Subgenre Sampler

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In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon (2024): Dir. Alex Gibney
Feat. Paul Simon, Art Garfunkel, Carrie Fisher; The definitive musical biography about one of the most gifted singer–songwriters of his generation. Now in his early eighties, Paul Simon is…
Little Richard: I Am Everything (2023): Dir. Lisa Cortes; A fabulous documentary that gives long–overdue credit to the man who blazed the trail for rock 'n' roll sound and showmanship when he burst…
Squaring the Circle: The Story of Hipgnosis (2023): Dir. Anton Corbijn; The story of Aubrey “Po” Powell and Storm Thorgerson, a couple of unlikely London lads who stumbled into forming the coolest art design group of…
Moonage Daydream (2022): Dir. Brett Morgen; An authorized, immersive audio–visual odyssey that illuminates the enigmatic legacy of David Bowie. The film is a full–throttle…
Beatles, The: Get Back (Get Back) (2021): Dir. Peter Jackson; A monumental and technically remarkable docu–series from director Peter Jackson that exhaustively covers the making of the Beatles' 1970 album,…
Brian Wilson: Long Promised Road (2021): Dir. Brent Wilson; Immersive documentary that looks at the career of musician and co–founder of The Beach Boys Brian Wilson, who offers perhaps this final missive…
Ennio: The Maestro (2021): Dir. Giuseppe Tornatore; A celebration of the life and legacy of the legendary Italian composer Ennio Morricone, anchored around an interview with film–maker Giuseppe…
Sparks Brothers, The (2021): Dir. Edgar Wright; Edgar Wright’s inspired documentary about Russell and Ron Mael, the sibling art–rockers who have spanned seven decades in the music biz doing…
Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart? (2020): Dir. Frank Marshall; A poignant, in–depth exploration of the history of the legendary pop group, the Bee Gees, featuring revealing interviews with the oldest…
David Byrne's American Utopia (American Utopia) (2020): Dir. Spike Lee; A Spike Lee directed document of former Talking Heads front man David Byrne's exuberant 2019 Broadway show, based loosely on his album American…
Ken Burns' Country Music (2020): Dir. Ken Burns; Formidable 8–part, 16 hour PBS series by the legendary documentarian Ken Burns, exploring the history of country music and it's cultural impact…
Laurel Canyon (2020): Two part documentary series exploring the music and culture of Laurel Canyon and the wider LA rock scene of the 60's and 70's. Features incredible…
Six60: Till The Lights Go Out (2020): Dir. Julia Parnell; Documentary tracking the extraordinary local success of Kiwi band Six60, who started off as students living in 660 Castle Street in Dunedin, and went…
White Riot (2020): Dir. Rubika Shah; A frighteningly still–relevant documentary about "Rock Against Racism", a movement that was formed in 1976, as a result of a far–right…
Zappa (2020): Dir. Alex Winter
Feat. Frank Zappa; An intimate portrait of Frank Zappa, one of modern music’s most important and iconoclastic figures. The film explores his far–reaching and…
Amazing Grace (Amazing Grace: Aretha Franklin) (2019): Dir. Sydney Pollack, Alan Elliott; Soul–shaking concert film featuring the mighty Aretha Franklin with choir at the New Bethel Baptist Church in Watts, Los Angeles in January…
David Crosby: Remember My Name (2019): Dir. A.J. Eaton; Soulful and deeply personal documentary on musician David Crosby, a founding member of both The Byrds and Crosby, Stills and Nash. A fearless and at…
Herbs - Songs of Freedom (2019): Dir. Tearepa Kahi; Passionate celebration of the iconic NZ band Herbs, from the director of POI E. More a social movement than a band, and at one time boasting up to 23…
Hitsville: The Making of Motown (2019): Dir. Benjamin Turner, Gabe Turner
Feat. Diana Ross; The story of Motown Records told through interviews with the label's visionary founder, Berry Gordy, and many of its superstar artists and creative…
Liam Gallagher: As it Was (2019): Dir. Gavin Fitzgerald, Charlie Lightening; Rockumentary following the Oasis singer as he attempts a dramatic solo comeback, since scaling the dizzying heights of rock n roll fame in the 90's…
Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice (2019): Dir. Robert Epstein, Jeffrey Friedman; Superb rock–doc celebrating the humble yet prodigiously talented singer and trail–blazing female rock star, Linda Ronstadt, who –…
Marianne & Leonard: Words of Love (2019): Dir. Nick Broomfield; Evocative exploration of the relationship, which developed in the 1960s, between the late Leonard Cohen and his Norwegian muse Marianne Ihlen –…
Mystify: Michael Hutchence (2019): Dir. Richard Lowenstein; Intimate rise–and–fall portrait of the charismatic frontman of the mega–selling Australian rock band INXS, who died in…
Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and The Band (2019): Dir. Daniel Roher; Long overdue documentary telling the moving story of Robbie Robertson and the creation of history–making roots rock group The Band. Features…
PJ Harvey: A Dog Called Money (2019): Dir. Seamus Murphy; Beautifully impressionistic documentary set around the making of PJ Harvey's 2016 album, The Hope Six Demolition Project, shining light on an…
Suzi Q (2019): Dir. Liam Firmager; The story of trailblazing American rock singer–songwriter Suzi Quatro, who helped redefine the role of women in rock 'n' roll when she broke…
The Chills: The Triumph & Tragedy of Martin Phillipps (2019): Dir. Julia Parnell; An absolutely unflinching portrait of the genius New Zealand songwriter Martin Phillipps whose band The Chills exemplified the "Dunedin Sound" with…
Western Stars (2019): Dir. Thom Zimny, Bruce Springsteen; A live concert of Bruce Springsteen performing songs from his 2019 album Western Stars, which was critically acclaimed as a late era masterpiece for…
Echo in the Canyon (2018): Dir. Andrew Slater; Jakob Dylan (son of Bob) is the front–man of this documentary ostensibly about the revolutionary Laurel Canyon music scene in the…
Elvis Presley: The Searcher (2018): Dir. Thom Zimny; The definitive film about Elvis Presley, from his childhood in Tupelo right through to the final 1976 Jungle Room recording sessions. Includes…
Eulogy, The (2018): Dir. Janine Hosking; Australia's greatest, and perhaps most overlooked, classical pianist Geoffrey Tozer is the subject of this documentary presented by music educator…
Matangi/Maya/M.I.A. (2018): Dir. Stephen Loveridge; A uniquely textured portrait of innovative Sri Lankan–English pop star and activist Maya Arulpragasm, drawn from a cache of personal tapes shot…
Midnight Oil 1984 (2018): A passionate portrait of Australia's iconic rock band Midnight Oil during the year 1984, in which they embarked on a tour promoting their politically…
Rockabul (2018): Dir. Travis Beard; Intrepid Australian journalist and director Travis Beard explores the Afghan heavy metal music scene, and how the long conflict in Afghanistan has…
Song Keepers, The (2018): Dir. Naina Sen; A passionate documentary about the Central Australian Aboriginal Women’s Choir, centered around their wildly successful tour of Germany in 2015.…
Studio 54: The Documentary (2018): Dir. Matt Tyrnauer; In–depth account of how the world's most famous (and infamous) nightclub, Studio 54, was created by co–owners Ian Schrager and Steve…
Whitney (2018): Dir. Kevin MacDonald; The latest documentary to explore the troubled world of pop singer Whitney Houston, with her breathtaking musical talents playing second fiddle to…
Working Class Boy (Jimmy Barnes Working Class Boy) (2018): Dir. Mark Joffe; Documentary about the iconic rock n roll icon Jimmy Barnes, focusing on his early life in Glasgow before moving to Australia and joining Cold Chisel.…
Buena Vista Social Club: Adios (2017): Dir. Lucy Walker; Taking up sixteen years after the original documentary, this sequel follows the five original band members from the Buena Vista Social Club on their…
David Bowie: The Last Five Years (2017): Dir. Francis Whately
Feat. David Bowie; A documentary exploring David Bowie's final two albums, The Next Day and Blackstar, and his stage play play Lazarus. After retiring from live…
Eric Clapton: Life in 12 Bars (2017): Dir. Lili Fini Zanuck; An unflinching and deeply personal look into the life of blues–rock and guitar legend Eric Clapton, told through his own words and songs and…
Go-Betweens, The: Right Here (2017): Dir. Kriv Stenders; The story of Brisbane rock music legends The Go–Betweens is told in this unflinching and insightful documentary, spanning three decades of…
Grace Jones: Bloodlight and Bami (2017): Dir. Sophie Fiennes; A journey through the private and public worlds of pop icon Grace Jones. Experienced documentarian Sophie Fiennes cares little for polish, or for the…
Gurrumul (2017): Dir. Paul Damien Williams; Documentary about internationally acclaimed indigenous Australian artist Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu, who wrote music inspired by his community on…
I Used to Be Normal - A Boyband Fangirl Story (2017): Dir. Jessica Leski; A passionate and proud interrogation of music fan culture following the lives of four diverse women aged 16–64 who are self–confessed…
King, The (2017): Dir. Eugene Jarecki; Filmmaker Eugene Jarecki travels in a 1963 Rolls Royce Silver Cloud once owned by Elvis Presley and along his state–wide journey amasses a…
Maria by Callas (2017): Dir. Tom Volf; Definitive portrait of the Greek–American opera singer Maria Callas, using her own writings, letters and reminiscences to tell the story of her…
Rumble: The American Indians Who Rocked The World (2017): Dir. Catherine Bainbridge, Alfonso Maiorana; A fascinating and rousing documentary profiling the impact of American Indian musicians on the development of rock music. Musicians featured include…
Ryuichi Sakamoto: Coda (2017): Dir. Stephen Schible; Beautiful portrait of revered Japanese composer and musician Ryuichi Sakamoto, that captures the unique compositional process of a new work he…
Soundtracks: Songs That Defined History (TV Series) (2017): An eight–part CNN series that incisively explores the music tied to iconic moments in history. Includes interviews with Pat Benatar, Melissa…
Whitney: Can I Be Me (2017): Dir. Nick Broomfield, Rudi Dolezal; Bearing less of his signature subjectivity, veteran documentarian Nick Broomfield explores Whitney Houston's meteoric rise to stardom, turbulent…
Beatles, The: Eight Days a Week (2016): Dir. Ron Howard; Ron Howard's thrilling compilation of found footage featuring music, interviews, and stories of The Beatles' 250 concerts from 1963 to 1966.
