The Recording Revolution
Neil Brand explores how some favourite songs were created. He looks at how they were first recorded and the listening revolution in the home that followed.
Songs are the soundtrack of our lives and it takes a kind of genius to create a true pop masterpiece. But, as Neil Brand argues, there is more to consider in the story of what makes a great song. Neil looks at every moment in the life cycle of a song - how they are written, performed, recorded and the changing ways we have listened to them. He reveals how it is the wonderful alchemy of all of these elements that makes songs so special to us.
To open the series, Neil investigates how songs were recorded for the first time, the listening revolution in the home that followed and the birth of a new style of singing that came with the arrival of the microphone - crooning. He also looks at the songwriting genius of Irving Berlin and the interpretative power of singers Bessie Smith, Louis Armstrong and Bing Crosby.
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Clips
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How'd Ya Like to Spoon With Me?
Duration: 01:48
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Prepare yourself for proper crooning
Duration: 02:31
Music Played
Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes
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The Crystals
Da Doo Ron Ron
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The Beatles
Tomorrow Never Knows
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The Beach Boys
Good Vibrations
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Public Enemy
Fight The Power
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Corinne Morgan
How’d Ya Like To Spoon With Me?
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Louis Armstrong & His Orchestra
I Cover The Waterfront
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Ray Noble
The Very Thought Of You
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The Who
Won't Get Fooled Again
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Alan Marks & Nerline Barrett
Star Spangled Banner
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Scott Joplin
The Strenuous Life
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Scott Joplin
Elite Syncopations
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Scott Joplin
Gladiolus Rag
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Irving Berlin
Marie
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Bessie Smith
Alexander's Ragtime Band
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Ada Jones
By The Light Of The Silvery Moon
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Frederick Urrey
Beautiful Dreamer
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Billy Williams
When Father Papered the Parlour
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Florrie Forde
Down At The Old Bull And Bush
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Frederick Urrey
Wilt Thou Be Gone, Love?
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John Philip Sousa
The Liberty Bell
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Pierre Founier
L'Enfant Prodigue
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California Ramblers
Sweet Georgia Brown
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Don Richardson
Arkansas Traveler
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Buddy Boy Hawkins
Shaggy Dog Blues
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Ambrose and His Orchestra
Memphis Blues
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Mamie Smith
Crazy Blues
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Bessie Smith
St Louis Blues
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Louis Armstrong and His Hot Five
Heebie Jeebies
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Louis Armstrong and His Hot Five
Potato Head Blues
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Louis Armstrong and His Hot Five
Hotter Than That
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Louis Armstrong and His Hot Five
Savoy Blues
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Savoy Orpheans
Underneath The Wabash Moon
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Irving Berlin
Piano On Broadway
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John McCormack
All Alone
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Al Jolson
Blue Skies
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Ambrose and His Orchestra
Fit As A Fiddle
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Bessie Smith
The Yellow Dog Blues
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Bing Crosby
Auf Wiedersehen, My Dear
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Frank Sinatra & Ginger Rogers
Cheek To Cheek
-
![]()
The Beatles
Revolution
-
![]()
The Crystals
Da Doo Ron Ron
-
![]()
The Beatles
Tomorrow Never Knows
-
![]()
The Beach Boys
Good Vibrations
-
![]()
Public Enemy
Fight The Power
-
![]()
Corinne Morgan
How’d Ya Like To Spoon With Me?
-
![]()
Louis Armstrong & His Orchestra
I Cover The Waterfront
-
![]()
Ray Noble
The Very Thought Of You
-
![]()
The Who
Won't Get Fooled Again
-
![]()
Alan Marks & Nerline Barrett
Star Spangled Banner
-
![]()
Scott Joplin
The Strenuous Life
-
![]()
Scott Joplin
Elite Syncopations
-
![]()
Scott Joplin
Gladiolus Rag
-
![]()
Irving Berlin
Marie
-
![]()
Bessie Smith
Alexander's Ragtime Band
-
![]()
Ada Jones
By The Light Of The Silvery Moon
-
![]()
Frederick Urrey
Beautiful Dreamer
-
![]()
Billy Williams
When Father Papered the Parlour
-
![]()
Florrie Forde
Down At The Old Bull And Bush
-
![]()
Frederick Urrey
Wilt Thou Be Gone, Love?
-
![]()
John Philip Sousa
The Liberty Bell
-
![]()
Pierre Founier
L'Enfant Prodigue
-
![]()
California Ramblers
Sweet Georgia Brown
-
![]()
Don Richardson
Arkansas Traveler
-
![]()
Buddy Boy Hawkins
Shaggy Dog Blues
-
![]()
Ambrose and His Orchestra
Memphis Blues
-
![]()
Mamie Smith
Crazy Blues
-
![]()
Bessie Smith
St Louis Blues
-
![]()
Louis Armstrong and His Hot Five
Heebie Jeebies
-
![]()
Louis Armstrong And His Hot Five
Potato Head Blues
-
![]()
Louis Armstrong and His Hot Five
Hotter Than That
-
![]()
Louis Armstrong and His Hot Five
Savoy Blues
-
![]()
Savoy Orpheans
Underneath The Wabash Moon
-
![]()
Irving Berlin
Piano On Broadway
-
![]()
John McCormack
All Alone
-
![]()
Al Jolson
Blue Skies
-
![]()
Ambrose and His Orchestra
Fit As A Fiddle
-
![]()
Bessie Smith
The Yellow Dog Blues
-
![]()
Bing Crosby
Auf Wiedersehen, My Dear
-
![]()
Frank Sinatra & Ginger Rodgers
Cheek To Cheek
-
![]()
The Beatles
Revolution
Credits
| Role | Contributor |
|---|---|
| Presenter | Neil Brand |
| Executive Producer | Michael Poole |
| Series Producer | Alastair Laurence |
| Director | Alastair Laurence |
Broadcasts
- Fri 16 Jan 2015 21:00
- Sat 17 Jan 2015 01:00
- Mon 19 Jan 2015 00:00
- Fri 31 Jul 2015 21:00
- Sat 1 Aug 2015 02:55
- Sun 2 Aug 2015 23:00
- Sun 19 Feb 2017 19:00
- Fri 24 Feb 2017 00:50
- Sat 20 Oct 2018 00:30
- Fri 22 Nov 2019 20:00
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