Mastertapes

In a special edition of Mastertapes to celebrate National Album Day, the consummate album artists talks and plays his way back through a career that has spanned five decades.

From early classics like Watching The Detectives, Accidents Will Happen, and Almost Blue, all the way through to Jimmie Standing In The Rain, Unwanted Number and Under Lime his talent for wordplay has remained undimmed. He remains a composer who works across a range of styles, always mining a deep, rich seam of melodic and harmonic treasures - all of which is on display in this programme recorded in the iconic BBC studios at Maida Vale. Accompanying him is his career-long collaborator, pianist Steve Nieve.

This programme is part of BBC Music's support for the first ever National Album Day, which takes place on Saturday 13th October with programming on Radio 1, 1Xtra, Radio 2, Radio 3, Radio 4, 5 Live, 6 Music, BBC One and BBC Four across the week or on the day itself.

For National Album Day, Elvis Costello talks to John Wilson.

The first part of this special was broadcast earlier in the day and they are both available as a single podcast.

This programme is part of BBC Music's support for the first ever National Album Day, which takes place on Saturday 13th October with programming on Radio 1, 1Xtra, Radio 2, Radio 3, Radio 4, 5 Live, 6 Music, BBC One and BBC Four across the week or on the day itself.

For National Album Day, Elvis Costello answers questions from an audience at Maida Vale.

A-side: 'No Shame' by Lily Allen

Always conversational in tone and infused with a dark sense of humour, Lily Allen's lyrics never shies away from the personal - and her most recent album, released in July 2018, is no different. Set against dancehall and reggae influences, the album moved away from her usual witty sarcastic songwriting style and opted for a more 'candid' approach. With tracks like ‘Trigger Bang', ‘Lost My Mind', ‘Three' and the album title track, she tackles everything from the breakdown of her marriage and her friendship

Singer-songwriter Lily Allen talks about her fourth, and most personal album, 'No Shame'.

Series in which leading performers and songwriters talk to John Wilson about the album that made them or changed them.

Recorded in front of a live audience at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios, each edition includes two episodes - the A-side and B-side.

The A-side: 'No Shame' by Lilly Allen

Always conversational in tone and infused with a dark sense of humour, Lily Allen's lyrics never shies away from the personal – and her 2018 album is no different. Set against dancehall and reggae influences, the album moved away from her usual witty, sarcastic, song writing style and opted for a more candid approach.

With tracks like ‘Trigger Bang', ‘Lost My Mind', ‘Three' and the album title track, she tackles everything from the breakdown of her marriage and her friendships - to maternal guilt, substance abuse and, as if that's not enough, social and political issues.

In the B-side of the programme, it's the turn of the audience to ask the questions.

Producer: Paul Kobrak

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2018.

Lily Allen talks to John Wilson about her fourth and most personal album, 'No Shame

Singer-songwriter Lily Allen talks about her fourth, and most personal album, 'No Shame'. With John Wilson. From 2018.

Series in which leading performers and songwriters talk about the album that made them or changed them.

In the A-side, Lily chats to John Wilson.

Always conversational in tone and infused with a dark sense of humour, Lily Allen's lyrics never shy away from the personal – and her 2018 album is no different. Set against dancehall and reggae influences, the album moved away from her usual witty, sarcastic, song writing style and opted for a more 'candid' approach.

Lily Allen talks about her fourth and most personal album, 'No Shame'.

Having discussed the making of 'No Shame' - her fourth and most personal album to date in the A-side of the programme, Lily Allen responds to questions from the audience and performs live acoustic versions of some of the tracks on the album.

Producer: Paul Kobrak

Lily Allen talks to John Wilson about her fourth and most personal album, No Shame.

Confessional singer-songwriter Lily Allen answers audience questions about her most personal album, 'No Shame'.

Series in which leading performers and songwriters talk to John Wilson about the album that made them or changed them.

Recorded in front of a live audience at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios, each edition includes two episodes - the A-side and B-side.

The B-side: 'No Shame' by Lilly Allen

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2018.

Lily Allen answers audience questions about her 2018 album, 'No Shame'. With John Wilson.

Singer-songwriter Lily Allen answers audience questions about her most personal album, 'No Shame'. With John Wilson. From 2018.

Following on from the A-side of this two-part programme, the audience ask confessional singer-songwriter Lily Allen questions about her most personal album, 'No Shame'.

Series in which leading performers and songwriters talk about the album that made them or changed them.

With John Wilson at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios in London.

Lily also performs live acoustic versions of some of the tracks on the album.

Throughout his 33 (and a third?) year career as a musician (he first recorded a John Peel session at the age of 19, with his band, Treebound Story), Sheffield has always played an influential part in Richard Hawley's song-writing. His 2001 album, Late Night Final, was named after the cry of vendors selling the Sheffield Star evening newspaper on the streets, and all his solo albums since, from Lowedges and Coles Corner to Truelove's Gutter and Hollow Meadows, immortalized Sheffield landmarks.

At the end of a busy year , in which he worked on four film soundtracks, recorded a new album and debuted his first stage musical - 'Standing at the Sky's Edge' at Sheffield's Crucible Theatre (featuring a mix of his old and new songs), Richard Hawley looks and plays his way back over a 33 (and a third?) year career as a musician (he first recorded a John Peel session at the age of 19, with his band, Treebound Story).

Performances include what was the world premier of 'My Little Treasures' from Richard's new album, as well as a version of 'Open Up Your Door' from the stage musical 'Standing At The Sky's Edge' sung by Maimuna Memon and accompanied by Will Stewart.

Playing with Richard Hawley are Shez Sheridan on guitars, Jon Trier on piano and Clive Mellor on harmonica.

Producer: Paul Kobrak

John Wilson talks to Steel City's own maestro of the melancholy melody: Richard Hawley

Sheffield has always played an influential part in Richard Hawley's song-writing. His 2001 album, Late Night Final, was named after the cry of vendors selling the Sheffield Star evening newspaper on the streets, and all his solo albums since, from Lowedges and Coles Corner to Truelove's Gutter and Hollow Meadows, immortalized Sheffield landmarks.

At the end of a busy year , in which he worked on four film soundtracks, recorded a new album and debuted his first stage musical - 'Standing at the Sky's Edge' at Sheffield's Crucible Theatre (featuring a mix of his old and new songs), Richard Hawley looks and plays his way back over an illustrious and still ongoing career

Playing with Richard Hawley are Shez Sheridan on guitars, Jon Trier on piano and Clive Mellor on harmonica.

Producer: Paul Kobrak

John Wilson talks to Steel City's own maestro of the melancholy melody - Richard Hawley.

Sheffield has always played an influential part in Richard Hawley's song-writing. His 2001 album, Late Night Final, was named after the cry of vendors selling the Sheffield Star evening newspaper on the streets, and all his solo albums since, from Lowedges and Coles Corner to Truelove's Gutter and Hollow Meadows, immortalized Sheffield landmarks.

At the end of a busy year , in which he worked on four film soundtracks, recorded a new album and debuted his first stage musical - 'Standing at the Sky's Edge' at Sheffield's Crucible Theatre (featuring a mix of his old and new songs), Richard Hawley looks and plays his way back over a 33 (and a third?) year career as a musician (he first recorded a John Peel session at the age of 19, with his band, Treebound Story).

Performances include what was the world premier of 'My Little Treasures' from Richard's new album, as well as a version of 'Open Up Your Door' from the stage musical 'Standing At The Sky's Edge' sung by Maimuna Memon and accompanied by Will Stewart.

Playing with Richard Hawley are Shez Sheridan on guitars, Jon Trier on piano and Clive Mellor on harmonica.

Producer: Paul Kobrak

John Wilson talks to Steel City's own maestro of the melancholy melody - Richard Hawley.

Producer Paul Kobrak.

Paul McCartney joins John Wilson and the audience at BBC Maida Vale to discuss songwriting

Programme 1, A-side. 'Talking With The Taxman About Poetry' - Billy Bragg reveals how the self-proclaimed 'difficult' third album was written and created with a guitar he bought when he was out shopping for swimming trunks (he claims he still swims naked as a result)... he explains how a film about the James Brothers helped him write There's Power In A Union'... and describes how Andy Kershaw's inability to shut up led him to writing 'Levi Stubbs' Tears'. And he plays excerpts from the album live in front of the audience.

In the B-side of the programme, it's the turn of the audience to ask the questions and Billy considers the state of protest songs today, reveals what music he is writing at the moment and explains what poetry he would discuss with today's taxman.

Other programmes include Paul Weller talking about The Jam's final album, 'The Gift'; Suzanne Vega recalls the making of 'Solitude Standing', the album that made her a worldwide superstar; and Rod Argent and Colin Blunstone takes us back to the seminal Zombies' record 'Oracle And Odessey

Complete versions of the songs performed in the programme (and others) can be heard on the 'Mastertapes' pages on the Radio 4 website, where the programmes can also be downloaded and other musical goodies accessed.

Producer: Paul Kobrak

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2012.

Billy Bragg talks to John Wilson about his album 'Talking with the Taxman about Poetry'.

Programme 1, A-side. 'Talking With The Taxman About Poetry' - Billy Bragg reveals how the self-proclaimed 'difficult' third album was written and created with a guitar he bought when he was out shopping for swimming trunks (he claims he still swims naked as a result)... he explains how a film about the James Brothers helped him write 'There's Power In A Union'... and describes how Andy Kershaw's inability to shut up led him to writing 'Levi Stubbs' Tears'. And he plays excerpts from the album live in front of the audience.

Billy Bragg in conversation with John Wilson about 'Talking with the Taxman about Poetry', his 'difficult' third album. From October 2012.

Programme 1, Side B. 'Talking With The Taxman About Poetry' - Having discussed the making of his self-proclaimed 'difficult' third album (in the A-side of the programme), Billy Bragg responds to questions from the audience.

He considers the state of protest songs today, reveals what music he is writing at the moment and explains what poetry he would discuss with today's taxman. And he plays excerpts from the album live in front of the audience.

Future Programmes will include Paul Weller talking about the Jam's last album, 'The Gift'; Suzanne Vega recalls the making of 'Solitude Standing', the album that made her a worldwide superstar; and Rod Argent and Colin Blunstone takes us back to the seminal Zombies' record 'Odessey and Oracle

Complete versions of the songs performed in the programme (and others) can be heard on the 'Mastertapes' pages on the Radio 4 website, where the programmes can also be downloaded and other musical goodies accessed.

Producer: Paul Kobrak

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2012.

Billy Bragg talks to John Wilson about his album, 'Talking with the Taxman about Poetry'.

The 'Bard of Barking' about his career-defining album, 'Talking with the Taxman about Poetry'. With John Wilson. From 2012.

Series in which leading performers and songwriters talk about the album that made them or changed them.

Recorded in front of a live audience at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios, each edition includes two episodes - the A-side and B-side.