Eat That Question: Frank Zappa in His Own Words (2016): Dir. Thorsten Schütte; Wildly entertaining portrait of the enigmatic performer, featuring oodles of archival footage, interviews and performances. Like his music, this is…
Gimme Danger (2016): Dir. Jim Jarmusch
Feat. Iggy Pop; Director Jim Jarmuschs' self–described love letter to The Stooges, one of the most influential American bands of all time. Focusing on the…
Matilda and Me (2016): Dir. Rhian Skirving; Behind–the–scenes doco that follows comedian Tim Minchin during the Australian rehearsals for the musical adaptation of Roald Dahl's…
Oasis: Supersonic (2016): Dir. Mat Whitecross; Highly entertaining portrait of mouthy Brit–pop icons Oasis and their meteoric rise from the council estates of Manchester to some of the…
One More Time With Feeling (2016): Dir. Andrew Dominik
Feat. Nick Cave; Nick Cave opens up like never before for close friend and film–making collaborator Andrew Dominik, who crafts an astonishing yet sensitive…
Poi E: The Story of Our Song (2016): Dir. Tearepa Kahi; An aptly feel–good documentary account of the unlikely pop hit that boldly mashed up "Kapa Haka" song tradition and Te Reo Maori lyrics with…
Score: A Film Music Documentary (2016): Dir. Matt Schrader; An interesting insight into the art of composing film scores that gleans commentary from a diverse range of more than 60 composers (including Hans…
Sidemen (Sidemen: Long Road to Glory) (2016): Dir. Scott D. Rosenbaum; Celebratory tribute to the lives and music of three blues greats: piano player Pinetop Perkins, drummer Willie 'Big Eyes' Smith and guitarist Hubert…
Soundbreaking (TV Series) (Soundbreaking: Stories from the Cutting Edge of Recorded Music) (2016): Soundbreaking explores the history of recorded music. Featuring more than 150 original interviews, the series charts a century's worth of innovation…
A Family Affair (2015): Dir. Angeliki Aristomenopoulou; An intimate and intoxicating portrait of the renowned Xylouris family, who have been maintaining the musical traditions of their native Crete for…
All Things Must Pass: The Rise and Fall of Tower Records (2015): Dir. Colin Hanks; The story of US–based Tower Records and its unconventional founder, Russ Solomon, whose legacy rose out a humble drugstore in 1960 to become a…
Amy (2015): Dir. Asif Kapadia; The compelling but undeniably downbeat story of Amy Winehouse in her own words, featuring unseen archival footage and unheard tracks. From the…
Breaking a Monster (2015): Dir. Luke Meyer; Chronicle of the break–out year of the black heavy metal band "Unlocking the Truth" that follows 13–year–old members Alec Atkins,…
Cobain: Montage of Heck (2015): Dir. Brett Morgen; The definitive documentary on Kurt Cobain, from his early days in Aberdeen, Washington to his success and downfall with Nirvana.
Crossing Rachmaninoff (2015): Dir. Rebecca Tansley; Absorbing documentary follows aspiring piano soloist Flavio Villani as he prepares Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2 for his first orchestral…
Daft Punk: Unchained (2015): Dir. Hervé Martin-Delpierre; A reverent exploration of the seminal French electronic musicians who are famed for performing in robot attire that hides their faces. Featuring…
Heart of a Dog (2015): Dir. Laurie Anderson
Feat. Laurie Anderson; Prolific performance artist Laurie Anderson directs this brave but gentle autobiographical cinematic essay, centered around themes of death and love,…
Janis: Little Girl Blue (2015): Dir. Amy Berg; Chan Marshall (aka Cat Power) narrates this documentary portrait of the ground–breaking American singer of the 1960s, who pioneered a raw and…
Landfill Harmonic (2015): Dir. Brad Allgood, Graham Townsley; Documentary portrait of Paraguayan music teacher Fabio Chavez and his Recycled Orchestra of Cateura, a children's orchestra which performs with…
Mavis! (2015): Dir. Jessica Edwards; Rousing chronicle of the life and music of singer and civil rights activist Mavis Staples.
Miss Sharon Jones! (2015): Dir. Barbara Kopple; Energetic as well as intimate, this portrait of the mighty soul singer by acclaimed documentarian Barbara Kopple bravely chronicles the effect that…
Music of Strangers: Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble, The (2015): Dir. Morgan Neville; From the director of the Oscar winning 20 FEET FROM STARDOM comes this beautiful portrait of the international music collective founded by legendary…
Seymour: An Introduction (2015): Dir. Ethan Hawke; Award–winning documentary on the life and career of classical pianist Seymour Bernstein, who abandoned fame as a performer in favour of a…
Sinatra: All or Nothing at All (2015): Dir. Alex Gibney
Feat. Frank Sinatra; Alex Gibney's intimate examination of the legendary musician Frank Sinatra, spanning his lengthy career over an epic four–hour running time.…
20,000 Days on Earth (2014): Dir. Iain Forsyth, Jane Pollard
Feat. Nick Cave, Ray Winstone, Kylie Minogue; A 24–hour portrait of writer and musician Nick Cave, blending fiction and reality, as it examines the artistic process and the power of the…
Big Star: Nothing Can Hurt Me (2014): Dir. Drew DeNicola , Olivia Mori; The definitive story of the "greatest band that never made it", this long overdue documentary tells the story of legendary Memphis band "Big Star",…
Finding Fela (2014): Dir. Alex Gibney; Alex Gibney trains his inquisitorial eye on the celebrated musician Fela Kuti, a revolutionary political figure and a leading proponet of Afrobeat.
Genesis: Sum of the Parts (Genesis: Together and Apart) (2014): Dir. John Edginton; Phil Collins, Peter Gabriel, Steve Hackett, Mike Rutherford and Tony Banks reunite to do this official documentary spanning the prog–rock and…
Glen Campbell: I'll Be Me (2014): Dir. James Keach; Centering around Campbell's tragic diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease, this tour doco follows the country music legend across America for 15 month's…
Heaven Adores You (2014): Dir. Nickolas Rossi; Documentary about the life and music of Elliot Smith, the singer–songwriter whose eerily beautiful music remained mostly underappreciated until…
I Dream Of Wires (2014): Dir. Robert Fantinatto; A must for electronic music fans, this is a well–researched and cohesive delve into the history and recent resurgence of the electronic modular…
In Search of Chopin (2014): Dir. Phil Grabsky; The life and music of Polish–born pianist and composer Fryderyk Chopin is explored in the detailed format of dir. Grabsky's previous "In Search…
Keep on Keepin' On (2014): Dir. Alan Hicks; Infectious documentary that follows jazz legend Clark Terry over four years to document the mentorship between Terry and 23–year–old…
Lambert and Stamp (2014): Dir. James D. Cooper
Feat. Christopher Stamp, Kit Lambert; Passionate documentary chronicling the curious origin–story of THE WHO, where two aspiring filmmakers looking for a subject came across the…
Mr. Dynamite: The Rise of James Brown (2014): Dir. Alex Gibney; Alex Gibney's extensive portrait of the "Godfather of Soul" was made with cooperation of the Brown Estate and expertly contextualises a wealth of…
Nas: Time is Illmatic (2014): Dir. One9; Spirited doco that delves deep into the making of Nas' benchmark album, Illmatic, and the social conditions that influenced its creation.
Pulp: a Film about Life, Death & Supermarkets (2014): Dir. Florian Habicht; Imaginative Kiwi filmmaker Florian Habicht collaborates with Jarvis Cocker to mark UK pop rock band Pulp's last ever concert.
Spandau Ballet: Soul Boys of the Western World (2014): Feat. Gary Kemp, Martin Kemp; Top notch documentary about the band Spandau Ballet, who were key proponents of the "New Romantic" pop movement of the early 1980's and went on to…
20 Feet From Stardom (Twenty Feet From Stardom) (2013): Dir. Morgan Neville; [This] is the most satisfying music documentary of the last five years, maybe even longer, and that is really saying something. It is the story of…
Broadway Idiot (2013): Dir. Doug Hamilton; Flashy, upbeat doco charts the journey of Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong from pop–punk rocker to Broadway lead in the stage version of…
Good Ol' Freda (2013): Dir. Ryan White; This light documentary on The Beatles heydays as recalled by their secretary and head of the band's fan club, Freda Kelly, makes for an enjoyable,…
History Of The Eagles (2013): Dir. Alison Ellwood; Meticulous patchwork of archival and concert footage, and never–before–seen home movies that explore the evolution and enduring…
Mistaken for Strangers (2013): Dir. Tom Berninger; Distinctive among rock–docs, this was made by the underachieving, metal–head brother of indie–rockers 'The National''s…
Muscle Shoals (2013): Dir. Greg Camalier; A marvellous and comprehensive celebration of Muscle Shoals, Alabama, the unlikely birthplace and subsequent epicentre of some of America's most…
One Direction - This is Us (2013): Dir. Morgan Spurlock; SUPER SIZE ME's Morgan Spurlock directs this official documentary of the English boy–band juggernaut, who emerged from being solo contestants…
Punk Singer, The (2013): Dir. Sini Anderson
Feat. Carrie Brownstein, Kim Gordon; A living celebration of influential punk frontwoman Kathleen Hanna, who became a feminist icon of the 1990's as a founding figure of the "Riot Grrrl"…
Pussy Riot: A Punk Prayer (2013): Dir. Mike Lerner, Maxim Pozdorovkin; A galvanizing portrait of the all–female punk rockers whose headline–grabbing music and performance art continues to bring Putin's…
Six by Sondheim (2013): Dir. James Lapine, Todd Haynes
Feat. Jeremy Jordan, America Ferrera; Very highly regarded HBO television documentary which explores the back–stories of six timeless Sondheim songs. Featuring a rare musical…
Skeptics - Sheen of Gold (2013): Dir. Simon Ogston; Essential documentary on the legacy of the Skeptics, an innovative and controversial Kiwi post–punk band best known for their notorious…
Sound City (2013): Dir. Dave Grohl; Foo Fighters' frontman Dave Grohl directs this passionate and engaging tribute to the obsolete world of analogue music production and LA's legendary…
Stone Roses, The - Made of Stone (2013): Dir. Shane Meadows; Dir. Shane Meadows enthusiastically documents the reunion of iconic band the Stone Roses, who were instrumental in paving the way for the Britpop…
Sunnyboy, The (2013): Dir. Kaye Harrison; Follows the journey of enigmatic Australian musician Jeremy Oxley, lead singer of Sunnyboys as he emerges from a 30–year battle with…
This Ain't No Mouse Music! (2013): Dir. Chris Simon, Maureen Gosling; Essential documentary on German–born American producer Chris Strachwitz, founder of the multifarious record label Arhoolie Records which is…
A Band Called Death (2012): Dir. Jeff Howlett, Mark Covino; Forgotten proto–punk band "Death" are rescued from obscurity in this remarkable and spirited story of three African–American brothers who…
B.B. King: The Life of Riley (2012): Dir. Jon Brewer; Exhaustive documentary on blues legend B.B. King, melding recollections, milestones, and insights from the likes Bill Cosby, Carlos Santana, Bonnie…
Beware of Mr. Baker (2012): Dir. Jay Bulger; Prodigious drummer Ginger Baker reflects on his explosive but chequered musical career that peaked with Cream and Blind Faith, but that was marred by…
Charles Bradley: Soul of America (2012): Dir. Poull Brien; Late–blooming soul sensation Charles Bradley is the focus of this powerful documentary charting the singer's road to redemption through music.
