WHITNEY HOUSTON WE WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU 1963 - 2012
Whitney Houston was one of the greatest singers of all time. She still holds a spot in the Guinness World Records for the most awarded female artist EVER! This documentary brings you the life & times of the legend, from her birth in 1963, all the way through to her untimely death in 2012. We Will Always Love You 1963 - 2012 features brand new interviews with artists, producers & industry insiders, also featuring never heard before exclusive songs.
Run Time: 42 minutes
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SIMON & GARFUNKEL: THE HARMONY GAME
From the BBC 'Imagine' Arts series. In Jennifer Lebeau's film, Simon and
Garfunkel: The Harmony Game, Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel talk openly and
eloquently about an extraordinarily creative period in their career - the making
of Bridge Over Troubled Water. The story behind what was to become their final
album has long been shrouded in rock and roll mythology and is told in gripping
detail in these rare interviews. Archive footage is used to reveal technical
breakthroughs and the emotional feelings the two artists had for each other.
BBC 2011 75 MINUTES DIGITAL TV
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SUSAN BOYLE: AN UNLIKELY SUPERSTAR
Susan Boyle: An Unlikely Superstar gives a revealing insight into the life of
the woman who achieved world wide acclaim and became the most incredible success
story of our time. This one off special, reveals an intimate portrait of Susan
Boyle and discovers the real woman behind the singing sensation who took the
world by storm. This emotional documentary follows Susan around the world from
China to New York. It charts Susan’s life, from her local Scottish community, to
working on her new album in the recording studio, international performances and
sees Susan discussing her latest album Someone To Watch Over Me with her boss
and mentor Simon Cowell.
ITV1 2011 60 MINS
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I DREAMED A DREAM: THE SUSAN BOYLE STORY
Join Susan Boyle for an evening to celebrate her love of music in an hour
long special for ITV1, I Dreamed A Dream – The Susan Boyle Story. Featuring
tracks from her album, including Wild Horses, Cry me a River and I Dreamed a
Dream the show is packed with special guests and surprises. Few could have
predicted the record breaking, international success following her inspiring
performance on Britain's Got Talent. The Susan Boyle story candidly charts her
journey from the small Scottish village of Blackburn to superstardom. Including
exclusive interviews with Susan, friends and celebrity fans, the real Susan
Boyle story is told alongside spectacular performances.
ITV1 2009 60 MINS
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LULU - SOMETHING TO SHOUT ABOUT
Lulu arrived on Top Of The Pops in 1964 with her raucous, belting rendition
of Shout when she was just 15 years old. She is the only female artist who has
had a UK Top 20 hit in every one of the last five decades. It's been almost 50
years since her first public performance as a schoolgirl in Scotland, named
Marie McDonald McLaughlin Lawrie. Since then, she's notched up 66 singles and 21
albums. She's enjoyed No.1 hits on both sides of the Atlantic, and also won a
Eurovision Song Contest. Now 62 years old, Lulu opens the doors to her life -
looking back across five decades at her remarkable career. This is also very
much the story of Lulu now - following her into the studio with Jools Holland;
rehearsing for shows; choreographing new dance routines; and exclusive access as
Lulu prepares and performs for a huge concert on the banks of the River Clyde in
her old home town of Glasgow. Featuring contributions from Elton John, Kylie
Minogue, Cliff Richard, Robin Gibb, Barry Manilow, Bobby Womack and Jools
Holland, along with family members, such as Lulu's brother and sister.
BBC 2011 90 MINUTES DIGITAL TV
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GILBERT O'SULLIVAN: OUT ON HIS OWN
Gilbert O'Sullivan was Ireland's first international pop star. Filmed
throughout 2009 on Jersey and in London, Nashville and Israel, this is a
fascinating and witty journey through the personal and creative highs and lows
of this unconventional, complex, unwavering and often difficult soloist. This is
the first time O'Sullivan has given access to a documentary crew, allowing a
rare insight into the private world of a single-minded and often pugnacious
music man.
2010 52 MINUTES
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BURT BACHARACH: THIS IS NOW
Dusty Springfield narrates a documentary profile of the songwriter who won an
Oscar for the Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid score, enjoyed stage success
with Promises, Promises and whose classic songs continue to influence modern
music. Featuring interviews with Dionne Warwick, Noel Gallager, Hal David, Herb
Alpert, Elvis Costello, Cilla Black, Richard Carpenter, Carol Bayer Sager and
Gillian Lynne.
1996 50 Mins DIGITAL TV (2011)
EASY LISTENING HITS AT THE BBC
Compilation of easy listening tracks that offers the perfect soundtrack for
your cocktail party. There's music to please every lounge lizard, with unique
BBC performances from the greatest easy listening artists of the 60s and 70s,
including Burt Bacharach, Andy Williams, Perry Como, Barry Manilow, Johnny
Mathis, Glenn Campbell, Sergio Mendes & Brasil 66, the Carpenters and many
more.