In this one (The A side), John Wilson asks Suzanne about the album in question, and then, in the accompanying B-side, the audience puts the questions.

Both editions feature exclusive live performances.

Suzanne explains that it was her manager who saw the potential of Luka and convinced her that a song with a social message could be a hit.

She recalls how the tune for Tom's Diner came to her while she was walking down Broadway after having been to the real Tom's restaurant.

And she discusses the way in which images and words were part of her life from a very early age and have influenced her work.

Producer: Emma Kingsley

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2012.

Suzanne Vega talks to John Wilson about her platinum album Solitude Standing.

We hear how the sound of the album changed from her previous album, as Suzanne decided to bring out the drums and give the sound an edge.

Suzanne describes writing the song Gypsy for a boy she met at summer camp and how the two of them got back in touch when he realised the song was about him.

And we hear how Suzanne has written a follow-up song to the album's hit song Luka.

With John Wilson.

Producer: Emma Kingsley

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2012.

Suzanne Vega answers questions about her platinum-selling album, Solitude Standing.

Series in which leading performers and songwriters talk about the album that made them or changed them.

Recorded in front of a live audience at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios, each edition includes two episodes - the A-side and B-side.

In this one (The A side), John Wilson asks Paul about the album in question, and then, in the accompanying B-side, the audience puts the questions.

Both editions feature exclusive live performances.

30 years after the band's split, Paul discusses 'The Gift' - the last album for The Jam.

The band's only No 1 album, it marked a musical departure from the classic Jam sound to a more soul-influenced style, and it ushered in Weller's ideas for the Style Council. It was an album that didn't just focus on the state of society, it also had a lot to say about where music was going in the 1980s - and it included the classic No 1 'Town Called Malice' as well as 'Running On The Spot' and 'Carnation'.

Paul also plays exclusive live versions of some of the tracks on the album.

Complete versions of the songs performed in the programme (and others) can be heard on the 'Mastertapes' pages on the Radio 4 website, where all the programmes of the series can also be downloaded and other musical goodies accessed.

Producers: Paul Kobrak & India Rakusen

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2012.

Paul Weller talks to John Wilson and a live audience about the last Jam album, The Gift.

He also performs acoustic live versions of some of the tracks from the album which was released 30 years ago.

With John Wilson.

Complete versions of the songs performed in the programme (and others) can be heard on the 'Mastertapes' pages on BBC Radio 4's website, where all the programmes of the series can also be downloaded and other musical goodies accessed.

Producers: Paul Kobrak & India Rakusen

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2012.

Paul Weller answers questions from the audience about The Gift, the Jam's final album.

Series in which leading performers and songwriters talk about the album that made them or changed them.

Recorded in front of a live audience at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios, each edition includes two episodes - the A-side and B-side.

Both editions feature exclusive live performances.

In this one (The A side), John Wilson asks Brinsley about the album in question.

More than 30 years since its release, Brinsley Forde talks about Aswad's third studio album.

Formed in Ladbroke Grove in West London, Aswad are the band that put UK reggae on the map. They were reknowned for their fusion of styles including dancehall, funk, hip-hop and dub and for bringing strong R&B influences to the reggae scene. New Chapter, their first album for CBS, was both a watershed for the group and a benchmark for British reggae and it features tracks like 'Natural Progression', 'Ina Your Rights', 'Candles' and 'African Children'.

Released in 1981, it went on to influence the likes of Maxi Priest, Soul II Soul and Massive Attack.

In the B-side of the programme, it's the turn of the audience to ask the questions.

Producer: Emma Kingsley

First broadcast on Radio 4 in November 2012.

Brinsley Forde discusses Aswad's album 'New Chapter' and performs tracks from it live.

Brinsley Forde talks to John Wilson about the inspiration behind Aswad's 1981 album, 'New Chapter'. From 2012.

With John Wilson at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios in London.

Brinsley performs live versions of some of the tracks from the album which was released more than three decades ago.

Producer: Emma Kingsley

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2012.

The audience asks Brinsley Forde questions about Aswad's 1981 reggae album New Chapter.

With John Wilson. at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios in London.

Brinsley Forde answers questions from John Wilson and an audience about Aswad's classic reggae album from 1981, New Chapter. From 2012.

Series in which leading performers and songwriters talk about the album that made them or changed them.

Recorded in front of a live audience at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios, each edition includes two episodes - the A-side and B-side.

Both editions feature exclusive live performances of songs from the two albums.

In this one (The A side), John Wilson takes Ray back to the early 1970s and the making of two classic Kinks albums.

Marking a period of transition for the group (as they left one British record label for an American one), both were concept albums, tackling such broad themes as corruption within the music industry and the destruction of old communities via urban regeneration. In a revealing interview, Ray considers the power of the lyric and the importance of place in his song-writing.

In the B-side of the programme, it's the turn of the audience to ask the questions.

Producer: Paul Kobrak.

First broadcast on Radio 4 in November 2012.

Ray Davies talks to John Wilson about the Kinks albums 'Lola' and 'Muswell Hillbillies'.

Marking a period of transition for the group (as they left a British record label for an American one), both were concept albums, tackling such broad themes as corruption within the music industry and the destruction of old communities via urban regeneration. In a revealing interview, Ray considers the power of the lyric and the importance of place in his song-writing.

Ray Davies talks to John Wilson about the inspiration behind two classic Kinks albums, 'Lola' and 'Muswell Hillbillies'. From November 2012.

With John Wilson at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios in London.

Ray performs acoustic live versions of some of the tracks from the albums, both of which were released more than forty years ago.

Producer: Paul Kobrak.

First broadcast on Radio 4 in December 2012.

Ray Davies take on questions about two classic Kinks' albums, Lola and Muswell Hillbillies

Ray performs acoustic live versions of some to the tracks from the albums, both of which were released more than forty years ago.

Ray Davies answers questions from the audience about the Kinks' 'Lola' and 'Muswell Hillbillies' albums. From 2012.

Series in which leading performers and songwriters talk about the album that made them or changed them.

Recorded in front of a live audience at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios, each edition includes two episodes - the A-side and B-side.

Both editions feature exclusive live performances of songs from the album.

In this one (The A side), John Wilson takes Grammy-award-winning Corinne Bailey Rae back to the release of her follow-up album in 2010 - four years after her number one debut album. An extremely personal music collection, it explored a range of human emotions from grief and loss to love and joy.

In a revealing interview, Corinne describes not just her musical upbringing and influences, but also talks movingly about the impact that the death of her husband had on the making of this album. Together with pianist Steve Brown, she performs an exclusive live version of the title track from the album.

In the B-side of the programme, it's the turn of the audience to ask the questions.

Producer: Paul Kobrak

First broadcast on Radio 4 in December 2012.

Corinne Bailey Rae returns to her second album, The Sea, and plays tracks from it live.

With John Wilson at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios in London.

Corinne, together with pianist Steve Brown, performs acoustic live versions of some of the songs discussed.

Producer: Paul Kobrak.

First broadcast on Radio 4 in December 2012.

The audience asks the questions as Corinne Bailey Rae talks about her album, The Sea.

Series in which leading performers and songwriters talk about the album that made them or changed them.

Recorded in front of a live audience at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios, each edition includes two episodes - the A-side and B-side.

Both editions feature exclusive live performances of songs from the album.

In this one (The A side), John Wilson asks Rod, Chris and Colin to recall how they made the album.

When it was released in 1968, after the band had split up, it was indifferently received. But since it has been described as: one of the great undiscovered works of the psychedelic era - Pitchfork; an album that should grace any record collection... essential - BBC; and combining the adventure of Sgt. Pepper with the concision of British Invasion Pop - Rolling Stone.

Those who have cited the Zombies as influences include everyone from Courtney Love to the Magic Numbers and from the Arctic Monkeys to Paul Weller. 'Odessey And Oracle' (the title was mis-spelt by the designer of the cover) contained only one stereotypically summer-of-love hit ('Time Of The Season') - the darker tones and dramatic third-person feel of much of the album (including the likes of 'Care of Cell 44', 'The Butcher's Tale' and 'A Rose For Emily') makes it sound ahead of its time.

In the B-side of the programme, it's the turn of the audience to ask the questions.

Producer: Paul Kobrak.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2012.

Rod Argent, Chris White and Colin Blunstone on the Zombies' album Odessey and Oracle.

With John Wilson at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios in London.

Rod, Chris and Colin perform live versions of some of the songs from the Zombies' album, still held in such high regard.

Producer: Paul Kobrak.

First broadcast on Radio 4 in December 2012.

Rod Argent, Chris White and Colin Blunstone are quizzed about Zombies' Odessey and Oracle.

Series in which leading performers and songwriters talk about the album that made them or changed them.

Recorded in front of a live audience at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios, each edition includes two episodes - the A-side and B-side.

In this one (The A side), John Wilson talks to the guitarist and founding member of Dr Feelgood about 'Down By The Jetty'. Released in January 1975 and including 'Roxette', 'She Does It Right' and 'All Through the City', the album has been cited as a major influence by the likes of Paul Weller, the Clash, Blondie and the Ramones.

Wilco Johnson talks about his diagnosis with terminal cancer and his decision not to undergo chemotherapy while he goes on a final tour.

In the B-side of the programme, it's the turn of the audience to ask the questions.

Producer: Paul Kobrak

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in May 2013.

Wilko Johnson talks to John Wilson about Down By The Jetty, the debut album by Dr Feelgood

Wilko Johnson talks to John Wilson about Dr Feelgood's debut album, released in 1975, 'Down By The Jetty'. From May 2013.

In this one (The A side), John Wilson talks to the guitarist and founding member of Dr. Feelgood about 'Down By The Jetty', released in January 1975 and including 'Roxette', 'She Does It Right' and 'All Through the City', the album has been cited as a major influence by the likes of Paul Weller, the Clash, Blondie and the Ramones.

Wilko Johnson talks about his diagnosis with terminal cancer and his decision not to undergo chemotherapy, while he goes on a final tour.

With John Wilson at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios in London.

Wilko also performs exclusive live versions of some of the songs discussed.

Producer: Paul Kobrak.

First broadcast on Radio 4 in May 2013.

Wilko Johnson responds to questions about the making of Dr Feelgood's Down By The Jetty.

Wilko Johnson answers questions from the audience about Dr Feelgood's album, 'Down By The Jetty'. From May 2013.

Series in which leading performers and songwriters talk about the album that made them or changed them.

Recorded in front of a live audience at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios, each edition includes two episodes - the A-side and B-side.

In this one (The A-side), John Wilson talks to Mike and Steve about the album that marked a distinct change in the sound of their group The Waterboys, 'Fisherman's Blues'.

Featuring the ominous 'We Will Not Be Lovers', the otherworldly 'When Ye Go Away' and the much covered title track (including Hip Hop, torch song and Japanese punk versions), 'Fisherman's Blues' only came about when Scots-born Mike went to stay with fiddler Steve Wickham in Dublin for a week in 1986 and ended up living in Ireland.