Classic Albums - Peter Gabriel (So) (2012): Peter Gabriel's quintessential 80's album "So" is deconstructed track–by–track and placed in both personal and creative context by key…
Freddie Mercury - The Great Pretender (2012): Dir. Rhys Thomas; 'Queen' fans are in for a treat with this loving documentary that paints a portrait of a man very different to his flamboyant persona. Focused on his…
In Search of Haydn (2012): Dir. Phil Grabsky; Lucid, unpretentious biography of 'the father of the symphony' Joseph Haydn drawing on interviews with both musicians and historians. The third…
Katy Perry: Part of Me (2012): Dir. Dan Cutforth, Jane Lipsitz
Feat. Katy Perry; A suitably bubbly and inspirational fly–on–the–wall doco that intimately follows the candy–coloured pop chantreuse, Katy…
Last Shop Standing (2012): With 2000 record shops having disappeared in the UK alone since the turn of the milennium, this engaging documentary charts the rise, fall and…
Marley (2012): Dir. Kevin MacDonald; An exemplary music documentary on Rasta icon Bob Marley, produced and endorsed by the reggae legend’s family.
Metal Evolution (TV Series) (2012): Dir. Scot McFadyen, Sam Dunn; The makers of METAL: A HEADBANGER'S JOURNEY delve into a the history of heavy metal and hard rock, using the “Heavy Metal Family Tree” as a…
Paul Kelly: Stories of Me (2012): Dir. Ian Darling; Prolific Aussie singer–songwriter Paul Kelly is afforded a generous, if honest personal portrait in this fine documentary mapping the artist's…
Pink Floyd - The Story of Wish You Were Here (2012): Dir. John Edginton; Pink Floyd reminisce about the making of their hugely successful album 'Wish You Were Here' and reflect upon it's enduring legacy.
Produced By George Martin (2012): Dir. Francis Hanly; Long overdue and intimate profile of Britain’s most celebrated record producer and 'fifth Beatle’, Sir George Martin. Features interviews with…
Searching for Sugar Man (Searching for Sugarman) (2012): Dir. Malik Bendjelloul; A unique, engaging music mystery that follows the late–60's Detroit based musician Sixto Rodriguez, who faded into obscurity in America amidst…
Shihad: Beautiful Machine (2012): Dir. Sam Peacocke; A dignified and highly satisfying chronicle of the iconic Kiwi rockers, brimming with revealing anecdotes about the band's fight with fame, the…
Something From Nothing: The Art of Rap (2012): Feat. Ice-T; Ice–T rounds up a who's who of the hip–hop world for this expansive documentary on the trends, influences, and philosophies to emerge in…
Story Of The Doobie Brothers, The (Let The Music Play) (2012): Dir. Barry Ehrmann; Generous official biography of the American music legends whose series of hit records dominated FM radio in the 1970s. Surviving and thriving…
Under African Skies (Paul Simon's Graceland Journey) (2012): Dir. Joe Berlinger
Feat. Paul Simon, Maya Angelou, Harry Belafonte…; Twenty–five years after the phenomenal success of 'Graceland', Paul Simon on his return to South Africa to reconnect with the musicians who…
Autoluminescent: Rowland S. Howard (2011): Dir. Richard Lowenstein, Lynn-Maree Milburn; The singular punk guitarist Rowland S. Howard, best known for his work in "The Birthday Party", is paid fitting tribute in this poignant doco of…
Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest (2011): Dir. Michael Rapaport; Actor Michael Rapaport directs this compelling documentary on maverick the American hip hop group revered for their innovative fusion of hip hop and…
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra 2011 Season, The (2011): Three masterful concert works from the 2011 season of the world's pre–eminent orchestra. EUROPA CONCERT – Featuring acclaimed Flamenco…
Bombay Beach (2011): Dir. Alma Har’el; Hypnotic and highly innovative documentary about a ghost town on the Salton Sea in Southern California, which is home to a failed 1950's development…
Brian Eno 1971-1977: The Man Who Fell to Earth (2011): Though "unauthorized", this is a thorough and serious appraisal of the 1970's–period career of artist/producer and "non–musician", Brian…
Classical Destinations (TV Series) (2011): Welsh singer Aled Jones fronts this latest addition to the 'Classical Destinations' canon. Dubbed the "ultimate travel guide to classical music", the…
Curse of the Gothic Symphony, The (2011): Dir. Randall Wood; A group of brave and committed musicians take on an 80 year curse in an attempt to stage one of the longest, largest and most technically difficult…
Foo Fighters: Back and Forth (2011): Dir. James Moll; Chronicles the 16 year history of the Foo Fighters, from the band's first cassette demos – recorded when Dave Grohl was still Nirvana's…
From The Sky Down (2011): Dir. Davis Guggenheim, David Guggenheim
Feat. Bono , The Edge; Twenty years after it's making, U2 return to Hansa Studio in Berlin to discuss the making of the groundbreaking "Achtung Baby' with Academy Award…
George Harrison: Living in the Material World (2011): Dir. Martin Scorsese
Feat. George Harrison; Martin Scorsese argues for the greatness of The Beatles' unassuming lead guitarist in this full–bodied hagiography. As with his Bob Dylan…
Harry Belafonte: Sing Your Song (2011): Dir. Susanne Rostock
Feat. Harry Belafonte; Harry Belafonte's triumphant life and times as an entertainer and civil rights campaigner is movingly retold in the context of America's social…
Kate Bush - Under Review (2011): A critical review of Kate Bush's landmark recording Hounds Of Love, featuring archived footage of the enigmatic Bush herself, as well as a…
Last Days Here (2011): Dir. Demian Fenton, Don Argott; Bobby Liebling, the one–time frontman of seminal 70s hard–rock group 'Pentagram' is tracked down 30 years later by a young metalhead…
Love We Make, The (2011): Dir. Albert Maysles, Bradley Kaplan
Feat. Paul McCartney; Shot on 16mm B/W film by documentary legend Albert Maysles, this is a suberb, all–access document of Paul McCartney's efforts to organize a…
Michael Jackson - The Life of an Icon (2011): Dir. Andrew Eastel; Produced and narrated by friend (and former Mr. Liza Minnelli) David Gest, this retrospective focuses on Jackson through the eyes of his mother and…
Neil Young - Journeys (2011): Dir. Jonathan Demme; A superb new concert film combining Young's homecoming concert at Toronto’s Massey Hall with intimate glimpses into his travels throughout Canada.
Persecution Blues: The Battle for the Tote (2011): Dir. Natalie van den Dungen; Punk, passion, politics and public protest collide in this exploration of the rich musical history of Melbourne and the overwhelming public outcry…
Sound It Out (2011): Dir. Jeanie Finlay; Irresistible portrait of the very last surviving vinyl shop in North East England and the community of devoted music lovers who keep it alive. A…
Swell Season, The (2011): Feat. Glen Hansard, Marketa Irglova; Matching gorgeous black and white visuals with a bittersweet honesty about the consequences of fame, this fine documentary follows ONCE…
Taylor Swift - Just For You (2011): The teen queen of country pop shares with us details of her upbringing, songwriting insights, and formative musical influences in this swift…
Tom Waits: The Complete Review (2011): Feat. Tom Waits; With the aid of plentiful archive, rare footage, interviews with the man himself plus contributions from his colleagues, this documentary set…
Ain't in It for My Health: A Film About Levon Helm (2010): Dir. Jacob Hatley; An unsentimental, and better for it, portrait of the great rock drummer as he sets about recording his first album in 25 years. This documentary…
Blank City (2010): Dir. Celine Danhier; New York's transgressive art scene in the 70s is documented in this celebration of the avant–garde filmmaking that emerged in the midst of the…
Bruce Springsteen - The Promise (The Making of Darkness on the Edge of Town) (2010): Dir. Thom Zimny; Featuring a wealth of footage of Springsteen and the E Street Band in rehearsals and studio sessions, this exceptional music doco provides a vivid…
Classic Albums - Black Sabbath (Paranoid) (2010): Dir. Matthew Longfellow; Black Sabbath's "Paranoid" deconstructed track–by–track and placed in both personal and creative context by key collaborators. Generously…
Classic Albums - Rush (2112 / Moving Pictures) (2010): Rush's albums 2112 and Moving Pictures are deconstructed track–by–track and placed in both personal and creative context by the artists…
Classic Albums - Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers (Damn The Torpedoes) (2010): Dir. Matthew Longfellow
Feat. Tom Petty; Tom Petty And The Heartbreaker's "Damn The Torpedoes" deconstructed track–by–track and placed in both personal and creative context by…
Dave Dobbyn - Beside You (30 Years of Hits) (2010): Still going strong after 30 years, New Zealand’s Dave Dobbyn reflects on a career spanning collaborations from Th' Dudes to Bic Runga, songwriting…
David Byrne: Ride, Rise, Roar (2010): Dir. Hillman Curtis
Feat. David Byrne; Offbeat concert film that blends onstage performances with illuminating interviews with both Byrne and Brian Eno.
Hayley Westenra: Live on Tour in Northen Island (2010): A look at Hayley Westenra’s recent tour of Northern Ireland. Interviewed by the young singer Kate Garbutt, Hayley shows what it’s like to be on…
I Need That Record! (The Death (or Possible Survival) of the Independent Record Store) (2010): Dir. Brendan Toller; A bittersweet symphony for vinyl–loving Gen–Xers and their rockin' forefathers, this would have further sated nostalgic pangs to hark…
In the Footsteps of Famous Composers (2010): FOLLOW IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF: • Chopin • Tchaikovsky • Verdi • Beethoven • Vivaldi • Bizet • Puccini • Berlioz • Mahler • Offenbach
Lady Gaga - One Sequin At A Time (2010): Dir. Sonia Anderson; Behind the scenes style documentary about the rise of theatrical pop diva Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta – better known as Lady Gaga.
