Walk on By: The Story of Popular Song

When the talents of two minority musical heritages came together - those of the Jews of Eastern Europe and the former black slaves of the American South - an extraordinary musical explosion resulted, creating the world of Tin Pan Alley and the songs of Irving Berlin and George Gershwin.

In this edition, how singers went from being just another part of the big jazz bands to stars in their own right. The likes of Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra were the first true pop stars, and both acknowledged a huge debt to Louis Armstrong, whose own hip, freewheeling style also paved the way for singers such as Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald.

For many, rock 'n' roll was born in 1956 - the year Elvis Presley made his debut. In fact, its evolution began in America's Deep South more than 50 years earlier. Unique archive film of legendary performers traces the development and cross-fertilisation of the four musical forms that produced rock 'n' roll - blues, country, gospel and jazz.

This edition focuses on the emergence of the record producer as a potent force in the late 1940s. Previously mere fixers for recording sessions, the producers now chose the song and the arrangement, as well as the singer. With contributions from Mitch Miller, Patti Page, Pat Boone, and Burt Bacharach.

This edition focuses on the 1960s, a period when British groups - such as the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and the Kinks - took America by storm, threatening a whole generation of professional US songwriters. However, the Americans bravely fought back with inspired releases from the Beach Boys, the Four Seasons and the Motown stable.

This edition looks at how the mellow sound of country rock superseded wild, drug-fuelled psychedelia at the end of the 60s, as bands such as the Byrds embraced the steel guitars of Nashville, and singer-songwriters such as Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Gram Parsons and Bill Withers emerged.

This edition celebrates classic songs from the stage and screen, looking at how the fortunes of many a dull show have been transformed by a hit tune. Beginning with the stories behind such standards as `Over the Rainbow' and `Cabaret', the programme documents the show tune from Cole Porter through to Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber.

This final episode considers the relationship between the manufactured pop artist and the professional songwriter, a partnership that has defined contemporary pop. Featuring the latest manufactured pop sensation Hear'say, as well as the Monkees, Britney Spears, the Jackson Five, ABBA, Blondie, Madonna and Kylie Minogue.