Steely Dan - Aja
Explore the making of one of the most outstanding jazz-rock albums of all time. Aja, the biggest successof Steely Dan’s career, was the result of Donald Fagen and Walter Becker’s relentless perfectionismin the studio. A year in the making, it was rewarded with a Grammy Award and three hit singles. Almost 45 years later, it is as fresh and memorable as it was upon its release in 1997.
Episodes
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Simply Red - Stars
48m 39s
Explore the album that was a dominating force in 1991, with record sales that surpassed the likes of Michael Jackson, U2 and Dire Straits. Simply Red’s Mick Hucknall shares his musical vision and inspiration behind “Something Got Me Started,” “Your Mirror,” and the title track, while archival footage, promotional clips and exclusive interviews provide the key to its phenomenal success.
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Don McLean – American Pie
58m 48s
Rediscover the landmark album on its 50th anniversary, with new interviews from McLean about its recording and legacy. Released alongside Carole King’s Tapestry, Joni Mitchell’s Blue and Neil Young’s After The Goldrush, American Pie is considered a vital part of what has been called “Rock’s golden year.” A product of its era, the album’s impact, poignancy and relevance have lasted to this day.
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Steely Dan - Aja
1h
Explore the making of one of the most outstanding jazz-rock albums of all time. Aja, the biggest successof Steely Dan’s career, was the result of Donald Fagen and Walter Becker’s relentless perfectionismin the studio. A year in the making, it was rewarded with a Grammy Award and three hit singles. Almost 45 years later, it is as fresh and memorable as it was upon its release in 1997.
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Lou Reed - Transformer
49m 57s
Re-live the Glam era with a behind-the-scenes look at the making of thegroundbreaking albumthat took Lou Reed from cult hero of The Velvet Underground to international superstar as a solo artist. Reed’s second LP, produced by David Bowie and Mick Ronson, featured the hits “Perfect Day” and “Walk on the Wild Side” and is considered to have been massively influential on generations of musicians.
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Frank Zappa - Apostrophe and Over-Nite Sensation
49m 55s
Discover the stories behind these two groundbreaking albums, produced in 1973 and 1974, that encapsulate the artist’s musicality and wit. Over 30 years, Zappa’s records embraced rock, jazz, funk, blues, doo-wop and classical influences. Lyrically tinged with humor, satire and wry political observation, they also featured excellent musicianship and faultless production.
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Cream – Disraeli Gears
49m 27s
Arguably the world’s first supergroup, Cream achieved global success and was ensured a place in The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with this 1967 album. Disraeli Gears transformed the band from blues-based revivalists to psychedelic pop/rock heroes. Archival footage and Interviews with Ginger Baker, Jack Bruce, Eric Clapton and more tell the story of this pivotal record.
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Bob Marley & The Wailers – Catch A Fire
50m 19s
Explore the story behind one of the world’s most popular reggae albums, which brought Bob Marley international recognition in 1973. Featuring rare archival interviews with Bunny Wailer, Peter Tosh and Marley himself as well as never-before-seen performances and footage from the Jamaican recording sessions, this episode provides insight into the process behind the recording of this landmark work.
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Phil Collins – Face Value
50m 28s
Uncover the process behind the making of Face Value, the1981 album that launched Phil Collins’s solo career. The documentary includes previously unseen performances, rare home movies and archival footage of studio sessions where Collins worked closely with Hugh Padgham and the Earth, Wind & Fire horn section to produce classics like “In The Air Tonight,” “Behind The Lines” and “I Missed Again.”
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Elvis Presley – Elvis Presley
49m 57s
Learn the story behind the making of the King’s first album for RCA Records in 1956 and his meteoric rise to superstardom. Sun Records founder Sam Phillips recounts those groundbreaking days when he auditioned, produced and befriended Elvis. Scotty Moore (guitar) and D.J. Fontana (drums) tell how they helped “EP” record his album in Nashville and New York, aiming for “feel, not perfection.”
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Grateful Dead – From Anthem To Beauty
59m 55s
Explore the evolution of the Grateful Dead from their albums Anthem of the Sun to American Beauty. The experimental Anthem of the Sun (1968) bewildered and frustrated their record company. But The Dead’s music changed and American Beauty (1970) was an acoustic album of outstanding folk-based melodies. Rare footage from TV, recording sessions, home videos and extensive interviews are included.
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Black Sabbath – Paranoid
54m 58s
Learn the story behind the writing, recording and success of this groundbreaking 1970 album, which defined the sound and style of Heavy Metal more than any other record in rock history. Songs on the band’s second LP, arguably its finest, include “Paranoid,” “Iron Man” and “War Pigs” and catapulted Black Sabbath into the rock stratosphere.
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The Doors – The Doors
50m 18s
Rediscover The Doors’ self-titled album, released in 1967. A mix of blues, rock and jazz, combined with the vocals and lyrics of the legendary Jim Morrison, the result is one of the greatest debut albums of all time that sounds as fresh and exciting today as it did then.
Extras + Features
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Fleetwood Mac - Rumours Preview
31s
Learn the definitive story of the making of an album that truly earned its place in the pantheon of rock music history. Fleetwood Mac’s hugely successful Rumours was released in 1977, selling 15 million copies worldwide and was christened Album of the Year at the 1978 Grammy Awards. The LP remained on the U.K. charts for a staggering 433 weeks and on the U.S. Billboard album charts for 130 weeks.
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Queen - A Night At The Opera Preview
31s
Explore the story behind the album that made the band a global rock phenomenon in 1975. One of the most expensive, expansive and creative LPs of its time, it propelled them into rock and roll history. The mix of hard rock, pop, opera, music hall camp and traditional folk, utilizing multi-layered guitars, vocal harmonies, piano, a harp, a ukulele and ‘no synthesizers’ combine to make it a classic.
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Pink Floyd - The Dark Side Of The Moon Preview
31s
Listen as all four band members tell the story behind one of the greatest albums ever made. Pink Floyd’s masterpiece and a monument of rock history, 1973’s The Dark Side of the Moon claimed a place in the world’s record books when it sold more than 30 million copies and spent 740 weeks on the U.S. charts. It transformed Pink Floyd from a band with a cult following to global stadium superstars.
Schedule
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