Lemmy (2010): Dir. Greg Olliver, Wes Orshoski; Lemmy Kilmister, lead singer of classic UK metal band 'Motorhead', is here deified as the "Godfather of Metal" and quintessential rock 'n' roll icon…
Lennon NYC (LennoNYC) (2010): Dir. Michael Epstein; Another documentary on John Lennon, but a good one, focusing on the singer–songwriter's period spent in New York (up until his assassination),…
Mother of Rock - Lillian Roxon (2010): Dir. Paul Clarke; Feisty Australian journalist Lillian Roxon is the subject of this rock time capsule, which frames the music revolution of the 60s and 70s against…
Murundak - Songs of Freedom (2010): The music of the the Black Arm Band rallies this on–the–road concert film, as they gather some of Australia’s finest Indigenous…
Oil City Confidential (2010): Dir. Julien Temple; Completing a trilogy of sorts, renowned rock–documentor Julien Temple turns his retrospective eye and mash–up style to Canvey Island…
Rolling Stones - Stones in Exile (2010): Dir. Stephen Kijak
Feat. Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts…; A vivid retrospective rock–doc that looks at the creation and impact of the Rolling Stones' 1972 epochal album "Exile on Main St", made largely…
Strange Powers: Stephin Merritt and the Magnetic Fields (2010): Dir. Kerthy Fix, Gail O’Hara
Feat. Carrie Brownstein, Sarah Silverman, Peter Gabriel…; Fly–on–the–wall portrait of tragi–comic genius Stephen Merritt, whose distinctive baritone voice, omnivorous musical…
Upside Down: The Creation Records Story (2010): Dir. Danny O'Connor; The halcyon days of Brit pop are reminisced in this classy documentary on Alan McGee's cult independent record label, responsible for signing such…
Velvet Underground - Vanishing Point (2010): Dir. Tom Barber
Feat. Andy Warhol, Lou Reed, John Cale; Doco on the legendary art–rockers featuring a wealth of material, including evocative period footage of New York, obscure interviews and…
Wagner and Me (Stephen Fry Wagner & Me) (2010): Dir. Patrick McGrady
Feat. Stephen Fry; A passionate documentary in which Stephen Fry explores his love for the world's most controversial composer, Richard Wagner – a passion that…
Who is Harry Nilsson? (And Why is Everybody Talkin' About Him?) (2010): Dir. John Scheinfeld; A heartfelt, long–overdue reappraisal of singer–songwriter Harry Nilsson's greatness, which also doubles as an exploration of his…
Afghan Star (2009): Dir. Havana Marking; Islamic fundamentalism and pop music commericalism make uneasy bedfellows in this vital, eye–opening documentary that follows the fortunes of…
All Tomorrow's Parties (2009): Dir. Jonathan Caouette; The cult music festival as viewed through a kaleidoscope of Super 8, camcorder and mobile phone footage taken by various filmmakers, fans and…
Fly My Pretties - A Story (2009): Dir. Mikee Tucker; Represents the best takes from the 2009 New Zealand tour, performed, filmed and recorded across ten shows, and is a conceptual extension of the…
Genius Within: The Inner Life of Glenn Gould (2009): Dir. Peter Raymont, Michele Hozer; The definitive filmic account of the enigmatic Canadian–born pianist and cult figure that reveals a wealth of never–before–seen…
In Search of Beethoven (2009): Dir. Phil Grabsky; Dir. Grabsky's scrupulous follow–up to his IN SEARCH OF MOZART examines classical music's other pre–eminent composer, Beethoven, in…
Music of the Brain (2009): Dir. Fiona Cochrane; A brief, but insightful investigation into the role music plays in human development, from the womb to the grave.
Ne Change Rien (2009): Dir. Pedro Costa
Feat. Jeanne Balibar; A smokey, high contrast insight into the artistic process from avant–garde filmmaker Pedro Costa, intensely focused on the methods of French…
Pete Seeger - Live In Australia 1963 (2009): Live, full–concert footage of legendary – and controversial –folk–singer Seeger's 1963 tour of Australia, where he traveled…
Pianomania (2009): Dir. Robert Cibis, Lilian Franck; Something of an unofficial sequel to the Steinway documentary NOTE BY NOTE, this fascinating insight gives us a close–up look at the difficult…
Shadow Play: The Making of Anton Corbijn (2009): Dir. Josh Whiteman; Behind the defining look of Joy Division, U2, Depeche Mode and Simple Minds (curiously absent here), Dutch rock photographer turned filmmaker Anton…
Soundtrack for a Revolution (2009): Dir. Bill Guttentag, Dan Sturman; Joss Stone, John Legend, Wyclef Jean, and The Roots, among others, perform tribute covers of freedom songs from the American Civil Rights movement in…
This Is It (Michael Jackson's This Is It) (2009): Dir. Kenny Ortega
Feat. Michael Jackson; Striking rehearsal footage of Michael Jackson's highly anticipated world tour is gathered for this fitting concert film, a grand eulogy to the late,…
Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls (2009): Dir. Leanne Pooley
Feat. Jools Topp, Lynda Topp; An adorable, "Kiwi–as" portrait of NZ's beloved folk–singing comedy duo, Jools and Lynda Topp, which also resonates as a ripely…
Turn It Loose (2009): Dir. Alastair Siddons; Documentary follows sixteen of the world's premier B–boys as they battle to become world champion in a disused Soweto factory.
Video Killed the Radio Star (2009): A 3–part seminal music documentary series looking at the inspirational work of trail–blazing 80's music video directors Russell Mulcahy,…
When You're Strange: A Film About the Doors (2009): Dir. Tom DiCillo; This burning tribute to The Doors and their late frontman Jim Morrison delves deep into the vaults to furnish the all–too–compelling…
Who Killed Nancy? (2009): Dir. Alan G. Parker; Under Sid Vicious' mother's posthumous request, rock author Alan Parker directs this intensive documentary in order to re–examine the supposed…
Anvil: The Story of Anvil (2008): Dir. Sacha Gervasi; Not a mock–umentary as you might suspect, but just as amusing and vital as the iconic parody SPINAL TAP, this tells the…
Bananaz (2008): Dir. Ceri Levy; Direct–to–the–source music doco offers a behind–the–scenes reveal of popular ‘animated’ band Gorillaz, and its four…
Bob Marley - Freedom Road (2008): Intimate and revealing Bob Marley doco narrated by Bob's long time girlfriend and Oscar nominated actress Esther Anderson that delves into the world…
Cafe De Los Maestros (2008): Dir. Miguel Kohan; Tailor–made for tango aficionados, this stylish documentary follows a group of legendary Argentinean musicians gathering to perform a concert…
Captain Beefheart - Under Review (2008): Independent, critical doco looking at provocative musician Captain Beefheart, featuring rare performances, intensive commentary from his rotating…
Classic Albums - Duran Duran (Rio) (2008): Duran Duran's "Rio" is deconstructed track–by–track and placed in both personal and creative context by key collaborators. Generously…
Classic Albums - The Doors (2008): The Door's self–titled debut album deconstructed track–by–track and placed in both personal and creative context by key…
CSNY Deja-Vu (Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young) (2008): Dir. Bernard Shakey
Feat. Neil Young; Riveting, candid and politically charged documentary from Neil Young (pseudonym Bernard Shakey), filmed as Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young crisscross…
Global Metal (2008): Intriguing music doco, presented by metaller and anthropologist Sam Dunn, delving into the sub–culture of metal heads around the world and the…
Great Australian Albums: Hunters & Collectors - Human Frailty (2008): In–depth story behind Hunters and Collector's hit album 'Human Frailty,' including the creative process and personal struggles of the band.…
Great Australian Albums: Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds - Murder Ballads (2008): In–depth story behind Nick Cave & the Bad Seed's hit album 'Murder Ballads,' including the creative process and personal struggles of the band.…
Great Australian Albums: Powderfinger - Odyssey #5 (2008): In–depth story behind Powderfinger's hit album 'Odyssey #5,' including the creative process and personal struggles of the band. Featured as…
Great Australian Albums: The Go-Betweens - 16 Lover's Lane (2008): In–depth story behind The Go–Between's 1988 album '16 Lover's Lane,' including the creative process and personal struggles of the band.…
It Might Get Loud (2008): Dir. Davis Guggenheim
Feat. The Edge, Jack White, Jimmy Page; Euphonic examination of rock guitaring with three of its most distinctive practitioners, Jimmy Page, The Edge and Jack White. Sure to enrapture…
Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison (2008): Feat. Johnny Cash; Indispensable documentary film chronicling the fateful day in 1968 that Johnny Cash performed at California's Folsom State Prison, the recordings of…
Kraftwerk and the Electronic Revolution (2008): Essential, exhaustive (3hr!) exploration into German electronic music centering on the pioneers of the genre, Kraftwerk. The first hour…
Metal Mania (2008): Music doco that takes the microphone backstage to some of the greatest metal acts of the last fifty years, including Kiss, Angus Young, Motley Crue,…
Patti Smith: Dream of Life (2008): Dir. Steven Sebring; Narrated by the rock icon herself, this intimate, lyrical observation of Patti Smith's art and philosophy plays rather like a sitting through one of…
Radiohead - The Best Of (2008): Chronological collection of 21 inventive music videos and optical collages of rare singles from the slinking talents of Brit indie–rock kings,…
Rip! A Remix Manifesto (2008): Dir. Brett Gaylor; A exuberant celebration of remix culture which also introduces the debate over intellectual property rights with the help of featured guests,…
Simone Young - To Hamburg From Downunder (2008): Dir. Ralf Pleger; Perceptive documentary following renowned Australian conductor and Sydney Opera House Director Simone Young on her return journey from Europe to…
Soul Power (2008): Dir. Jeffrey Levy-Hinte; This "Rumble in the Jungle" prequel joyfully relives the legendary three–day concert that preceded the Ali–Foreman bout in…
Sounds Like Teen Spirit (2008): Dir. Jamie Jay Johnson; Offering a worldly antidote to the show–biz reality TV norm, this "pop–umentary" chronicles four contrasting sets of hopefuls (from…
Technicolor Dream, A (2008): Lavish chronicle of the Technicolor Dream movement, through to its 14–hour all–night musical event at Alexandra Palace in 1967. Includes…
Tim Minchin - Rock 'N' Roll Nerd (2008): Dir. Rhian Skirving
Feat. Tim Minchin; Intimate doco about gifted musical comedian Minchin charting his rise from obscurity in Melbourne to breakthrough at the Edinburgh Comedy Festival,…
What About Me? (2008): Dir. Duncan Bridgeman, Jamie Catto; A guide to better 21st Century living from the duo behind 1 GIANT LEAP, this kaleidoscope of philosophical and musical clips features contributions…
Wild Combination - A Portrait of Arthur Russell (2008): Dir. Matt Wolf; The enigma of Arthur Russell – singular avant–garde musician and improbable matchmaker of discotheque and modern composition – is profiled…