Two years and well over 100 songs later, the album marks the band's musical journey from rock to roots, with electric guitar and sax being replaced by mandolin and fiddle. An album that mixes rock and roll with Celtic folk, a love of literature with spirituality and the British poetic tradition with punk's DIY ethic.

The programme also features live performances of music from the album.

The B-side of the programme is where it's the turn of the audience to ask the questions.

Producer: Paul Kobrak

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 2013.

Mike Scott and Steve Wickham talk about Fisherman's Blues, the fourth Waterboys album.

With John Wilson at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios in London.

The duo also performs exclusive live versions of some of some to the tracks from the album.

Producer: Paul Kobrak

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 2013.

Mike Scott and Steve Wickham answer audience questions about Fisherman's Blues.

Series in which leading performers and songwriters talk about the album that made them or changed them.

Recorded in front of a live audience at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios, each edition includes two episodes - the A-side and B-side.

In this one (The A-side), Richard talks to John Wilson.

Named by Rolling Stone Magazine as one of the Top 20 Guitarists of all time, Richard looks back at the making of what is not just his most commercially successful album, but also one of the high points of his career. It was album that earned him a Grammy Nomination for the Best Alternative Music Album (he lost out R.E.M.) and it captures Thompson's obsession with romantic despair and the more miserable quirks of fate.

And yet, like all good tragedy, it does not sound depressing - it is instead life affirming.

Richard has said that the albums he considered 'successful' were those where his initial concept most closely matched the finished product. By this yardstick, 'Rumor And Sigh' was one of his most successful albums, containing such tracks as '1952 Vincent Black Lightning', 'God Loves A Drunk' and 'Why Must I Plead'.

The B-side of the programme is where it's the turn of the audience to ask the questions.

Producer: Paul Kobrak

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 2013.

John Wilson talks to Richard Thompson about the making of his 1991 album Rumor and Sigh.

This is not just his most commercially successful album, but also a high point of his career.

With John Wilson at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios in London.

He also performs live versions of some of the album tracks, as well as classic tracks from his days with Fairport Convention.

Producer: Paul Kobrak

First broadcast on Radio 4 in June 2013.

The audience asks Richard Thompson questions about his 1991 solo album Rumor and Sigh.

Series in which leading performers and songwriters talk about the album that made them or changed them.

Recorded in front of a live audience at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios, each edition includes two episodes - the A-side and B-side.

In this one (The A-side), Anglicana with Eliza Carthy and her father Martin Carthy talking to John Wilson.

Together Eliza Carthy and her parents Martin Carthy and Norma Waterson have consistently breathed new life and vitality into English folk music. Martin Carthy MBE has influenced the likes of Bob Dylan and Paul Simon with his interpretations of the traditional music of these shores. His guitar playing continues to inspire artists in all genres and he continues to tour and record on his own, and when working with wife Norma Waterson and daughter Eliza Carthy as Waterson:Carthy.

Eliza Carthy has continued to expand the legacy of her parents work, reinterpreting and reinvigorating English folk in her own unique style. Her fiddle playing is in a class of its own and throughout her career she has experimented with unusual musical collaborations, including the hugely successful Imagined Village project. 'Anglicana' was released in 2002 and gained Eliza her second Mercury nomination. It features both Martin Carthy and her mother Norma Waterson and was hailed as a new definition of what it means to be English in the 21st Century.

Eliza and Martin discuss their constantly evolving interpretations of traditional folk songs and their work together with Norma Waterson as Waterson:Carthy.

In The B-side of the programme, it's the turn of the audience to ask the questions.

Producer: Helen Lennard

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 2013.

Eliza and Martin Carthy talk to John Wilson about the Mercury nominated album: 'Anglicana

With John Wilson at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios in London.

They perform live versions of some of the songs from the album, as well as discussing their work together with Norma Waterson as Waterson:Carthy.

Producer: Helen Lennard

First broadcast on Radio 4 in June 2013.

Eliza and Martin Carthy answer audience questions about her album and their work together.

Series in which leading performers and songwriters talk about the album that made them or changed them.

Recorded in front of a live audience at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios, each edition includes two episodes - the A-side and B-side.

In this one (The A-side), Gary and Tony reflect on Spandau Ballet's third album, 'True', which became a worldwide smash hit featuring tracks such as 'Gold', 'Pleasure', 'Communication' and the title track, which spent 4 weeks at the top of the charts.

Singer Tony Hadley and Gary Kemp, the man who wrote all of these songs, discuss their inspiration and influence with John Wilson.

True' became one of the stand out albums of the New Romantic movement. Recorded at the legendary Compass Point Studios in the Bahamas, producers Steve Jolley and Tony Swain gave the band a slicker, more R&B sound aimed at squarely at the charts.

In the B-side of the programme, it's the turn of the audience to ask the questions.

Producer: Helen Lennard.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 2013.

Gary Kemp and Tony Hadley talk to John about Spandau Ballet's chart-topping album True.

With John Wilson at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios in London.

Gary and Tony answer questions from the audience and perform live versions of some of the songs from the album.

Producer: Helen Lennard

First broadcast on Radio 4 in June 2013.

Gary Kemp and Tony Hadley answer audience questions about Spandau Ballet's hit album True.

Following on from the A-side of this two-part programme, Spandau Ballet's Gary Kemp and Tony Hadley respond to audience questions about their 1983 hit album, 'True'.

Series in which leading performers and songwriters talk about the album that made them or changed them.

Recorded in front of a live audience at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios, each edition includes two episodes - the A-side and B-side.

This is the A-side.

Robbie Williams is the UK's best-selling solo artist of all time. But when he released his debut solo album, 'Life Thru A Lens', after leaving the all-conquering boyband, Take That, it was initially met with negative reviews and was slow to take off.

However, with songs like Ego A Go Go, Lazy Days, Let Me Entertain You and, of course, Angels, the album not only went on to spend more than 4 years in the charts and become the 58th best-selling album of all time, it also laid down the solid foundations for all that was to follow: nine further solo albums, seven number one singles and more BRIT awards than any other artist.

Here Robbie Williams talks candidly with John Wilson about the album that started it all and they are joined in the studio by the album's co-writer and producer, Guy Chambers as well as guitarist Gary Nuttall and a string quartet.

In the B-side of the programme, it's the turn of the audience to ask the questions.

Producer: Paul Kobrak.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2013.

Robbie Williams talks to John Wilson about his debut solo album, Life Thru a Lens.

With John Wilson at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios in London.

Robbie Williams candidly responds to questions from the audience and performs live versions of some to the tracks from that debut solo album, as well as 'Swings Both Ways

Producer: Paul Kobrak.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2013.

The audience questions Robbie about Life Thru a Lens, his debut solo album.

Series in which leading performers and songwriters talk about the album that made them or changed them.

Recorded in front of a live audience at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios, each edition includes two episodes - the A-side and B-side.

In the A-side, the double-inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame talks to John Wilson.

Released in 1971, If 'I Could Only Remember My Name' was one of four high-profile solo albums released more or less simultaneously by each member of the legendary super-group, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.

David's album boasted a stellar line-up that not only included Neil Young and Graham Nash, but also featured Joni Mitchell and the leading members of both Jefferson Airplane and the Grateful Dead.

Initially met with mixed reviews, the album has never been out of print and features some of his most impressive vocal and songwriting work - including the haunting Laughing, the mantra-like Music Is Love and the extended, impressionistic Cowboy Movie.

In the B-side of the programme, it's the turn of the audience to ask the questions.

Producer: Paul Kobrak

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2013.

David's album boasted a stellar line-up that not only included Neil Young and Graham Nash but also featured Joni Mitchell and the leading members of both Jefferson Airplane and the Grateful Dead.

David Crosby talks to John Wilson about his 1971 solo album, 'If I Could Only Remember My Name'. From November 2013.

With John Wilson at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios in London.

David also performs live versions of some the tracks from that debut solo album and from his as yet unreleased solo album, 'Croz

Producer: Paul Kobrak

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2013.

Audience questions for David Crosby about his album, 'If I Could Only Remember My Name

Following on from the A-side of this two-part programme, the audience questions David Crosby about his 1971 album 'If I Could Only Remember My Name'.

David also performs live versions of some the tracks from that debut solo album and from his as-yet unreleased solo album, 'Croz'.

Audience questions for David Crosby about his album 'If I Could Only Remember My Name'.

The audience ask David Crosby questions about his 1971 album 'If I Could Only Remember My Name'. From November 2013.

Series in which leading performers and songwriters talk about the album that made them or changed them.

Recorded in front of a live audience at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios, each edition includes two episodes - the A-side and B-side.

In the A-side, Natalie talks to John Wilson.

Completely self-funded (to ensure creative control),'Tigerlily' went on the sell over 5 million copies and continues to be Natalie Merchant's most successful album to date. Its bold and stripped down sound gave more emphasis to her powerful and often personal lyrics, including 'Beloved Wife' (inspired by her grandfather's grief in the wake of her grandmother's passing) and 'River' (written in response to the sudden and untimely death of her friend River Phoenix).

The album also included the top-40 singles 'Wonder' and 'Jealousy', as well as her first top-ten hit as a solo artist, 'Carnival'.

In the B-side of the programme, it's the turn of the audience to ask the questions.

Producer: Paul Kobrak

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2013.

Natalie Merchant talks to John Wilson about her 1995 debut solo album, Tigerlily.

With John Wilson at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios in London.

Natalie also performs live versions of some to the tracks from the album.

Producer: Paul Kobrak

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2013.

Natalie Merchant answers audience questions about her 1995 album, 'Tigerlily'.

Series in which leading performers and songwriters talk about the album that made them or changed them.

Recorded in front of a live audience at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios, each edition includes two episodes - the A-side and B-side.

In the A-side, Edwym talks to John Wilson.

Edwyn is an Ivor Novello Award-winning songwriter who has enjoyed great success both as a solo artist and as the lead singer of Orange Juice.

Gorgeous George' was produced in the studio which Edwyn built himself and highlights Edwyn's witty melodic style. 'Girl Like You' spent 14 weeks in the charts and features in the films 'Empire Records' and 'Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle'. Edwyn has also produced records for the likes of The Cribs, Space, Little Barrie and The Proclaimers, produced and starred in his own sitcom as well as creating a book of illustrations.

In May 2009, he won the Ivors Inspiration Award in recognition of his struggles following a double brain haemorrhage in 2005. He has continued to record and his latest album 'Understated' was recently released on his own label.

In the B-side of the programme, it's the turn of the audience to ask the questions.

Producer: Helen Lennard

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2013.

Edwyn Collins talks to John Wilson about Gorgeous George, his best-known solo album.

With John Wilson at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios in London.

With a small band, Edwyn performs acoustic live versions of some to the tracks from the album which he started recording 20 years ago.

Producer: Paul Kobrak

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2013.

