PG Music Home Forums General Discussion Off-Topic Your Favourite Music Documentaries

Yep....those (3) came to mind.
Without getting too verbose I would add Kansas as a fav also.

Carry on....

Last night PBS ran EIGHT DAYS A WEEK directed by Ron Howard. About the Beatles through '66 when they stopped touring. Good one for Beatle fans.

We saw that one a couple of weeks ago. Very well done!

20 Feet From Stardom and Running Down A Dream are our top two.

J&B

I saw that and other clips asking them why they stopped touring, and to be honest, they made the right call. Going out and playing "She Loves You" had to be really taxing for them because they wanted to do much more complex stuff. And then they finally did, it couldn't be replicated with just the 4 of them (and Billy Preston). Can you imagine the size of the touring group it would have taken to do the Sgt Pepper album from top to bottom? I am SO fortunate to have seen them in concert.

And what they said was true. You couldn't hear anything but screaming.

Here's a few that I've seen recently that have not yet been mentioned here:

Listen Up: The Lives of Quincy Jones

Standing in the Shadows of Motown

Family Band - The Cowsills Story

Steely Dan - "Aja" The Making Of:

Beware of Mr. Baker

I really enjoyed “Keep on keeping on” on Netflix. A documentary about 90 plus year old jazz legend Clark Terry who still teaches and encourages students. The film documents the relationship between Clark and young blind pianist Justin Kauflin. Most enjoyable.

Hired Gun is on Netflix right now and it focuses on side-players in rock. Particular focus on Billy Joel’s drummer, Liberty somethingorotuer and on Rudy Sarzo, and various players that Alice Cooper has hired over the years. I’m not really into that music but it was interesting to hear from these folks.

There is also a great documentary on Rush right now on Netflix right now.

That would be Liberty DeVito.

That’s it!

He is kind of the only one that they feature that isn’t hard rock. I found the interviews with Rudy Sarzo (bass player for Ozzy Osborne, Whitesnake, others) to be particularly and surprisingly soul-stirring.

I've seen Liberty DeVito play with Billy Joel in concert and he pounds the hell out of those drums, but it sounds great.

Just watched the documentary on Netflix on Rush. What a great documentary. So interesting to watch such a hard working band of “nerds”. You would never think that a rock band could consist of nerds! Completely devoted to each other.

Such talented musicians just sticking to their guns. Fascinating. Was never into their music but have now downloaded their albums am going to give them a listen. Incredible lyrics.

So this is the thread that won't die.

Thanks for starting it Mike!

I also love music documentaries, and have seen most of those mentioned here. Most of those I enjoyed.

Here are two of my favorites not mentioned by posters. Both are available on youtube.

The first is probably my favorite music documentary. It lasts just under 27 minutes. It was made by the Canadian government !!!

"Lonely Boy" is about Paul Anka, who was born and grew up in Ottawa.

Like many documentaries that set out to attractively feature the artist or group, it does that. But it also shows some very interesting sides to Anka's personality (he's under 21) and especially unveils his manager Irving Feld.

I'm sure Irving Feld has passed away now, but he's who I would wish was my manager.

He's over-the-top, really enthusiastic about Paul. He's planning for Paul's career when he's grown. Clearly he was also honest. (!!!) (That's UNUSUAL!)

I don't think it's coincidental that Anka has had a 6 decade career and is rich.

(After Ray Charles signed with ABC-Paramount, Irving Feld became his manager too. Ray Charles had a nearly 6 decade career, ended by his death, and became rich despite having serious drug habits.)

But none of that is what makes this my favorite music documentary. It's the footage devoted to the fans, almost entirely girls. I've never seen anything like it. There's an intimacy between the camera and the young women. Of course, like everyone else, I've seen thousands of video shots of fainting, screaming girls (Elvis, Beatles, etc.).

In this one you can watch these women melt, slowly. At first the guys (brothers, dates, fathers) are watching the girls. But they get sucked in too.

The cops initially (especially the older ones) are watching the audience (their job). Within a few minutes, they're too fixated on Anka.

For a brief time, they cut the PA sound and you hear only the sound in the audience. (I love that!)

Maybe the best moment: Paul gets a girl on stage and sings to her. While he's doing this, you get to see the girls in the audience, each one dying, wishing that girl was her.

For me, the fact the these girls (at least the ones still with us) are in their 70's (older than me) is mind blowing.

I try to remember this documentary when I see latest greatest teen idol berated as a lightweight. I'm continually amazed at the power of music.

(If this seems effusive, it's because I found the video on the internet and watched it again. The things I liked about it seemed even better than when I last saw it over a decade ago.)


The second documentary is about someone I'd never heard of. (I've never lived in Los Angeles.)

"The Mayor Of Sunset Strip" is about a disc jockey, Rodney Bingenheimer. A large portion of the doc is also about Kim Fowley, who I did know about. I regarded him as a talented music producer and an extreme degenerate.

The documentary addressed part of his musical "talent"; my opinion was unchanged. As to my opinion of him as an extreme degenerate, after this documentary, I feel I was much too kind. (Kim Fowley has passed away.)

This one depresses me, and makes me sad.

