Long Way to the Top
| Long Way to the Top | |
|---|---|
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| Genre | Rock 'n' roll documentary |
| Created by | Australian Broadcasting Corporation |
| Written by |
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| Narrated by | Chris Winter |
| No. of episodes | 6 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Paul Clarke |
| Producer(s) | Greg Appel, Bruce Kane |
| Editor(s) | Andrew Glover |
| Production company(s) | Australian Broadcasting Corporation |
| Release | |
| Original network | ABC Television |
| Original release | 8 August – 12 September 2001 |
Long Way to the Top was a six-part weekly Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) documentary film series on the history of Australian rock and roll, from 1956 to the modern era, it was initially broadcast from 8 August to 12 September 2001. One of its writers, James Cockington, provided a book tie-in, Long Way to the Top: Stories of Australian Rock & Roll (2001). Another series writer, and interviewer, Clinton Walker, compiled a 2× CD soundtrack album, Long Way to the Top: Original Soundtrack from the ABC-TV Series (13 August 2001), by Various Artists, which featured in the show. It peaked at No. 9 on the ARIA Albums Chart. A year later a related national concert tour followed.
Long Way to the Top took its name from the AC/DC song, "It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll)" (December 1975). The six-part series was produced by Paul Clarke (Recovery), directed by Greg Appel and edited by Andrew Glover. It was narrated by the former radio presenter, Chris Winter (one of the original members of the on-air team at the ABC's 24-hour rock radio station, Double Jay).
It featured interviews with Australasian singers and instrumentalists. Most of the nearly 200 interviews were conducted by music critic, Clinton Walker, who also co-wrote the series, and compiled a 2× CD soundtrack album, Long Way to the Top: Original Soundtrack from the ABC-TV Series (13 August 2001), by Various Artists featured in the show. It peaked at No. 9 on the ARIA Albums Chart. The other writers for the were Tony Barrell, Sandy Webster, James Cockington and Laurie Zion. Cockington wrote a book tie-in, Long Way to the Top: Stories of Australian Rock & Roll (2001).
The original series was well received for the ABC when shown in 2001: a national concert tour in 2002 followed.
It's the early 1950s and Australia is enjoying a period of post-war calm. On the wireless, amongst the radio-plays, variety shows and deep-voiced announcers are the sounds of Nat King Cole, Benny Goodman or perhaps Tex Morton... lurking beneath this idyllic newsreel exterior was something far more rebellious... the cult of the 'teenager', looking for something to hang their angst upon. The hook was rock and roll! The years were 1956 -1964. From rock and roll films to the race to be first, from the recording studio to the crazes that swept the nation. One craze that stayed was Surf Culture. These were wild times indeed.
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