"The Blues" Red, White and Blues (2003)

Director:

Mike Figgis

TV Series:

"The Blues" (2003)

Original Air Date:

3 October 2003 (Season 1, Episode 6)

Genre:

Documentary | Music

Plot:

Plot Keywords:

Music Business | Music Industry

Cast

Chris Barber	...	Himself
Jeff Beck	...	Himself
Jack Bruce	...	Himself (archive footage) (as Cream)
Eric Clapton	...	Himself
Lonnie Donegan	...	Himself
Georgie Fame	...	Himself
Chris Farlowe	...	Himself
Mick Fleetwood	...	Himself
Davy Graham	...	Himself (as Davey Graham)
Peter Green	...	Himself
Bert Jansch	...	Himself
Tom Jones	...	Himself
Alexis Korner	...	Himself (archive footage)
Lulu	...	Herself
Humphrey Lyttelton	...	Himself
John Mayall	...	Himself
Joe Meek	...	Himself (archive footage)
George Melly	...	Himself
Van Morrison	...	Himself
Sister Rosetta Tharpe	...	Herself (archive footage)
Stevie Winwood	...	Himself

Mya	...	Herself
Carl Lumbly	...	Narrator
Taj Mahal	...	Himself

Country:

Germany | UK

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Great Episode For Those Of Us Who Love British Bluesmen

I've seen this twice, and I could watch this episode in this 7-part documentary many more times, too. Of course, the fact that British (and a couple of Irish) guitarists and blues artists are mostly my favorites, explains why I loved watching and hearing this on TV and on now on DVD. I mean, for starters, what guitar fan doesn't revel in seeing Jeff Beck perform? He's amazing.

Beck and all the other British musicians, as it's pointed out a few times here - and verified by the great B.B. King - brought blues to the attention of the North American white kids. If it weren't for guys like John Mayall, a lot of guys like B.B. and Albert King, Albert Collins, John Lee Hooker, etc., etc., probably wouldn't have become famous. The British have done the same with early rock 'n roll, or "rockabilly" as it is labeled, and kept that alive, too. They must really appreciate music in the U.K. Well, I do, too.

In this episode are some of the greats of the those British bluesmen, like Mayall, and Eric Clapton, Tom Jones, Lonnie Donegan, Georgie Fame, Stevie Winwood, Peter Green, Mick Fleetwood, Van Morrison and a whole lot more. He doesn't do "blues," was I was glad Abert Lee was included in this episode, too. Few people can "pick" as well as Albert.

Most of these people are interviewed but aren't performing in here. However, some do and they are really good - Beck, Jones, the "Abbey Road musicians,and "Lulu." Wow, there's a name (Lulu) I haven't heard in 40 years but this woman is some blues singer. She was a shock.

It was also great to see footage of many of these performers idols, such as Muddy Waters, Big Big Broonzy, Sister Rosetta Tharp and many more, some of them performing with '60s stars like Mick Jagger of the Stones.

All of it is great stuff!