Wrecking Crew, The (2008-2014): Dir. Denny Tedesco; Joyous celebration of the musical work of a loose collective of session musicians that became later known as "The Wrecking Crew", a band that…
Youssou N’Dour - I Bring What I Love (2008): Dir. Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi; Gifted Senegalese singer Youssou N’Dour performs a series of concerts in this excellent documentary, which also gets to heart of the musician’s…
4 (Vivaldi - The Four Seasons) (2007): Dir. Tim Slade; In this remarkably unique and poetic documentary, a performance of each season of Vivaldi’s masterpiece is delegated to four prodigious violinists…
Amazing Journey - The Story of The Who (2007): Dir. Murray Lerner, Paul Crowder; An ‘authorized and definitive’ anthology of The Who, this covers all the bases in the band’s legend–making, four–decade music…
American Hardcore (2007): Dir. Paul Rachman; Rugged, warts and all restrospective of America’s British punk spinoff looks back on the warpath of bands such as Minor Threat, Black Flag and Dead…
Amy Winehouse - I Told You I Was Trouble & Live in London (2007): The hip swaggering rehab music rebel presents her 2007 17–song set live from 'Shepherd's Bush Empire' London town, along with a 50 minute doco…
Anita O'Day - The Life of a Jazz Singer (2007): Dir. Robbie Cavolina, Ian McCrudden; Thorough portrait of jazz extraordinaire Anita O'Day, from her emergence amongst luminaries Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday in the 40s, to…
Arcade Fire: Miroir Noir (2007): Fly–on–the–wall doco follows Canadian indie act "Arcade Fire" during the recording of their sophomore record, "Neon Bible". The…
Atlantic Records - The House That Amet Built (2007): Feat. Bette Midler; Follows Ahmet Ertegun's remarkable career as head of Atlantic Records, from its formation in 1947 through to his recent passing in 2007. Features…
Bossa Nova - The Sound that Seduced the World (2007): Rio–based doco tracing the rise of the sultry 'bossa nova' sound, featuring interviews with influential musos from the time and rare music…
Classic Albums - Jay-Z (Reasonable Doubt) (2007): Jay–Z's Reasonable Doubt deconstructed track–by–track and placed in both personal and creative context by the artist himself and…
Coping With Babylon - The Proper Rastology (2007): Dir. Oliver Hill; Authentic documentary revealing the contemporary world view of Rastafarianism as interpreted by prominent "Imperial Majesty" Haile Selassie 1.…
Dengue Fever - Sleepwalking Through the Mekong (2007): Dir. John Pirozzi; Political rockumentary follows LA–based band Dengue Fever on their recent journey to Cambodia to perform 60s and 70s Cambodian rock n' roll in…
Dirty Three, The (2007): Documentary on Australian instrumental rockers The Dirty Three, charting their discography and musical evolution (from emotionally aggressive numbers…
Dylan: Busy Being Born Again (2007): Dir. Joel Gilbert
Feat. Bob Dylan; Bob Dylan's 'Jesus Years' are the subject matter for this in–depth doco, pieced together through interviews, live footage and a recently…
Girls Rock! (2007): Dir. Arne Johnson; Lightweight doco centered around the Portland–based Rock & Roll Camp for Girls, where girls from 8–18 participate in a therapeutic week…
Glass: A Portrait Of Philip In Twelve Parts (2007): Dir. Scott Hicks
Feat. Philip Glass; Epic doco of seminal composer Glass covers his life, influences, and his working process. Filmed over 3 continents in 18 months, this is hugely…
Glastonbury: The Movie (2007): Just–like–being–there collection focused on that mud–drenched modern day music fest (and Britain's answer to Woodstock)…
Great Australian Albums: Silverchair - Diorama (2007): In–depth story behind Silverchair's hit album 'Diorama,' including the creative process and personal struggles of the band. Featured as part of…
Great Australian Albums: The Saints - (I'm) Stranded (2007): In–depth story behind The Saint's hit album '(I'm) Stranded,' including the creative process and personal struggles of the band. Featured as…
Great Australian Albums: The Triffids - Born Sandy Devotional (2007): In–depth story behind The Triffids' album 'Born Sandy Devotional,' including the creative process and personal struggles of the band. Featured…
Heima - Sigur Ros (2007): Dir. Dean Deblois; Celebrated Icelanders Sigur Ros get reacquainted with the sights and sounds of their Scandinavian homeland in this introspective documentary…
Here is What Is (2007): Dir. Daniel Lanois
Feat. Daniel Lanois; Unique producer–performer Daniel Lanois casually documents his creative process in–studio, with glimpses of U2, Brian Eno, Sinead…
I Think We're Alone Now (2007): Dir. Sean Donnelly; This portrait of two 'stalkers' of 80s teen pop one–hit–wonder Tiffany is at times uncomfortably voyeuristic, yet it provides raw insight…
Inside the Smiths (2007): Raw music doco with former band members Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce candidly revealing what it was like to be a part of groundbreaking 80's…
Joe Strummer - The Future is Unwritten (2007): Dir. Julien Temple
Feat. Joe Strummer; Renowned musical documentarian Julien Temple (THE FILTH & THE FURY) draws a superbly detailed, multi–dimensional life portrait of late Clash…
Joy Division (2007): Dir. Grant Gee; Dynamic, satisfyingly comprehensive music doco chronologically tracks the career of influential British post–punk band Joy Division. All…
Les Paul: Chasing Sound! The Les Paul Story (2007): Dir. John Paulson; Authorized biography of electric guitar pioneer Les Paul with narration and interviews from the man himself, still going strong at the age of 90.…
Lou Reed's Berlin (2007): Dir. Julian Schnabel
Feat. Lou Reed; Live recording of Lou Reed's 2006 performance of his underrated 1973 album 'Berlin,' brought resplendently back to life by a commanding Reed…
Meat Loaf - In Search of Paradise (2007): Dir. Bruce David Klein
Feat. Meatloaf; A first–rate behind–the–scenes music doco that openly captures rocker Meat Loaf as he rehearses for and takes to the road with his…
Music in Me, The (2007): Enriching documentary following an inspirational group of intellectually and physically disabled performers called 'The Merry Makers' as they prepare…
My Chemical Romance - Things That Make you Go mmm... (2007): Music doco delving into the world of angst ridden EMO idolised goth band My Chemical Romance by charting their rise to international stardom.…
Nick Drake - Under Review (2007): This critical review of enigmatic singer–songwriter Drake attempts to uncover some of the mysteries surrounding the man, as well as offer an…
Note By Note: The Making of Steinway L1037 (2007): Dir. Ben Niles; A ‘making of’ documentary in the most literal sense, this follows the production process of a hand–crafted grand piano, as it passes down…
Pete Seeger - The Power of Song (2007): Dir. Jim Brown; A generous tribute to American singer, songwriter and activist Pete Seeger, this gathers the usual array of performance footage, archival material,…
Peter Green Story, The - Man of the World (2007): There was life before Fleetwood Mac's "Rumours" and those expecting the like will be disappointed, however the original Fleetwood Mac was an amazing…
Punk's Not Dead (2007): Dir. Susan Dynner; Covering familiar territory, this 30–year overview of punk rounds the usual cultural and musical bases via archival footage and talking head…
Respect Yourself - The Stax Records Story (2007): Dir. Robert Gordon, Morgan Neville; Affecting documentary that traces the astonishing history of Stax Records, from it's humble beginnings as a neighborhood hangout in Memphis, to…
Return to Gorée (2007): Dir. Pierre-Yves Borgeaud; Insightful 'road' documentary follows Youssou N’Dour's musical tour via Atlanta, New Orleans, New York City, Luxembourg, and Dakar; the Senegalese…
Th' Dudes Live - Th' 2006 Reunion Tour (2007): One–time reunion tour sees Th’Dudes reunite after 26 years in celebration of Radio Hauraki’s 40th anniversary. Includes live concert…
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: Running Down a Dream (2007): Dir. Peter Bogdanovich; Peter Bogdanovich's exhaustive chronicle of the enormously successful pop/rock band Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, from their inception as…
Tom Waits - Under Review 1971-1982 (2007): Feat. Tom Waits; Music doco chronicling the career of singer–songwriter Tom Waits, containing rarely seen interviews with the man himself, hit songs and rare…
War / Dance (War Dance) (2007): Life–affirming Oscar–nominated doco investigates the lives of a group of war–torn Ugandan child refugees on their path towards…
Words from the City (2007): Dir. Natasha Gadd, Rhys Graham; Documentary on contemporary Australian hip–hop, exploring fresh ground through its focus on the poetics of the art–form and its place in…
Young @ Heart (Young at Heart) (2007): Dir. Stephen Walker; A stirring, crowd–pleasing music doco for ages 9 to 99 that introduces a spritely senior citizen choir known as 'Young @ Heart' who are…
Air Guitar Nation (2006): Dir. Alexandra Lipsitz; Sublime documentary on a ridiculous subject, this follows the fortunes of two Americans at the World "Air Guitar" Championships in Finland, in which…
Altered by Elvis (2006): Dir. Tiffany Bartok, Jayce Bartok; Heartfelt documentary exploring the myriad of ways that Elvis Presley has affected people's lives, going down the rabbit warrens of American pop…
B4MD - Before the Music Dies (2006): Dir. Andrew Shapter; Slight but worthy documentary probing the music industry in order to find out why 'video killed the radio star': what has happened to nurturing new…
Bob Dylan - Rolling Thunder and The Gospel Years (2006): Feat. Bob Dylan; Chronicles the years between 1975 and 1981 when Dylan hit the road with a rag–tag band of folk troubadours in 1975's Rolling Thunder Revue, and…
Classic Artists: Cream (2006): Feat. Eric Clapton; Part of the excellent Classic Artist Series, this fully authorized doco is an intensive examination of the rise of pop supergroup Cream, and the…
Classic Artists: Jethro Tull (2006): Part of the excellent Classic Artist Series, this fully authorized doco is an intensive examination of the rise of rock group Jethro Tull and their…
Classic Artists: Moody Blues (2006): Part of the excellent Classic Artist Series, this fully authorized doco is an intensive examination of the 40 year history of 'art rock' group The…
Classic Artists: Yes (2006): Part of the excellent Classic Artist Series, this fully authorized doco is an intensive examination of the progressive rock band Yes, tracing their…
Everyone Stares - The Police Inside Out (2006): Dir. Stewart Copeland; Drummer–turned–film composer Stewart Copeland digs up an archive of Super 8 footage in this homebrew documentary of The Police’s rise…
Figure 8000 (2006): Dir. Lindon Puffin; Former glam rock front man of The Puffins, Lindon Puffin, takes to the road as an under–resourced solo act, touring with a single roadie in a…
