Classic Albums Episode Guide

Episode Guide

• The Band - The Band

  Musical profile of the Band, who rose to fame as Bob Dylan's backing group when he first 'went electric', before achieving success with their self-titled debut album

• Bob Marley & The Wailers: Catch a Fire
• Bob Marley - Catch a Fire

  Concert footage, home movies and interviews in Jamaica give a background to the LP Catch a Fire, which launched Bob Marley and the Wailers onto the global music scene. Chris Blackwell reveals how he masterminded the overdubbing of the album for the rock market and Bunny Wailer shows he is still on top form

  Next on: Today at 4:00pm EST - VH1 Classic
• Cream - Disraeli Gears

  Musicians and rock historians discuss the making of Cream's ground-breaking 1967 album Disraeli Gears. Recorded in just six days at Atlantic Records' legendary studios in New York, it was produced by Felix Pappalardi and set the seal on the band's fame

• Deep Purple - Machine Head

  Deep Purple's Ritchie Blackmore, Ian Gillan, Roger Glover, Jon Lord and Ian Paice recall the making of their seminal rock album Machine Head, which included the masterpiece Smoke on the Water. After two successful records, the band had booked The Casino in Montreux to make their third, only to see the venue burnt down on the eve of recording

• Def Leppard - Hysteria

  A documentary on the making of Def Leppard's Hysteria, which produced seven hit singles but took the heavy metal legends to the limits of their physical and emotional endurance. Including interviews with lead singer Joe Elliott and other members of the band, plus new and archive performances

  Next on: Friday 18th December 3:00pm EST - VH1 Classic
• The Doors

  The mix of blues, rock and jazz that made the Doors' debut album a massive worldwide hit. Surviving band members Ray Manzarek, Robbie Krieger and John Densmore discuss the music and lyricist Jim Morrison's genius, while archive footage and live performances demonstrate how the group produced songs as popular as Light My Fire, and The End

• The Doors: The Doors

  The Doors' self-titled album.

• Duran Duran: Rio

  Documentary exploring the success of Duran Duran's album Rio, which propelled the band into the limelight during the 1980s with its optimistic feel against a backdrop of mass unemployment and the Falklands War. Featuring interviews with original members of the band including Simon Le Bon and Nick Rhodes, as well as contributions by Bob Geldof and Anthony Price

• Elton John - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road

  Elton John discusses the making of his chart-topping 1973 album Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, while lyricist Bernie Taupin adds a personal insight into how the songs were written

• Elvis Presley

  Insight into the making of Elvis Presley's 1956 eponymous first album, featuring contributions by the original musicians, as well as friends and colleagues including Keith Richards and BB King. The programme includes footage of the King performing classic tracks such as Heartbreak Hotel and Blue Suede Shoes, and examines the record's production

• Fleetwood Mac - Rumours

  A detailed look at the making of Rumours, by Fleetwood Mac, investigating the inspirations behind the songs

  Next on: Friday 18th December 1:30am EST - VH1 Classic
• Frank Zappa: Over-Nite Sensation

  Frank Zappa's 'Over-Nite Sensation.'

• The Grateful Dead - From Anthem to Beauty

  The making of legendary pop and rock albums from the past 40 years of ground-breaking music

• Iron Maiden - The Number of the Beast

  Iron Maiden's Bruce Dickinson, Adrian Smith, Steve Harris, Dave Murray and Clive Burr reflect on the production of their 1982 album The Number of the Beast

  Next on: Friday 18th December 4:00pm EST - VH1 Classic
• Jay Z: Reasonable Doubt
• The Jimi Hendrix Experience: Electric Ladyland

  In-depth insight into the making of Jimi Hendrix's 1968 double album Electric Ladyland, as famous for its controversial sleeve design as the tunes within

• John Lennon: Plastic Ono Band
• Judas Priest: British Steel

  Judas Priest's album 'British Steel' opens the era of British metal music.

• Lou Reed - Transformer

  A profile of each track of the album 'Transformer' features performances and interviews.

