In Praise of BBC4

[Fab Foodie]

BBC4 are playing a blinder with the music documentaries at the moment.

Last night really enjoyed Springsteen making the 'Darkness on the Edge of Town' prog, fsscinating insight into the working inbtensity and musical ability of The Boss and his E-Street Pals.

The Rosetta Tharpe story I've posted elsewhere.

Then a great Arena prog about the life and work of Dave Brubeck (made by Clint Eastwood). If you don't like Jazz in particular it's still an interesting program about a very decent man and hugely talented pianist and composer now in his 90th year and still playing strong. Jazz, Requiems and sacred music. You may not be familiar with the name but you'll probably recognise the tunes. Still on I-player and worth a look.


Guitar Hereos at the BBC
Synth Brittania and other styles
Imagine - Ray Davis
etc.

There are many more that I've missed, but I hope they keep these great music progs coming and coming.
Worth my licence fee alone.

 

[sheddy]

I thought BBC3 showed mainly pap. Was it not on BBC4 ?

Next Friday, Thin Lizzy 9pm BBC4

 

[Fab Foodie]

I thought BBC3 showed mainly pap. Was it not on BBC4 ?

Next Friday, Thin Lizzy 9pm BBC4

Ooops, Correct!

Thanks Sheddy.
Looking forward to Thin Lizzy!

 

[marinyork]

BBC Four is a pretty good/decent channel. The problem was for many years it had appallingly low viewing figures and a tiny budget. The channel hours, bad picture quality and EPG slot don't help. I like the various secret life of ones and as you said they've had some really neat documentaties recently.

 

[beanzontoast]

BBC 4 is a little gem. I applaud their thematic approach to schedules which really allows you to get into a subject in a single evening. The restricted hours thing is a bit of a double-edged sword; I get the feeling if they had more hours to fill without a budget to match, the quality of the programming - even given the use of archives - would go down the pan.

 

[Melvil]

BBC4 is great and a beacon of thought provoking programming in a sea of 'strictly come talent media shock' lowbrow rubbish that passes for tv these days. I do wish they'd alter the hours a wee bit (maybe even repeating programmes with an early and a late schedule).

 

[johnsie]

.......and if you saw the Pete Seeger sessions later - weren't the guys having such fun?

Friday nights on BBC 4 are a must - even if you need to see them later on iPlayer.

Shame however that BBC4 has lost Mad Men to satellite.

Also on BBC music - the late night radio 2 broadast by Whisperin' Bob (Friday night) features some really good stuff.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

I watched the programme about Iron Maiden last night on BBC4, it was about a world tour. Bruce Dickenson flew the plane, Ed Force One, as well as taking on singing duties. The fan base was amazing, seeing tens of thousands of metal fans turn up for gigs all over the planet was quite something. I'm not fan of theirs but music documentaries are often quite interesting if done well. They seemed quite nice folk too, not just a bunch of egos.

 

[sheddy]

and on Fri 28th 9pm BBC4 - Mark Knopfler

 

[sheddy]

and in praise of Radio 4 - Jon Snow on DIDiscs - this Friday (and Sunday) morning

 

[DJ]

Yes, its agreat channel, it seems to me that on the evenings when all the other channels are showing rubbish then beeb4 comes up trumps with a cosy little programme about something quintesentially british, the music based programmes are usually great and we also like the ones about things like the history of caravaning!!

 

[PaulB]

It's excellent. Since acquiring a Wii, we can tune in to the BBC i-player and the channel we most watch? BBC4. Some hidden gems on there, indeedy.

 

[Fab Foodie]

It's excellent. Since acquiring a Wii, we can tune in to the BBC i-player and the channel we most watch? BBC4. Some hidden gems on there, indeedy.

Not just me then!

 

[threebikesmcginty]

and on Fri 28th 9pm BBC4 - Mark Knopfler

That was excellent, great version of 'Walk of Life' with Paul Franklin on pedal steel - MK described him as the best in the world, that's wrong because everyone knows that's Lloyd Green but he was very good. Any way really good show, MK is a terrific songwriter and has a nice vocal style and his guitar playing is so good it makes me want to jump up and down on my Norman' - that's my geetar not a person!

Lot of good guitar stuff on BBC4 last night, the Humax has it all committed to memory - Fab!

 

[Deleted member 1258]

That was excellent, great version of 'Walk of Life' with Paul Franklin on pedal steel - MK described him as the best in the world, that's wrong because everyone knows that's Lloyd Green but he was very good. Any way really good show, MK is a terrific songwriter and has a nice vocal style and his guitar playing is so good it makes me want to jump up and down on my Norman' - that's my geetar not a person!

Lot of good guitar stuff on BBC4 last night, the Humax has it all committed to memory - Fab!

+1 on that, very enjoyable.