Classic Albums

Dive into The Band’s eponymously titled second album, with its musical and lyrical take on America that resonates as strongly today as it did upon its release in 1969. It showcased their brilliant ability to merge a variety of influences and confirms for many music lovers why they will always be The Band. Features interviews with Eric Clapton, George Harrison and surviving members of the group.

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.

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.

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.

Singer-songwriter Carly Simon and key collaborators lay bare the creative process of writing and recording her No Secrets album, including the classic single “You’re So Vain.” On this album, Simon perfected her unique style, an intimate and confessional form of song that spoke to a generation, especially young women.

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.”

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.

Re-visit1973, a prolific year for songwriting duo Elton John and Bernie Taup in, when Goodbye Yellow Brick Road sessions proved so fruitful that it was released as a double album. It produced four top 10 singles and was John’s first number one album on both the American and British charts. Archival concert performances and rare footage of the recording sessions in France are featured.

Discover the arduous, but fateful story of one of the top-selling albums of all time. Meat Loaf and producer Jim Steinman recall the day they met and manager David Sonenberg discusses the many fruitless attempts to get a record deal. But perseverance eventually led to triumph when 1977’s Bat Out Of Hell became a phenomenal success.

Discover the story of an abandoned multimedia project that became what many critics call one of the greatest rock albums of all time. A testament to the songwriting talent of Pete Townshend and the musical power of The Who, Who’s Next was the 1971 follow-up to the ground breaking album Tommy. Features interviews with Townshend, Roger Daltrey and John Entwistle, plus previously unseen performances.

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.

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.”