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Private Notes
A celebration of the work of songwriter Lamont Dozier, who passed away in 2022, featuring a rich selection from the BBC’s archive of performances of his work from over the decades.
As one of the legendary Holland-Dozier-Holland trio, Lamont helped create the Motown sound that spread right across the globe in the 1960s, setting a new standard in popular songwriting and winning over fans like Bob Dylan and the Beatles with songs like You Keep Me Hanging On, Baby Love, This Old Heart of Mine and Reach Out I’ll Be There.
This collection features Dozier’s best loved and most recognisable hits, performed by the artists like Diana Ross and the Supremes, The Four Tops, and Martha and the Vandellas, whom he helped turn into international stars, as well as those who have kept his work alive and relevant to this day including Phil Collins, Kylie Minogue, Rod Stewart and Rag'n'Bone Man.
Rod Stewart has already been honoured with one BBC celebration of his great career, but the man Elton John called Phyllis has had so many hits and is held in such affection by his army of fans that it's time for another deep dive into the TV archives.
This second collection of songs from the gravel-voiced legend brings us up to date with some of Rod’s more recent appearances and features some magic mic-stand-twirling moments from exclusive live shows. Plus rarely seen BBC performances of some of his biggest hits from over the years, including Tonight’s the Night, It’s a Heartache, Have I Told You Lately and Sailing.
A deep-dive into the BBC’s archives to celebrate the great Roy Orbison – full-time rock 'n’ roll legend, part-time Traveling Wilbury and the man Elvis famously described as ‘the best singer in the world’.
The Big O’s story was in many ways a tragic one, full of family tragedies and heartbreak, and his extraordinary voice captured all those emotions and more, bringing a new dimension to popular music. This programme features some of the hits that had fans enraptured and fellow music superstars singing his praises, with performances from his many visits to the UK including Only the Lonely, Crying and Oh Pretty Woman.
A selection of classic heartbreaking BBC performances from some of music’s biggest stars, including George Michael, Amy Winehouse, Sam Smith, Taylor Swift and soul legend Dionne Warwick.
A stunning selection of perfect performances of love songs from the BBC's music archives, including the sounds of Nat King Cole, Shania Twain, Billy Joel, Ed Sheeran and many, many more.
A selection of some of the best BBC moments and classic archive performances from those singers and bands who cracked Hollywood as well as the pop charts.
These are the tunes that get hummed when leaving the cinemas over the years from blockbusters, Oscar winners, comedies and family favourites, featuring a selection of soundtrack stars including Destiny’s Child, Paul Simon, All Saints, Simple Minds and Dolly Parton.
A second chance to explore the BBC’s archives with one of British music’s biggest and best-loved stars, Dusty Springfield. The great soul diva and her haunting voice are captured once again in selection of BBC performances from over the years, including You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me, Son of a Preacher Man, and Bacharach and David’s Look of Love. Together, these songs underline why Dusty earned her reputation as one of pop’s great talents, who deserves her ranking alongside fellow singing legends like Aretha Franklin and Dionne Warwick.
Chaka Khan at the BBC
BBC Two
Chaka Khan at the BBC
Ain’t Nobody quite like Chaka Khan, and the proof of that comes courtesy of the BBC’s music archives, which have been plundered for this celebration of one of the all-time great queens of soul.
This selection of Chaka’s finest BBC moments covers five decades of performing, reflecting a career that started in the 70s with her partnership with Rufus and eventually led to the massive number one hit I Feel for You, which helped bring rap right into the mainstream, and I’m Every Woman, an instant anthem that made her a lifelong female icon.
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Andrew Lloyd Webber at the BBC
BBC Two
Runtime 89min
Main content
Andrew Lloyd Webber at the BBC
To mark his 75th birthday, Andrew Lloyd Webber takes a nostalgic journey through the BBC archives, looking back on some of his biggest and best-loved songs.
Alongside performances from stars like Barbra Streisand, Elaine Paige, Diana Ross, Michael Ball and Michael Crawford are stories that Andrew shares from behind scenes of his most popular works - shedding light on how he knew Madonna would perform Evita years before she did, how the cast of Starlight Express ended up on roller skates, and how Jason Donovan and his Technicolour Dream Coat had a whole new generation falling in love with musical theatre.
Release date: 2023-03-25 at 21:25 GMT on BBC Two
BBC Two at 21:00 GMT= 22:00 CET
Burt Bacharach at the BBC
When Burt Bacharach passed away in February 2023 at the age of 94, the world said goodbye to one of the all-time songwriting greats. This celebration of the man and his music features a selection of the finest songs from his extraordinary back catalogue and some ‘magic moments’ from the BBC’s archives.
With performances from artists like Aretha and Adele, Dusty and Dionne, Cilla Black and the White Stripes, this is a collection that highlights exactly why Burt was considered a legend by fans, critics and fellow artists, demonstrating once again the why he and his compositions are universally loved by ‘anyone who had a heart.’