Glastonbury (2006): Dir. Julien Temple; Down and dirty documentary of that sodden, world famous Scottish music festival Glastonbury, sloshing together hours of submitted footage, archival…
Great Australian Albums: Crowded House - Woodface (2006): In–depth story behind Crowded House's hit album 'Woodface,' including the creative process and personal struggles of the band. Featured as part…
Herbie Hancock - Possibilities (2006): Dir. Doug Biro
Feat. Herbie Hancock; Uber–keyboardist Herbie Hancock collaborates with a roll call of admirers – Sting, Paul Simon, Annie Lennox and Christina Aguilera, among…
In Search of Mozart (2006): Dir. Phil Grabsky; Thoughtful and well–orchestrated documentary about 18th century classical composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, which aims to not only put across…
Joan Sutherland - The Reluctant Prima Donna (2006): Dir. Steve Cole; Spotlight on Australian opera diva Joan ‘La Stupenda’ Sutherland, from her modest early years, through to international stardom via two…
Joy Division - Under Review (2006): Dir. Christian Davies; Unauthorised analysis of respected post–punk band, Joy Division. Through various interviews, photos and music clips, the history of the band is…
Knowledge is the Beginning (incl. The Ramallah Concert) (2006): Dir. Paul Smaczny; Inspiring documentary about Daniel Baremboim's West–Eastern Divan Orchestra that illustrates how prejudices between young Arabs and Israelis…
Kurt Cobain - About a Son (2006): Dir. AJ Schnack; Elegiac, moving documentary on Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain takes an appositely nonconformist approach to his unusual life and times. Based on…
Last 48 Hours of Kurt Cobain, The (2006): Dir. John Dower; BBC documentary speculating on the events leading up to the singer's death, from documentarian John Dower (LIVE FOREVER). Also provides a fairly…
loudQUIETloud: A Film About the Pixies (Loud Quiet Loud) (2006): Dir. Steven Cantor, Matthew Galkin; Document on lauded alt–rockers The Pixies which revisits the band ten years after their split, through to their 2004 'Sell Out' Reunion Tour.…
Love Story (2006): Dir. Chris Hall; Belated but worth–the–wait tragi–profile of overlooked cult band Love, whose magnetic black frontman Arthur Lee passed away shortly…
Meanies, The (2006): The history and music of punkish Australian band The Meanies is chronicled in this watchable documentary, which covers much of the Melbourne…
Rampage (2006): Dir. George Gittoes; Australian war reporter George Gittoes turns his attention to urban combat in Brownsville, Miami, where four brothers – one having just returned…
Rock the Bells (2006): Dir. Denis Hennelly, Casey Suchan; Fly–on–the–wall document of the magic of the ‘Rock The Bells’ hip–hop festival, and the panic that ensues when…
Salzburg Festival, The (2006): Dir. Tony Palmer; An epic and detailed look at the world's most revered classical music festival, which takes place annually in Mozart's birthplace, the Austrian town…
Scott Walker - 30 Century Man (2006): Dir. Steven Kijak; Brilliant music documentary about enigmatic soundmaker and musical genius, Scott Walker, who enjoyed pop stardom in the 60's as half of The Walker…
Shut Up and Sing (2006): Dir. Barbara Kopple, Cecilia Peck; Politics ("shut up") and music ("sing") find themselves reluctantly linked in this portrait of country superstars, "The Dixie Chicks", and the…
Struggle No More (2006): Dir. Costa Botes; Affectionate tribute to veteran Wellington band 'The Windy City Strugglers' who formed in 1968 to play a mix of blues, soul and jug–band music…
Swing Guitar - The Genius of Django Reinhardt (2006): Short but informative documentary about the legendary jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt, who rose from obscurity as a European gypsy to become perhaps…
Tell Me Do You Miss Me (2006): Dir. Matthew Buzzell; Both melancholic and humorous, the dissolution of celebrated New York band 'Luna' (fronted by Kiwi ex–pat Dean Wareham) is chronicled as they…
Too Tough to Die: A Tribute to Johnny Ramone (2006): Dir. Mandy Stein; Documentation of the concert held three days before Johnny Ramone's death where a group of musicians including Henry Rollins, Eddie Vedder and the…
When the Road Bends - Tales Of A Gypsy Caravan (2006): Dir. Jasmine Dellal; An exuberant celebration of Romani culture and Rom (Gypsies) that doubles as a high–end concert film, this follows the "Gypsy Caravan" tour…
Who the Hell is Pete Doherty? (2006): Dir. Roger Pomphrey; Revealing if somewhat flawed look at the chequered career of Pete Doherty – co–leader of British group 'The Libertines' plus leader of…
Work of Directors, The - Boxset Vol. 2 (Anton Corbijn, Jonathan Glazer, Mark Romanek, Stephane Sednnaoui) (2006): Dir. Anton Corbijn, Jonathan Glazer, Mark Romanek; Directors Label boxset containing the final four music video/doco/shorts compilations in the series. Features the work of Anton Corbijn, Jonathan…
All Apologies: Kurt Cobain (2005): An informative peer into the life and final days of cult rock star Kurt Cobain, lead singer for the band Nirvana, who committed suicide in 1994.…
Brasileirinho (2005): Dir. Mika Kaurismaki; Choro is often seen as the Brazilian equivalent of improvisatory jazz, and serves as the foundation for such unique styles like samba and bossa nova…
Crossing the Bridge: The Sound of Istanbul (2005): Dir. Fatih Akin; Turkish dir. Fatih Akin unveils Istanbul’s rich and uninhabited music scene, listening in on the capital’s many sonic threads: a soundscape…
Dave Chappelle's Block Party (2005): Dir. Michel Gondry
Feat. Dave Chappelle; Dynamite concert film follows comedian Chappelle, in cahoots with an all–star roll–call of R&B and hip–hop acts, during the leadup…
Derailroaded (2005): Dir. Josh Rubin; Eye–opening documentary of tortured musical genius, with Larry ‘Wild Man’ Fischer the journeyman of this rock odyssey into mental illness…
Devil and Daniel Johnston, The (2005): Dir. Jeff Feuerzeig; Shadowy and sympathetic look at cult American songwriter Daniel Johnston, whose quirky pop gems – covered by the likes of Sonic Youth, Beck,…
Elvis by the Presleys (2005): Feat. Priscilla Presley, Lisa Marie Presley; A comprehensive biographical portrait of 'The King', compiled by family and friends, that features special home movies, interviews and live footage…
Favela Rising (2005): Dir. Matt Mochary, Jeff Zimbalist; Rousing documentary traces the transformation of a violent slum in Rio de Janeiro by former drug–dealer Anderson Sa, who was so shocked by a…
Five Days in September: The Rebirth of an Orchestra (2005): Dir. Barbara Willis Sweete; A supreme classical music doco, this intimate look behind the scenes of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra delves candidly into the artistic process of…
Flaming Lips - The Fearless Freaks (2005): Dir. Bradley Beesley; A sprawling fan's–eye–view of the innovative alternative rock band from Oklahoma, The Flaming Lips, who went from 1980s cowpunk obscurity…
Heavy Metal: Louder Than Life (2005): Dir. Dick Carruthers; Definitely the most complete document to date on the musical phenomenon of 'heavy metal', in which dir. Carruthers marshalls an unrivalled lineup of…
Kinks, The - 1964-1978 (2005): Independent critical review of The Kinks, revisiting every major release from the band's inception, through to the Pye and RCA years, and beyond.
Leonard Cohen - I'm Your Man (2005): Dir. Lian Lunson
Feat. Leonard Cohen; A fittingly sublime homage documentary to the stately Leonard Cohen, based around the tribute concert held in his honour at the Sydney Opera House in…
Looking for a Thrill: An Anthology of Inspiration (2005): Dir. Braden King; 112 musicians of the 'alternative' bent were asked by the director to identify moments of musical inspiration, whether through an experience, record,…
Loop Select 007 (We Are Here) (2005): The third of the hugely popular "showcase" for New Zealand music, music videos and short filmmaking. This edition also includes motion graphics…
Make It Funky (2005): Dir. Michael Murphy; A worthy documentary about the teeming musical traditions of New Orleans (made before Hurricane Katrina), which displays a firm understanding of the…
Metal: A Headbanger's Journey (2005): Dir. Sam Dunn, Scot McFadyen, Jessica Joy Wise; Sharply humorous look at the world of Heavy Metal, treating the musical subject as a subculture of its own, transcending the stereotypes and clichés…
New York Doll (2005): Dir. Greg Whiteley; Affecting yet hilarious documentary about the bass–player of influential glam–punk band The New York Dolls, Arthur 'Killer' Kane, whose…
New York Dolls: All Dolled Up (2005): Dir. Bob Gruen, Nadya Beck; Fascinating – if roughly hewn – documentary about the legendary NYC glam–punk music group, compiled from archival footage shot by…
No Direction Home: Bob Dylan (2005): Dir. Martin Scorsese; Scorsese's comprehensive biography focuses on Bob Dylan's life and music from 1961–66, includes never–seen performance footage and…
Palm World Voices: Africa (2005): An enjoyable journey through the landscapes and varied human spectacles of the African continent – with an undercurrent of music providing a…
Palm World Voices: Vedic Path (2005): A splendid audiovisual journey through the spiritual, cultural, musical and geographic realms of India. Musically, this combines traditional Indian…
Punk: Attitude (2005): Dir. Don Letts; The politics, fashion, attitudes and music of the punk pop culture trend are examined in this expansive doco from influential insider, starting with…
Rufus Wainwright - All I Want (2005): Music doco about Canadian–American singer–songwriter Rufus Wainwright, includes jamming sessions, music vids and interviews with…
Screaming Masterpiece (Gargandi snilld) (2005): Dir. Ari Alexander Ergis Magnusson; A loud and proud showcase for Iceland’s eclectic, burgeoning music scene, headlined by the incomparable Bjork and a bevy of unclassifiable…
Searching for the Wrong-Eyed Jesus (2005): Dir. Andrew Douglas; A soulful meander through the streets, scrapyards, swamps, mines, churches and bars of the American South under the guidance of alt–country…
Townes Van Zandt - Be Here to Love Me (2005): Dir. Margaret Brown; Evenhanded, tenderly–puzzled documentary about the country songwriter Townes Van Zandt (1944–1997), creator of a canon of forlorn, quirky…
Woody Guthrie - This Machine Kills Fascists (2005): Dir. Stephen Gammond; A lengthy tribute documentary to legendary folk singer Woody Guthrie who penned such American classics as 'This Land is Your Land' and was equally…
Work of Director Anton Corbijn, The (2005): Dir. Anton Corbijn; A celebrated photographer, particularly in his association with Depeche Mode and U2 (he shot the iconic album cover for Joshua Tree), Anton Corbijn's…
You're Gonna Miss Me (2005): Dir. Keven McAlester; The tormented artist is extolled in dir. Keven McAlester’s tragi–documentary of psychedelic rock enigma Roky Erickson, whose success as lead…
