[Slowhand] Blues at the Beeb

[John Mills]

We POMs get some great tv and radio material in the next week. A lot of
archival and an early showing of the EC&SW MSG DVD.
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http://www.retrotogo.com/2009/04/retro-tv-wc-1st-may-2009.html

Retro TV W/C 1st May 2009

 Barry Murphy returns once more trawl the TV and radio guides (so you don't
have to) to find anything worth tuning into this week. All listings are for
UK terrestrial TV, Freeview and national radio, with the shows running from
Friday 1st May to Thursday 7th May 2009.
Highlights of the week
BBC 4 tells the story of the blues this week with Blues Britannia: Can White
Men Play the Blues? (Friday 1st, 9pm - repeated 1.10am & Monday 3rd,
10.30pm), a brand new documentary telling the story of what happened to
blues music on its journey from the southern states of America to the heart
of British pop and rock culture, providing an in-depth look at what this
music really meant to a generation of kids desperate for an antidote to
their experiences of living in post-war suburban Britain.
Narrated by Nigel Planer and structured in three parts, the first, Born
Under a Bad Sign, focuses on the arrival of American blues in Britain in the
late 50s and the first performances here by such legends as Muddy Waters,
Sonnie Terry and Brownie McGhee. Part two, Sittin' on Top of the World,
charts the birth of the first British blues boom in the early 60s,
spearheaded by the Rolling Stones and groups such as the Yardbirds, Manfred
Mann, the Animals and the Pretty Things.
The final section, Crossroads, looks at the next, more hardcore British
blues boom of the mid-to-late 60s, with guitarists Eric Clapton and Peter
Green and the international dominance of their respective bands, Cream and
Fleetwood Mac. Featuring archive performances and interviews with Keith
Richards, Paul Jones, Chris Dreja, Bill Wyman, Phil May, John Mayall, Jack
Bruce, Mick Fleetwood, Ian Anderson, Tony McPhee, Mike Vernon, Tom
McGuinness, Mick Abrahams, Dick Taylor, Val Wilmer, Chris Barber, Pete
Brown, Bob Brunning, Dave Kelly and Phil Ryan.
Also new this week is Bobby Bland: Two Steps from the Blues (BBC 4. Saturday
2nd, 9pm - repeated 2.40am) a documentary telling the story of the life and
music of Bobby 'Blue' Bland, one of America's classic vocalists, listed high
in Rolling Stone magazine's Top 100 greatest voices and admired by Elvis
Presley, Van Morrison and Mick Hucknall among others.
In 1947, Bland's mother brought her son from the country town of Rosemark to
Memphis in search of a better life. A year later, Gladys Presley and her son
made a similar journey from neighbouring Tupelo. At that time, Memphis was a
musical melting pot and BB King reports that 'everyone who was anyone'
turned up there sooner or later. Bland offered his services as a driver, but
soon secured a spot singing with King's band, while the young Elvis hung
around Beale Street taking it all in.
The film traces Bobby's musical path from its gospel roots, through jazz and
into the blues, which he infused with a unique sophistication, becoming a
major singing star in black America in the 50s and 60s. His songs were
covered by the Allman Brothers, the Grateful Dead and many others, and
drummer Jab'o Starks recalls recording classic tracks like Stormy Monday,
with which Bobby achieved great chart success. Contributors include Van
Morrison, Quincy Jones, BB King, Mick Hucknall, Dan Penn and Grammy nominee
Susan Tedeschi.

Friday 1st May
TV
Blues Britannia: Can White Men Play the Blues? - BBC 4. 9.00pm - 10.30pm
(Repeated 1.10am)
New. Documentary charting the British love of the musical genre over a
20-year period from the 1950s. Contributors including Keith Richards, Paul
Jones, John  Mayall and Bill Wyman study the inspiration of American artists
such as Muddy Waters, how young white audiences came to love the music, and
the increasing international dominance of UK-based performers as the 1970s
dawned.
Blues at the BBC - BBC 4. 10.30pm - 11.30pm (Repeated 2.40am)
New. Archive footage of blues performances from the past 50 years. Featuring
famous songs by Son House, The Kinks, BB King, John Lee Hooker and Eric
Clapton, plus lesser known tracks by Freddie King, Delaney and Bonnie and
Long John Baldrey.

Saturday 2nd May
TV
Blues at the BBC - BBC 4. 8.00pm - 9.00pm (Repeated 1.40am)
Archive footage of blues performances from the past 50 years. Featuring
famous songs by Son House, The Kinks, BB King, John Lee Hooker and Eric
Clapton, plus lesser known tracks by Freddie King, Delaney and Bonnie and
Long John Baldrey.

Bobby Bland: Two Steps from the Blues - BBC 4. 9.00pm - 10.00pm (Repeated
2.40am)
New. Profile of the American singer Bobby "Blue" Bland, who developed a
sound that blended gospel with the blues. Also known as "The Lion of the
Blues", he is considered by many to be one of the finest singers in postwar
blues and has been championed by the likes of Van Morrison.

Blues on Later... with Jools Holland - BBC 4. 10.00pm - 11.00pm
New. Performances by many of the greatest blues artists that have appeared
on the music variety show, including BB King, Bo Diddley, Eric Clapton and
Seasick Steve.

Rock Family Trees - BBC 4. 11.00pm - 11.55pm
The career of Fleetwood Mac, famous for their complicated inter-band
relationships as well as their music.

Originals: Long John Baldry - BBC 4. 11.55pm - 12.40am
Profile of the late British singer John William Baldry, whose enthusiasm for
the blues inspired The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and Eric Clapton.

John Mayall: 40 Years of the Blues - BBC 4. 12.40am - 1.40am
Profile of one of the most influential figures in British rock music, John
Mayall.

Monday 4th May
TV
Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood - BBC 4. 9.00pm - 10.00pm
New. The Blues Britannia season continues with coverage of the duo's 2008
concert in Madison Square Garden, New York, featuring performances of Blind
Faith hits Presence of the Lord and Can't Find My Way Home.

Eric Clapton: the Rock 'n' Roll Years - BBC 4. 10.00pm - 10.30pm (Repeated
12.55am)
Profile of the guitarist and songwriter, who has survived both personal
trauma and drug addiction to build a wide and varied musical career, from
groups The Yardbirds and Cream to solo success.

Blues Britannia: Can White Men Play the Blues? - BBC 4. 10.30pm - 12Midnight
Documentary charting the British love of the musical genre over a 20-year
period from the 1950s. Contributors including Keith Richards, Paul Jones,
John  Mayall and Bill Wyman study the inspiration of American artists such
as Muddy Waters, how young white audiences came to love the music, and the
increasing international dominance of UK-based performers as the 1970s
dawned.

Tuesday 5th May
TV
Later... with Jools Holland - BBC 2. 10.00pm - 10.30pm
Featuring a performance from Booker T.

Thursday 7th May
TV
Blues on Later... with Jools Holland - BBC 4. 10.30pm - 11.30pm
Performances by many of the greatest blues artists that have appeared on the
music variety show, including BB King, Bo Diddley, Eric Clapton and Seasick
Steve.