A while back, there was a series of DVDs called The Classic Album series or something like that. I think it was actually a BBC thing. At any rate, each episode told the story of the making of a great album, with good modern interviews of the musicians, some classic footage, and best of all, different people sitting at the mixing board turning volumes for tracks up and down so you could hear isolated parts to consider them carefully.

It seemed like a short run series. I saw one DVD/ episode on Bat Out Of Hell, one on Fly Like An Eagle, one on The Band's first 2 records. All great, and I'm not even a big fan of Meatloaf or Steve Miller. I did buy the ones for Who's Next and Dark Side, and they are GREAT.

So there is a series now on YouTube and maybe I am late to it. It is called "What Makes This Song Great?" And its approach is somewhat similar. Here it is just a host, Rick Beato, who really knows guitar / music theory, like a guitar mag guy but likeable, and he just dissects songs. He has a mixing board so he does isolate parts and dissects them; he plays some guitar and bass parts himself to discuss what makes them tick; it's very engaging, and I don't even understand musical theory.

Some episodes I've seen address some songs I love and some where he took songs I'm not that wild about but made it fascinating: I've seen Kid Charlemagne, Hitch A Ride (Boston), Paranoid Android, Wonder Wall, Closer To The Heart, and I Won't Back Down. All very cool.

Some of his other videos like "Rogue Guitarists of the 1970s" are ok but rushed, a walk-through of names, but check out his "What Makes This Song Great." Very cool.