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10 Episodes 1995 - 1995
Episode 1
Sun, Sep 24, 1995
In the fifties, a new musical force appeared, shaking up clean-living America - rock 'n' roll. Following Fats Domino's lead, Little Richard burst onto the scene in New Orleans. In Memphis, the new music also emerged, and a young Elvis Presley recorded his first songs.
Episode 2
55 mins
Reports on the years between Elvis and the Beatles, when the 45 hit single became an intricately crafted work of art and producers, songwriters and musicians created studio magic.
Episode 3
Mon, Sep 25, 199553 mins
When Bob Dylan arrived in New York, he stirred up not only the placid world of folk music but also rock'n'roll, influencing everyone from the Beatles to the Byrds. Meanwhile in Britain, the Beatles were expanding on the legacy of the Shadows and skiffle to open out British rock music.
Episode 4
Sun, Jan 22, 1995
An examination of the birth of soul music, from Ray Charles's first adaptation of gospel through Sam Cooke's death to the start of the Motown empire and, in Memphis, the sound of Stax Records.
Episode 5
Tue, Sep 26, 1995
In the early sixties Chicago blues is adopted by British listeners and the music of artists such as Muddy Waters gives birth to a succession of new British rhythm-and-blues artists.
Episode 6
Tue, Sep 26, 1995
In 1966, San Francisco became the center of rock's psychedelic era. Meanwhile in London, Pink Floyd were emerging with an experimental new sound.
Episode 7
Wed, Sep 27, 199554 mins
Musicians are left nursing a hangover after the failure of the summer of love. Into the breach step some of the most outrageous figures yet to grace a rock stage, like The Doors,Lou Reed, Alice Cooper, Iggy Pop and David Bowie.
Episode 8
Wed, Sep 27, 199557 mins
In the seventies, James Brown's musical innovations earned him the sobriquet of the godfather of funk. This remembers the revolution he instigated, plus the work of other funk figureheads such as Sly and the Family Stone, Bootsy Collins and George Clinton.
Episode 9
Thu, Sep 28, 199557 mins
In the mid-seventies, the American music business was shaken out of its complacency by the eccentric sounds of artists like Jonathan Richman. But it was when the anarchic style was picked up in Britain by bands including the Sex Pistols and the Clash that the punk revolution really took off.
Episode 10
Thu, Sep 28, 199558 mins
The conclusion looks at how the passage of time has not compromised music's ability to innovate, excite and induce outrage. With interviews with New Order, Public Enemy, the Beastie Boys, Run DMC and The Orb.