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John Sebastian takes a nostalgic journey around Greenwich Village, New York, telling the story of a particularly creative period in modern music history.

John Sebastian takes a nostalgic journey around Greenwich Village, New York, telling the story of a particularly creative period in modern music history.

John was born and raised in Greenwich Village and, while still at school in the early 50s, it became a focal point for a group of writers, poets, artists, and students known as the Beat Generation. Inspired by what he saw and heard around him, John became immersed in the folk and club scene that subsequently blossomed.

His skills on guitar and harmonica made him an instrumental component of the folk scene and he worked with Bob Dylan, Judy Collins and Tim Hardin, before forming the The Lovin' Spoonful in 1965 and enjoying success with hits like Do You Believe In Magic and Summer In The City.

The history of Greenwich Village is littered with influential names in contemporary music. John's journey highlights the important role it played in the careers of Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, The Velvet Underground, The Kingston Trio, Richie Havens, Maria Muldaur, Tom Paxton, Phil Ochs, Joni Mitchell, Jimi Hendrix, Nina Simone, The Mamas & Papas, The Ramones, Blondie, Talking Heads, Miles Davis, and the most famous resident to become a major musical star in recent years - Lady Gaga.

The soundtrack to this journey features some of the most evocative and famous folk, rock, pop and jazz music recorded by residents of "The Village". Contributors include Steve Earle, Jac Holzman, Rick Rubin, Lenny Kaye, Richie Havens, John Cale, David Bailey, Jack Douglas, Bob Gruen and Julian Lennon.

First broadcast on Radio 2.

57 minutes

Last on

Wed 20 Sep 2017 01:00
±«Óãtv Radio 6 Music

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Music Played

  • Dave Van Ronk

    Willie The Weeper

    • The Mayor of MacDougal Street: Rarities 1957-69.
    • Rootstock Recordings.
    • MCM-4005.

  • Blondie

    IN THE FLESH

  • Talking Heads

    Psycho Killer

    • THE BEST OF ONCE IN A LIFETIME.
    • EMI.
    • EMI-077778059325.

  • The Lovin’ Spoonful

    Summer In The City

    • The Lovin' Spoonful Collection.
    • Castle Communications.
    • CCSCD-187.

  • Bob Dylan

    Blowin in the wind

    • Greatest Hits.
    • Sony.
    • 4609-079.

  • James Barbagallo

    Piano Quartet in C Major

  • Jelani Eddington

    Kitten On The Keys

    • Let's Face The Music.
    • RJE Productions.
    • RJE-1425.

  • Lehman Engel

    On The Town

  • Pete Seeger

    Red River Valley

    • AMERICAN FAVOURITE BALLADS VOLUME 5.
    • MEMBRAN.
    • DEU241405581.

  • Miles Davis

    BLUES BY FIVE

    • ORIGINAL JAZZ CLASSICS.
    • OJC.
    • OJC-G1.

  • John Coltrane

    Spiritual

    • Live at the Village Vanguard (1 Nov 1961).
    • Impulse.
    • MVCI-23001.

  • DIZZY GILLESPIE/CHARLIE PARKER

    SALT PEANUTS

    • TOWN HALL, NEW YORK CITY JUNE 22 1945.
    • UPTOWN.
    • UPCD-27.51.

  • Nina Simone

    Children Go Where I Send Thee

  • Thelonious Monk

    Blue Monk

    • The Classic Quartet.
    • Candid Productions.
    • CCD-79551.

  • Woody Allen

    Private Life

    • WOODY ALLEN:STANDUP COMIC.
    • RHINO.
    • 8122-75721-2.

  • Sonny Rollins & The Modern Jazz Quartet

    A Night in Tunisia

    • Odds Against Tomorrow.
    • Blue Note.
    • CDP-7934152.

  • Pete Seeger

    Buffalo Girls

    • Pete Seeger 4 Classic Albums Plus Rare Live Recordings.
    • Real Gone Folk.
    • RGFC001.

  • Woody Guthrie

    BLOWIN' DOWN THIS ROAD

    • Dust Bowl Ballads Sung By Woody Guthrie.
    • Doxy Music.
    • DOY623.

  • Josh White

    Freedom Road

    • The House I Live In.
    • Elektra.
    • EKL-7203.

  • Pete Seeger

    Old Joe Clark

  • Woody Guthrie

    Baltimore To Washington

    • Poor Boy.
    • XTRA.
    • XTRA 1065.

  • Allen Ginsberg

    America

    • Hot Roll Jelly Soul: Poems & Songs 1949-1993.
    • Rhino.
    • R2716-93.

  • Tom Paxton

    Daily News

    • RAMBLIN' BOY.
    • ELEKTRA.
    • EKL-277.

  • Richie Havens

    High Flying Bird

    • MIXED BAG.
    • POLYDOR.
    • 835-210 2.

  • Harry Belafonte

    Come Back Liza

    • Calypso.
    • RCA Victor.
    • LPM-1248.

  • Nina Simone

    Just In Time

    • Nina Simone At Newport, At The Village Gate ? And Elsewhere?.
    • Westside.
    • WESD-210.

  • Herbie Mann

    IT AINT NECESSARILY SO

    • LIVE AT THE VILLAGE GATE.
    • Atlantic.
    • sc-8179.

  • Dave Van Ronk

    TWELVE GATES TO THE CITY Recording

    • Dave Van Ronk Sings Blues & A Spiritual.
    • Folkways Records.
    • FS 3818.

  • Bob Dylan

    TALKIN' NEW YORK

    • BOB DYLAN.
    • COLUMBIA.
    • CD-32001.

  • Bob Dylan

    SONG TO WOODY

    • BOB DYLAN.
    • COLUMBIA.
    • 519 891-2.

  • Bob Dylan

    RIDING IN MY CAR

    • Live at the Gaslight 1962.
    • Columbia.
    • C-96016.

  • Bob Dylan

    BLOWIN IN THE WIND

    • THE FREEWHEELIN BOB DYLAN.
    • CBS.
    • CD-32390.

  • Bob Dylan

    HIGHWAY 61 REVISITED

    • HIGHWAY 61 REVISITED.
    • CBS.
    • CDCBS-62572.

  • Bob Dylan

    House of the Rising Sun

    • House of the Risin' Sun.
    • CBS.
    • CBS-32001.

  • Bob Dylan

    Freight Train Blues

    • Bob Dylan.
    • COLUMBIA.
    • CK-8579.

  • Smokey Robinson & The Miracles

    You've Really Got A Hold On Me

    • Motown.

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