• Meat Loaf - Bat Out of Hell

  The story behind Meat Loaf's phenomenally successful 1977 album Bat Out of Hell, charting record companies' initial indifference toward the powerful lyrics and theatrical style of the 25-stone singing icon

• Metallica: Metallica (The Black Album)

  Documentary charting the making of Metallica's acclaimed self-titled record which became known among fans as the Black Album. The programme features footage of the band recording the collection, as well as recently recorded interviews with the group, producer Bob Rock and orchestral arranger Michael Kamen

• Motorhead - Ace of Spades

  The making of Motorhead's legendary rock album Ace of Spades, which combined rock 'n' roll influences with thrash metal to gain a reputation as the meanest, toughest album ever made, and became the group's best-known release. Featuring interviews with band members Lemmy, Phil Taylor and Fast Eddie Clarke, along with fans such as Metallica's Lars Ulrich and Slash, former member of Guns 'n' Roses

• Nirvana - Nevermind

  The story behind Nirvana's 1991 album Nevermind, which catapulted the Seattle trio from obscurity to superstardom overnight. It examines the effect the music had on the record industry and the band itself, and gives a glimpse into frontman Kurt Cobain's acclaimed song-writing skills. Featuring contributions from bassist Krist Novoselic, drummer Dave Grohl and producer Butch Vig

  Next on: Monday 21st December 2:00am EST - VH1 Classic
• Paul Simon - Graceland

  The writing and recording of the definitive Paul Simon album, Graceland, an eclectic mix of musical influences with African and Latin rhythms, which includes classics such as Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes

• Phil Collins - Face Value

  Phil Collins gives a candid insight into the making of his first solo album Face Value in 1979, revealing how a painful divorce from his first wife provided the inspiration for smash hit In the Air Tonight. Most of the tracks were improvised, and Phil recalls a jam session with Eric Clapton, who contributed to the song Roof is Leaking

• Pink Floyd: El Lado Oscuro of the Moon
• Pink Floyd - The Dark Side of the Moon

  Documentary exploring Pink Floyd's ground-breaking 1973 album The Dark Side of the Moon, which holds the record for the longest ever stay in the charts. Featuring interviews with band members Roger Waters, Dave Gilmour, Richard Wright and Nick Mason. Part of the Pop, What is it Good For? season

• Queen: A Night at the Opera

  The story behind the conception and recording of Queen's fourth album A Night at the Opera, which was released in 1975. Containing songs such as You're My Best Friend and Bohemian Rhapsody, the record transformed the group's career. The programme features interviews, musical demonstration, acoustic performances and archive footage

  Next on: Sunday 13th December 5:00pm EST - VH1 Classic
• Sex Pistols : Never Mind the B*******

  John Lydon and Malcolm McLaren explain the story behind the Sex Pistols' one and only studio album, Never Mind the B*******, Here's the Sex Pistols, released in 1977

• Simply Red: Stars

  The making of Simply Red's 1991 album Stars, which contained such memorable tunes as Something Got Me Started, For Your Babies, Thrill Me and the title track, and is now regarded as a classic of the Nineties British music scene. Including interviews with lead singer Mick Hucknall and performances by the band

• Steely Dan - Aja

  The making of Steely Dan's best-selling fifth album, the 1977 release Aja, which provided them with two hit singles - Peg and Deacon Blue. Includes a rare interview with the band's notoriously reclusive founders Walter Becker and Donald Fagen

• Stevie Wonder - Songs in the Key of Life

  The story behind the making of the singer's 1976 album, which took two years from conception to release and is generally accepted as the finest achievement in his 36-year career

• U2 - The Joshua Tree

  The making of U2's most successful album The Joshua Tree, which features the tracks I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For and With or Without You. Members of the band and producers Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois reveal some of the stories behind the 1987 classic

• The Who: Who's Next

  As a tribute to the late John Entwistle, the bassist with legendary British rockers The Who, a look at the story behind the recording of the band's 1971 album Who's Next, which included such memorable songs as Won't Get Fooled Again and Behind Blue Eyes. Featuring archive footage of the group in their heyday and interviews with Entwistle, Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend, who gives an exclusive solo performance

  Next on: Friday 18th December 5:00pm EST - VH1 Classic