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Exclusive interviews and acoustic performances with the legends responsible for some of the most famous songs of our times. Each acclaimed songwriter discusses their unique musical inspiration and writing processes before giving an exclusive intimate acoustic performance of some of their seminal songs.
2009
Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker reveals the inspiration behind some of his best-loved hits, before giving an intimate performance.
Legendary songwriter Albert Hammond reveals the inspiration behind some of his best-loved songs, before performing them.
Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan reveals how he wrote his best-loved tracks during a career spanning five decades.
The Lightning Seeds' Ian Broudie discusses the inspiration behind his best-known tracks, including the iconic footy anthem Three Lions, before giving an intimate performance of them.
New Order's Bernard Sumner reveals the secrets of his craft, discussing how some of his best-loved tracks came to be written before playing a selection of them.
The Feeling reveal the secrets of their craft, discussing how some of their best-loved tracks came to be written and explaining the stories behind them.
In the first programme Simon, Nick, Roger and John talk about the formation of Duran Duran; including how Simon Le Bon turned up for his audition carrying a book full of lyrics and wearing pink leopard skin trousers; how the purchase of their first keyboard led to the writing of Planet Earth; their early years rehearsing above the Rum Runner nightclub in Birmingham; how Nick Rhodes came up with the experimental sounds on their massive hit Rio, after Simon wrote the lyrics on the back of napkin in an American cocktail bar. Songs performed are: Planet Earth, Late Bar, The Chauffeur, Rio and Skin Trade.
Programme two covers how depressed they were when their 1983 single Union of The Snake failed to enter the charts at Number One, how a chance meeting between John Taylor and Cubby Broccoli led to Duran Duran collaborating with John Barry to write the Bond theme song View To a Kill, how the tragic death of a friend of Simon Le Bon’s was the inspiration behind Ordinary World; the reunion of the full band line-up in 2001, and the creation of The Valley from their latest album, Red Carpet Massacre. Songs performed are: View To a Kill, Do You Believe in Shame, Ordinary World, Reach Up For The Sunrise and The Valley.
2008
In a music career spanning over 30 years Phil Collins has sold 100 million albums, won 7 Grammy Awards, 2 Golden Globes and an Oscar.
Gary Kemp wrote all of Spandau Ballet’s 23 hit singles which led to 30 million album sales.
Scottish band Travis have released 6 albums in 11 years.
Simply Red have sold 50 million albums worldwide, and enjoyed 5 UK number one albums in their career spanning over 20 years.
Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook have been working for over 35 years together, after having found one another through an ad in a sweet shop.
David Gray has released 7 albums with sales in excess of 11 million.
The ex-Stranglers' frontman reveals the stories behind some of the band's most famous songs, before giving an exclusive performance of them.
Ian McCulloch has enjoyed critical and commercial success both as the lead singer and songwriter of the cult band, Echo and The Bunnymen, and later with his solo work.
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2010
Dave Stewart, formerly one half of pop duo Eurythmics, discusses the stories behind the band's most famous hits, and performs Here Comes the Rain Again and Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This). Presented by Will Hodgkinson.
Don McLean, writer and singer of hits including American Pie, Vincent and Crying, discusses his life and career, as well as playing selections from his back catalogue. He reveals how the deaths of his father and Buddy Holly helped to shape his future, and shares his fears for the future of music.
Songwriters Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller discuss the inspirations behind some of their most famous hits, including Stand by Me, Hound Dog and Jailhouse Rock. Interviewer Will Hodgkinson gains an insight into the ups and downs of the pair's professional relationship, and discovers why Leiber has a particular problem with Elvis Presley's version of Hound Dog. Singer Solomon Burke also performs a selection of songs from the duo's back catalogue.
Bob Harris talks to Diane Warren, the songwriter behind some of the best-known ballads in pop music history, including Aerosmith's I Don't Want to Miss a Thing, Toni Braxton's Un-Break My Heart, and LeAnn Rimes' How Do I Live. She discusses her career writing for artists including Celine Dion, Roy Orbison, Mariah Carey, Tina Turner and Barbra Streisand, reveals some of the key tools of her trade, and performs a selection of hits from her back catalogue.
Kasabian guitarist and songwriter Serge Pizzorno discusses the creative process behind the Leicester band's string of hit albums, and plays a selection of their best-known songs, including Underdog, LSF and Fire. He also reveals the influence Britpop had on him, and discusses why being raised in the Midlands means he can never take himself too seriously.
Bob Harris interviews singer-songwriter KT Tunstall, who discusses the unusual surroundings in which her debut album Eye to the Telescope was recorded, and reveals how her days as a busker helped shape her later career. She also performs a selection of her best-known songs, including Suddenly I See, Black Horse and the Cherry Tree, Other Side of the World and Hold On.
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2009
James Blunt talks about the moment he first knew he wanted to dedicate his life to music, learning the guitar as a teenager, starting out as a songwriter and combining this with an army career and the inspiration behind four of his most famous songs.
Snow Patrol guitarist, singer and songwriter, Gary Lightbody, talks about the band’s long climb to success, his musical influences, the fans’ varying interpretations and his musical plans for the future.
The Oscar winning writer Don Black talks frankly about writing lyrics for stage, screen and chart hits. Recalling his start as a song plugger on Tin Pan Alley and how this led him to eventually make collaborations with Andrew Lloyd Webber. Don remembers the challenges of writing for Bond films, recalling working with the likes of John Barry, Shirley Bassey, and Tom Jones.
Suede's former frontman talks frankly about: growing up in Haywards Heath, the early days of Suede, living on the dole, brit pop clichés, his prodigious drug use during Suede days and his feelings about drugs now.
Sharleen Spiteri and Johnny McElhone, the songwriting partnership behind Texas, talk about their 20 years of success together. Discussing the early days in Glasgow and how they formed their songwriting partnership. How trying to interpret their favourite artists leads them in new musical directions, the excitement they still feel hearing their songs get airplay and how their different personalities combine to create their musical relationship.
Midge Ure looks back on his Glaswegian youth and how the motivation for forming a band was at first purely to attract girls. The Scottish singer recalls his days with Visage, Ultravox and remembers how his famous collaboration with Bob Geldof came about. Midge talks about leaving the security of writing with bands to launch a solo career and the inspiration behind his hit single If I Was.
Musical legend Ray Davies looks back on his early musical influences – records that his older sister would send from Canada, how the signature Kinks sound was formed by him and his brother playing guitar on a broken amp in their parents’ front room. He talks about their US ban in the 1960s and how it affected the future and the sound of the band; ending the show by talking about the songwriting process and lyrical inspiration behind the Kinks classic song Waterloo Sunset.
Ray Davies continues revealing the inspiration and songwriting process behind some of the Kinks hits. Discussing the process of recently re-recording many of the songs with a choir, going back to his youth as a choirboy, and takes a look at his newer, solo songs, which he personally finds more exposing than writing for a band.