Monday, January 07, 2008
BBC4 Pop Programmes
Watched some programmes on BBC4 about pop music on BBC television. Top of the Pops documentary was ok. Then we were treated to an episode of Top of the Pops from 1968; gosh most of the music was shit with the exceptions of The Move and Status Quo. Then we had Juke Box Jury - the guest Jurors were David McCallum, his then wife, Jill Ireland and Nina and Frederick.
The first disc was Poetry in Motion by Johnny Tillotson, it got savaged by the Jury who complained that the saxophone was too raucous. Then they were regaled with early 60's schmalz such as John "Mr Piano" Henderson's Honky Tonk Concerto along with Pinky and Perky both of which were met with unanimous approval.
Poetry in Motion is a great record - considering the recording limitations of the time, there is an awful lot going on - the raucous sax mingling with a very dreamy soprano voice, how they managed to mix that is beyond comprehension. I guess at the time it did sound somewhat avant-garde - the beat chops and changes - sublime stuff.
Hear it for yourselves
Yet I recall reading Mick Farren's book Watch Out Kids where he expresses the view that the youth reaction to the mainstream schmalz triggered off rock cultural revolution in this country and in its turn the politicisation of youth. Even Germaine Greer quotes the book.
Labels: pop, rock, Television
