R2OK!

becky sharp · Joined: 01 Dec 2008 Posts: 6815

I heard this programme trailered on SOTS this morning ..will definitely be listening.

Monday night at 10

A two part documentary looking at the music, the writers, and the buildings in New York which created the soundtrack for a generation.
Presented by Neil Sedaka, the programmes reflect the phenomenal output from the Brill Building - and its near neighbour 1650 Broadway- which saw song writing teams like Goffin and King, Leiber and Stoller, Bacharach and David, Mann and Weil and Sedaka and Greenfield become almost as well known as the artists they wrote for.
The song writing school produced hits for the Drifters, the Coasters and the Righteous Brothers but also boosted the careers of female groups like the Shirelles, the Chiffons and the Crystals. The crucible of creativity- focussed on a small part of Manhattan near Times Square - also launched the careers of Phil Spector, Neil Diamond, Paul Simon and Dionne Warwick among many others.
Neil Sedaka talks about the unique atmosphere of the late 50's and early 60's and how song writing changed from grown ups writing for teenagers to teenagers writing for teenagers. Neil also talks about the Jewish tradition which shaped the background of so many of the writers.
The programmes also reflect how the British invasion, the rise of Motown and the emergence of the singer/songwriters spelled the end of the 'Brill Building Sound" and the focus of the U.S music industry switched from New York to L.A.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b05qsncn

Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19335 Location: Cheshire

Thanks for this Becky, I missed a lot of SOTS this morning and this trail!

It's quite amazing to think how many good songs came from one place and that so many of them still sound good today.

H
_________________
88 - 91 FM this is Radio 2 from the BBC!

I said it live on air in the studio with Jeremy Vine on 10/3/2005

becky sharp · Joined: 01 Dec 2008 Posts: 6815

You're welcome,Helen.

The hit songs just came on tumbling out of this building and as you say so many still sound good today....in lots of cases they are classics!