It's the turn of the audience to question Edwyn Collins about his album Gorgeous George.

Series in which leading performers and songwriters talk about the album that made them or changed them.

Recorded in front of a live audience at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios, each edition includes two episodes - the A-side and B-side.

In the A-side, Jazzie B and Caron talk to John Wilson.

Soul II Soul is one of the most successful British black groups of all time.

Their ethos of 'a happy face, a thumping bass for a loving race' and the sound of their debut album, released in 1989, defined a time and place in the UK's musical history. Featuring the huge hits 'Back To Life' and 'Keep On Moving' the album took London's multicultural underground club culture into the mainstream and achieved worldwide success. 'Club Classics' mixed the sounds of a burgeoning DJ scene with Jazzie B's distinctly British take on rap and the colossal vocal talents of Caron Wheeler.

In the B-side of the programme, it's the turn of the audience to ask the questions.

Producer: Helen Lennard

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2013.

Jazzie B and Caron Wheeler talk to John Wilson about the album Club Classics Vol 1.

With John Wilson at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios in London.

Jazzie talks more about his own roots as a musician and Soul II Soul perform live versions of tracks from the album.

Producer: Helen Lennard

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2013.

Jazzie B and Caron Wheeler answer audience questions about the album Club Classics Vol 1.

Series in which leading performers and songwriters talk about the album that made them or changed them.

Recorded in front of a live audience at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios, each edition includes two episodes - the A-side and B-side.

In the A-side, Rufus talks to John Wilson.

The son of folk singers Kate McGarrigle and Loudon Wainwright III, Rufus began playing the piano at the age of 6 and touring at 13. Before he had even reached voting age, he had been nominated for Best Original Song and Most Promising Male Vocalist awards.

But it would be another 14 years before he released the album that has been variously described as 'obscenely lush'... a 'gorgeous meditation on emotional displacement' and 'a three-hankie weepie'. The first part of what was intended to be a double album, Want One is full of songs about love, loss, family, addiction and popular culture, including 'I Don't Know What It Is', 'Go Or Go Ahead' and 'Dinner At Eight'.

Not only does he play exclusive versions of some of these songs, in a frank and no-punches-pulled interview, Rufus also reveals what part drugs, sex, near-death experiences and extended arguments with his father played in the making of this remarkable album

In the B-side of the programme, it's the turn of the audience to ask the questions.

Producer: Paul Kobrak

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2014.

Rufus Wainwright talks to John Wilson about 'Want One', his breakthrough album from 2003.

Singer-songwriter-composer Rufus Wainwright talks about his breakthrough 2003 album, ‘Want One'.

With John Wilson at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios in London.

Rufus also performs acoustic live versions of some to the tracks from the album.

Producer: Paul Kobrak

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2014.

Rufus Wainwright responds to audience questions about his 2003 album, 'Want One

Series in which leading performers and songwriters talk about the album that made them or changed them.

Recorded in front of a live audience at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios, each edition includes two episodes - the A-side and B-side.

In the A-side, Manic Street Preachers - Sean Moore, James Dean Bradfield and Nicky Wire.- talk to John Wilson.

Released a mere five months before the disappearance of main lyricist and rhythm guitarist Richey Edwards, The Holy Bible reflects his fragile mental state.

On its release, Q said 'even a cursory glance at the titles will confirm that this is not the new Gloria Estefan album'. And with tracks like 'Yes', 'Of Walking Abortion', 'Mausoleum' and '4st 7lb', the lyrics deal with everything from prostitution and serial killers to the Holocaust and self-starvation.

For the first time in two decades, Nicky, James and Sean from Manic Street Preachers play songs from 'The Holy Bible' in front of an audience.

In the B-side of the programme, it's the turn of the audience to ask the questions.

Producer: Paul Kobrak

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2014.

Manic Street Preachers talk to John Wilson about their 1994 album The Holy Bible.

With John Wilson at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios in London.

The band also performs acoustic live versions of some to the tracks from the album.

Producer: Paul Kobrak

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2014.

Manic Street Preachers answer audience questions about their 1994 album, The Holy Bible

Following on from the A-side of this two-part programme, the audience ask Manic Street Preachers - James Dean Bradfield, Nicky Wire and Sean Moore - questions about their 1994 album, 'The Holy Bible'.

Series in which leading performers and songwriters talk about the album that made them or changed them.

Recorded in front of a live audience at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios, each edition includes two episodes - the A-side and B-side.

In the A-side, the Grammy nominated singer-songwriter and activist from Benin talks to John Wilson.

She also performs exclusive versions of key tracks, including 'Agolo,' 'Adouma' and 'Djan-Djan'.

The album has been described as 'a spellbinding one-world statement' where 'Kidjo treats her voice like it's a percussion instrument'.

One of ten children, Ang退lique Kidjo grew up in Benin in West Africa. But in the 1980s she moved to Paris to escape the communist regime and began synthesising the music of her native country with rock, funk, electronica and Euro-pop.

Kidjo has collaborated with artists as diverse as Alicia Keys, Philip Glass, the Kronos Quartet and Peter Gabriel and been declared as the 'the undisputed Queen of African Music.' Her albums regularly top the World Albums Charts and her gift is said to be 'to pour what could so easily be anger and frustration into songs that uplift and inspire us.

In the B-side of the programme, it's the turn of the audience to ask the questions.

Producer: Clare Walker

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2014.

Angelique Kidjo, the Queen of African music discusses her breakthrough album Aye.

Angélique Kidjo, the 'Queen of African music' discusses her 1994 breakthrough album, 'Ayé'.

One of ten children, Angélique Kidjo grew up in Benin in West Africa. But in the 1980s she moved to Paris to escape the communist regime and began synthesising the music of her native country with rock, funk, electronica and Euro-pop.

With John Wilson at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios in London.

Ang退lique also performs acoustic live versions of some of the tracks from the album.

Producer: Clare Walker

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2014.

Angelique Kidjo talks to John Wilson about her 1994 breakthrough album 'Aye

Following on from the A-side of this two-part programme, the audience ask Angélique Kidjo questions about her 1994 breakthrough album, 'Ayé'.

Angélique also performs acoustic live versions of some of the tracks from the album.

Series in which leading performers and songwriters talk about the album that made them or changed them.

Recorded in front of a live audience at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios, each edition includes two episodes - the A-side and B-side.

In the A-side, Bod Geldof and The Boomtown Rats talk to John Wilson.

Named after a gang in Woody Guthrie's autobiography, the band had a series of hits between 1977 and 1985. Signed by Mercury records the same year that punk rock exploded in Britain, it was their second album 'A Tonic for the Troops', with tracks like 'She's So Modern', 'Like Clockwork' and 'Me and Howard Hughes', that brought them their first Number 1 hit with 'Rat Trap'.

It's an album that treats dark themes like suicide and euthanasia in an often upbeat, pop-punk style - one critic described the track 'Eva Braun' as 'the happiest, cheeriest, best upbeat song about Hitler ever written.' And another said 'Vintage superstars who look like eyesores and sound like dinosaurs should carefully study this album.

The band broke-up in 1986, but reformed in 2013 to tour the UK. This will be a unique opportunity not only to hear them talk about their album but also to see them perform exclusive versions of key tracks.

In the B-side of the programme, it's the turn of the audience to ask the questions.

Producer: Paul Kobrak

First broadcast in December 2014.

Bob Geldof and The Boomtown Rats talk about their album 'A Tonic for the Troops'.

With John Wilson at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios in London.

The band also performs live versions of some of the tracks from the album which brought them their first Number 1 single with 'Rat Trap'.

Producer: Paul Kobrak

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2014.

Bob Geldof & The Boomtown Rats talk to John Wilson about 'A Tonic for the Troops'.

Series in which leading performers and songwriters talk about the album that made them or changed them.

Recorded in front of a live audience at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios, each edition includes two episodes - the A-side and B-side.

In the A-side, Noel talks to John Wilson.

In 2009, Noel Gallagher left Oasis - one of the seminal bands of the Britpop era with seven multi-platinum albums including: 'Definitely Maybe', '(What's The Story) Morning Glory?' and 'Be Here Now' - which became the fastest selling album in UK chart history.

Two years later Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds also went to Number 1 in the UK with tracks like 'Everybody's On the Run', 'AKA... What A Life!' and 'The Death of You and Me'. Praised for its psychedelic tinges and eternal themes of love, loss and hope, it's been described as the best collection of songs 'since his Morning Glory days'.

With tracks inspired by New Orleans ragtime rhythms and Ennio Morricone-like strings, it put paid to rumours that its creator entered into a state of inertia after the end of Oasis.

Noel Gallagher said of the album: 'I won't criticize anything about Oasis because I loved being in that band and I was in charge of it, but there was always the feeling: how will this go down in Wembley, with 70,000 people braying for good times? This time I didn't have to think about that. I've got a guy playing wine glasses on one song, a saw on another. This is not Oasis.

In the B-side of the programme, it's the turn of the audience to ask the questions.

Producer: Paul Kobrak

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2014.

Noel Gallagher recalls artistic freedom in making 'Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds.

In 2009, Noel Gallagher left Oasis – one of the seminal bands of the Britpop era with seven multi-platinum albums including: 'Definitely Maybe', '(What's The Story) Morning Glory?' and 'Be Here Now' – which became the fastest selling album in UK chart history.

With John Wilson at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios in London.

Noel also performs acoustic live versions of some of the tracks from the album and looks forward to his next musical project 'Chasing Yesterday'.

Producer: Paul Kobrak

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2014.

Noel Gallagher talks about his album, 'Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds'.

Series in which leading performers and songwriters talk about the album that made them or changed them.

Recorded in front of a live audience at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios, each edition includes two episodes - the A-side and B-side.

In the A-side, Sinéad talks to John Wilson.

Sinéad O'Connor became a household name after her 1990 hit 'Nothing Compares 2U', penned by Prince. Since then she has released 9 solo albums.

No stranger to controversy and with an ambivalent relationship towards the Roman Catholicism of her upbringing, Sinéad is an artist who has always followed her own vision. She found notoriety when she tore up a picture of the Pope live on American TV and was ordained as a priest.

Her interest in all faiths finds expression in her eight record Theology, her most personal body of work to date and the one album she says she wants to take with her to the grave.

Sinéad had been studying Judaic Theology in Dublin before she wrote the album, drawing mainly on psalms and scriptures of the prophets for inspiration. It also includes a tense, intimate version of 'I Don't Know How To Love Him' from Jesus Christ Superstar. As one critic wrote, Sinéad 're-invigorates the ancient genre of the hymn in her own inimitable way'.

In the B-side of the programme, it's the turn of the audience to ask the questions.

Sinéad O'Connor died aged 56 on 26th July 2023.

Producer: Neil McCarthy

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2014.

Sinead O'Connor talks to John Wilson about her most personal album, 2007's 'Theology

Sinéad O'Connor talks about her most personal album, 2007's 'Theology'. With John Wilson. From 2014.