Carole King and Her Songs at the BBC
BBC Two
Carole King and Her Songs at the BBC
She was just 17 when she wrote the pop classic Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow - a calling card that over the years Carole King has delivered on time and time again. The most successful female singer-songwriter of all time, and one of modern music’s standout geniuses, Carole’s catalogue of hits, many written with her songwriting partner and first husband Gerry Goffin for both herself and some of pop and rock’s biggest stars, is second to none.
This celebration of the best of Carole King features a collection of irresistible performances from her and a range of other great artists, taken from a selection of BBC shows from over the decades.
Sounds of Liverpool at the BBC
BBC Two at 21:30 GMT
This programme will be available shortly after broadcast
Sounds of Liverpool at the BBC
It’s the city that gave birth to the Beatles, inspired Gerry to ride that ferry, and spawned Bunnymen and Atomic Kittens. Now with all eyes – and ears – on Liverpool for the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest, a look into the BBC’s archives for a selection of performances from some of Merseyside’s biggest and best-loved musical stars.
Forget house music - this is scouse music, rich and varied, with some songs that conquered charts across the world and others that struck a special chord here – from The Story of the Blues to You’ll Never Walk Alone, and inevitably, in a city with two massive football teams, Frankie Goes to Hollywood’s Two Tribes.
Pet Shop Boys at the BBC
A look back at one of British music’s most enduring and significant partnerships, the Pet Shop Boys, with highlights from Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe’s many appearances on the BBC that demonstrate their dedication to both style and substance.
It’s a journey that takes us from the early days of just two men and a synth right up to the fun and flamboyance of their modern live shows, including hit collaborations with Liza Minelli, Dusty Springfield and David Bowie - proving that Pet Shop Boys stand alongside the great pioneers of pop.
When the great Barry Humphries passed away last month, the world said goodbye to a comedian whose antics had for years had kept presenters, interviewers and chat-show hosts on their toes, half-excited and half-terrified of what outrageous statement he, Dame Edna Everage or Sir Les Patterson might utter on live television.
Alex Jones looks back at the highlights of Barry’s career on a selection of BBC shows, sharing her own memories alongside some of Barry’s funniest, rudest and most revealing moments from over the decades. It’s a collection that demonstrates exactly why Sir Les and Dame Edna were loved by comedy fans across the world while also highlighting how, while his two comic creations may have got all the attention, it was Barry who was really one of a kind.
Ever since his breakthrough single in 1975, Barry Manilow has inspired huge loyalty from legions of adoring fans. With a string of hits in the 70s and 80s and a succession of hugely successful albums, Manilow, who is still recording today, has carved a unique place as both performer and songwriter.
His love of touring in the UK is reflected by the BBC archives, which include concerts at the Royal Albert Hall and Blenheim, plus Top of the Pops, as well as more recent guest appearances on Strictly Come Dancing and the Proms.
George Michael was one of Britain’s best-loved and most acclaimed music stars. With Wham!, the group George formed alongside best friend Andrew Ridgely, he created an 80s phenomenon – heartthrob chart-toppers across the globe and the first Western pop act ever to perform in China. His subsequent solo work took his career to a whole new level, making him one of the key cultural figures of the day.
This collection of George’s solo performances and Wham! classics comes from his appearances on a selection of BBC programmes that demonstrate perfectly why he remains so fondly remembered, featuring hits such as Club Tropicana, Freedom, Faith, Outside and Amazing.
Over the years, Damon, Graham, Alex and Dave have helped to change the face of British music, constantly evolving and leaving musical rivals in their wake. This collection of blur’s greatest performances on the BBC delivers all the hits and more, capturing the band’s crowd-pleasing side through fan favourites like Country House, Parklife, and Girls and Boys as well as their more sensitive and soulful side with tracks including Coffee + TV, Beetlebum, Tender and Out of Time.
A collection of Shania Twain’s biggest moments from the BBC archives, including live performances, her earliest UK TV appearances from the days of her debut hit ‘Still The One,’ and the karaoke classics That Don’t Impress Me Much and Man! I Feel Like a Woman! So grab a hairbrush, and - to quote the title of her biggest-selling album - Come on Over.
Bananarama are the girl group with more chart entries than any other in the world, and now they are getting the ‘at the BBC’ treatment with this collection of performances from the BBC archives, featuring many of the 25 Top 40 singles they released over their career. It’s a selection that covers those early days when The Fun Boy Three first introduced pop fans to the original line-up of Keren Woodward, Sara Dallin and Siobhan Fahey, as well as the end of the 1980s when Siobhan left and was replaced by Jacquie O’Sullivan.
We also bring things right up to date and feature the band’s current status as a duo, with Sara and Keren keeping the flame alive. Over all those years, Bananarama have never claimed to be the greatest singers or dancers, but together they somehow still created pop magic – so fans, settle back and witness how their durability proves beyond doubt
From practising on a second-hand piano in New York’s Hell’s Kitchen aged seven right through to international and Grammy success, fame and acclaim, Alicia Keys has been one of the music industry’s most respected stars for over two decades.
