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! A few of our videos are here on our website: https://www.janiceandbud.com/our-music.html
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; 01/09/1802:30 PM.
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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."
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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
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Last Chance! The Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® Special Ends Today (May 31, 2026) at 11:59pm PDT!
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Another exciting new addition is the amazing new AI-Notes feature, which can transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI. View the results in notation or play them back as MIDI, and choose whether to transcribe an entire track or transcribe specific parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®.
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Band-in-a-Box® 2026 is packed 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 transcribe 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, and much more!
There are over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®.
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202 New RealTracks Released with Band-in-a-Box 2026!
With Band-in-a-Box® 2026, we've released 202 incredible new RealTracks (in sets 468-488) in a variety of genres—featuring your most requested styles!
Jazz, Funk & World (Sets 468-475):
Our new jazz, funk & blues RealTracks include a groovin’ collection of RealTracks and RealDrums! These include more requested “soul jazz” RealTracks featuring artists Neil Swainson (bass), Charles Treadway (organ), Brent Mason (guitar), and Wes Little (drums). There are new “smooth jazz” styles (4), which include a RealTracks first: muted trumpet, as well as slick new smooth jazz brushes options for drums. Blues lovers will be thrilled—there are more “classic acoustic blues” styles, including guitar (5), bass (4), and drums (10) with blues master Colin Linden, featuring understated and tasty background acoustic soloing, plus brushes drums and acoustic bass. There are also new electric blues RealTracks, including electric blues with PG favorite Johnny Hiland (3) and soulful electric slide guitar from Colin Linden (4). If you love funk & gospel, there are great new options this year, including gospel organ (3) from Charles Treadway, as well as new funk, tango, and rock ’n’ roll drums (3) and bass (1). And for big, bold arrangements, we have uptempo soul horns (4) featuring a three-part hip horn section with options for a full mix or stems of each individual horn — plus an accompanying rhythm section (4) of drums, bass, guitar, and electric piano!
Rock & Pop (Sets 476–482):
Our new rock & pop RealTracks bring a powerful mix of requested favorites, fresh genres, and modern chart-inspired styles! We have more of our popular “Producer Layered Acoustic Guitars (15)” featuring Band-in-a-Box favorite Brent Mason. We’ve continued our much-requested disco styles (10), and added new Celtic guitar (5) with a more basic, accessible approach than our previous Drop-D or DADGAD offerings. There are also highly requested yacht rock styles (17), inspired by the smooth, polished soft-rock sound of the late ’70s and early ’80s — laid-back grooves, silky electric pianos, warm textures, elegant harmonic movement, and pristine production aesthetics. Fans of heavier styles will love our new glam metal (13), capturing the flashy, high-energy sound of ’80s arena-ready guitar rock. We also have a set of rootsy modern-folk rock (18), with a warm, organic sound combining contemporary folk textures and driving acoustic strumming. And we’ve added lots of new modern pop styles (16) — the kinds of sounds you’re hearing on the radio today, featuring exciting new drums, synths, and cutting-edge RealTracks arrangements.
Country, & Americana (Sets 483–488):
Our new country & Americana RealTracks deliver a rich collection of acoustic, electric, and roots-inspired styles! We have new country pop (9) with legendary guitarist Brent Mason. There is also a potpourri (14) of bouzouki, guitars, banjo, and more, perfect for adding texture and character to contemporary acoustic arrangements. We’ve added funky country guitar (5) with PG favorite Brent Mason, along with classic pedal steel styles (5) featuring steel great Doug Jernigan. There are more country songwriter styles (8) that provide intimate, rootsy foundations for storytelling and modern Americana writing. Finally, we have “background soloing” acoustic guitar (12) with Brent Mason — simpler, but still very tasty acoustic lines designed to sit beautifully behind vocals or act as a subtle standalone solo part.
And, if you are looking for more, the 2026 49-PAK (for $49) includes an impressive collection of 20 bonus RealTracks, featuring exciting and inspiring additions to add to your RealTracks library. You'll get new country-rhythm guitar styles from PG Music favorites Johnny Hiland and Brent Mason, along with modern-pop grooves that capture today’s radio-ready sound! There are also new indie-folk styles with guitar, bass, 6-string bass used as a high-chording instrument, acoustic guitar, and banjo. Plus, dedicated "cymbal fills" RealDrums provide an added layer that work very well with low-key folky styles with other percussion.
The 2026 49-PAK is loaded with other great new add-ons as well. Learn more about the 2026 49-PAK!
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