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

Hey Hey, No way to break this gently - It's the UK Final of Eurovision on Friday and Neil Sed**a on Saturday. This is what happens when BBC Three gets closed down and BBC One can't be bothered with the UK final. Still, there's no excuse for Saturday. Booo-urns.

Maybe there's something here to interest you, more appealling fare round at Sky Arts, details in a bit ...




Thursday
7.30pm & 11.55pm Top Of The Pops 1981 #10
Mike Read presents the chart show from April 9, 1981, featuring Bucks Fizz, Public Image, Eddy Grant, Linx, Graham Bonnet, the Whispers and Shakin' Stevens


12.35am Rod Stewart Live in Hyde Park
A concert by the singer that closed Radio 2's annual Festival in a Day, held in September in London's Hyde Park. Featuring a selection of hits from his back catalogue including Gasoline Alley, Angel, In a Broken Dream, The Killing of Georgie (Part I and II) as well as Faces classics including Ooh La La and blues standard Rollin' and Tumblin'


1.35am The Joy of Easy Listening
Documentary charting the history of the genre, from its emergence in the 1950s to its heyday in the 60s, through its survival in the subsequent two decades and revival in the 90s. The programme explores the people behind the songs and the mark they have left on modern life. Featuring interviews with Engelbert Humperdinck, Richard Carpenter and Jimmy Webb



Friday
7.30pm Eurovision: You Decide
From the Kentish Town Forum, north London, Mel Giedroyc hosts the culmination of the UK's biggest ever national song search for the Eurovision Song Contest. This selection show sees six shortlisted acts compete for the honour of representing the United Kingdom at Eurovision 2016. An expert panel is on hand to offer its thoughts on how the songs could be made to look and sound on the stage in Stockholm. However, it is the public who will have the final say via a telephone and an online vote. Plus, performances by last year's Swedish victor Mans Zelmerlow and 1997 UK winner Katrina Leskanich

http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2016/eurovision-you-decide-acts


9.00pm & 1.50am The Joy of Abba
Documentary exploring how pop group Abba raised the bar for their music genre in the 1970s and early 80s, popularising the sound of Swedish melancholy. The programme explores how the quartet of Agnetha Faltskog, Bjorn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad came to dominate the British music charts with simple, catchy melodies, but also divided opinion due to the populist sheen of their output


11.30pm Blondie's New York and the Making of Parallel Lines
The story behind the rock band's third album Parallel Lines - a record that is said to capture the spirit of 1970s New York at a time of poverty, crime and artistic endeavour. The seven individuals who wrote, produced and performed its songs discuss their aim to create a game-changing album full of sure-fire hits. Including commentary from lead singer Debbie Harry who talks about writing music, the media's focus on her appearance and the lyrical content inspired by ex-boyfriends


12.20am Lulu - Something to Shout About
Documentary charting the singer's career, which has spanned 50 years, and exploring the projects she has recently worked on. Cameras follow Lulu as she records in the studio with Jools Holland, rehearses for shows, choreographs new dance routines and prepares for a concert on the banks of the River Clyde in her old home city of Glasgow. Featuring contributions by Elton John, Kylie Minogue, Cliff Richard, Robin Gibb and Barry Manilow. First shown in 2011


12.40am Whelan's @25 (TG4)
A concert recorded at Whelan's, celebrating the Dublin music venue. Featuring performances by the Riptide Movement, Cathy Davey, Javin James, Paddy Casey, the Tri-Tones. Presented by Fiachna O Braonain and Una Mullally


2.50am The Joy of The Single
Documentary taking a journey through the decades to celebrate cherished stories and memories associated with the music single. Artists including Jack White, Noddy Holder, Richard Hawley and Suzi Quatro reveal the powerful impact that singles have had on successive generations, from the rock 'n' rollers of the 1950s to the MP3 downloaders of today


Saturday
10.30pm Film: Spike Island (BBC 2) (2012) Premiere!
Premiere. Five teenage boys from Manchester are desperate to see the Stone Roses in concert during the summer of 1990. Making it to the gig at Cheshire's Spike Island means spending three days on the road, an experience that tests their friendships and forces them to consider what their future holds. Drama, starring Elliott Tittensor and Nico Mirallegro



