Caught the first part on Sunday. Was totally fascinated by the  early roots of popular American music. Jug Bands and the birth of the Blues. Hopefully the next two episodes will be just as informative but above all a documentary with no celebrity halfwit wandering pensively, just great footage and fact. 

3 hours ago, themroc said:

Caught the first part on Sunday. Was totally fascinated by the  early roots of popular American music. Jug Bands and the birth of the Blues. Hopefully the next two episodes will be just as informative but above all a documentary with no celebrity halfwit wandering pensively, just great footage and fact. 

I only caught the last part of this first episode but it looks great. I'm looking forward to the next ones and hope to record the series when it comes by again.

Some nice archive clips of recording sessions and artists early performances plus a bizarre cartoon of Cocaine Habit Blues by Memphis Jug Band. I thought they concentrated on The Carter Family and Memphis Jug Band too much, ignoring other artists. Hope the next one doesn't over emphasize Elvis Presley without mention of those who influenced him.

Executive producer is Jack White but he only appeared in the back of a bunch of musicians. The experts used seemed to know their stuff. Looking good for the next two.

Not seen this, but from the comments made so far, it sounds very much like the award winning four-part documentary series "American Roots Music", which came out in 2001. It's narrated by Kris Kristofferson, but don't let that put anyone off as it's absolutely excellent.

When is it next on?

is this BBC?, if so I'm expecting the usual derivative shite that airbrushes history, to enhance the narrative. No celebrity presenter?? wtf? thought that was illegal nowadays? For Christ sake the public demand a drivelling imbelcile that knows sweet FA about the subject but has been to performing / journo school!

Well let's see how it pan handles out on Sunday on BBC 4. Good to see the footage of the early 78 pressing plants and it's historical references. Arena and Storyville still show its possible to make documentaries with out appealing to the lowest common denomination. 

7 hours ago, geeselad said:

is this BBC?, if so I'm expecting the usual derivative shite that airbrushes history, to enhance the narrative. No celebrity presenter?? wtf? thought that was illegal nowadays? For Christ sake the public demand a drivelling imbelcile that knows sweet FA about the subject but has been to performing / journo school!

Taj Mahal, Charlie Musselwhite, T Bone Burnett, drivelling imbeciles?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08rnyxq

 

 

17 hours ago, Rick Cooper said:

Taj Mahal, Charlie Musselwhite, T Bone Burnett, drivelling imbeciles?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08rnyxq

 

 

Obviously not, but the treatment the BBC have recently given to black music is piss poor.  I have really bee so disappointed with the Beeb, it seems like all the decent music Tvee is now on sky. hopefully this should do something to redress the balance.    

Just watched the first episode and I think it's really good.  Thankfully it looks like the BBC had nothing to do with it's making. If they had I'm certain it would have been dreadful.    

On 24/05/2017 at 12:21, geeselad said:

Obviously not, but the treatment the BBC have recently given to black music is piss poor.  I have really bee so disappointed with the Beeb, it seems like all the decent music Tvee is now on sky. hopefully this should do something to redress the balance.    

It's not just black music - it's any viewer  with a basic level of intelligence: the  same two or three "go-to" presenters they obviously think are big draw when in reality they're the exact opposite. They play to a lowest common denominator, which usually results in a narrative similar to  a Jackanory presenter reading stories to five year olds. That's what it's become at the BBC.  If anyone doubts this next time just listen to the whole tone and phrasing they use in their documentaries. Now children drink your warm milk then off to bed you go says Auntie Beeb. 

Edited May 26, 20178 yr by maslar