2011 1 HOUR DIGITAL TV
BOTH ON SAME DISC
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THE JOY OF
EASY LISTENING
In-depth
documentary investigation into the story of a popular music that is often said
to be made to be heard, but not listened to. The film looks at easy listening's
architects and practitioners, its dangers and delights, and the mark it has left
on modern life. From its emergence in the 50s to its heyday in the 60s, through
its survival in the 70s and 80s and its revival in the 90s and beyond, the film
traces the hidden history of a music that has reflected society every bit as
much as pop and rock - just in a more relaxed way. Contributors include Richard
Carpenter, Herb Alpert, Richard Clayderman, Engelbert Humperdinck, Jimmy Webb,
Mike Flowers, James Last and others.
BBC 2011
90 MINUTES DIGITAL
TV
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TOP OF THE POPS - THE TRUE STORY
Jamie Theakston presents the history of Britain's best-loved music show,
spanning four decades of great music and including archive footage of classic
performances and backstage antics. As well as interviews with former presenters,
such as Jimmy Savile and John Peel, there are also contributions from artists
who have appeared on the show, including Pan's People, Robin Gibb, Noddy Holder,
Blondie, Holly Johnson, Suggs, Noel Gallagher, Kylie Minogue and Robbie
Williams.
2001 60 MINS DIGITAL TV
TOP OF THE POPS - THE STORY OF 1976
The nation grew up with Top of the Pops and it was always a talking point,
but 35 years ago a particular kind of Top of the Pops programme and tone held
sway. This documentary explores Top of the Pops in 1976 - as a barometer of the
state of pop and light entertainment TV. It celebrates the power of the
programme and observes British society of the mid 70s, British TV and the
British pop scene. In 1976, glam was over and nothing had replaced it - the
charts belonged to Showaddywaddy, Brotherhood of Man and the Wurzels, all to be
found on Top of the Pops hosted by the Radio 1 DJs. If you wanted rock you
looked to the Old Grey Whistle Test, while outside the charts a new scene was
rumbling. Contributors include Tony Blackburn, David 'Diddy' Hamilton, Paul
Morley, Toyah Willcox, Showaddywaddy, Brotherhood of Man, the Wurzels and Dave
Haslam.
2011 50 MINS DIGITAL TV BOTH ON SAME DISC
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NEIL DIAMOND - SOLITARY MAN
A 60-minute documentary including an interview and exclusive location filming
with Neil Diamond in New York and Los Angeles. Robbie Robertson, Jeff Barry,
Mickey Dolenz and other contributors track Neil from his childhood in Brooklyn
to his early days in the Brill Building, his nascent solo career and
superstardom in the early 70s, the lean years of the 80s, his career reboot via
Rick Rubin in the noughties and his Glastonbury success.
2010 60 MINS DIGITAL TV
NEIL DIAMOND - BBC ELECTRIC PROMS 2010
After a career spanning five decades, over 128 million worldwide record
sales, three dozen Top Forty hits, a Grammy and a Golden Globe, Neil Diamond was
just getting started. The legendary singer-songwriter was then lined up to
create his very own new moments in music at the closing night of the Radio 2
Electric Proms 2010.
The very special gig showcased this incredible performer as he revisited the
songs he loves and his own classic back catalogue of music in the intimate
surroundings of the Roundhouse. Best known for writing and performing classic
songs like I'm A Believer, Sweet Caroline and I Am... I Said, his performance
featured a journey through some glittering hits plus, for the first time, live
tracks from his forthcoming album, Dreams. Dreams features some of the greatest
songs of the rock era, including tracks from The Beatles, Leonard Cohen, The
Eagles and Randy Newman.
2010 60 MINS DIGITAL TV
BOTH ON SAME DISC
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BBC LEGENDS: THE MOTOWN INVASION
Documentary revealing what made Motown special in Britain through the lens of
two decisive moments in 1965 - the Motown Revue UK tour and the Sounds of Motown
Ready Steady Go! television special. Arriving in London in March 1965, the
Supremes, Martha and the Vandellas, Smokey Robinson and Stevie Wonder were
bussed across Britain on a tough but crucial tour. The television special,
recorded during the tour, kicked open the door, thrusting Motown's slick
routines and magical music into front rooms across the nation.
BBC 2011 1 HOUR DIGITAL TV
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*MICHAEL JACKSON'S THIS IS IT
Michael Jackson's This Is It is a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the
performer as he developed, created and rehearsed for his sold-out concerts at
London’s O2 Arena. Chronicling the months from April through June 2009, this
film was produced with the full support of the Estate of Michael Jackson and
drawn from more than one hundred hours of behind-the-scenes footage, featuring
Jackson rehearsing a number of his songs for the show. In raw and candid detail,
Michael Jackson’s This Is It captures the singer, dancer, filmmaker, architect,
creative genius and great artist at work as he creates and perfects his planned
final London shows.