The number and variety of musical artists in this film is staggering. (Probably, the most I've ever seen in a documentary. I'm excluding Ken Burns multipart PBS series "Jazz", that is also one of the best I've ever seen. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!)

This documentary shows how the music business (that's BUSINESS) sucks people in, and spits them out.

-->It's NSFW<-- PLEASE NOTE THIS!

If I had a child 12 or above who wanted to be a professional musician, I would would sit down with my child and watch it. (Nowadays, I would probably be arrested for child abuse, but I would risk it.) I would want my child to know what to avoid. (You can't assume your child will end up with an Irving Feld.)

Heartbreaking but excellent.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrdqWM5X2zg "Lonely Boy"

NSFW https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EDp2oHQaRI "The Mayor of The Sunset Strip"

I have three exceptional examples saved to DVR. The links point to IMDb entries which give media-centric information. They occasionally appear on YouTube, and I have provided links if I could find them; however, they are ephemeral.

Soundbreaking: Going Electric.

The series is a documentary about various aspects of contemporary music history. “Going Electric” focuses on electronic music, particularly the development of the electronic synthesizer, and absolutely transformed my understanding of the subject. It centered on two geniuses who created a massive analog synth called Tonto and what Stevie Wonder did with it. His album Songs In The Key Of Life was part of the transformative result. There is much more, all of which I found fascinating.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5363054/

[Trailer only] https://youtu.be/fLw9XCR2ssc.

The Beatles: Sgt Pepper’s Musical Revolution

Musicologist Howard Goodall takes us through the creation and recording of the revolutionary album, with history and cultural insights I was unaware of, and illustrating musical concepts which I was intuitively aware of, but hadn’t thought through fully, on keyboard. There is narration, interviews, early videos, and more.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt6970188/

https://youtu.be/YPVxYXKk-l4

David Gilmour: Wider Horizons

[From IMDb] “Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour discusses his childhood, family life, early career and process for the creation of his fourth solo album Rattle That Lock.” I have always been fascinated by the sounds of Pink Floyd and the creative processes behind them. It was a huge revelation to learn that his wife is the author of the evocative lyrics in many of his songs. We also get a look inside his floating studio, which came into existence as a Victorian-era private concert hall.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5172570/

https://youtu.be/gC3BKmvN1bUJ

A very important family in Country music was The Carter Family.

Mother Maybelle wrote the guitar tune "Wildwood Flower" which is learned by many guitarists somewhere along their learning process.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvhmqdWXusE

I composed "Maybelle" in her memory along with the beautiful guitar work of forum mate ROG in the UK.

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=1209254&content=songinfo&songID=13352813

Not necessarily classics, but last week I watched:
Keith Richards: Under the influence (interesting and fun - not finished watching yet)
Gaga:Five Foot Two (I really enjoyed this although I found her a little sad - seriously likable but remarkably insecure lady)
Quartet (Beautiful movie - maybe a little sensitive for this forum!:-))
Whitney: Can I Be Me (The perils of being at the top - fast living and everyday acceptance of vast amounts of drugs and booze on a lady who seemed to be a lovely person who was destined for fame with her family pedigree.)

I enjoyed them all.

Documentary on the birth and emergence of the soul music industry in the late 1950's, along the 12-block stretch of Chicago's South Michigan Avenue known as "Record Row."

Roger Miller - King Of The Road

https://youtu.be/Rip2xHKk_sQ

Excellent article, Donny.
I enjoyed that.

Joanne, there probably isn't another 3 person rock band in history where two of the members would be listed in the top 5 on their instruments by others that play the same. Alex Lifeson doesn't get the credit he deserves for staying out of the way of Neil Peart and Geddy Lee. Had he had the intricate melodic chops of the other two (yes, Neil Peart is a 'melodic' drummer), the music of Rush probably would have gotten too crowded and kept them mostly under the radar. Think Dream Theater for too many virtuosos in a single band. Yep, you probably haven't heard of them.

Some of Rush's lyrics are borne out of fantasy literature wannabe behavior, but others are incredibly prescient, or at least, perceptive social commentary. The one that sticks out in my mind the most is 'Subdivisions': Circa 1982

Sprawling on the fringes of the city
In geometric order
An insulated border
In between the bright lights
And the far unlit unknown

Growing up it all seems so one-sided
Opinions all provided
The future pre-decided
Detached and subdivided
In the mass production zone
Nowhere is the dreamer or the misfit so alone

Subdivisions --
In the high school halls
In the shopping malls
Conform or be cast out
Subdivisions --
In the basement bars
In the backs of cars
Be cool or be cast out
Any escape might help to smooth
The unattractive truth
But the suburbs have no charms to soothe
The restless dreams of youth

Drawn like moths we drift into the city
The timeless old attraction
Cruising for the action
Lit up like a firefly
Just to feel the living night

Some will sell their dreams for small desires
Or lose the race to rats
Get caught in ticking traps
And start to dream of somewhere
To relax their restless flight
Somewhere out of a memory
Of lighted streets on quiet nights

Subdivisions --
In the high school halls
In the shopping malls
Conform or be cast out
Subdivisions --
In the basement bars
In the backs of cars
Be cool or be cast out

Any escape might help to smooth
The unattractive truth
But the suburbs have no charms to soothe
The restless dreams of youth