All You Need Is Love: The Story of Popular Music

Introductory Programme

God's Children

It is generally assumed that American popular music comes from the coastal regions of Africa; that the slaves brought dr

I Can Hypnotise 'Dis Nation (Ragtime)

Thanks to the hit movie, “The Sting”, everyone reckons they know about Ragtime. But do they? This Episode includes

Jungle Music (Jazz)

This episode takes a look at the origins of jazz and challenges the theories that it is a black music form which was cre

Who's That Comin'? (The Blues)

Exploring the origins of the blues, with contributions and performance recordings by Memphis Slim, Ray Charles, Muddy Wa

Rude Songs (Vaudeville and Music Hall)

The history of suggestive songs and their vaudeville and music hall beginnings, with artists featured including Judy Gar

Always Chasin' Rainbows (Tin Pan Alley)

The story of Tin Pan Alley, where hit records were made to order and the first sightings of the popular music industry e

Diamonds As Big As the Ritz (The Musical)

The story of the musical, an art form that emerged from vaudeville, operetta, burlesque and the British music hall. Feat

Swing That Music! (Swing)

This episode tells the story of swing. Featuring archive footage and contributions from Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Benn

Good Times (Rhythm and Blues)

In the late forties, white record companies labelled commercial black music “race music”. Eventually, Jerry Wexler,

Making Moonshine (Country Music)

Country music was, originally, home-made music. It described the births, marriages and deaths that happened in every co

Go Down, Moses! (Folk 'War Songs')

After Nashville had raped American country music, it might seem that the folk traditions this music embodied had been lo

Hail! Hail! Rock n Roll (Rock n Roll)

The story of rock n roll begins and ends in Memphis, Tennessee, in the tiny studio of record producer Sam Phillips. He

Mighty Good (The Beatles)

“They were very scruffy” recounts Allan Williams, the Beatles’ first manager, as he describes the Beatles’ early

All Along the Watchtower (Sour Rock)

The sixties began, according to Eric Burdon as “a party”. “The aim of all of us, Hendrix, The Who, The Stones”

Whatever Gets You Through The Night (Glitter Rock)

This Episode takes place almost entirely on stage; fans are always seen from the performer’s point of view. Thus, we

Imagine (New Directions)

The film opens at a pop festival. Drug-smoking is very much in evidence. “These fellows will answer to God” says t