2009 Run Time: 107 minutes
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AMERICAN MASTERS: SAM COOKE - CROSSING OVER
American Masters celebrates the wonderful world of music game-changer and
definitive soul singer Sam Cooke. Narrated by Danny Glover, the film features
archival footage and interviews with Cooke’s family and intimates including
Muhammad Ali, Herb Albert, James Brown, Dick Clark, Smokey Robinson, Jerry
Wexler, and more. Sam Cooke put the spirit of the Black church into popular
music, creating a new American sound and setting into motion a chain of events
that forever altered the course of popular music and race relations in America.
PBS 2010 1 HOUR DIGITAL TV
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BBC ARENA:
MY NAME IS CELIA CRUZ
The queen of salsa, Celia Cruz has been the
most adored and dynamic singer in Latin America for more than four decades.
Since she left Cuba at the time of the 1959 revolution with her band Sonora
Matancera, she lived in New York and rose to international fame with the
legendary Latin bands of Tito Puente and Johnny Pacheco, the creators of
salsa. This profile includes testimony
from friends, fans, fellow professionals and a stunning performance at New
York's world-famous Apollo Theatre.
BBC FOUR (FIRST AIRED 1988) 2010
65 MINS DIGITAL TV
RHYTHMS OF THE WORLD: CELIA CRUZ
Concert footage of Cuban salsa singer Celia
Cruz with Tito Puente and his orchestra and special guest Johnny Pacheco, filmed
at the Apollo Theatre in New York.
2010 (FIRST AIRED 1988) 45 MINS
DIGITAL TV
BOTH ON ONE DISC
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SYNTH BRITANNIA
Documentary following a generation of post-punk musicians who took
the synthesiser from the experimental fringes to the centre of the pop stage. In
the late 1970s, small pockets of electronic artists including the Human League,
Daniel Miller and Cabaret Volatire were inspired by Kraftwerk and JG Ballard and
dreamt of the sound of the future against the backdrop of bleak, high-rise
Britain. The crossover moment came in 1979 when Gary Numan's appearance on Top
of the Pops with Tubeway Army's Are Friends Electric heralded the arrival of
synthpop. Four lads from Basildon known as Depeche Mode would come to own the
new sound whilst post-punk bands like Ultravox, Soft Cell, OMD and Yazoo took
the synth out of the pages of the NME and onto the front page of Smash Hits. By
1983, acts like Pet Shop Boys and New Order were showing that the future of
electronic music would lie in dance music. Contributors include Philip Oakey,
Vince Clarke, Martin Gore, Bernard Sumner, Gary Numan and Neil Tennant.
BBC FOUR 2009 90 MINUTES DIGITAL TV
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QUEENS OF BRITISH POP
Queens of British Pop and narrator Liza Tarbuck offer a
celebration of female pop stars, singers and icons that lit us up from the early
60s to the late 70s. Programme one tells the story of Dusty Springfield, Sandie
Shaw, Marianne Faithfull, Suzi Quatro, Siouxsie Sioux and Kate Bush - some of
the female artists that emerged alongside some of Britain's defining musical
movements, from the swinging sixties through to glam rock and punk. Programme
two profiles Annie Lennox, Alison Moyet, Kylie Minogue, Geri Halliwell, Amy
Winehouse and Leona Lewis. These female stars take us from post-punk to The X
Factor, with a slice of girl power along the way.
Narrated by Lisa Tarbuck, with contributors including Annie
Lennox, Dawn French, Dave Stewart, Alison Moyet, Pete Waterman, Alexandra Burke,
Leona Lewis, Lily Allen, Adele, Marc Almond and more. Includes new interviews
with Sandie Shaw, Marianne Faithfull, Suzi Quatro, Siouxsie Sioux and
contributions from Tom Jones, Lulu, Burt Bacharach, John Lydon, Martha Reeves,
Nancy Sinatra, Mark Radcliffe, Henry Winkler, Marc Almond, Peter Gabriel, Claire
Grogan, Jarvis Cocker, Kiki Dee, Nigel Havers, Lily Allen and Adele, to name but
a few.
BBC 2009 2 hours HQ Iplayer Download
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
POP BRITANNIA
3 - Part
BBC Documentary series on the emergence of British music and culture since the
1950s. Pop Britannia explores Britain's flair for pop, the fascination with
finding its own pop voice and the obsession with style and the imagery of empire
and nationhood.
Episode 1: Move It In the early 60s, British pop music
ruled the world. Even America had to admit defeat. For the first time since the
war, Britain was the best at something.
Episode 2: A Well Respected Man In
1963, Britain went pop. The architects of this revolution were a group of
managers and producers - starmakers who turned the world upside down.
Episode
3: Two Tribes For the last 30 years British pop has been locked in a constant
struggle between the forces of art and commerce. That struggle has both fuelled
and crippled British pop artists.
3 HOURS APPROX 2009 HQ I-PLAYER DIGITAL DOWNLOAD
2
DISCS
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BLUE SUEDE SHOES
U.K. documentary about the British rockabilly revival
and a rock and roll weekend pilgrimage of Teds,Rockabilly Rebels and Rockers.
