'Soundbreaking' to Debut at SXSW

Music nerds and audiophiles have been waiting for PBS’ eight part documentary series ‘Soundbreaking’ and those attending SXSW will get to preview the first two episodes! The late Sir George Martin was the inspiration for the series, which features over 160 interviews with the greatest producers and artists in the world. “Soundbreaking’ offers what is being described as “unprecedented access” into the world of recording, audio history, and musicology in general. Producers such as Nigel Goodrich, Daniel Lanois, Don Was, Paul Epworth, Rick Rubin, and Tony Visconti, share stories and reflect upon their careers and some of music’s biggest moments are highlighted, including how George Martin’s work with The Beatles changed music history.

Those attending SXSW in Austin can catch the first two episodes today, March 16 and tomorrow, March 17 as part of 24 Beats Per Second. The series will air on local PBS stations November 14-23.

Full details on all who appear in the series available at the official Soundbreaking website.

Episode 1: The Recording Artist

Featured Stories:

• George Martin and his work with the Beatles at Abbey Road.
  Interviews: Ringo Starr, George Martin, Brian Eno, Giles Martin, Rick Rubin, Tony Visconti
  Songs: “Please Please Me,” “Yesterday”, “Eleanor Rigby”
• The story of Dr. Dre as the most influential producer in hip hop
  Interviews: Questlove, Jimmy Iovine, RZA, Q Tip, Dr. Luke
• Rick Rubin’s revitalization of Johnny Cash’s career in the 1990s
  Interviews:  Rick Rubin, Johnny Cash (archive), Rosanne Cash, Tom Petty
  Songs: “Rusty Cage”, “I Don’t Hurt Anymore”

Episode 2: Painting With Sound

Featured Stories:

• George Martin and the Beatles’ groundbreaking work in the recording studio changes pop music forever.
  Interviews:  George Martin, Ringo Starr, Paul McCartney, Elton John, Brian Eno, Tom Petty, Rick Rubin, Tony Visconti, Nigel Godrich
  Songs: “I Saw Her Standing There,” “Rain” “Tomorrow Never Knows”, “Within You Without You” “A Day in the Life”
• Brian Wilson takes the Beach Boys to new heights with “Pet Sounds”
  Interviews: Don Was, Hal Blaine, Carol Kaye, Paul McCartney
  Songs: “Good Vibrations”, “God Only Knows”, “Wouldn’t It Be Nice”
• The Eurythmics talk about recording their first album at home on a simple analog machine instead of in a big traditional studio setting.
  Interviews:  Dave Stewart, Annie Lennox
  Songs: “Who’s That Girl”, “Love is a Stranger”
• Beck, Bon Iver, St. Vincent, Tune-Yards, and Nigel Godrich, producer of Radiohead, talk about recording in the digital age
  Songs: “Loser,” by Beck “Bizness” by tUnE-yArDs, “Lotus Flower” and “Give up the Ghost” by Radiohead

Episode 3: The Human Instrument

Featured Stories/Artists:

• Producer Paul Epworth talks about recording Adele’s hit “Rolling in the Deep”
• Amy Winehouse’s unique voice and how it was captured in the studio
  Interviews:  Mark Ronson, Ben Harper, Annie Lennox
  Songs: “Valerie”, “Rehab”
• The use of Auto-tune and vocal manipulation by artists like Kanye West, Roger Troutman, and Cher
  Interviews: Ben Harper, Linda Perry
  Songs: “Love Lockdown” (K. West), “Believe” (Cher)

Episode 4: Going Electric

Featured Stories/Artists:

• The electric guitar and how it transformed music in the hands of Muddy Waters, Jimi Hendrix, and Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones
• Stevie Wonder and the creation of his five seminal albums in the 1970s
• The Black Keys discuss the making of their record “Brothers”

Episode 5: Four on the Floor

Featured Stories/Artists:

• Producers The Dream and Tricky Stewart talk about writing and recording Beyonce’s “Single Ladies”
• The Disco Era : Chic, Donna Summer, and the Bee Gees
  
• Post Disco: Blondie, Madonna and the sounds of the 80s
• The rise of Electronic Dance Music

Episode 6: Sound and Vision

Featured Stories/Artists:

• The artists who embraced video in the pre-MTV era: David Bowie, The Beatles, Blondie, Devo
• The artists who made MTV what it was: Michael Jackson, Madonna, the Eurythmics
• The Unplugged era, Nirvana’s memorable taping

Episode 7: The World is Yours

Featured Stories/Artists

• The rise of hip hop in the Bronx
• Run-DMC and the first rap/rock single, “Walk this Way”, a collaboration with Aerosmith
• The rise of Public Enemy
• The Beastie Boys come on the scene

Episode 8: I Am My Music

Featured Stories/Artists:

• Frank Sinatra invents the concept album with “In the Wee Small Hours”
• Miles Davis and Marvin Gaye use the long-playing record for new kinds of expression
• The story of Bob Dylan’s recording of “Like a Rolling Stone”
• The Grateful Dead and the rise of the bootleg cassette tape