Classic Albums

This series looks at the writing and recording of some of the greatest albums of our era. Musicians, producers, and engineers are interviewed in the studio, and the master tapes are played, sometimes isolating particular channels, to highlight certain instrumental sounds or voices. Many of the musicians play live along with the tracks, demonstrating how they played the parts. In some cases, group members are reuniting after considerable time as they reminisce together. This is usually interspersed with some vintage clips and photos of concert performances. The BBC co-produced series began in 1997 with Ringo Starr as narrator. Later episodes have no narrator. The first seven episodes were licensed to VH1 in the US, then periodically more were released. Some have been shown on the BBC network, ITV, Sky Arts, VH1, A&E, PBS, and Biography Channel. One or two were repackaged by VH1 as 'Ultimate Albums'.