Episode 2
Nile Rodgers reveals how he became the go-to producer of the 80s, creating signature sounds for Diana Ross, Carly Simon, David Bowie, Madonna and Duran Duran.
Nile Rodgers reveals how he became the go-to producer of the 80s, creating signature sounds for some of the world's biggest stars: Diana Ross, Carly Simon, David Bowie, Madonna and Duran Duran.
The first artist Nile worked with was Diana Ross. The album they created, Diana, became the biggest-selling studio album of her career and spawned three international hit singles. In the film, Nile explains how they came up with the songs.
Nile and Carly Simon reveal the working process that led to the song Why, which flopped in America. Nile explains why and is candid about what you do when failure comes knocking.
When Nile met David Bowie, neither could have known how much it would change both their lives. After a number of critically received albums, Bowie was looking to do something different and asked Nile for an album of hits - and that is what Nile gave him; Let's Dance became Bowie's biggest-selling album. In an intimate mini-masterclass, Nile explains how the song Let's Dance developed from Bowie's initial idea into a global hit.
The album Nile produced for Madonna was Like a Virgin. We learn about how his deal was structured with her record company, and how this gave Nile one of the biggest paydays of his career.
Duran Duran's third album contained a song they felt hadn't realised its full potential - The Reflex. Nile used a recently bought Synclavier and gave the song and the band an entirely new sound. Nile and Nick Rhodes explain how the record was made.
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Music Played
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Chic
Le Freak
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David Bowie
Let's Dance
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Madonna
Like A Virgin
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Sister Sledge
He's The Greatest Dancer
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Diana Ross
Love Hangover
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Rod Stewart
Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?
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Diana Ross
Upside Down
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The Supremes
Where Did Our Love Go
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Diana Ross
I'm Coming Out
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Chic
Soup For One
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Carly Simon
Why
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Carly Simon
You're So Vain
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David Bowie
Life On Mars?
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Madonna
Everybody
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Madonna
Like A Virgin
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Chic
Good Times
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Madonna
Borderline
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Uwe Kröger
Tauch Hinab Ins Dunkel
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Duran Duran
Girls On Film
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Duran Duran
Girls On Film
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Duran Duran
The Reflex
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Duran Duran
Notorious
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INXS
Original Sin
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Daft Punk
Get Lucky (feat. Pharrell Williams)
Credits
Role | Contributor |
---|---|
Narrator | Nile Rodgers |
Narrator | Nina Sosanya |
Participant | Carly Simon |
Participant | Kathy Sledge |
Participant | Paul Gambaccini |
Participant | Krissi Murison |
Participant | Kate Mossman |
Participant | Nick Rhodes |
Participant | Keith Harris |
Executive Producer | Philip Armstrong-Dampier |
Director | Christopher Bruce |
Series Editor | Nigel Timperley |
Broadcasts
- Fri 13 Oct 2017 21:00
- Sat 14 Oct 2017 01:40
- Sat 25 Aug 2018 01:00
- Fri 11 Feb 2022 23:50