Sin退ad O'Connor talks about her most personal album, 2007's 'Theology'.

In the A-side, Sin退ad talks to John Wilson.

Sin退ad O'Connor became a household name after her 1990 hit 'Nothing Compares 2U', penned by Prince. Since then she has released 9 solo albums.

No stranger to controversy and with an ambivalent relationship towards the Roman Catholicism of her upbringing, Sin退ad is an artist who has always followed her own vision. She found notoriety when she tore up a picture of the Pope live on American TV and was ordained as a priest.

Sin退ad had been studying Judaic Theology in Dublin before she wrote the album, drawing mainly on psalms and scriptures of the prophets for inspiration. It also includes a tense, intimate version of 'I Don't Know How To Love Him' from Jesus Christ Superstar. As one critic wrote, Sin退ad 're-invigorates the ancient genre of the hymn in her own inimitable way'.

Sin退ad O'Connor died aged 56 on 26th July 2023.

With John Wilson at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios in London.

Sinéad also performs acoustic live versions of some of the tracks from the album which she considers her most personal body of work.

Sinéad O'Connor died aged 56 on 26th July 2023.

Producer: Neil McCarthy

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2014.

Sinead O'Connor talks to John Wilson about her most personal album 'Theology

Sinéad O'Connor answers audience questions about her most personal album, 2007's 'Theology'. With John Wilson. From 2014.

Following on from the A-side of this two-part programme, the audience ask Sin退ad O'Connor about her 2007 album, 'Theology'.

Sin退ad also performs acoustic live versions of some of the tracks from the album which she considers her most personal body of work.

Sin退ad O'Connor died aged 56 on 26th July 2023.

Series in which leading performers and songwriters talk about the album that made them or changed them.

Recorded in front of a live audience at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios, each edition includes two episodes - the A-side and B-side.

In the A-side, Donovan talks to John Wilson about what is still the best selling independent folk album of all time.

The idea for Bellowhead came to John Spiers and Jon Boden when they were caught in a traffic jam on tour. The longer they were stuck in the car, the more names of friends they came up with of whom to invite - initially settling on a ‘modest' line-up of 10 which then grew to an even sillier 11-piece after the recording of their first EP.

In June 2015, they announced that the band would be calling it a day on May 1st 2016, and exactly two weeks after the twelfth anniversary of their first ever gig in Oxford Town Hall they will finish their farewell tour with an intimate final show in the very same venue. The tickets for this gig sold out in two minutes.

Their most commercially successful album, Hedonism was recorded in Abbey Road Studios and released in October 2010. Produced by John Leckie, it served up a further mix of shanties, folk songs and dance tunes, arranged in an eclectic mix of musical styles and influences.

The album includes rousing versions of ‘Cold Blow The Wind', ‘New York Girls' and the Jacques Brel song ‘Amsterdam'

In the B-side of the programme, it's the turn of the audience to ask the questions.

Producer: Paul Kobrak

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2016.

Bellowhead talk to John Wilson about their 2010 album, 'Hedonism

The idea for Bellowhead came to John Spiers and Jon Boden when they were caught in a traffic jam on tour. The longer they were stuck in the car, the more names of friends they came up with of whom to invite – initially settling on a ‘modest' line-up of 10 which then grew to an even sillier 11-piece after the recording of their first EP.

The album includes rousing versions of ‘Cold Blow The Wind', ‘New York Girls' and the Jacques Brel song ‘Amsterdam

Series in which leading performers and songwriters talk about the album that made them or changed them.

With John Wilson at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios in London.

Bellowhead also perform exclusive live acoustic versions of some to the key tracks from the album.

Producer: Paul Kobrak

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2016.

Bellowhead respond to audience questions about their 2010 album, 'Hedonism

Series in which leading performers and songwriters talk about the album that made them or changed them.

Recorded in front of a live audience at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios, each edition includes two episodes - the A-side and B-side.

In the A-side, Donovan talks to John Wilson.

Sunshine Superman, according to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, 'ignited the psychedelic revolution virtually single-handedly' when it was released in the summer of 1966.

It was Donovan's breakthrough third album and a radical departure from his previous work.

Born in Glasgow, Donovan Phillips Leitch grew up listening to his father reading him poetry and his family singing Scots Irish folk music. He began playing guitar when he was 14 and was 18 when he had his first hit, Catch the Wind. A year later he began work on the album that first introduced meditation, Celtic mythology and Flower Power to the world.

Creating a unique fusion of classical, jazz, folk, pop, Celtic, Latin and Indian music, the album veered from the LA-influenced The Trip and The Fat Angel (written for Mama Cass) to the medieval tinged Guinevere and Legend of a Girl Child Linda (written for Brian Jones' ex-girlfriend Linda Lawrence who became Donovan's life-long muse and wife). Linda is also the Sunshine Super-Girl of the song Sunshine Superman which topped the charts on both sides of the Atlantic and featured a young Jimmy Page on lead guitar.

In the B-side of the programme, it's the turn of the audience to ask the questions.

Producer: Clare Walker

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2016.

Donovan talks to John Wilson about his 1966 album, 'Sunshine Superman'.

It was Donovan's breakthrough third album and a radical departure from his previous work.

Creating a unique fusion of classical, jazz, folk, pop, Celtic, Latin and Indian music, the album veered from the LA-influenced The Trip and The Fat Angel (written for Mama Cass) to the medieval tinged Guinevere and Legend of a Girl Child Linda (written for Brian Jones' ex-girlfriend Linda Lawrence who became Donovan's life-long muse and wife). Linda is also the Sunshine Super-Girl of the song Sunshine Superman which topped the charts on both sides of the Atlantic and featured a young Jimmy Page on lead guitar.

According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, it 'ignited the psychedelic revolution virtually single-handedly' when it was released in the summer of 1966.

Series in which leading performers and songwriters talk about the album that made them or changed them.

With John Wilson at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios in London.

Donovan also performs exclusive live acoustic versions of some of the key tracks from the album.

Producer: Claire Walker

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2016.

Donovan answers audience questions about his 1966 album, 'Sunshine Superman

Series in which leading performers and songwriters talk about the album that made them or changed them.

Recorded in front of a live audience at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios, each edition includes two episodes - the A-side and B-side.

In the A-side, Georgie talks to John Wilson.

At the age of 16, former apprentice cotton weaver, Clive Powell, successfully auditioned for pop impresario Larry Parnes who then forced him to change his name to Georgie Fame.

After touring alongside Marty Wilde, Joe Brown, Gene Vincent and Eddie Cochran, Georgie played the piano in Billy Fury's backing band, the Blue Flames. By March 1962 it was Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames who began a three year residency at the Flamingo Club in London's Soho.

Including tracks like ‘Night Train', ‘Work Song', ‘Baby, Please Don't Go' and ‘Do The Dog', 'Rhythm And Blues at the Flamingo' captured the vibrancy and excitement of the famous and notorious club which played a significant part in the breakdown of racial prejudice in post-war British society.

Here Georgie Fame talks candidly with John Wilson about the album that started it all and, together with some of the original Blue Flames (including guitarist Colin Green, saxophonist Mick Eve and trumpeter Eddie 'Tan Tan' Thornton) as well as his two sons Tristan and James Powell, play exclusive versions of some of the key tracks.

In the B-side of the programme, it's the turn of the audience to ask the questions.

Producer: Paul Kobrak

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2015.

Georgie Fame talks to John Wilson about his 1963 album, 'Rhythm & Blues At The Flamingo

After touring alongside Marty Wilde, Joe Brown, Gene Vincent and Eddie Cochran, Georgie played the piano in Billy Fury's backing band, the Blue Flames. By March 1962 it was Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames who began a three year residency at the Flamingo Club in London's Soho.

Including tracks like ‘Night Train', ‘Work Song', ‘Baby, Please Don't Go' and ‘Do The Dog', 'Rhythm And Blues at the Flamingo' captured the vibrancy and excitement of the famous and notorious club which played a significant part in the breakdown of racial prejudice in post-war British society.

With John Wilson at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios in London.

Georgie also performs exclusive live versions of some of the tracks from the album (accompanied by his sons James and Tristan Powell, as well as a few of the original Blue Flames).

Producer: Paul Kobrak

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2015.

Georgie Fame answers audience questions about his album, 'Rhythm & Blues at the Flamingo

Series in which leading performers and songwriters talk about the album that made them or changed them.

Recorded in front of a live audience at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios, each edition includes two episodes - the A-side and B-side.

In the A-side, Nigel Kennedy. talks to John Wilson about the best-selling classical work of all time.

Having trained at both the Yehudi Menuhin School of Music and the Juilliard School in New York, Nigel Kennedy has developed into one of the most popular classical musicians of his generation. This in no small part is due to the phenomenal success of his recording of The Four Seasons in 1989. At the time he explained that he set out to use 'every kind of technique I know' to communicate his feeling for the music to his listeners.

Kennedy's passion for non-classical music has seen him play alongside The Who and Kate Bush, record violin-based versions of songs by The Doors and Jimi Hendrix, and release an album for the jazz label Blue Note Sessions. However, The Four Seasons retains a special place in his repertoire, and in 2015 he released a completely fresh take on Vivaldi's violin concertos.

Nigel Kennedy talks about the album that earned a place in the Guinness Book of Records, and performs exclusive excerpts from the concertos that helped make him famous.

In the B-side of the programme, it's the turn of the audience to ask the questions.

Producers: Paul Kobrak

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2016.

Nigel Kennedy talks to John Wilson about his 1989 recording of Vivaldi's The Four Seasons.

Having trained at both the Yehudi Menuhin School of Music and the Juilliard School in New York, Nigel Kennedy has developed into one of the most popular classical musicians of his generation. This in no small part is due to the phenomenal success of his recording of The Four Seasons in 1989. At the time he explained that he set out to use every kind of technique I know to communicate his feeling for the music to his listeners.

Series in which leading performers and songwriters talk about the album that made them or changed them.

With John Wilson at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios in London.

Nigel also performs exclusive excerpts from his classical and jazz repertoire.

Producers: Paul Kobrak and John Goudie.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2016.

Nigel Kennedy responds to audience questions about his 1989 recording of The Four Seasons.

Series in which leading performers and songwriters talk about the album that made them or changed them.

Recorded in front of a live audience at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios, each edition includes two episodes - the A-side and B-side.

In the A-side, Glenn and Chris talk to John Wilson.

East Side Story' was originally intended as a four-sided double LP with each side using a different producer (Dave Edmunds, Nick Lowe, Paul McCartney and Elvis Costello). It was released in 1981 as a single LP with 14 songs. With it Squeeze moved away from their traditional ‘new wave' sound to a more varied mix of genres that took in rockabilly, R&B, blue-eyed soul, Merseybeat, and psychedelia.

