An eight hour PBS documentary, ‘On Record: The Soundtrack of Our Lives,’ is in the works for broadcast in the fall of 2010. The enormous multi-media project, about the history of recorded music and it’s impact on society, is under the guidance of the legendary Sir George Martin.

Martin is working with PBS and Wildheart Entertainment, who created the project. As you might guess, it will have many archival performances by hundreds of musical artists from every genre of music imaginable. PBS also plans a variety of media to accompany the project including a companion website on pbs.org, a radio show, a CD and DVD box set and books. A number of educational outreach programs are also planned.

Sir George Martin was selected not only for his work with The Beatles, but mainly because his legendary career has spanned half of the history of recorded music. Think about that for a moment. Sound recordings began at the start of the 20th century and Martin started recording in 1950, halfway through recorded audio history. I can’t think of anyone more qualified to take on a multi-media project of this magnitude.

Can you imagine the impact the first records had? The first time people could hear music on their own terms, previously recorded and captured on a disc instead of going out to hear live music, must have been fantastic! Martin has bookmarked that a significant milestone in music history.

I can’t imagine a day without music in some form. On my iPod or computer, from my radio or stereo, at home, in the car, or even out shopping. We’re certainly looking forward to this exciting project. Audio recording, it’s history and impact are fascinating subjects of enormous significance in our culture.

More Info at www.pbs.org

Of similar interest…we’ve previously posted about another sound project going on…this one at the Library of Congress. The National Recording Registry is archiving sound recordings that are culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant, per the National Recording Preservation Act of 2000.

Read more and view the full registry at…
www.loc.gov

Ol’ Blue Eyes is back! Ten years after his death, Frank Sinatra returns to the Billboard charts with a new CD “Nothing But The Best.”

There’s a huge marketing campaign underway to re-release all new CD and DVD collections, starting with this CD. Plus a TV film festival, specials, and even a commemorative stamp.

?Did You Know?
May 13 was officially declared “Frank Sinatra Day” in a resolution presented by Representative Jose Serrano (D-NY) to Congress.

Read more on his official website www.franksinatra.com

Video: “Come Fly With Me”

Frank Sinatra on MySpace www.myspace.com/franksinatra

YouTube Channel http://youtube.com/user/FrankSinatra

Every year, the Library of Congress adds to the National Recording Registry. They select 25 recordings that are “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant” to preserve for all time.

Here’s the list of recordings the NRPB, the Library’s National Recording Preservation Board, selected for the 2007 National Recording Registry. It’s great to see some of my favorite artists on this list, of which I’ve bolded below.

(In chronological order:)
“The First Trans-Atlantic Broadcast (March 14, 1925)
“Allons a Lafayette,” Joseph Falcon (1928)
“Casta Diva,” from Bellini’s “Norma”; Rosa Ponselle, accompanied by the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra & Chorus, conducted by Giulio Setti. (Dec. 31, 1928 & Jan. 30, 1929)
“If I Could Hear My Mother Pray Again,” Thomas A. Dorsey (1934)
“Sweet Lorraine,” Art Tatum (February 22, 1940)
Fibber’s Closet Opens for the First Time, “Fibber McGee & Molly” radio program (March 4, 1940)
Wings Over Jordan, Wings Over Jordan (1941)
Fiorello LaGuardia reading the comics (1945)
“Call it Stormy Monday but Tuesday is Just As Bad,” T-Bone Walker (1947)
Harry S. Truman speech at the 1948 Democratic National Convention (July
15, 1948)
“The Jazz Scene,” various artists (1949)
“It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels,” Kitty Wells (May 30, 1952)
“My Fair Lady,” original cast recording (1956)
Navajo Shootingway Ceremony Field Recordings, recorded by David McAllester (1957-1958)
“‘Freight Train,’ and Other North Carolina Folk Songs & Tunes,” Elizabeth Cotten (1959)
Marine Band Concert Album to Help Benefit the National Cultural Center (1963)
“Oh, Pretty Woman,” Roy Orbison (1964)
“Tracks of My Tears,” Smokey Robinson & the Miracles (1965)
“You’ll Sing a Song and I’ll Sing a Song,” Ella Jenkins (1966)
Music from the Morning of the World,” various artists; recorded by David Lewiston (1966)
“For the Roses,” Joni Mitchell (1972)
“Headhunters,” Herbie Hancock (1973)
Ronald Reagan Radio Broadcasts (1976-1979)
“The Sounds of Earth,” disc prepared for the Voyager spacecraft (1977)
“Thriller,” Michael Jackson (1982)

Can you imagine how difficult it can be to preserve our nation’s aural history?

Official Website of the Library of Congress: www.loc.gov