Month: January 2023

“Mo’ Funny: Black Comedy in America” is a 1993 documentary that traces the cultural humor of African-Americans dating back to the minstrel shows in the early 1900s to the golden age of black comedies in the 1980s and 1990s. The documentary premiered February 9, 1993 on HBO.

This video is for educational purposes only.

This video may contain copyrighted material. This material is being made available in an effort to advance understanding of historical, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. that constitutes a ‘fair use’ of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law.

In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.

Fair Use Disclaimer
HMRC may use copyrighted material which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. HMRC is making such material available for criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, or research.
HMRC believes this constitutes a “fair use” of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the United States Copyright law.

Rock & Roll (U.S. title) or Dancing in the Street: a Rock and Roll History (U.K. title) is a 10-part American-British television documentary series about the history of rock and roll music produced by the BBC and WGBH, and which screened in 1995 on PBS in the United States and on BBC Two in the United Kingdom during 1996.

Part 1 and 2: The Renegades/ In The Groove:

Part 1: In the fifties, a new musical force appeared, shaking up clean-living America – rock ‘n’ roll. Following Fats Domino’s lead, Little Richard burst onto the scene in New Orleans. In Memphis, the new music also emerged, and a young Elvis Presley recorded his first songs.

Part 2: Girl groups, the surf sound, and perfect pop take over the charts.

Part 3: Shakespeares In The Alley

When Bob Dylan arrived in New York, he stirred up not only the placid world of folk music but also rock’n’roll, influencing everyone from the Beatles to the Byrds. Meanwhile in Britain, the Beatles were expanding on the legacy of the Shadows and skiffle to open out British rock music.

Part 4: Respect

An examination of the birth of soul music, from Ray Charles’s first adaptation of gospel through Sam Cooke’s death to the start of the Motown empire and, in Memphis, the sound of Stax Records.

Part 5: Crossroads

In the early sixties Chicago blues is adopted by British listeners and the music of artists such as Muddy Waters gives birth to a succession of new British rhythm-and-blues artists.

Part 6: Blues in Technicolor

In 1966, San Francisco became the centre of rock’s psychedelic era. Meanwhile in London, Pink Floyd were emerging with an experimental new sound.

Part 7: The Wild Side

Musicians are left nursing a hangover after the failure of the summer of love. Into the breach step some of the most outrageous figures yet to grace a rock stage, like The Doors,Lou Reed, Alice Cooper, Iggy Pop and David Bowie.

Part 8: Make It Funky

In the seventies, James Brown’s musical innovations earned him the sobriquet of the godfather of funk. This episode remembers the revolution he instigated, plus the work of other funk figureheads such as Sly and the Family Stone, Bootsy Collins and George Clinton. (This was episode eight for the PBS version of the series).

Part 9: Punk

In the mid-seventies, the American music business was shaken out of its complacency by the eccentric sounds of artists like Jonathan Richman. But it was when the anarchic style was picked up in Britain by bands including the Sex Pistols and the Clash that the punk revolution really took off. (This was episode nine for the PBS version of the series).

Part 10: The Perfect Beat

The Perfect Beat/Techno and Planet Rock (1980s thru early 1990s)

Bluesland: A Portrait of American Music presents a swinging look at the history and highlights of a rich musical heritage. Rare footage and concert films fill out this 90-minute documentary. As the soundtrack for the downtrodden, the blues has blossomed in folk circles. The characters that populate its landscape are both brilliant and tragic. Such artists making appearances in Bluesland: A Portrait of American Music are Bessie Smith, B.B. King, Muddy Waters, Dinah Washington, Leadbelly, Big Bill Broonzy, and Sonny Boy Williamson. Writers Albert Murray and Robert Palmer discuss the evolution of the blues.

This video is for educational purposes only.

This video may contain copyrighted material. This material is being made available in an effort to advance understanding of historical, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. that constitutes a ‘fair use’ of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law.

In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.

Fair Use Disclaimer
HMRC may use copyrighted material which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. HMRC is making such material available for criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, or research.
HMRC believes this constitutes a “fair use” of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the United States Copyright law.