With tracks like Tempted, Is That Love, Messed Around and Labelled with Love (which was only on the album because eventual producer Elvis Costello persuaded Glenn Tilbrook it should be included) the album is packed with keen, precise, funny and sad lyrics about lovers, drunks, deadbeats and lonely working girls - or as Chris Difford describes them: ‘suburban short stories'.

In the B-side of the programme, it's the turn of the audience to ask the questions.

Producer: Paul Kobrak

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2015.

East Side Story' was originally intended as a four-sided double LP with each side using a different producer (Dave Edmunds, Nick Lowe, Paul McCartney and Elvis Costello). It was released in 1981 as a single LP with 14 songs. With it Squeeze moved away from their traditional ‘new wave' sound to a more varied mix of genres that took in rockabilly, R&B, blue-eyed soul, Merseybeat, and psychedelia.

With tracks like Tempted, Is That Love, Messed Around and Labelled with Love (which was only on the album because eventual producer Elvis Costello persuaded Glenn Tilbrook it should be included) the album is packed with keen, precise, funny and sad lyrics about lovers, drunks, deadbeats and lonely working girls – or as Chris Difford describes them: ‘suburban short stories'.

With John Wilson at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios in London.

Chris and Glenn also perform exclusive live versions of some of the tracks from the album.

Producer: Paul Kobrak

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2015.

Glenn Tilbrook and Chris Difford face audience questions about Squeeze's 'East Side Story

Series in which leading performers and songwriters talk about the album that made them or changed them.

Recorded in front of a live audience at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios, each edition includes two episodes - the A-side and B-side.

On the A-side, David and Selwyn talk to John Wilson.

Originally formed at Handsworth Wood Boys School in 1975, Steel Pulse were initially refused live dates in Birmingham's Caribbean venues because of their Rastafarian ideals. Instead, they aligned themselves with Rock Against Racism and appeared alongside the likes of the Clash, XTC, the Stranglers, Tom Robinson and X-Ray Specs.

It was Burning Spear who brought the group to the attention of Island Records, who, in February 1978, first released Ku Klux Klan as a single – a full five months before the album itself, which also included Prodigal Son, Prediction and the title track, Handsworth Revolution.

Here, David Hinds and Selwyn Brown talk about the album that is widely regarded a milestone in the development of British Reggae but also perform exclusive acoustic versions of some of the key tracks.

In the B-side of the programme, it's the turn of the audience to ask the questions.

Producer: Paul Kobrak

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2016.

David Hinds & Selwyn Brown about Steel Pulse's 1978 album 'Handsworth Revolution

David Hinds and Selwyn Brown talk about Steel Pulse's 1978 debut album 'Handsworth Revolution'. With John Wilson. From 2016.

David Hinds and Selwyn Brown talk about Steel Pulse's 1978 debut album, 'Handsworth Revolution'.

Originally formed at Handsworth Wood Boys School in 1975, Steel Pulse were initially refused live dates in Birmingham's Caribbean venues because of their Rastafarian ideals. Instead they aligned themselves With Rock Against Racism and appeared alongside the likes of the Clash, XTC, the Stranglers, Tom Robinson and X-Ray Specs.

It was Burning Spear who brought the group to the attention of Island Records who in February 1978 first released Ku Klux Klan as a single - a full five months before the album itself, which also included Prodigal Son, Prediction and the title track, Handsworth Revolution.

Here David Hinds and Selwyn Brown talk about the album that is widely regarded a milestone in the development of British Reggae, but also perform exclusive acoustic versions of some of the key tracks.

David Hinds & Selwyn Brown about Steel Pulse's 1978 album, 'Handsworth Revolution

It was Burning Spear who brought the group to the attention of Island Records who in February 1978 first released Ku Klux Klan as a single – a full five months before the album itself, which also included Prodigal Son, Prediction and the title track, Handsworth Revolution.

With John Wilson at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios in London.

David and Selwyn also perform exclusive live acoustic versions of some of the key tracks from the album.

Producer: Paul Kobrak

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2016.

David Hinds & Selwyn Brown answer audience questions about the Steel Pulse's debut album.

David Hinds and Selwyn Brown answer audience questions about Steel Pulse's 1978 debut album, 'Handsworth Revolution'. From 2016.

Series in which leading performers and songwriters talk to John Wilson about the album that made them or changed them.

Recorded in front of a live audience at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios, each edition includes two episodes - the A-side and B-side.

The A-side: Craig David's 'Born To Do It

It was his debut album, which went on to sell 8 million copies world-wide.

Recorded and released when Craig David was only 18 years old, the album includes the hits, Fill Me In, Walking Away, Rendezvous and 7 Days. Described as a '2-step garage' and R&B album, Born To Do It draws heavily on electro beats, garage and hip hop. It became (and remains) the fastest-selling debut studio album ever by a British male solo act.

Sixteen years later, a more mature Craig David released his 6th studio album, Following My Intuition, which followed in the footsteps of his debut and became his second record to debut at Number 1.

In the B-side of the programme, it's the turn of the audience to ask the questions.

Producer: Paul Kobrak

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2017.

Craig David talks to John Wilson about his global hit debut album, 'Born to Do It'.

Craig David discusses his debut album from 2000, the multimillion selling, 'Born To Do It'.

In the A-side, Craig talks to John Wilson.

Born To Do It' was his debut album, which went on to sell 8 million copies world-wide.

16 years later, a more mature Craig David released his 6th studio album, Following My Intuition, which followed in the footsteps of his debut and became his second record to debut at Number 1.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2017.

Craig David talks about his debut album from 2000, the multimillion selling, 'Born To Do It'. With John Wilson. From 2017.

Series in which leading performers and songwriters talk to John Wilson about the album that made them or changed them.

Recorded in front of a live audience at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios, each edition includes two episodes - the A-side and B-side.

The B-side: Craig David's 'Born To Do It

Having discussed the making of 'Born To Do It', the 8 million selling debut smash album (in the A-side of the programme) Craig David responds to questions from the audience and performs acoustic live versions of some to the tracks from his first No 1 album, and the second which was a further 16 years in the waiting.

Producer: Paul Kobrak

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2017.

Craig David answers questions from the audience about his debut album. 'Born to Do It'.

Following on from the A-side of this two-part programme, the audience ask Craig David questions about his bestselling debut album from 2000, 'Born to Do It'.

With John Wilson at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios in London.

Craig also performs acoustic live versions of some to the tracks from his first No 1 album, and the second which was a further 16 years in the waiting.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2017.

Craig David answers audience questions about his bestselling debut album from 2000, 'Born to Do It'. With John Wilson. From 2017.

Series in which leading performers and songwriters talk about the album that made them or changed them.

Recorded in front of a live audience at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios, each edition includes two episodes - the A-side and B-side.

In the A-side, Graham talks to John Wilson.

Graham Nash has twice been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of fame - once with The Hollies and then with Crosby, Stills and Nash.

In May 1971 he released Songs For Beginners as a solo project (it was one of four solo albums released by each member of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young in the wake of their hit album Deja Vu).

Made directly following his breakup with Joni Mitchell, many of the songs are about their time together. But it's an album that also reflects his political activism and so the confessional 'Simple Man' and wistful 'Better Days' sit alongside the still prescient 'Military Madness' and the heartfelt 'Chicago'.

In the B-side of the programme, it's the turn of the audience to ask the questions.

Producer Paul Kobrak

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2017.

Graham Nash talks about his debut 1971 solo album, Songs for Beginners.

Made directly following his breakup with Joni Mitchell, many of the songs are about their time together. But it's an album that also reflects his political activism and so the confessional Simple Man and wistful Better Days sit alongside the still prescient Military Madness and the heartfelt Chicago.

Rock and Roll Hall of fame inductee Graham Nash talks about his 1971 debut solo album, Songs for Beginners. From 2017.

Series in which leading performers and songwriters talk about the album that made them or changed them.

With John Wilson at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios in London.

Graham also performs acoustic live versions of some of the tracks from his latest album, which reflects his long songwriting career.

Producer: Paul Kobrak

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2017.

Graham Nash responds to questions from the audience about his album Songs for Beginners.

Graham Nash responds to questions from the audience about his debut 1971 album Songs for Beginners. From 2017.

Series in which leading performers and songwriters talk about the album that made them or changed them.

Recorded in front of a live audience at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios, each edition includes two episodes - the A-side and B-side.

In the A-side, Laura Marling. talks to John Wilson

Laura Marling was only 18 when she released her first album... only 21 one when she won the Brit Award for the Best British Female solo Artist... and only 23 when she released the album described as 'a masterpiece, and... she's still only getting started' (The Daily Telegraph).

Produced by Ethan Johns, Once I Was An Eagle included tracks like Master Hunter, Where Can I Go? and Saved These Words, deemed to be 'her most lyrically mature work... also the most musically satisfying' (The Independent). On the strength of this album she's been referred to as one of the 'greatest singer-songwriters of both her generation and generations before it' (Clash Magazine)

In the B-side of the programme, it's the turn of the audience to ask the questions.

Producer: Paul Kobrak

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2017.

Laura Marling talks to John Wilson about her 2013 album 'Once I Was an Eagle'.

Laura Marling was only 18 when she released her first album... only 21 one when she won the Brit Award for the Best British Female solo Artist... and only 23 when she released the album described as a masterpiece, and... she's still only getting started (The Daily Telegraph).

Produced by Ethan Johns, Once I Was An Eagle included tracks like Master Hunter, Where Can I Go? and Saved These Words, deemed to be her most lyrically mature work... also the most musically satisfying (The Independent). On the strength of this album she's been referred to as one of the greatest singer-songwriters of both her generation and generations before it (Clash Magazine)

Series in which leading performers and songwriters talk about the album that made them or changed them.

With John Wilson at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios in London

Laura performs live versions of her yet to be released new album

Producer: Paul Kobrak

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2017.

Laura Marling answers questions from the audience about her album, 'Once I Was An Eagle

Series in which leading performers and songwriters talk about the album that made them or changed them.

Recorded in front of a live audience at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios, each edition includes two episodes - the A-side and B-side.

In the A-side, Shirley talks to John Wilson.

Released on the Harvest label (also home to Deep Purple, Kevin Ayers and Pink Floyd), Love Death & the Lady exuded a darkness that reflected Shirley's own personal loneliness at the time. With tracks like The Outlandish Knight, The Oxford Girl and Geordie, the album revolves around the themes of murder, class conflict and betrayal.

Shirley Collins began the 1970s releasing what is now regarded by many as one of her finest albums... and she ended the decade by losing her singing voice through dysphonia.

Yet she remains revered today by the likes of Graham Coxon, Billy Bragg, Stewart Lee, Jonny Greenwood and Angel Olsen.

In the B-side of the programme, it's the turn of the audience to ask the questions.

Producer: Paul Kobrak

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2017.

Shirley Collins discusses her 1971 classic album Love, Death and the Lady.

Shirley Collins discusses her 1971 classic album 'Love, Death and the Lady'. With John Wilson. From 2017.