12.10am Neil F**king Sedaka: King of Song
Documentary portrait of the US musician's life and career, during which he had two distinct periods of success. He broke onto the scene in the late 1950s, selling more than 25 million records in the space of five years, but his career as a performer took a downturn when the Beatles and the British Invasion hit the States. However he found popularity in the UK in the early 1970s, before returning to his homeland and achieving fresh stardom with famous numbers such as Solitaire and Laughter in the Rain. The singer reveals how he created his other catchy classics Calendar Girl, (Is This the Way To) Amarillo, Breaking Up Is Hard to Do, Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen and Stupid Cupid


1.10am Neil Se-you know who says: All You Need Is The Music
A one-man show from 1983 in which the American singer-songwriter performs a diverse range of numbers from his catalogue, from the rock `n' roll era to a more lyrical age. Songs include Solitaire, Bad Blood, The Hungry Years, Laughter in the Rain and New York City Blues


2am The Joy Of The Single
Same as yesterday


3am Top of The Pops 1981 #10
Same as Thursday



Meanwhile, Sky Arts has that three and a half hour Eagles Doc on Friday followed by Scott Walker

Then on Saturday they've got the brilliant real life Spinal Tap film Anvil! The Story of Anvil preceeded by Johnny Cash and followed by Slash




Game, Set and Match to the Sky Arts this Weekend, I think.

The great unmade Stone Roses film must be about their trial for destroying the former Record Label's Studios with paint.

The NME's account was rather good

http://www.john-squire.com/articles/nme90-02.html

STONE ROSES ARRESTED, CHARGED WITH CRIMINAL DAMAGE


Roses banged up! Full details (below), plus NME newshounds STUART MACONIE and ANDREW COLLINS' account (below) of the lads' big day in.


It's A Flare Cop

ALL FOUR members of The Stone Roses were remanded on conditional bail at Wolverhampton Magistrate's Court last Wednesday. The four, Ian Brown, John Squire, Alan 'Reni' Wren and Gary 'Manny' Mounfield, will appear in court on March 6 to face charges of criminal damage amounting to £10,000 inflicted on the Wolverhampton offices of their former record company FM Revolver.

It is alleged that the four carried out a "grudge attack" on FM Revolver's boss Paul Birch as retaliation against his re-issuing of the band's early single 'Sally Cinnamon' (No 48 in this week's chart) and its accompanying video, shot in Manchester without the band's consent.

In the attack cans of blue and white paint are alleged to have been thrown around the interior of Birch's office, covering him and his girlfriend and causing extensive damage. Three cars, including a Mercedes, were also daubed with paint during the attack.

Bail was granted on condition that the band stay away from the FM Revolver offices in Wolverhampton and London and they make no contact with either Birch or his girlfriend Olivia Darling. The four then returned to South Wales where they had been recording at the time of their arrest.

*In a Magistrate's Court the maximum penalty for criminal damage is £2,000 per person per offence plus the cost of damage done ... (and so on, with much Roses Punnery)

Hello, the music selection on BBC Four this Friday is inspired by Bob's Country Bunker ...



And there isn't a whole lot else going on, to be honest. You Know Who is back on Thursday night, I think someone in BBC Four Scheduling might be trolling. Here you go ...



Thursday

7.30pm & Midnight Top Of The Pops 1981 #11
Peter Powell presents the chart show from April 16, 1981, including Bad Manners, Bucks Fizz, Spandau Ballet, Whitesnake, the Nolans, the Cure and Ennio Morricone

12.40am Neil Se#@$a: King Of Song

1.40 am Neil Stinkyface Says All You Need Is The Music



Friday

7.30pm & 12.30am Top Of The Pops 1981 #12
Tommy Vance introduces performances by Toyah Wilcox, Thin Lizzy, Department S, Tenpole Tudor, Sheena Easton, Kim Carnes, and Adam and the Ants. Plus, a dance number from Legs & Co. First shown in May 1981. First aired 14 May 1981. This one was cut down to 20 minutes long as BBC1 were showing the Spurs v Man City FA Cup Final Replay afterwards. Ricky Villa and all that.