(Inside) Out: Warren Zevon (2004): A rewarding documentary about the making of Warren Zevon's final album 'The Wind', completed shortly before the singer's death. Adding a cerebral,…
Classic Albums - Nirvana (Nevermind) (2004): Dir. Bob Smeaton; Grunge–rock group Nirvana's iconic 'Nevermind' album is deconstructed track–by–track and placed in both personal and creative…
Cowboy Junkies - Long Journey Home (2004): Live Liverpool gig from Canadian country / alternative band 'Cowboy Junkies,' performing all their past hits together with more recent songs and…
Dig! (2004): Dir. Ondi Timoner; Arguably the best and most illuminating of the recent wave of 'rock docs', this intimately charts the polarising fortunes of two buddy rock bands,…
Duke Ellington - The Classic Hollywood Years (2004): The legendary jazz composer, bandleader and pianist Duke Ellington featured in various Hollywood films during his career and this DVD compiles short…
Edgeplay - A Film about The Runaways (2004): Dir. Victory Tischler-Blue; Minus the input of Joan Jett (who denied the filmmakers access to her songs), this rough–and–ready retrospective of The Runaways' heady…
End of the Century - The Story of the Ramones (2004): Dir. Michael Gramaglia, Jim Fields; A compulsive portrait of NYC punk pioneers The Ramones, who fused pop melodies, ironic lyrics and brash guitar sonics in the mid–1970s and…
Fallen Angel - Gram Parsons (2004): Dir. Gandulf Hennig; Ragged–edged but thorough look at the life of cultural pioneer Gram Parsons, who came from a priviledged Southern family to forge a unique…
Funny Kinda Guy (2004): Dir. Travis Reeves; Heartfelt documentary of trans–gendered singer–songwriter Simon de Voil, whose desire to become a man is complicated by various…
Hank Williams: Honky Tonk Blues (2004): Dir. Morgan Neville; Concise TV documentary on the great cowboy singer–songwriter whose life encompassed musical super–talent, financial success, public…
Jazz Memories - The Incomparable Lena Horne (2004): Feat. Lena Horne; Comprehensive documentary detailing the life and work of singer, actress and cultural icon Lena Horne, who began as a dancer in 'The Cotton Club' in…
Jazz Memories - The Legendary Nat King Cole (2004): Feat. Nat King Cole; A straight–forward account of the life of the charismatic Black–American performer Nat 'King' Cole, who made significant inroads into the…
Metallica - Some Kind of Monster (2004): Dir. Joe Berlinger, Bruce Sinofsky; A compulsive documentary spectacle concerning the years of crisis (2001–2003) for Heavy Metal group "Metallica" as they grappled with internal…
Michael Hutchence - The Loved One (2004): Feat. Michael Hutchence; Heartfelt music doco tracking the life and career of INXS' charismatic former front man Michael Hutchence whose suspected suicide robbed a nation of…
Miracle of Candeal (2004): Dir. Fernando Trueba; A nicely–crafted documentary – if a little inconsequential – about the journey of an aging Cuban jazz pianist, Bebo Valdés,…
Moog (2004): Dir. Hans Fjellestad; An informative tribute to Robert Moog, the American boffin who in 1964 invented the world's first commercially available sound synthesizer, which…
Pavarotti: The Last Tenor (2004): Feat. Luciano Pavarotti; A quality BBC–commissioned documentary portrait that follows the great Italian tenor through a momentous period of his life as he says goodbye…
Peter, Paul and Mary - Carry it On (2004): Documentary about the New York folk music trio who "carried it on" from their socially–conscious forebearers like Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger…
Ramones - Raw (2004): Dir. John Cafiero; The definitive document of NYC punk icons The Ramones, who crossed bubblegum pop melodies with raw guitar and hilarious trash lyricism. This DVD…
Slaves to the Rhythm (2004): Music producer extraordinaire Trevor Horn celebrates 25 years of producing chart busting pop acts with this Wembley Stadium spectacular. A diverse…
Soundtrack to War (2004): Dir. George Gittoes; A decidedly oblique, ground–level view of the war in Iraq (post –9/11) which takes the musical listening habits and creations of US…
Tales From A Golden Age: Bob Dylan 1941-1966 (2004): Dir. Tom O'Dell; An unauthorised documentary about the iconic singer made in association with the Dylan fanzine ISIS, which despite featuring none of his music,…
The History of Iron Maiden Part 1: The Early Years (2004): For Maiden fans this is a double–disc treasure trove of live material alongside a feature length documentary, all focusing on the wildly…
Toward the Unknown Region - Malcolm Arnold (2004): Dir. Tony Palmer; An in–depth exploration and celebration of the life and music of Britain's foremost 20th century composer – Malcolm Arnold – who…
Beatles, The - Anthology (2003): Feat. Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison…; Epic 4–disc, 8–episode collection presenting the story of the fab four from their early days in Liverpool to worldwide superstardom.…
Blues Film Collection, The (Soul of a Man, Red, White and Blues, Feel Like Going Home, Godfathers and Sons, Piano Blues, The Road to Memphis, Warming by the Devil's Fire) (2003): A lavish collection of Blues documentary features made under the auspices of Martin Scorsese. Directed by an impressive line up of…
Can DVD (2003): The definitive DVD 'document' on influential German Krautrock band Can, who combined rock and funk rhythms, with intriguing instrumental textures and…
Classic Albums - Pink Floyd (Dark Side of the Moon) (2003): Pink Floyd's 'Dark Side of the Moon' deconstructed track–by–track and placed in both personal and creative context by key collaborators.…
Desperate Man Blues (2003): Dir. Edward Gillan; Record collector Joe Bussard has been tracking down and preserving rare 'roots' 78rpm discs from his Maryland home for over 40 years. Amassing a…
Edith Piaf - A Life of Passion (2003): Full–length documentary on 'the little sparrow', French singer Edith Piaf. Features historic footage and interviews about this iconic 20th…
Festival Express (2003): Dir. Bob Smeaton; Vivid filmed account of a legendary travelling rock festival, which crossed Canada by train in June 1970 and reached realisation in a series of…
Finisterre (Saint Etienne Presents Finisterre) (2003): Dir. Kieran Evans, Paul Kelly; Latter day 'City Symphony' about London, which uses the music of English group Saint Etienne to underscore its enigmatic montage of streets,…
Five Sides of a Coin (2003): Dir. Paul Kell; A thorough exploration of the five sides of hip–hop culture: rap, turntablism, break–dancing, human beat–boxing and…
Give it a Whirl (2003): An in–depth visual and musical exploration of New Zealand rock 'n' roll stories, from the fledgling sounds of the 1950s to today's…
Jandek on Corwood (2003): Dir. Chad Freidrichs; An admirable effort to pin down that most enigmatic of "unknown" musicians, the Texan–based Jandek, whose atonal guitar meanders and even…
Life and Music of Dizzy Gillespie, The (2003): Feat. Dizzy Gillespie; A musical double–bill featuring legendary jazz trumpet–player Dizzy Gillespie, one of the key bebop musicians of the 1940s and…
Love is in the Air (TV Series) (2003): Following on from the excellent chronicle of Australian rock, LONG WAY TO THE TOP, this five–part sister series from the ABC traces the history…
Mayor of the Sunset Strip (2003): Dir. George Hickenlooper; A portrait of the unlikely yet legendary radio rock DJ Rodney Bingenheimer, whose star connections and influential broadcasts on Los Angeles…
Ngatahi - Know the Links (2003): Dir. Dean Hapeta
Feat. Dean Hapeta; An extended voyage by Upper Hutt Posse–founder Dean Hapeta through the self–determining cultures of many of the world’s indigenous…
Nomi Song, The (2003): Dir. Andrew Horn
Feat. Klaus Nomi; Satisfying exploration of the life, music and 'alternate reality' of Klaus Nomi, a late–1970s underground music legend who combined opera…
Off The Charts - The Song-Poem Story (2003): Dir. Jamie Meltzer; A gem of a music doco from off the beaten track, this charts the arcane history of the "song poem", a genre of music where members of the public have…
Petula Clark - This Is My Song (2003): A fascinating look into the life and career of Petula Clark, from childhood stardom to the present. Using archive footage and interviews with famous…
Piaf: Her Story... Her Songs (2003): Dir. George Elder
Feat. Raquel Bitton; A film version of a stageshow celebrating the life and art of French singer Edith Piaf. In the lead role, Raquel Bitton does a sterling job of…
Plaster Caster (2003): Dir. Jessica Villines; Groovy "cockumentary" tracing the colourful career of artist and super–groupie Cynthia Albritton, who became infamous for making commemorative…
Riding in Vans With Boys (2003): Dir. Matthew Beauchesne; Spirited rock–u–mentary that follows second–generation punk–pop bands Blink 182, Green Day, and Jimmy Eat World with support…
Salif Keita (2003): Feat. Salif Keita; Music doco journeying back to Mali with renowned African performer Salif Keita to reveal the life and career of this multi–talented artist.…
Shane MacGowan - If I Should Fall From Grace (2003): Dir. Sarah Share; The leader of Irish band The Pogues is worthily portrayed in loose, documentary fashion. Reveals something of the inspiration, demons and incessant…
Steve Earle - Just an American Boy (2003): Dir. Amos Poe
Feat. Steve Earle; Made on the cusp of country–rock singer Steve Earle's leap into notoriety in 2003, this modestly styled documentary presents live footage,…
The Blues: Feel Like Going Home (2003): Dir. Martin Scorsese
Feat. Taj Mahal; The opening part of Martin Scorcese's TV mini–series celebration of one of America's quintessential musical forms "the Blues". In this…
The Blues: Godfathers and Sons (2003): Dir. Marc Levin; The fifth part of Martin Scorcese's TV mini–series celebration of one of America's quintessential musical forms "the Blues". A interesting…
The Blues: Piano Blues (2003): Dir. Clint Eastwood; The seventh and final part of Martin Scorcese's TV mini–series celebration of one of America's quintessential musical forms "the Blues". One…
The Blues: Red White and Blues (2003): Dir. Mike Figgis; The sixth part of Martin Scorcese's TV mini–series celebration of one of America's quintessential musical forms "the Blues". Another of the…
The Blues: The Road to Memphis (2003): Dir. Richard Pearce, Robert Kenner; The third part of Martin Scorcese's TV mini–series celebration of one of America's quintessential musical forms "the Blues". This episode…
The Blues: The Soul of a Man (2003): Dir. Wim Wenders; The second part of Martin Scorcese's TV mini–series celebration of one of America's quintessential musical forms "the Blues". One of the…
The Blues: Warming by the Devil's Fire (2003): Dir. Charles Burnett; The fourth part of Martin Scorcese's TV mini–series celebration of one of America's quintessential musical forms "the Blues". One of the…