Bands performing include Bill Haley and the Comets, Crazy Cavan & the Rhythm
Rockers, Matchbox, Flying Saucers, Freddie Fingers Lee, Ray Campi and his
Rockabilly Rebels. Rare footage of Gene Vincent, Eddie Cochran, Billy Fury,
Cliff Richard and others!
1979 92 MINS
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DURAN DURAN CLASSIC ALBUMS - RIO
This programme tells the story behind the writing,
recording and subsequent success of Rio through interviews, musical
demonstrations and archive footage. Original band members Simon Le Bon, Nick
Rhodes, John Taylor and Roger Taylor are interviewed along with director Russell
Mulcahy, former manager Paul Berrow, journalist Beverley Glick, designer Anthony
Price and Bob Geldof amongst others. Rio captures Duran Duran at the height of
their powers, with wall-to-wall hits and great videos.
BBC 50 MINS DIGITAL TV
WILD BOYS: THE STORY OF DURAN
DURAN
Documentary charting the rise and fall of the pop group
synonymous with 1980s glamour. They enjoyed an unprecedented run of hits in the
UK, with songs such as 'Girls on Film', 'Rio', 'Hungry like the Wolf' and 'Is
There Something I Should Know'. But with success came excess, drugs, fast living
and a change in social conscience after Live Aid saw them fall out of favour.
BBC 2000 50 MINUTES DIGITAL TV BOTH ON ONE DISC
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BLONDIE: ONE WAY OR ANOTHER
Mark Radcliffe narrates a documentary about New York band
Blondie, from their Bowery beginnings at CBGB's in 1974 to their controversial
induction into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame earlier this year. With exclusive
backstage and performance footage from their recent UK tour, plus in-depth
interviews with both current and ex band members, plus friends Iggy Pop, Shirley
Manson, Tommy Ramone, Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth.
2007 BBC4 85 MINS DIGITAL TV
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ELVIS: THAT'S THE WAY IT IS
An engaging documentary containing over thirty songs and
featuring Elvis offstage and preparing for his 1970 tour, culminating in his
opening night performance in Las Vegas.
1970 109 MINUTES
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ELVIS BY THE PRESLEYS
Hosted by Priscilla Presley contains home movies,
interviews, clips from the '68 comeback special, Aloha from Hawaii, outtakes,
Elvis: That's the Way it is, his films - in short, everything you could possibly
want to see in an Elvis tribute. Priscilla, Lisa Marie, Priscilla's parents,
Elvis' cousin, and Jerry Schilling give the audience great insight into Elvis'
personality, Priscilla's life with him, his differences with Colonel Tom Parker,
his artistic frustrations, his drug problems, and his spiritual quest.
ITV
2005 48 MINS
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ELVIS IN VEGAS
The untold story of how Elvis Presley transformed Las
Vegas, but how the same city helped to destroy him. Based in 1970s Vegas and
featuring some of Elvis's finest performances, home movies and rare archive
footage, the documentary reveals a bizarre tale of intrigue and excess,
recounted by those closest to him. It shows how the Vegas experience impacted on
Elvis's spectacular shows, his chart-topping recordings, his volatile
relationship with Parker and his unusual private life - all set against the
glamorous backdrop of a 'Sin City' that would never be the same again.
Featuring interviews with Priscilla Presley, Colonel Parker's wife Loanne, the
Memphis Mafia, Tom Jones, Nancy Sinatra, songwriters Leiber and Stoller and many
more.
PLUS: ELVIS: ALOHA FROM HAWAII
Colourful concert performance by 'the King' including hits
such as Burning Love, I Can't Stop Loving You, Suspicious Minds and Can't Help
Falling In Love.
BBC2 2010 TOTAL RUNNING TIME : 2 HOURS DIGITAL
TV
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ELVIS PRESLEY'S GRACELAND
A documentary special structured around a visit to the
legendary Graceland and its related attractions, plus nearby Elvis Presley’s
Heartbreak Hotel and Elvis Presley’s Memphis restaurant/nightclub on Beale
Street. An entertaining and informative tour of these properties, featuring
Elvis photography and home movies, interviews with friends, fans and Graceland
staff. It includes a behind-the-scenes look at EPE with a special focus on the
work of the archival staff, including a visit to the archival storage facilities
where all the Elvis treasures not currently displayed are cared for. Footage
from Elvis Week 2000 is also included. On the same disc is an Elvis classic
albums episode.
47 Mins Each DIGITAL TV
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ARENA: THE BURGER AND THE KING: THE LIFE &
CUISINE OF ELVIS PRESLEY
Documentary discussing Elvis Presley's appetite for fast
food and his eating habits from childhood onwards.
PLUS: "Death By Excess -Elvis" (SkyOne).
Documentary Suggesting three basic reasons contributing to Elvis' death -
genetics; addiction and obsession.