Shirley Collins discusses her 1971 classic album, 'Love, Death and the Lady'.

Shirley Collins discusses her 1971 classic album, Love, Death and the Lady.

Shirley Collins discusses her 1971 classic album, 'Love, Death and the Lady'. With John Wilson. From 2017.

Series in which leading performers and songwriters talk about the album that made them or changed them.

With John Wilson at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios in London.

Shirley also performs acoustic live versions of songs from her new album, the first she has released in 38 years.

Producer: Paul Kobrak

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2017.

Shirley Collins answers questions about her classic album 'Love, Death and the Lady'.

Shirley Collins answers audience questions about her classic 1971 album ‘Love, Death and the Lady'. With John Wilson. From 2017.

Following on from the A-side of this two-part programme, the audience ask Shirley Collins questions about her classic 1971 album, ‘Love, Death and the Lady'.

Shirley Collins answers questions about her classic album, 'Love, Death and the Lady'.

Following on from the A-side of this two-part programme, the audience ask Shirley Collins questions about her classic 1971 album, ‘Love, Death and the Lady'.

Shirley Collins answers audience questions about her classic 1971 album, ‘Love, Death and the Lady'. With John Wilson. From 2017.

Series in which leading performers and songwriters talk about the album that made them or changed them.

Recorded in front of a live audience at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios, each edition includes two episodes - the A-side and B-side.

In the A-side, Tom talks to John Wilson about 'Praise and Blame' - the first of a trilogy of albums that would take him back to his musical roots.

Described as a musical 'shape shifter' who could 'slide from soulful rasp to pop croon, with a voice as husky as it was pretty' (The New York Times), Tom Jones' career has spanned six decades, selling over 100 million records.

In 2010, he released an album of largely unknown gospel covers, including Sister Rosetta Tharpe's Strange Things, Pop Staples' Don't Knock and John Lee Hooker's Burning Hell. The album's stripped-down, live production (by Ethan Johns) led one critic to declare 'at last Jones the artist is the match of Jones the entertainer' (The Guardian)

A rare opportunity to hear Sir Tom together with Ethan Johns talk and play their way back to an album that 'with its loose, spontaneous sound and... all-pervasive sense of artistic rebirth... is a revelation' (Daily Telegraph)

In the B-side of the programme, it's the turn of the audience to ask the questions.

Producer: Paul Kobrak

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2017.

Tom Jones talks to John Wilson about his 2010 back-to-his-roots album 'Praise & Blame'.

Described as a musical shape shifter who could slide from soulful rasp to pop croon, with a voice as husky as it was pretty (The New York Times), Tom Jones' career has spanned six decades, selling over 100 million records.

In 2010, he released an album of largely unknown gospel covers, including Sister Rosetta Tharpe's Strange Things, Pop Staples' Don't Knock and John Lee Hooker's Burning Hell. The album's stripped-down, live production (by Ethan Johns) led one critic to declare at last Jones the artist is the match of Jones the entertainer (The Guardian)

A rare opportunity to hear Sir Tom together with Ethan Johns talk and play their way back to an album that with its loose, spontaneous sound and... all-pervasive sense of artistic rebirth... is a revelation (Daily Telegraph)

Sir Tom Jones talks about 'Praise & Blame', his 2010 album that saw a return to his musical roots. With John Wilson. From 2017.

Series in which leading performers and songwriters talk about the album that made them or changed them.

With John Wilson at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios in London.

Sir Tom Jones also performs acoustic live versions of some tracks from the album that led one critic to declare 'at last Jones the artist is the match of Jones the entertainer' (The Guardian)

Producer: Paul Kobrak

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2017.

Sir Tom Jones answers questions about his 2010 back-to-his-roots album Praise & Blame.

Sir Tom Jones also performs acoustic live versions of some tracks from the album that led one critic to declare at last Jones the artist is the match of Jones the entertainer (The Guardian)

Sir Tom Jones answers audience questions about his musical roots 2010 album, 'Praise & Blame'. With John Wilson. From 2017.

Cult singer-songwriter and artist Benjamin Clementine talks to John Wilson about his 2015 Mercury Prize-winning album At Least for Now .

Self-taught, and inspired by a range of music from Antony & the Johnsons to Erik Satie, Benjamin emigrated from London to Paris in 2009 at the age of 19. His career was launched after being discovered while busking in the Paris metro, singing covers of James Brown and Bob Marley.

At Least for Now is a dramatic album of poetic ballads that prompted comparisons to Nina Simone and gained critical acclaim for its swooping melodies and the arresting lyricism of singles such as 'London' and 'Cornerstone'.

Producer: Paul Kobrak.

Benjamin Clementine talks to John Wilson about his debut album, At Least for Now.

Singer-songwriter Benjamin Clementine on his 2015 Mercury Prize-winning album, 'At Least For Now'.

Series in which leading performers and songwriters talk to John Wilson about the album that made them or changed them.

Recorded in front of a live audience at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios, each edition includes two episodes - the A-side and B-side.

The A-side: Benjamin Clementine's 'At Least For Now

At Least for Now is a dramatic album of poetic ballads that prompted comparisons to Nina Simone and gained critical acclaim for its swooping melodies and the arresting lyricism of singles such as London and Cornerstone.

In the B-side of the programme, it's the turn of the audience to ask the questions.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2017.

Singer-songwriter Benjamin Clementine on his 2015 Mercury Prize-winning album, 'At Least For Now'. With John Wilson. From 2017.

In the A-side, Benjamin talks to John Wilson.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2017.

Benjamin Clementine talks about his debut album, At Least for Now.

Having discussed his about his 2015 Mercury Prize-winning album 'At Least for Now' (in the A-side of the programme, broadcast on Monday 18th December and available online), Cult singer-songwriter and artist Benjamin Clementine responds to questions from the audience.

Producer: Paul Kobrak.

Benjamin Clementine responds to audience questions about his album At Least for Now.

Singer-songwriter Benjamin Clementine answers audience questions about his Mercury Prize winning 2015 album, 'At Least For Now'.

Series in which leading performers and songwriters talk to John Wilson about the album that made them or changed them.

Recorded in front of a live audience at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios, each edition includes two episodes - the A-side and B-side.

The B-side: Benjamin Clementine's 'At Least For Now

Having discussed his about his 2015 Mercury Prize-winning album 'At Least for Now' (in the A-side of the programme), the cult singer-songwriter and artist Benjamin Clementine responds to questions from the audience.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2017.

Singer-songwriter Benjamin Clementine answers audience questions about his 2015 album, 'At Least For Now'. From 2017.

Following on from the A-side of this two-part programme, the audience ask Benjamin Clementine questions about his Mercury Prize winning 2015 album, 'At Least For Now'.

Series in which leading performers and songwriters talk about the album that made them or changed them.

With John Wilson at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios in London.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2017.

Singer-songwriter David Gray talks to John Wilson about the album that catapulted him to fame in 2001; White Ladder. Featuring the hits Babylon, This Year's Love and Sail Away, the album became one of the longest-charting in UK chart history, spending almost three consecutive years in the UK top 100, and won Gray an Ivor Novello Award for the single Babylon.

To date, David Gray has sold 12 million albums worldwide, received a BAFTA nomination, two Ivor Novello Awards, a Q award, two Brit nominations and a Grammy nomination.

Producer: Edwina Pitman.

David Gray talks about White Ladder, a decade-defining album of the 2000s.

Singer-songwriter David Gray talks about his album 'White Ladder', which led to fame in 2001.

Series in which leading performers and songwriters talk to John Wilson about the album that made them or changed them.

Recorded in front of a live audience at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios, each edition includes two episodes - the A-side and B-side.

In the A-side, David talks to John Wilson.

Featuring his hits 'Babylon', 'This Year's Love' and 'Sail Away', 'White Ladder' became one of the longest-charting in UK chart history, spending almost three consecutive years in the UK top 100, and won Gray an Ivor Novello Award for the single Babylon.

By 2017, David Gray has sold 12 million albums worldwide, received a BAFTA nomination, two Ivor Novello Awards, a Q award, two Brit nominations and a Grammy nomination.

In the B-side of the programme, it's the turn of the audience to ask the questions.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2017.

Singer-songwriter David Gray talks about his album 'White Ladder', which led to fame in 2001. With John Wilson. From 2017.

Singer-songwriter David Gray talks about his album White Ladder, which led to fame in 2001.

Series in which leading performers and songwriters talk about the album that made them or changed them.

Featuring his hits Babylon, This Year's Love and Sail Away, White Ladder became one of the longest-charting in UK chart history, spending almost three consecutive years in the UK top 100, and won Gray an Ivor Novello Award for the single Babylon.

Singer-songwriter David Gray talks to John Wilson about the album that catapulted him to fame in 2001; White Ladder. Featuring the hits Babylon, This Year's Love and Sail Away, the album became one of the longest-charting in UK history, spending almost three consecutive years in the UK top 100, and won Gray an Ivor Novello Award for the single Babylon.

Having discussed the making of White Ladder, the international hit album (in the A-side of the programme, broadcast on Monday 4th December 2017 and available online), David Gray responds to questions from the audience and performs acoustic live versions of some of his best-loved tracks.

Producer: Edwina Pitman.

Singer-songwriter David Gray responds to audience questions about his album White Ladder.

Following on from the A-side of this two-part programme, the audience ask David Gray questions about his album 'White Ladder', which led to fame in 2001.

Series in which leading performers and songwriters talk to John Wilson about the album that made them or changed them.

With John Wilson at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios in London.

David also performs acoustic live versions of some of his best-loved tracks.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2017.

Singer-songwriter David Gray answers audience questions about his album 'White Ladder'. With John Wilson. From 2017.

Series in which leading performers and songwriters talk to John Wilson about the album that made them or changed them.

Recorded in front of a live audience at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios, each edition includes two episodes - the A-side and B-side.

A-side: 'Our Version of Events' by Emeli Sand退

Scottish singer-songwriter Emeli Sand退 takes us back to her debut album 'Our Version of Events', the UK's biggest selling record of 2012 which spent more consecutive weeks in the British charts than any other debut album, breaking a record held for 50 years by The Beatles.

Featuring the singles Next To Me, Heaven, Clown and Read all About It, the album made her a household name and she was the only artist to perform at both the opening and closing ceremonies of the London Olympics. Our Version of Events went on to win the BRIT Award for Album of the Year and Emeli was named Best British Female Artist.

In the B-side of the programme, it's the turn of the audience to ask the questions.

Producer: Edwina Pitman

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2017.

Emeli Sande sings live and discusses her 2012 debut album, 'Our Version of Events

Scottish singer-songwriter Emeli Sandé talks about her bestselling 2012 debut album, 'Our Version of Events'.

In the A-side, Emeli talks to John Wilson.

She recalls her debut album 'Our Version of Events', the UK's biggest selling record of 2012 which spent more consecutive weeks in the British charts than any other debut album, breaking a record held for 50 years by The Beatles.

