachtskonzert
Held in mid-summer this year, the Vienna Philharmonic, under the conducting of Daniel Harding, did pieces by Verdi, Elgar, Debussy, Holst and a few others.

Sacred Music: The Story of Allegri's Miserere
Simon Russell Beale told the story of a piece of music that Pope Urban liked so much, he restricted its performance. However a little scamp called Mozart circumvented his edict, and Pope Clement XIV was so impressed he went along with it. Extra touches and flourishes have been added over the years. This 2008 prog ended with a performance of the work.

Inside Art: Night Fever at V&A Dundee
Kate Bryan considers a new exhibition on nightclub history, from Studio 54 and others. The museum director and curator spoke of what they had been able to bring together, and Kate spoke over video-link to Ana Matronic too.

That'll Be The Day
David Essex leads as Jim McClain, a bored teenager who forsakes his school education for the delights of the grown-up world. He slowly gets drawn towards the world of rock n roll. Notably, other cast include Ringo Starr and Billy Fury. The sequel, Stardust, is more about the rock world, but shown less often.

Stardust
Said sequel, as Essex makes some success with the Stray Cats, but once agent Adam Faith is able to replace manager John Normington with the more brutal Larry Hagman, business really picks up, but McClain's life remains unfulfilled. A fun chance to spot support from the likes of Dave Edmunds and Keith Moon, and other actors like Karl Howman and Paul Nicholas. A bit bleak in the end, purposefully.

Sistine Chapel Choir
Supposedly the first live recording the Chapel of Missa Papae Marcelli and other works. Good for what it was, I suppose.

BBC Four Sessions - kd lang
In 2008, at St Luke's in London, with the BBC Concert Orchestra, lang did her stuff, starting with Constant Craving, and finishing with a cover of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah.

From The Vaults - 1985
Chaka Khan doesn't get remotely comparable respect than Whitney Houston, so good to see her here, and also good to have less obvious inclusions like Tom Waits, The Cult, Killing Joke and Cocteau Twins, and even Lenny Henry doing backing for the Style Council.

The Big Interview w/Dan Rather - Peter Frampton
They talked in Nashville. Peter talked about being in the Herd, then Humble Pie, and then going solo. His live album, Frampton Comes Alive! was the culmination of several years work, but its success took everyone by surprise. He was encourage to rush out a new album, rather than let the success breathe, and it flopped. He also appeared in the flop film based on Sergeant Pepper, which even Bee Gees docs don't bother discussing. Then he had a car crash in the Bahamas in 1978, and had multiple fractures. David Bowie, who was an old friend, gave him help to turn his image around and re-establish him as the guitar whizz he was. He finally sundered his famous haircut in the early 1990s. He wrote Show Me The Way and Baby I Love Your Way the same day. He finished by singing a newer number, I Saved A Bird Today, and also Baby I Love Your Way. Nice bloke.

Ms Lauryn Hill - In Concert - Baloise Session 2018
Good, another new series. She was pushing the 20th anniversary of her infamous "Miseducation" album, and obligingly saved the three big Fugees numbers for the end.

A Brass Band Wonderland
Bit out of season. Jason Manford presents the Hackney Colliery Band and the Fairey Band, as they perform and support various Christmas numbers, for guest singers like Russell Watson, Andreya Triana, Collabro, and Jason himself.

The South Bank Sky Arts Awards
Their 25th year, with Melvyn Bragg presenting. Danielle de Niese and Celeste did some music, Dua Lipa won the Pop Award, whilst the Breakthrough award when to a writer, none of the musicians. 

My Life On MTV: Lady Gaga
So impressive she got the whole show, which was a frenzy of images, clothes changes, empowerment speeches and even a bit of music.

101 East: South Korea's Musical Prodigies
For various reasons, it's a country with a fierce willingness to learn the crafts of playing classical music, though what emotional side-effects it also has is not a matter of much concern, it seems.

From The Vaults: 1978
Good to see the likes of Dire Straits in amidst the Siouxsie and the Banshees or Ian Dury and the Blockheads. Interestingly clips with Paul McCartney, David Bowie and Brian May, and a disco feature including Barry Blue. And to mix predictable choices like Kate Bush and Joy Division, with a bit of Matumbi and Hi Tension.

Rag N Bone Man - In Concert - Baloise Session 2019
Human may be his big closer, and then there's Giant of course, but Skin also deserves the respect it gets. I did pick up this first album lately, and I'm quite glad I did.

Reclaiming Amy
Her mum Janis, and dad Mitch, try to "set the record straight" and shift blame elsewhere. They manage not to bring up Mark Ronson, preferring to stick with her private life. Oh well...

45th at Night with Amy Winehouse
Useful repeat from 2007, by which time she was plugging the 2nd album which people cared about, and she was already looking less healthy than before.

Amy Winehouse & Me - Dionne's Story
Dionne Bromfield was Amy's niece, and Amy helped start her career, and signed her to her Lioness record label. This was Dionne's first attempt to address her own grief and feelings about the death. She talked to an engineer, Amy's old PA, and a grief counsellor, and did find some sort of acceptance.

First Night of the Proms
After the truncated 2020 season, this year's also shortened but to 6 rather than 2 weeks. This opener saw Dalia Stasevska conduct the BBC Symphony Orchestra through works by Vaughan Williams, Poulence, MacMillan (a world premiere) and finally Sibelius. The audiences were back too.

From The Vaults - 1987
End of this 2nd series, notable as usual for the lesser lights like Trouble Funk and John Martyn, though fun from two of the Sugarcubes being interviewed, and an irascible John Lydon on a kids show with PiL. I hope for a 3rd series in 2022, there must still be stacks of material up for grabs.

The 30 Greatest Hits of 1988
Suggs again presented a somewhat dubious rundown not based on sales. A few quirkier inclusions like Patrick Swayze and Bobby McFerrin, and I Should Be So Lucky pipped The Only Way Is Up to the top spot.

Focus On: Sheryl Crow
A typical enough run-through of her hits, which don't quite number as many as you might suppose.

The Bhangra Boss - The Story of DJ Vips
Vipen Kumar briefly became a force in Scottish music, as a DJ, and then with Vip Records, but he sadly and unexpectedly died early in 2019, and is still warmly missed.

My Zimbabwe
Hector Mugani is an ethnomusicologist trying to find and foster local music talents, with help from local producers like his pal Mono Mukundu. As a mbira player, he was also trying to develop the electric mbira. Nice to see hope springs everywhere.