Soundbreaking: Stories from the Cutting Edge of Recorded Music

In pop music culture, each generation finds its preferred sound, voice, and style, yet few of us realize the key role of the producer in bringing material to a worldwide audience. Produced by legendary Beatles producer Sir George Martin (who died in 2016), this eight-part series, directed by Maro Chermayeff and Jeff Dupre, explores the evolution of rock music, from Sam Phillips's Nashville Sun Records studio, up through Motown, the sonic experiments of the 1960s and ‘70s psychedelic era, and on to disco, hip hop, and rap. Sun Records nurtured groundbreaking talents like Elvis and Johnny Cash, while Phil Spector's innovative "wall of sound" backed numerous girl and guy groups. Motown brought black music to white teens, while Beach Boy Brian Wilson and Paul McCartney honed the art of songwriting, creating a style that was only possible when crafted in a studio. A who's who of rock luminaries—including Eric Clapton, Quincy Jones, Elton John, Annie Lennox, Tom Petty, and Beck—contribute insights on topics such as pushing boundaries, the collaboration between human and machine (including electric guitars and synthesizers), the question of performing for an audience versus recording in a studio, and how formats—whether it be the old 78s, the 45 platter, cassettes, compact discs, or MP3s—have transformed how we appreciate music. Featuring loads of snippets from classic rock songs, extras include bonus interview clips. Highly recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (S. Rees)