BBC 1996 (broadcast 2005) Total run time approx 2
hours DIGITAL TV
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ENDLESS HARMONY - THE BEACH BOYS STORY
Intelligently
assembled with over 40 songs dispersed throughout, ENDLESS HARMONY works not
just as a rockumentary but as an important historical document of American
music. It was obviously a labor of love for director Alan Boyd, who has also
produced several other works about the Beach Boys. Carl Wilson died just a few
months after filming was completed, making this an especially poignant journey
for the group's many fans. This refreshingly down-to-earth film gives plenty of
attention to the drug and psychological problems of brothers Dennis and Brian
Wilson and their sufferings at the hands of their abusive dad and manager
Murray. All of the surviving members (including Brian) tell their stories
themselves, from the early surf days to their experimental PET SOUNDS sessions,
leading up to and beyond their controversial gig at Ronald Reagan's 1985
presidential inauguration. There are testimonials from Sean Lennon, Elvis
Costello, Glenn Frey, Jackson Browne, and Barry Gibb; along with lots of concert
footage and rare home-movie-style promo films of the boys goofing around in
pools, parks, and European cities. This film also provides a rare chance to hear
alternate versions of classic songs, including very different renditions of "God
Only Knows," "Good Vibrations," and "California Girls."
1998 1 Hour 44 Mins
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NEIL SEDAKA: ALL YOU NEED IS THE
MUSIC
During a career which was originally designed to make
him a classical pianist, the musical achievements and statistics of
singer-songwriter Neil Sedaka have made him a compelling figure in contemporary
music, with 600 songs written and 20 million records sold. The hits from his
early rock 'n' roll days to his later, more lyrical age are all included in this
special one-man TV Special from 1982
BBC FOUR 2010 45 MINS DIGITAL TV
ON SAME DISC AS NEIL SEDAKA: THAT'S WHEN THE MUSIC TAKES ME
(BBC LEGENDS DOCUMENTARY)
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QUEENS OF HEARTACHE
A look at
female singers of the 20th century, who tragically died young and became
cultural icons. The singers featured include Edith Piaf, Billie Holiday, Judy
Garland, Maria Callas and Janis Joplin.
With contributions from Mickey Rooney, Charles Aznavour, Country Joe
McDonald, KT Tunstall, Katie Melua and Corinne Bailey-Rae.
BBC 2010 1 HOUR
DIGITAL TV
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THE NOLANS: IN THE MOOD FOR DANCING
About to embark on a sellout concert tour, they invite the
cameras backstage to follow their preparations, and they talk about their
extraordinary story. Like many other performers, they started out in working
men's clubs, where they where known as Blackpool's very own Von Trapps. They
went on to sell 25 million albums and to share a stage with Frank Sinatra.Taking
a trip down memory lane, the girls return to the three-bedroomed house in
Blackpool where they grew up - the eight brothers and sisters in all - and they
talk about those early days as well as the highs and lows they have encountered
since they last sang together. The film also interviews their two brothers, who
talk about growing up with famous sisters, and Cliff Richard, who reveals how
they got their first break on his show.
ITV 2009 50 MINS DIGITAL TV
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TINY TIM: E-TRUE HOLLYWOOD STORY
The full story of this enigmatic eccentric entertainer who
shot to overnight stardom in 1968 with “Tiptoe through the Tulips” follows the
ups and downs of his career, marriages and life from this initial extraordinary
worldwide success - compelling story
2000 42Mins
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AMERICAN MASTERS HANK WILLIAMS: HONKY TONK
BLUES
The authoritative documentary on Country Music's most
influential figure.
PBS 2004 1 HOUR APPROX
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ELLA FITZGERALD - SOMETHING
TO LIVE FOR
Documentary on Ella Fitzgerald's life and career, directed
by Charlotte Zwerin, highlights aspects of her private life and combines that
personal story with extensive footage of some of her early performances.
Narrated by Tony Bennett, and containing excerpts from her long interview with
Andre Previn, the bio ranges widely in time and place, filling in important
biographical information, at the same time that it focuses on her development as
a singer.
1999 88 MINS
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PERRY COMO
PERRY COMO BIOGRAPHY Elaborate knitted cardigans and a
penchant for merry Christmas music - from barber shop boy to showbiz legend he
sold in excess of 100 million records in a spectacular 50 year
career.
SINGING AT HIS BEST features 18 of Como's classic
performances from his 1950s television series.
BOTH ON ONE DISC DIGITAL TV
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BOBBY DARIN: I WANT TO BE A
LEGEND
A singer, songwriter and Oscar nominated actor, he aimed at
the American dream. He married a teen movie queen, but then found out that his
sister was really his mother, and died young.