Featuring the singles Next To Me, Heaven, Clown and Read all About It, the album made her a household name and she was the only artist to perform at both the opening and closing ceremonies of the London 2012 Olympics.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2017.

Scottish singer-songwriter Emeli Sandé talks about her 2012 debut album, 'Our Version of Events'. With John Wilson. From 2017.

A-side: 'Our Version of Events' by Emeli Sandé

Scottish singer-songwriter Emeli Sandé takes us back to her debut album 'Our Version of Events', the UK's biggest selling record of 2012 which spent more consecutive weeks in the British charts than any other debut album, breaking a record held for 50 years by The Beatles.

Having discussed the making of 'Our Version of Events', the biggest selling UK album of 2012, (in the A-side of the programme, broadcast on Monday 27th November 2017 and available online), Emeli Sand退 responds to questions from the audience and performs acoustic live versions of some to the tracks from the album.

Producer: Edwina Pitman.

Emeli Sande responds to audience questions about her debut album Our Version of Events.

Following on from the A-side of this two-part programme, the audience ask Emeli Sandé questions about her 2012 debut album, 'Our Version of Events'.

Series in which leading performers and songwriters talk to John Wilson about the album that made them or changed them.

With John Wilson at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios in London.

Emeli Sandé also performs acoustic live versions of some to the tracks from the album.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2017.

Emeli Sande answers audience questions about her debut album, 'Our Version of Events

Emeli Sandé answers audience questions about her 2012 debut album, 'Our Version of Events'. With John Wilson. From 2017.

Having discussed the making of 'Our Version of Events', the biggest selling UK album of 2012, (in the A-side of the programme, broadcast on Monday 27th November 2017 and available online), Emeli Sandé responds to questions from the audience and performs acoustic live versions of some to the tracks from the album.

The youngest person ever to have been inducted into the Songwriters' Hall of Fame and the only artist to have won Grammy Awards in music, lyrics and orchestration, Jimmy Webb's compositions include 'MacArthur Park', 'Wichita Lineman', 'Up, Up And Away', 'Galvaston' and the third most performed song in the fifty years between 1940 & 1990 - 'By The Time I Get To Phoenix'.

Series Producer: Paul Kobrak.

Jimmy Webb talks to John Wilson about writing and performing during the 1960s and 70s.

Jimmy Webb talks about his classic songs 'MacArthur Park', 'Wichita Lineman', 'Up, Up And Away'.

Series in which leading performers and songwriters talk to John Wilson about the album, or songs, that made them or changed them.

Recorded in front of a live audience at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios, each edition includes two episodes - the A-side and B-side.

The A-side: Jimmy Webb's 'MacArthur Park', 'Wichita Lineman', 'Up, Up And Away

The legendary Jimmy Webb talks to John Wilson about a career of song-writing that began in High School and went on to include platinum selling hits for Donna Summer, Frank Sinatra, R.E.M., Barbra Streisand and, of course, Glen Campbell.

In the B-side of the programme, it's the turn of the audience to ask the questions.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2017

Jimmy Webb talks about his classic songs 'MacArthur Park', 'Wichita Lineman', 'Up, Up And Away'. With John Wilson. From 2017.

Series in which leading performers and songwriters talk about the album that made them or changed them.

In the A-side, Jimmy talks to John Wilson.

The legendary song-writer recalls a career that began in High School and went on to include platinum selling hits for Donna Summer, Frank Sinatra, R.E.M., Barbra Streisand and, of course, Glen Campbell.

The youngest person ever to have been inducted into the Songwriters' Hall of Fame and the only artist to have won Grammy Awards in music, lyrics and orchestration, Jimmy Webb's compositions include 'MacArthur Park', 'Wichita Lineman', 'Up, Up And Away', 'Galvaston' and the third most performed song in the 50 years between 1940 & 1990 - 'By The Time I Get To Phoenix'.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2017

Jimmy Webb talks about writing and performing during the 1960s and 70s.

Having discussed his early song-writing career, writing for the likes of Frank Sinatra, Barbara Striesand, Richard Harris and Glen Campbell (in the A-side of the programme, broadcast on Monday 11th December and available online), Jimmy Webb responds to questions from the audience.

Producer: Paul Kobrak.

The legendary Jimmy Webb responds to audience questions about his song-writing career.

Jimmy Webb answers audience questions about his songs like 'MacArthur Park', 'Wichita Lineman' and 'Up, Up And Away'.

Series in which leading performers and songwriters talk to John Wilson about the album, or songs, that made them or changed them.

Recorded in front of a live audience at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios, each edition includes two episodes - the A-side and B-side.

The B-side: Jimmy Webb

Having discussed his early song-writing career, writing for the likes of Frank Sinatra, Barbara Striesand, Richard Harris and Glen Campbell (in the A-side of the programme), and writing songs like 'MacArthur Park', 'Wichita Lineman', and 'Up, Up And Away', Jimmy Webb responds to questions from the audience.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2017.

Jimmy Webb answers audience questions about his songs 'Wichita Lineman' and 'Up, Up And Away'. With John Wilson. From 2017.

Following on from the A-side of this two-part programme, the audience ask Jimmy Webb questions about his songs like 'MacArthur Park', 'Wichita Lineman' and 'Up, Up And Away'.

Series in which leading performers and songwriters talk about the album that made them or changed them.

With John Wilson at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios in London.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2017.

A-side: American Pie by Don McLean

24-year old Don McLean's debut album was rejected by 72 labels before it was released by Mediarts. It was only because that label was taken over by United Artists that his follow-up received the promotion it deserved.

His second album contained: a tribute to a 19th-century Dutch painter, which was cited as a personal inspiration by the late rapper Tupac Shakur; a song that was re-recorded 32 years later by George Michael in protest against the Iraq War; and an eight-and-a-half-minute single that in 2017 was designated an `aural treasur

Don McLean talks about his timeless classic 1971 album, the career defining 'American Pie'.

Series in which leading performers and songwriters talk to John Wilson about the album that made them or changed them.

Recorded in front of a live audience at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios, each edition includes two episodes - the A-side and B-side.

A-side: 'American Pie' by Don McLean

His second album contained: a tribute to a 19th-century Dutch painter, which was cited as a personal inspiration by the late rapper Tupac Shakur; a song that was re-recorded 32 years later by George Michael in protest against the Iraq War; and an eight-and-a-half-minute single that in 2017 was designated an “aural treasure - worthy of preservation as part of America's patrimony. ?

Producer: Paul Kobrak

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2018.

John Wilson talks to Don McLean about his timeless classic album, American Pie

Don McLean talks about his timeless classic 1971 album, the career defining 'American Pie'. With John Wilson. From 2018.

Having discussed the making of American Pie - his all-time classic debut album - in the A-side of the programme, Don McLean responds to questions from the audience and performs live acoustic versions of some of the tracks on the album.

Producer: Paul Kobrak

Don McLean talks to John Wilson about his all-time classic album American Pie.

Don McLean answers audience questions about his timeless classic 1971 album, ‘American Pie'.

Series in which leading performers and songwriters talk to John Wilson about the album that made them or changed them.

Recorded in front of a live audience at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios, each edition includes two episodes - the A-side and B-side.

The B-side: 'American Pie' by Don McLean

Having discussed the making of 'American Pie' - his all-time classic debut album in the A-side of the programme, Don McLean responds to questions from the audience and performs live acoustic versions of some of the tracks on the album.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2018.

Don McLean answers audience questions about his all-time classic album, 'American Pie

Don McLean answers audience questions about his timeless classic 1971 album, ‘American Pie'. With John Wilson. From 2018.

A-side: The Good, The Bad & The Queen.

Modern-day supergroup, Damon Albarn, Paul Simonon, Tony Allen and Simon Tong talk to John Wilson about their acclaimed debut album 'The Good, The Bad & The Queen.

Released in 2007, the album brought together Blur's front-man, the bassist from The Clash, the Afrobeat pioneer who was also Fela Kuti's drummer, and former guitarist from the Verve who co-created The Magnetic North. Described by Damon Albarn as `a song cycle that's also a mystery play about London`, the record was voted the Best Album of 2007 by the Observer Music Magazine and it includes the singles Herculean, Kingdom of Doom and Green Fields.

Although Simon Tong and Paul Simonon appeared on the next Gorillaz album and Tony Allen collaborated with Damon Albarn on Rocket Juice & the Moon, the band have not released any more materia

Damon Albarn, Paul Simonon, Tony Allen and Simon Tong talk about the 2007 album that gave the super-group its name, ‘The Good, The Bad & The Queen'.

Series in which leading performers and songwriters talk to John Wilson about the album that made them or changed them.

Recorded in front of a live audience at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios, each edition includes two episodes - the A-side and B-side.

A-side: 'The Good, The Bad & The Queen

Released in 2007, the album brought together Blur's front-man, the bassist from The Clash, the Afrobeat pioneer who was also Fela Kuti's drummer, and former guitarist from the Verve who co-created The Magnetic North. Described by Damon Albarn as “a song cycle that's also a mystery play about London ?, the record was voted the Best Album of 2007 by the Observer Music Magazine and it includes the singles Herculean, Kingdom of Doom and Green Fields.

Although Simon Tong and Paul Simonon appeared on the next Gorillaz album and Tony Allen collaborated with Damon Albarn on Rocket Juice & the Moon, the band have not released any more material - until now. Their long overdue follow-up Merrie Land was released in November 2018.

Producer: Paul Kobrak

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2018.

Damon Albarn, Paul Simonon, Tony Allen and Simon Tong talk about ‘The Good, The Bad & The Queen'. With John Wilson. From 2018.

Having discussed the making of the 2007 album that gave them their name, 'The Good, The Bad & The Queen' in the A-side of the programme, Damon Albarn, Paul Simonon, Tony Allen and Simon Tong responds to questions from the audience and perform live versions of their follow-up album, 2018's 'Merrie Land'.

Producer: Paul Kobrak

Damon Albarn, Paul Simonon, Tony Allen and Simon Tong respond to audience questions.

Damon Albarn, Paul Simonon, Tony Allen and Simon Tong answer audience questions about their 2007 album, ‘The Good, The Bad & The Queen'.

Series in which leading performers and songwriters talk to John Wilson about the album that made them or changed them.

Recorded in front of a live audience at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios, each edition includes two episodes - the A-side and B-side.

The B-side: 'The Good, The Bad & The Queen

Having discussed the making of the 2007 album that gave them their name, 'The Good, The Bad & The Queen' in the A-side of the programme, Damon Albarn, Paul Simonon, Tony Allen and Simon Tong responds to questions from the audience and perform live versions of their follow-up album, 2018's Merrie Land'.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2018.

Damon Albarn, Paul Simonon, Tony Allen and Simon Tong answer audience questions on ‘The Good, The Bad & The Queen'. From 2018.