7.50pm & 3.20am Sounds Of The 60s
1964-6: The Beat Room Archived footage of performances by Tom Jones, the Kinks, the Pretty Things and John Lee Hooker on the long-defunct music show - The Beat Room


8pm Perfect Pianists at The BBC
David Owen Norris trawls through 60 years of BBC archive material to showcase some of the greatest names in the history of the piano. From the groundbreaking studio recitals of Benno Moiseiwitsch, Solomon and Myra Hess in the 1950s, through the legendary concerts of Vladimir Horowitz and Arthur Rubinstein to more recent performances including Alfred Brendel, Mitsuko Uchida and Stephen Hough, David celebrates some of the greatest players in a pianistic tradition that goes back to Franz Liszt in the 19th century


9pm & 12.50am Country at The BBC
A compilation of BBC session performances by country artists from the past four decades, including Tammy Wynette, Emmylou Harris, Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, Charley Pride, Kris Kristofferson, Garth Brooks, Willie Nelson, Alison Krauss, Taylor Swift, kd lang and Billie Jo Spears


10pm & 12.50am The Heart of Country: How Nashville became Music City USA
A historical biography of the hub of country music, revealing the relationship between commerce and art that has defined Nashville since 1925, and exploring the conflicts and demons that have confronted artists and the industry. The documentary charts the creative pressures of `the Nashville sound', the impact of Elvis then Bob Dylan, and the rise and fall of the Urban Cowboys. Featuring the testimonies of musicians, producers and broadcasters, including Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Brad Paisley and Steve Earle, as well as archived footage of performances by Nashville's greatest - from Johnny Cash to Loretta Lynn, and George Jones to Garth Brooks


11.30pm Johnny Cash: The Man, His World, His Music
Robert Elfstrom's 1969 musical documentary charting the career of Johnny Cash, and capturing `the Man in Black' at the peak of his career. The country singer is seen performing with his new bride June Carter Cash, as well as in a rare duet with Bob Dylan. The film-maker also presents a behind-the-scenes look at the influential American musician as he interacts with friends, family, and aspiring young musicians




Saturday

11.15pm The Imelda May Show
The singer-songwriter introduces more chat and performances by musicians, this time featuring Bob Geldof's new-wave alternative rock outfit the Boomtown Rats, Co Offaly-born star Mundy, indie folk singer Soak, and solo blues guitarist Big Boy Bloater


11.45pm Sings Musicals
Memorable versions of songs taken from or inspired by musicals. The programme features Ella Fitzgerald singing Mack the Knife, from the Threepenny Opera, Captain Sensible's 1982 chart-topper Happy Talk, a cover of a song from South Pacific, and performances by Jeff Beck and Jay-Z


12.45am Sound of Cinema: The Music that made the Movies
The Big Score Neil Brand celebrates the art of the film soundtrack by exploring the work of movie composers and demonstrating their techniques. He begins by looking at how the classical orchestral score emerged, and investigates how its popularity remains strong today. He sheds light on the 1930s European composers such as Max Steiner and Erich Wolfgang Korngold, who brought their Viennese training to Hollywood for movies including King Kong and The Adventures of Robin Hood, and how it took an American talent to produce a darker, more modern sound. He also meets film-maker Martin Scorsese and composer Hans Zimmer to discuss their work


1.45am Top Of The Pops 1981 #11
Same as Thursday

2.25am Top Of The Pops 1981 #12
Same as Friday


Sky Arts has mostly the same as last week: Anvil, Slash and The Who all feature prominently. They also have a Johnny Cash afternoon on Sunday, which can't be bad.

There's another chance to see the excellent Oscar winning Amy Winehouse documentary Amy on More4 (Friday at 10.20pm)


And now, the first (and probably last) of an occasional feature ...

Very Slightly Beebrock related things you probably missed on last week's Late Late Show Thread ...

Richard Gere had a Massive Guitar Collection. He sold most of them a few years ago and raised almost a million dollars for charity.