Sounding Out

When a rock band goes on stage these days it faces a host of challenges, vocal, instrumental, electronic and psychological. Yes plays more complex music than most groups. How do they see the problems? Jon Anderson, Bill Bruford , Steve Howe , Chris Squire and Rick Wakeman Perform in concert and talk about themselves and their music. Recorded on Oct 3 1971

The merging of rock 'n' roll with American folk music has produced bands like Buffalo Springfield and Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. Stephen Stills has contributed to both as singer, writer, instrumentalist and producer. His songs reflect the concerns of a whole generation of young Americans

Blue Mink work together in the studio only one day a week. Other times they're apart - playing sessions, recording jingles, writing and arranging material for different artists. They feel that the group still has plenty of untapped potential. Featuring Madeline Bell, Roger Cook, Roger Coulam, Herbie Flowers Barry Morgan and Alan Parker

B.B. King is filmed at a recording session at Command Studios, Piccadilly, London, during the sessions that led to the 'B.B. King in London' album. The blues legend talks about himself and the guitarists who have inspired him, including Django Reinhardt, Charlie Christian and T-Bone Walker

"There's no area that I would automatically exclude but I couldn't write about something I didn't feel. Funnily enough, although I am criticised for not being very hot on melody I find the music the easiest and the words second." - Labi Siffre performs and talks about his music

More and more folk groups are extending their repertoires and changing instrumentation with the result that some of the distinctions between folk and pop music are disappearing.

Rock 'n' Roll wasn't the only innovation in popular music of the middle 50s. Black vocal groups like The Drifters were making an original contribution with their gospel style. Bill Fredericks and Johnny Moore talk about the group and about the songs they still perform, like 'Under The Broadwalk' and 'On Broadway.' Also appearing: Tony Orlando, of Dawn.

‘England's Janis Joplin ' is how many writers have described Maggie Bell. If there are similarities between them it's because they are both steeped in the blues tradition going back to Bessie Smith in the 1920s. But there are other influences on Maggie's singing: she sings traditional Gaelic songs and for some years she was the vocalist with the Mecca dance-band at Tiffany's in Glasgow

Bizarre newspaper cuttings, hymns, snatches of conversation -some of the ingredients in the work of a song writer who aims to be the 'Cole Porter of his day.'

“In 30 years' time people in Newcastle will be singing Fog on the Tyne instead of Blaydon Races”, claims Simon Cowe. The five members of Lindisfarne talk about their music and are seen performing at their triumphant Christmas concert in Newcastle's City Hall.