BIOGRAPHY CHANNEL 50 MINS DIGITAL TV
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THE RAT PACK: A Conference Of Cool
For a glittering five-year period Frank Sinatra and a group of Hollywood
stars became the bad boys of fame - and the unofficial rulers of American
society. Sammy Davis Jnr, Dean Martin, Peter Lawford, Joey Bishop and Sinatra
himself. This film shows the heyday of the Rat Pack, from the parties with John
F. Kennedy to the intrigues with the sinister forces of the Mafia. Hollywood
stars Angie Dickinson and Janet Leigh and music great Buddy Greco are just some
of the interviewees who talk about the fun, the fame and the frenzy of the
golden years of the Rat Pack.
PBS TV 2000 50 MINS
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COMEDY SONGS: THE POP YEARS
Documentary which traces the modern history of the comedy
pop song from the birth of the charts in 1952 to its reinvention in the new
millennium. We discover that George Martin was the missing link between the
Goons and the Beatles, that the Barron Knights invented the parody song and that
the Two Ronnies were not big fans of Not the Nine O'Clock News.
BBC FOUR 2008 90 MINS DIGITAL TV
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THE BEATLES: THE FIRST US VISIT
The inside story of two remarkable weeks in 1964, when
Beatlemania first ignited in America. From airport to hotel to TV studio, the
pioneering Maysles brothers were at The Beatles' shoulders on their first US
visit. Granted all areas access, the siblings filmed The Beatles off guard and
off duty, in hotel rooms and nightclubs, at photo shoots, press conferences, in
limos and on trains. The footage includes a performance on The Ed Sullivan Show
on February 9, 1964, when The Beatles played to 73 million television viewers,
and their debut concert at the Washington Coliseum.
BBC FOUR 69 MINUTES DIGITAL TV
FILMING THE BEATLES' FIRST US VISIT: ALBERT
MAYSLES
Director Albert Maysles (Grey Gardens, Salesmen) discusses
the unique access he and his brother enjoyed to The Beatles on their first US
Tour at the dawn of Beatlemania. The siblings filmed The Beatles off guard and
off duty, in nightclubs, at photo shoots, press conferences, in limos and on
trains.
BBC FOUR 30 MINS DIGITAL TV
BOTH ON 1 DISC
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TIMEWATCH: BEATLEMANIA
Documentary which tells the inside story of the rise and
fall of Beatlemania, using previously unseen archive footage and interviews with
those who accompanied the Fabs on tour. By 1966 the Beatles had played over
1,400 gigs, toured the world four times and sold the equivalent of 200 million
records. At the height of their popularity, and without warning, they pulled the
plug and never toured again.
BBC2 50 MINUTES DIGITAL TV
THE BEATLES ON RECORD
In 1962 an unknown group from Liverpool entered Abbey Road
Studios to record their debut single. During the next eight years they created
what is arguably regarded as the greatest collection of studio recordings of the
20th century.
This film charts The Beatles' extraordinary journey from
Please Please Me to Abbey Road and reflects how they developed as musicians,
matured as songwriters and created a body of work that sounds as fresh now as
the time it was recorded. Narrated entirely by John, Paul, George and Ringo and
Sir George Martin, the documentary features rare footage and photos from The
Beatles' archives and never heard before out-takes of music and studio chat from
the Abbey Road recording sessions.
BBC2 59 MINUTES DIGITAL TV
BOTH ON 1 DISC
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE CARPENTERS STORY: ONLY YESTERDAY
The Carpenters were one of the biggest selling pop artists
of the 1970s, but what seemed on the surface as the perfect, wholesome brother
and sister duo hid a destructive complex truth that was unknown to the world.
Featuring behind the scenes footage, interviews with brother Richard, family and
friends we trace the story that ended in tragedy with sister Karen's untimely
death aged just 32.
BBC Transmitted: Mon 9 Apr 2007 Run Time: 60mins
DIGITAL TV
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
JOHNNY MERCER - THE DREAM'S ON ME
“Hooray for Hollywood”; “Jeepers Creepers”; “That Old Black
Magic”; “On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe”; “Skylark”; “Blues in the
Night”; “Moon River”; “The Days of Wine and Roses.” Some of the most beloved
songs of the 20th century came from the pen of a gap-toothed, Georgia-born
lyricist, singer and composer named Johnny Mercer, whose solo and collaborative
efforts have kept the world singing for more than eight decades.
Executive-produced by Oscar®-winning filmmaker Clint Eastwood. The 100-minute
special features countless performances of Mercer’s work and an abundance of new
and archival interviews detailing his life and career.
2009 90 MINUTES DIGITAL TV
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
KINGS OF COOL : THE CROONERS
Honor Blackman narrates a celebration of some of the
most stylish musical icons of the last century, the crooners such as Bing
Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Nat King Cole, Tony Bennett and Andy
Williams. Features interviews with friends, family members and the new breed of
crooners such as Michael Buble and Jamie Cullum.
2008 50 MINS DIGITAL TV
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TONY BENNETT'S NEW YORK
A fascinating look at the eventful life and career of the
man who Frank Sinatra named as his favourite singer and who is now considered
‘The King of Cool’ by a new generation of admirers. This programme features the
golden voiced Tony Bennett performing live in Atlantic City and interview clips
in and around New York City in 1996. Also included are archive footage clips and
contributions from many of his entertainment friends.
