20 Feet From Stardom and Running Down A Dream are our top two.
J&B
Our albums and singles are on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Pandora and more. If interested search on Janice Merritt. Thanks! Our Videos
About the Beatles through '66 when they stopped touring.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.)
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.
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.
[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.
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.
Last edited by lambada; 01/09/1801:30 PM.
Windows 10 Home 20H2 Build 19042.487 BIAB 2021 (Build 818) Intel(R) Core(TM), i3-4160, CPU @3.60 GHz RAM 16 GB, 64 Bit X64-based processor Zoom UAC-2 (USB 3 interface-built in midi) VoiceLive 3 Extreme, Sputnik Valve Condenser Mic
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."
Lenovo YOGA 900 Window s 10 Home 64bit M4 pro Mac mini 1tb HD 24GB mem casio wk7500 presonus audiobox i2 usb interface casio wk-7500 biab & realband 2025 everything pk both with Current builds
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Pro & Windows 11, Cakewalk Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Session Keys Grand S & Electric R, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M, Pioneer Active Monitors.
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.
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
Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Windows Special Offers End Tomorrow (January 15th, 2026) at 11:59 PM PST!
Time really is running out! Save up to 50% on Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® upgrades and receive a FREE Bonus PAK—only when you order by 11:59 PM PST on Thursday, January 15, 2026!
We've added many major new features and new content in a redesigned Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®!
Version 2026 introduces a modernized GUI redesign across the program, with updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, and a new Dark Mode option. There’s also a new side toolbar for quicker access to commonly used windows, and the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, making it easier to customize your workspace.
Another exciting new addition is the new AI-Notes feature, which can transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI. You can view the results in notation or play them back as MIDI, and choose whether to process an entire track or focus on specific parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®.
There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
Upgrade your Band-in-a-Box for Windows to save up to 50% on most Band-in-a-Box® 2026 upgrade packages!
Plus, when you order your Band-in-a-Box® 2026 upgrade during our special, you'll receive a Free Bonus PAK of exciting new add-ons.
If you need any help deciding which package is the best option for you, just let us know. We are here to help!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® Special Offers Extended Until January 15, 2026!
Good news! You still have time to upgrade to the latest version of Band-in-a-Box® for Windows® and save. Our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® special now runs through January 15, 2025!
We've packed Band-in-a-Box® 2026 with major new features, enhancements, and an incredible lineup of new content! The program now sports a sleek, modern GUI redesign across the entire interface, including updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, a new dark mode option, and more. The brand-new side toolbar provides quicker access to key windows, while the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, creating a flexible, clutter-free workspace. We have an amazing new “AI-Notes” feature. This transcribes polyphonic audio into MIDI so you can view it in notation or play it back as MIDI. You can process an entire track (all pitched instruments and drums) or focus on individual parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
There are over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®.
When you order purchase Band-in-a-Box® 2026 before 11:59 PM PST on January 15th, you'll also receive a Free Bonus PAK packed with exciting new add-ons.
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® today! Check out the Band-in-a-Box® packages page for all the purchase options available.
Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: The Newly Designed Piano Roll Window
In this video, we explore the updated Piano Roll, complete with a modernized look and exciting new features. You’ll see new filtering options that make it easy to focus on specific note groups, smoother and more intuitive note entry and editing, and enhanced options for zooming, looping, and more.
Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: AI Stems & Notes - split polyphonic audio into instruments and transcribe
This video demonstrates how to use the new AI-Notes feature together with the AI-Stems splitter, allowing you to select an audio file and have it separated into individual stems while transcribing each one to its own MIDI track. AI-Notes converts polyphonic audio—either full mixes or individual instruments—into MIDI that you can view in notation or play back instantly.
Bonus PAK and 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®
With your version 2026 for Windows Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition or PlusPAK purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons for FREE! Or upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for only $49 to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks!
These PAKs are loaded with additional add-ons to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box®!
This Free Bonus PAK includes:
The 2026 RealCombos Booster PAK:
-For Pro customers, this includes 27 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
-For MegaPAK customers, this includes 25 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
-For UltraPAK customers, this includes 12 new RealStyles.
MIDI Styles Set 92: Look Ma! More MIDI 15: Latin Jazz
MIDI SuperTracks Set 46: Piano & Organ
Instrumental Studies Set 24: Groovin' Blues Soloing
Artist Performance Set 19: Songs with Vocals 9
Playable RealTracks Set 5
RealDrums Stems Set 9: Cool Brushes
SynthMaster Sounds Set 1 (with audio demos)
Android Band-in-a-Box® App (included)
Looking for more great add-ons, then upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49 and you'll get:
20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyle.
FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
MIDI Styles Set 93: Look Ma! More MIDI 16: SynthMaster
MIDI SuperTracks Set 47: More SynthMaster
Instrumental Studies 25 - Soul Jazz Guitar Soloing
Artist Performance Set 20: Songs with Vocals 10
RealDrums Stems Set 10: Groovin' Sticks
SynthMaster Sounds & Styles Set 2 (sounds & styles with audio demos)
One of our representatives will be happy to help you over the phone. Our hours of operation are from
6:00AM to 6:00PM PST (GMT -8) Monday thru Friday, and 8:00AM to 4:00PM PST Saturday. We are closed Sunday. You can also send us your questions via email.
One of our representatives will be happy to help you on our Live Chat or by email. Our hours of operation are from
6:00AM to 6:00PM PST (GMT -8) Monday thru Friday; 8:00AM to 4:00PM PST (GMT -8) Saturday; Closed Sunday.
Dansk
Deutsch - Windows
Español
Français - Windows
Italiano - Windows
Nederlands
Polski
Português
Svenskt
русский
Japanese
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Korean