The reasons for this are plain to see in this collection of her appearances on a selection of BBC programmes, which capture all the elements of her uniqueness as a performer, musician and songwriter, and include hits like Fallin’, No One, Girl on Fire and Empire State of Mind
Mike Stock, Matt Aitken and Pete Waterman were the producers who came, SAW and conquered the UK charts in the 1980s, spinning the music scene right round like a record with their instantly recognisable brand of disco floor-filling pop hits. The trio divided the nation between those who loved their Hi-NRG sound and the singers they transformed into tabloid sensations, and a music press that loathed them for turning record producing into a production line.
Today, many of SAW’s most memorable hits are considered classics of their time, and the very best of them are celebrated in this new selection, featuring such artists as Rick Astley, Dead or Alive, Donna Summer, Bananarama, Mel & Kim and, of course, Kylie and Jason
A celebration of R&B superstar Mary J Blige that spans the highlights of her groundbreaking career and features the very best of her appearances on a selection of BBC shows.
From the early songs of the mid-1990s right up to her acclaimed 2015 performance on Glastonbury’s Pyramid Stage, this collection demonstrates why Mary has been labelled as ‘the queen of hip-hop soul’, featuring such hits as Just Fine, Everything and No More Drama.
The programme also includes her collaborations with U2, George Michael and the man who once said Mary possesses 'one of the best voices you’re ever going to hear', Sir Elton John.
A celebration of one of the most successful Anglo-American musical partnerships of all time with this look into the BBC’s archives of Fleetwood Mac.
This programme charts their development from a blues band performing hits at the BBC such as Albatross and Oh Well in the 1960s under the direction of founder members Peter Green and Mick Fleetwood to pop rock stars in the 1980s with their seminal album Rumours. We hear from the band in archive interviews and see solo performances from band members such as Stevie Nicks and Christine McVie as they went their own way at various points in their career.
A trip through the BBC archives for this chance to ‘Shout’ about one of the greatest, best-loved and most enduring entertainers – Lulu.
This collection of her most popular hits, covers and classics features magic moments from the 1960s right up to recent years and performances on a huge range of shows, including her own multiple series and TV specials that were a hallmark of the BBC’s light entertainment schedules.
This compilation also sees Lulu duetting with a variety of big name singers, including Neil Diamond, Bill Withers, Shirley Bassey and Al Green, and features iconic songs like To Sir with Love, The Man with the Golden Gun and the Bowie-penned The Man Who Sold the World.
The relationship between The Beatles and the BBC has always been a special and fascinating one. This programme looks back at some key moments that saw the BBC document the band’s journey as they went from Merseybeat heroes with mop-tops and MBEs to seeing out the sixties as long-haired heroes of the counter-culture.
In the early years, an interview on the BBC was something the band would pursue and embrace, but as their fame spread, their TV appearances became increasingly rare. The changing dynamic is captured here through a combination of classic music performances and the very best moments from the BBC’s archives. Songs featured include the fresh sound of She Loves You to the era-defining special performance of All You Need Is Love.
When Blondie first exploded onto the music scene with their debut UK hit Denis, they were an immediate sensation and instantly embraced by the British record-buying public. Debbie Harry’s inimitable cool and the band’s pioneering new wave, New York sound made them one of the most significant bands of the era – and gave them an impressive six number one singles.
With them every step of the way have been the BBC’s biggest music shows, and this programme takes a trip through the archives to sample the best of Blondie over the years, with appearances from the late 1970s up to recent times and performances confirming the enduring strength of songs like Call Me, Atomic, Picture This, Rapture and The Tide Is High.
Another slice of disco delight with a celebration of nightclub classics taken from the very best of the BBC’s archives, including Rock Your Baby, Ring My Bell and Yes Sir, I Can Boogie.
Rory Bremner looks back at the life and career of Mike Yarwood, master of the imitation game and one of the BBC's most successful stars of the 1970s and 80s.
Yarwood captured the British public's imagination with his huge range of impressions featuring the biggest names from the world of showbiz and politics, and in his 70s heyday, his affectionate takes on the likes of Harold Wilson, Edward Heath and Denis Healey were the bridge between the 60s satire of That Was the Week That Was and the far crueller caricatures of Spitting Image in the 1980s.
Rory assesses Yarwood's style, impact and legacy and shares his own favourite moments from his hero's career using archive clips and interviews that Yarwood gave over the years - often to the very people he was impersonating
Another fantastic selection of dancefloor disco classics, featuring a wealth of performances from the BBC’s music archives, including Tina Charles, The Real Thing, Sister Sledge and The Bee Gees.
Aretha Franklin is widely acknowledged to be one of the greatest singers of all time, and yet more proof of that can be found in this collection of her performances screen on a selection of BBC programmes from across the decades.
From a stunning 2015 performance of You Make Me Feel (Like a Natural Woman) that had President Barack Obama in tears to gems from the 1970s when Aretha dropped in to be the guest star on shows hosted by Cliff Richard and Lulu, these songs and her voice will remind everyone why she is still to this considered the ultimate queen of soul.