BBC TV RECORDING 1996 RUN TIME APPROX 80
MINUTES
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TONY BENNETT: THE MUSIC NEVER
ENDS
Clint Eastwood presents a documentary on the extraordinary
career of one of music's greats: Tony Bennett. The film weaves archival footage
with contemporary clips of Bennett performing live throughout his career
including interviews with celebrities reminiscing about their favorite moments
with the legendary singer.
BBC 2007 90 MINS APPROX DIGITAL TV
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MATT MONRO "THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN
VOICE"
It's over 20 years since the death of the singer they
called "English Sinatra" but his voice still draws millions of fans across the
world. The story of how young Londoner Terry Parsons became a sophisticated
ballad singer provides fascinating insights into working-class life and popular
culture after the Second World War.
BBC 2005 60 MINUTES DIGITAL TV
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*JOE LONGTHORNE - IF I NEVER SING ANOTHER SONG
DOCUMENTARY
Capturing Joe Longthorne on and off stage, the documentary follows
Joe through his 2004 Spring Tour and then on to his 9 week Summer Spectacular in
Blackpool catalogueing the highs and lows in what turned out to be an incredible
series of events. No sooner as we began filming in March 2004 Joe was put on a
12 week experimental course of treatment to combat his 17 year battle against
cancer. Electing not to cancel the spring tour Joe granted us unfettered access
as we followed him on a roller coaster of a ride which saw him returning to
Blackpool 3 times a week to undergo 8 hours of treatment at a time whilst
desperately trying to accomodate the grueling schedule of 37 dates in just 50
days all over the UK. The Summer Season in Blackpool proved to be just as
dramatic as the Spring Tour and having secured unfettered access throughout the
years filming we recorded many great and often touching moments. If I Never Sing
Another Song pays testament to Joe's courageous struggle with his illness and
his consumate passion to carry on performing in the face of so many
obstacles.
Running time: 64 minutes
Tracks on the DVD include:
As If We Never Said Goodbye / I've Got You Under My Skin / An
American Trilogy / Hello Again / As I Love You / My Way / My Mothers Eyes /
Somewhere / I Believe I'm Gonna Love You / You're The Best Thing / Mary In The
Morning / Woman / Sir Duke / Lately / Can You Feel The Love Tonight / That's
What Friends Are For / If I Never Sing Another Song
64 MINUTES
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*JOE LONGTHORNE A YEAR IN HIS LIFE 2
DISC SET PART 1&2 DOCUMENTARY
A two part documentary filmed over the last turbulent
twelve months, this film follows Joe’s extraordinary life and work.
Part 1 -
148 minutes
Joe’s stunning 30 minute rehersal at Sheffield City Hall. /
Unseen performance footage from the Sheffield City Hall concert. / Joe’s
Birthday Party, at the Hilton Hotel 2004. / Interviews with Joe's Mum and Fans
at the City Varieties / 30 minutes of Joe’s Birthday performance at the Leeds
City Varieties.
Part 2 - 162 minutes
The much requested 2004 summer
season promotional video which was running on screens around Blackpool through
the summer. / An exclusive onstage performance video filmed exclusively for
television and now shown in full. / An introduction to the Summer Season by Alan
Hardwick. / The touching television news story, Alexander - "The Miracle Baby"
meets Joe Longthone. / A full dressing room interview with Joe during the summer
season. / Unseen television performance footage during the Summer. / 'At Joe's
Bedside' television interviews with Joe, including Dr Kelsey and Theresa
Longthorne (30 minutes). / Interviews with fans in Blackpool at Joe's final
performance of 2004. / Joe's moving final performance of the 2004 Summer Season
(all 53 minutes with unique remixed stereo sound). / All of Joe's short
television interview after the final show. / The whole of Joe's wonderful first
interview of 2005 after receiving the all-clear (20 minutes), he talks in depth
about his health, faith and his fans. / Excerpts of Joe's rehersals at the
Paradise Room 2005. / Joe's entrance onstage on his first night at the Paradise
Room, Easter 2005.
2005 4 HOURS
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BING CROSBY "GOING
MY WAY"
KSPS BIOGRAPHY 2003 60 MINUTES
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YOU'RE THE TOP - THE COLE PORTER STORY
Biographical portrait of one of Broadway's most brilliant songwriters. Told
through the use of archival material and interviews with the rich and famous
that knew him, this portrait concentrates on his career and his public life
events. Host & narrator, Bobby Short. Performers: Fred Astaire, Ginger
Rogers, Ethel Merman, Bob Hope, Shirley MacLaine, Mary Martin, Judy Garland,
Gene Kelly, Grace Kelly, Bing Crosby, Alfred Drake, Patricia Morison.
