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When Life Was Brill

When Life Was Brill: Episode 2

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Episode 2

BBC Radio 2 - When Life Was Brill, Episode 2

The music, writers and buildings in New York which created the soundtrack for a generation

Neil Sedaka presents a two-part documentary looking at the music, the writers and the buildings in New York which created the soundtrack for a generation.

A two part documentary looking at the music, the writers, and the buildings in New York which created the soundtrack for a generation.

Presented by Neil Sedaka, the programmes reflect the phenomenal output from the Brill Building - and its near neighbour 1650 Broadway- which saw song writing teams like Goffin and King, Leiber and Stoller, Bacharach and David, Mann and Weil and Sedaka and Greenfield become almost as well known as the artists they wrote for.

The song writing school produced hits for the Drifters, the Coasters and the Righteous Brothers but also boosted the careers of female groups like the Shirelles, the Chiffons and the Crystals. The crucible of creativity- focussed on a small part of Manhattan near Times Square - also launched the careers of Phil Spector, Neil Diamond, Paul Simon and Dionne Warwick among many others. 

Neil Sedaka talks about the unique atmosphere of the late 50's and early 60's and how song writing changed from grown ups writing for teenagers to teenagers writing for teenagers. Neil also talks about the Jewish tradition which shaped the background of so many of the writers.

The programmes also reflect how the British invasion, the rise of Motown and the emergence of the singer/songwriters spelled the end of the 'Brill Building Sound" and the focus of the U.S music industry switched from New York to L.A.

Amazing music. Played by an amazing line up.

Radio 2: Amazing music. Played by an amazing line-up. The home of great music, entertainment and documentaries

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