Anyone watch this last night? This particular episode gave a detailed inside look at Tin Pan Alley. Some fantastic interviews with the likes of Hoagy Carmichael, Irvin Caesar etc. Plus some footage of old Minstrel shows including Bing Crosby all blacked up and performing as Uncle Remus. Highlight though, had to be Irvin Berlin playing Alexander's Ragtime Band and speaking about "God Bless America".

Some great acknowledgements about how black music formed the basis of a lot of the stuff but was simply hijacked by white music writers and publishers. It seems payola was also rife in the sheet music business back in the 20s.

It's a great series and well worth searching out for anyone interested in American music, how it all developed and who the real 'movers and shakers' were. It's not ALL about the US scene, as you'd expect, but there's some great interviews with people who are no longer with us.

https://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2008/may/01/popandrock

Regards,

Dave

Bought the box set couple of years back. Bit dated now mind.

Bought the box set couple of years back. Bit dated now mind.

Pete,

Would you recommend the set? I've seen a couple of episodes, but only the ones that have specific stuff that I'm interested in. Does the full set cover the rise of Motown and PIR? Also, does it delve into the Chess story at all? ie. interviews with people?

Regards,

Dave

Don't think I ever made it that far Dave.

I haven't got it now but I do have copies of every episode, somewhere, I'll see if I can find them. You can have them if you want them, I don't need them.

Appreciate it Pete.

Regards,

Dave

Anyone watch this last night? This particular episode gave a detailed inside look at Tin Pan Alley. Some fantastic interviews with the likes of Hoagy Carmichael, Irvin Caesar etc. Plus some footage of old Minstrel shows including Bing Crosby all blacked up and performing as Uncle Remus. Highlight though, had to be Irvin Berlin playing Alexander's Ragtime Band and speaking about "God Bless America".

Some great acknowledgements about how black music formed the basis of a lot of the stuff but was simply hijacked by white music writers and publishers. It seems payola was also rife in the sheet music business back in the 20s.

It's a great series and well worth searching out for anyone interested in American music, how it all developed and who the real 'movers and shakers' were. It's not ALL about the US scene, as you'd expect, but there's some great interviews with people who are no longer with us.

https://www.guardian....y/01/popandrock

Regards,

Dave

What channel was this on? I'd like to see this again. I watched it the first time round when it was widely hailed as a major accomplishment. I used to buy The Story of Pop magazine in the early 70s which was the first attempt I suppose to provide a serious overview of popular music going back to early blues, country, folk, bluegrass, etc. AYNIL seemed to me at the time to be a TV equivelant.

Strange that after receiving widespread prasie for AYNIL Tony Palmer's next project "The Wigan Casino" is held in less regard. Maybe he was burnt out after working on AYNIL for three years.

Its all available on the channel 4 iplayer

Its all available on the channel 4 iplayer

I can't use that facility here.

Regards,

Dave