BeebRock - The BBC4/BBC3/BBC2/BBC1 Music Programmes thread

I just caught up on last weekends shows. I enjoyed The Guitar Riff programme. It's hard to believe that Rumble, the instrumental song, was banned.

I found an article which suggests the name 'rumble' caused problems, as well as the song.

http://www.pophistorydig.com/?tag=link-wray-rumble

The song’s title — “Rumble” – was a stumbling block for some DJs; they just couldn’t get past it. However, the song itself, an instrumental, had no lyrics of course, so there was no language per se to incite kids; no fiery rhetoric. Still, those aware of the controversy took precautions. Even Dick Clark of American Bandstand, the popular TV dance show, was careful to avoid mentioning the song’s title when he introduced Wray and his band as guests in May 1958.

They really were different times. Although maybe PJ and Duncan were right to put a h in 'Let's get ready to rhumble' just to stop the kids getting overexcited!

And another thing, BBC Radio 2 are doing a poll of the greatest 100 Guitar riffs of all time.

They will count them down in a special programme on August 25th
Vote, Vote, Vote!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3CPpg0bvRvy4kVLtv49MyD6/radio-2-top-100-greatest-guitar-riffs-vote

They also have guitar tutorials on the same site. Now that's what I call Public Service Broadcasting.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/mYXGYCXXZnm9hlhKY9T2wP/radio-2s-guitar-pickup-lesson-1

It's the last TOTP until at least Mid September this week, apparently. A combination of the shows never actually happened (due to BBC strikes) and not being suitable for repeats (due to the presenters). At least by 1979 they had realised that it might be worth keeping the tapes of the old shows.

Elsewhere it's Pink Floyd, Prince, Northern Soul, Motown, Lionel Richie and Robbie Williams.


Thursday BBC4

7.30pm Top of The Pops 1979

Kid Jensen presents an edition first broadcast August 30, 1979. Featuring performances by Secret Affair, Dollar, Nick Lowe, the Gibson Brothers, Gary Numan, Johnny Mathis, the Stranglers and Cliff Richard. Plus, dance sequences by Legs & Co

Friday BBC4

9.30pm & 12.30am - Northern Soul Living: For The Weekend

A look at the rise, fall and re-birth of the music and dance movement that took place across the north of England during the 1970s. Archive footage and vivid first-hand accounts reveal the dynamic culture of fashions, dance moves and musical obsessions that were all fuelled by a unique style of black American soul music based on heavy beats. With contributions by Richard Searling, Ian Levine, Colin Kurtis, Kev Roberts, Pete Waterman, Peter Stringfellow and others

10.30pm & 1.30am - Motown at the BBC

A compilation of studio performances by some of Motown's greatest artists, originally broadcast to mark the record label's 50th anniversary. Featuring Diana Ross and the Supremes, the Temptations, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, the Jackson Five, the Four Tops and Stevie Wonder

11.30pm & 2.30am - Prince: A Purple Reign

Profile of the enigmatic American musician, who rose to fame in the 1980s with hits including 1999, Kiss and Raspberry Beret. As well as achieving significant commercial success around the world, he won critical acclaim for his adventurous, genre-blurring albums, such as Sign O' the Times and Around the World in a Day - while also making headlines for his sexually explicit lyrics and stage shows, as well as his legal battle to retain control of his name and music. Featuring contributions by guitarist Dez Dickerson, Public Enemy frontman Chuck D, soul singer Beverley Knight and Paisley Park label president Alan Leeds

Saturday BBC4

10.55pm - Pink Floyd: Wish You Were Here

Documentary exploring the creation of the rock band's ninth studio album Wish You Were Here, which was released in 1975 and topped the charts in the UK and America. The record reflects on the legacy of Syd Barrett, who left Pink Floyd in 1968 and is eulogised in the song Shine on You Crazy Diamond. Featuring contributions by members Roger Waters, David Gilmour and Nick Mason

11.55pm - Pink Floyd: A Delicate Sound of Thunder

An extravagant concert film from the musicians' A Momentary Lapse of Reason tour, recorded at New York's Nassau Coliseum in August 1988 using 27 cameras. The performance sees David Gilmour, Rick Wright and Nick Mason deliver several seminal tracks, including Shine on You Crazy Diamond, Time, Comfortably Numb and Wish You Were Here

1.30am Top of the Pops As above


RTE1 10.50pm - Robbie Williams:One Night at The Palladium

The former Take That star performs an evening of swing music and new songs recorded at the London Palladium on November 8, taken from his album Swings Both Ways and featuring special guests Lily Allen, Rufus Wainwright and Muppet megastars Miss Piggy and Kermit the Frog

BBC4 Monday Night 2am - Lionel Richie: Dancing on the Ceiling

Profile of the soul singer, who found fame in the 1970s as frontman of the Commodores. The programme looks at his departure from the band in 1982 and subsequent international success as a solo artist. With contributions by Kenny Rogers, Lemar, Motown songwriter and producer Gloria Jones and video director Bob Giraldi

Northern Soul on Friday Night there, BBC2 had a very similar (and very good) Northern Soul programme last September, presented by the then Newsnight Economics Editor Paul Mason (who is now at Channel 4). Only the BBC would do this, it would be like RTE getting Brian Dobson to do a documentary about the Seventies Underground Dublin punk scene of. Please commission this as soon as possible, RTE!




Music film of the week ... Dreamgirls on Channel 4 (Saturday Night, 12.05am)

A 1960s singing trio are chosen to perform backing vocals for a popular performer - an event that launches the band on a successful career of their own. However, when the most attractive of the girls is picked as the face of the group, edging out the other two, personal rivalries begin to jeopardise their friendship. Musical drama, inspired by the rise to fame of Diana Ross and the Supremes, and starring Jamie Foxx, Beyonce Knowles, Eddie Murphy and an Oscar-winning Jennifer Hudson

Sadly, there is no Sounds of The Eighties this week, it is replaced by Beethoven at the Proms. Down with this sort of thing. Roll over Beethoven

Seeing as it's been ages since I mentioned Roy Orbison or Sky Arts ...


Tonight on Sky Arts 1 at 12.25am ...

Roy Orbison & Friends: A Black and White Night

The singer performs his greatest hits, including Oh, Pretty Woman, It's Over and Crying, with a backing band made up of stars including Bruce Springsteen, Tom Waits, Elvis Costello, Jackson Browne, kd lang, Jennifer Warnes and Bonnie Raitt. Filmed at the Cocoanut Grove nightclub in Los Angeles

I heartily recommend this programme.