1990 60 MINUTES
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AMERICAN MASTERS - GEORGE GERSHWIN REMEMBERED
In the Roaring Twenties, all of America hummed the tunes of
one man. Born in a humble Brooklyn neighborhood in 1898, George Gershwin quickly
rose to dazzling heights in the entertainment world. Before his life was
tragically cut short at the age of 38, the young composer had reshaped popular
music into a uniquely American sound. He fused the exuberant refrains of Tin Pan
Alley with the lush orchestrations of classical music and the complex rhythms of
jazz in compositions like Funny Face, Porgy and Bess and Rhapsody in Blue.
Featuring performances of Gershwin classics by the renowned Royal Philharmonic
Orchestra and interviews with celebrities, family members and friends, this
award-winning documentary offers an intimate look at the troubled life of an
incomparable American artist.
BIOGRAPHY 1987 90 MINUTES
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*PETER ALLEN: THE BOY FROM OZ
The Boy From Oz tells the story through Allen's own
words and interviews with his family, friends, and famous colleagues, such as
Carole Bayer Sager, Bernadette Peters, Lily Tomlin, and Ann-Margret. The film is
packed with footage of Allen performing his signature songs, including the
joyous I Go to Rio, the Oscar®-winning Best That You Can Do from the movie
Arthur, and the movingly autobiographical Tenterfield Saddler.
1995 1 HOUR WITH BONUS FEATURES
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MAKING THE MONKEES
Making The Monkees charts the rise and fall of this
unlikely pop group, telling the inside story of four young men who were
hand-picked to become overnight superstars, melting the hearts of teenyboppers
around the globe and earning their creators huge record sales.
CHANNEL 4 2007 60 MINS DIGITAL TV
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*THE MAMAS AND THE PAPAS: STRAIGHT
SHOOTER
This documentary charts the roller coaster career of the
quintessential sixties group - from the folk scene to international stardom, and
to drugs and despair when the '60s dream turned to '70s nightmare.
Run Time: 81 mins
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A&E BIOGRAPHY - SAMMY DAVIS JR.: Mr.
Entertainment
Saga of one of show biz's most talented and popular
performers. Traces his long career from tap-dancing days in vaudeville--he was a
smash at the tender age of 3--to his many triumphs in nightclubs, movies, and on
Broadway. Covers the story of the auto accident which cost him an eye, and his
sensational marriage to May Britt. Recorded from the UK's History Channel with
an introduction by Bob Friend..
1994 RUN TIME: APPROX 50 MINUTES
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SAMMY DAVIS JR.: One Cool Cat
Through the use of rarely-seen archival footage and photos,
as well as interviews with those who knew him best and performance clips, Sammy
Davis Jr. is in the spotlight once again. Throughout his illustrious career, he
was recognized as "the world's greatest living entertainer".
PBS TV 2004 57 MINS
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DEAN MARTIN: The One and Only
This film is a loving and moving tribute to one of the most
admired, idolized and accomplished entertainers the world has ever known. No
other entertainer in history so thoroughly conquered the fields of recording,
live performances, television and movies as did Dino....not even his good friend
Frank Sinatra. Features superb footage and photos of Dino from throughout his
life and career, as well as rare interview segments with Dean
himself.
PBS TV 2004 55 MINS
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MICHAEL JACKSON - THE MAKING OF THRILLER
VIDEO & DOCUMENTARY 1983 60 MINUTES
Plus extra videos.
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MICHAEL JACKSON: HIS STORY
A Channel 4 documentary looking back at Michael Jackson's
Incredible story from child star with the Jackson Five to solo stardom as the
King Of Pop. With amazing archive and a selection of his classic
tracks.
Channel 4 2009 50 mins...no ads DIGITAL TV
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THE MICHAEL JACKSON STORY
Documentary on the life of Michael Jackson. Produced by
ITV it includes interviews with his mother, brothers and sisters and other
famous performers who worked with Jackson. The documentary had just been
completed, to screen ahead of his comeback tour in the UK.
UK ITV 2009 46 MINS...no ads DIGITAL TV
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ORIGINALS: TAMMY WYNETTE - TIL I CAN
MAKE IT ON MY OWN
Profile of the late country legend, whose best-known song
Stand By Your Man was loved by fans and criticised by feminists. Includes
performances of many of Tammy's greatest songs. With contributions from her
daughters and two of her five former husbands - singer George Jones and
songwriter George Richey, Elvis Costello, Allison Moorer, Bill Drummond of the
KLF and actress Anna Chancellor.
BBC Four Fri, Feb 15 2008 1 Hour DIGITAL TV
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DOLLY PARTON: PLATINUM BLONDE
Profile of the singer and actress filmed as she was
about to return to the concert stage in the UK after an absence of 20 years.
With contributions from friends, family and colleagues, including Lily Tomlin,
Kenny Rogers, Billy Connolly, Dabney Coleman and Alison Krauss. There are also
appearances from Sinead O'Connor, Norah Jones, Jonathan Ross and Terry Wogan.
BBC2 2003 (RECORDED 2010) 1 HOUR DIGITAL TV
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