Three Days - Jane's Addiction (2003): Dir. Kevin Ford, Carter Smith; A look at the career of influential rock–band Jane's Addiction, with particular focus on their 'Relapse' reunion tour in 1997. Packed with…
UK/DK + Holidays in the Sun (2003): Dir. Christopher Collins, Ken Lawrence; Two films covering the hardcore punk scene in Britain. UK/DK – A collection of live footage, interviews and video clips from the heyday of…
Wesley Willis: The Daddy of Rock 'n' Roll (2003): Dir. Daniel Bitton; Fittingly lo–fi portrait of the infamous and frighteningly prolific outsider artist Wesley Willis, a morbidly obese schizophrenic whose crude…
Work of Director Michel Gondry, The (2003): Dir. Michel Gondry; A comprehensive compilation of music videos, art experiments and short films from the fiercely creative French director Michel Gondry, whose visual…
Work of Director Spike Jonze, The (2003): Dir. Spike Jonze; Before his successful foray into feature films, director Spike Jonze made his name as the pre–eminent music video director of the 1990s. He…
Work of Directors, The - Boxset Vol. 1 (Spike Jonze, Chris Cunningham, Michel Gondry) (2003): Dir. Spike Jonze, Chris Cunningham, Michel Gondry; Directors Label boxset containing the first three music video/doco/shorts compilations in the series. Features the work of Spike Jonze, Chris…
1 Giant Leap (2002): Dir. Duncan Bridgeman, Jamie Catto
Feat. Dennis Hopper, Brian Eno; A unique audiovisual collaboration between writers, musicians, scientists and actors – celebrating the diversity of the globalised world.…
Amandla! (A Revolution in Four-Part Harmony) (2002): Dir. Lee Hirsch; A moving tribute to the role of protest music in the struggle against apartheid in South Africa from 1948 to 1994 – slowly put together by dir.…
Biggie and Tupac (2002): Dir. Nick Broomfield; Plucky British journalist and one–man controversy machine Nick Broomfield embarks on his most dangerous documentary enquiry yet – the…
Bill Wyman's Blues Odyssey (2002): Feat. Bill Wyman; Founding Rolling Stones member Bill Wyman (now fronting The Rhythm Kings) acknowledges the blues inspiration behind his bass guitar career. In…
Bookshelf on Top of the Sky, A (12 Stories About John Zorn) (2002): Dir. Claudia Heuermann; A fittingly unconventional look at the background and achievements of postmodern musician/composer John Zorn, made by longtime fan, Claudia…
Cirque du Soleil - Fire Within (TV Series) (2002): A 13–part documentary series which showcases the creative processes of the 'Cirque du Soleil' dance–theatre troupe who specialise in a…
Classic Albums - Deep Purple (Machine Head) (2002): Dir. Matthew Longfellow; Deep Purple's 'Machine Head' deconstructed track–by–track and placed in both personal and creative context by key collaborators.…
Classic Albums - Def Leppard (Hysteria) (2002): Dir. Matthew Longfellow; Def Leppard's "Hysteria" album deconstructed track–by–track and placed in both personal and creative context by key collaborators.…
Classic Albums - Elvis Presley (2002): Dir. Jeremy Marre
Feat. Elvis Presley; Elvis Presley's self–titled album deconstructed track–by–track and placed in both personal and creative context by key…
Classic Albums - Sex Pistols (2002): Dir. Matthew Longfellow; The Sex Pistol's 'Never Mind the Bollocks' deconstructed track–by–track and placed in both personal and creative context by key…
Hoover Street Revival (2002): Dir. Sophie Fiennes; An eye–opening journey into the world of the Greater Bethany Community Church and its inspiring leader, Bishop Noel Jones. Situated in a…
I Am Trying To Break Your Heart (2002): Dir. Sam Jones
Feat. Jeff Tweedy; Solidly realised account of the making of ‘alt country’ band Wilco’s acclaimed “Yankee Hotel Foxtrot” album and near–unmaking of the…
La Tropical (2002): Dir. David Turnley; A sultry black and white tribute to Havana’s legendary dancehall ‘La Tropical’, with Pulitzer–Prize–winning photographer Turnley…
Live Forever (2002): Dir. John Dower; A self–congratulatory, and often hilarious, documentary on the 1990s rock–pop 'movement' Britpop, which encompassed acts such as Oasis,…
Moro no Brasil (2002): Dir. Mika Kaurismaki; A toe–tapping delve into the ferment of Brazil's popular musical traditions, with dir. Kaurismaki zeroing in to explore the hidden roots of the…
Only the Strong Survive (2002): Dir. Chris Hegedus, D.A. Pennebaker; Warm and intelligent appreciation of several of the soul–music legends of the 1960s and 70s by a veteran documentary team. Based around a…
Phil Collins - A Life Less Ordinary (2002): Intimate portrait of the MOR titan and drummer extraordinairre. Featuring performance his monster hits: In the Air Tonight, Easy Lover, Groovy Kind…
Standing in the Shadows of Motown (2002): Dir. Paul Justman; A treat for soul–music lovers, this uncovers the hidden history of Motown's seminal, wildly successful and yet almost completely unknown…
You See Me Laughin' (2002): Dir. Mandy Stein; Doco about the latterday backwoods blues musicians clustered around the Fat Possum label. Includes R L Burnside, Junior Kimbrough, Cedell Davis,…
Bee Gees - The Official Story (2001): Released as a tie–in with the 2001 Greatest Hits this collection sweetly summarizes the Gibb brothers extraordinary career, plenty of home…
Classic Albums - Elton John (Goodbye Yellow Brick Road) (2001): Dir. Bob Smeaton; Elton’s Goodbye Yellow Brick Road deconstructed track–by–track and placed in both personal and creative context by key collaborators.…
Classic Albums - Iron Maiden (2001): Dir. Tim Kirkby; Iron Maiden’s Number of the Beast deconstructed track–by–track and placed in both personal and creative context by key…
Classic Albums - Judas Priest (British Steel) (2001): Dir. Tim Kirkby; Judas Priest's "British Steel" (1980) deconstructed track–by–track and placed in both personal and creative context by key collaborators.…
Classic Albums - Lou Reed (Transformer) (2001): Dir. Bob Smeaton; Lou Reed's "Transformer" deconstructed track–by–track and placed in both personal and creative context by key collaborators. Generously…
Classic Albums - Metallica (2001): Dir. Matthew Longfellow; Metallica's 'Metallica' album deconstructed track–by–track and placed in both personal and creative context by key collaborators.…
Cool and Crazy (Heftig og Begeistret) (2001): Dir. Knut Erik Jensen; A laconic, ultimately touching documentary on the male choir of Berlevag, a remote Norwegian village that was the setting for BABETTE’S…
Down from the Mountain (2001): Dir. Nick Doob, Chris Hegedus, D A Pennebaker; Concert film of the much–admired bluegrass soundtrack from the Coen Bros O BROTHER WHERE ART THOU?, that was a surprise winner of the Grammy…
Earth, Wind and Fire - Shining Stars (2001): Pretty comprehensive look at the long career of US funksters 'Earth, Wind and Fire', including interviews with band members, music clips and live…
Great Composers - Volume 1 (Bach, Mozart) (2001): Dir. James Runcie, Francesca Kemp; Excellent BBC series gives a substantial insight into its selected classical composers, combining biographical narrative with musical–analysis…
Great Composers - Volume 2 (Beethoven, Wagner) (2001): Dir. Jill Marshall, Kriss Rusmanis; Excellent BBC series gives a substantial insight into its selected classical composers, combining biographical narrative with musical–analysis…
Great Composers - Volume 3 (Tchaikovsky, Puccini, Mahler) (2001): Dir. Simon Broughton, Chris Hunt, Kriss Rusmanis; Excellent BBC series gives a substantial insight into its selected classical composers, combining biographical narrative with musical–analysis…
Long Way to the Top (TV Series) (2001): A seven–hour extravaganza tracing the evolution of Australian (and ex–pat New Zealand) rock ‘n’ roll, from the fledgling sounds of…
Made in Sheffield (2001): Dir. Eve Wood; Sturdy documentary, obviously crafted by a real fan, which narrates the rise of the electronic music scene in Sheffield in the 1980s aftermath of the…
Miles Davis Story, The (2001): Dir. Mike Dibb
Feat. Miles Davis; A Channel 4 documentary on the life and times of trumpeter, composer and jazz music legend Miles Davis. The only authorised film of Miles' life…
Nine Hundred Nights - Big Brother and the Holding Company (2001): A documentary survey of the career of Janis Joplin and her backing band 'The Holding Company', including rare live footage. Narrated by Rip…
Pink Floyd and the Syd Barrett Story (2001): Dir. John Edginton; A look at the early days of rock band Pink Floyd and their madcap lead singer, Syd Barrett. Staunchly reclusive for over three decades, it is…
Rebel Music - The Bob Marley Story (2001): Dir. Jeremy Marr; Documentary on the reggae superstar, notable for featuring many previously unreleased songs and pieces of live footage. Also unique for its…
Scratch (2001): Dir. Doug Pray; Comprehensive coverage of the evolution of DJing as an artform, from its formative years in the early 80s to its establishment as a movement known as…
Welcome to Death Row (2001): Dir. Leigh Savidge; Fairly impartial and mostly enlightening account of the notorious ‘gangsta–rap’ record label Death Row, who in the 1990s released…
Westway to the World - The Clash (2001): Dir. Don Letts
Feat. Joe Strummer; An informative flashback through the history of punk–rock group The Clash, made by London–colleague Don Letts. Includes snippets of…
Wingspan (2001): Feat. Paul McCartney; Doco tracing 9 years in the history of the Paul McCartney driven 70's rock band 'Wings' that emerged post Beatles mania. Tends to skim over murky…
Woodstock - The Music (2001): They say if you can remember it, you weren't there – that rainy weekend in 1969, when half a million people converged for one of the greatest…
Better Living Through Circuitry (2000): Dir. Jon Reiss; A cinematic valentine to underground dance culture in documentary form, this intersperses interviews with Genesis P–Orridge, Wolfgang Flur, DJ…
Calle 54 (2000): Dir. Fernando Trueba; A luxurious and overdue tribute to the charms of Latin jazz, dir. Tueba’s (BELLE EPOQUE) musical passion. Interviews with greats like Tito…
Endless Harmony: The Beach Boys Story (2000): Dir. Alan Boyd; An accessible tour through the history of California’s pop success story – The Beach Boys – featuring archival footage from the…
Filth and the Fury, The (2000): Dir. Julien Temple; Film–maker Julien Temple gives an angry and commanding voice to 'The Sex Pistols' (incl. the late Sid Vicious), who tell their story 'like it…
Freestyle - The Art of Rhyme (2000): Dir. Kevin Fitzgerald
Feat. Eminem, Tupac Shakur; An acclaimed history of rap performance from the early 1980s up till recent years, with emphasis on the art of improvisation. Includes a plethora…
From a Whisper to a Scream (2000): Dir. David Heffernan; Three part chronicle on the extraordinary rise of Irish popular music from the 1950s onwards, starting from the ‘showband’ era, through Van…
Howard Goodall's Big Bangs (TV Series) (2000): Feat. Howard Goodall; Presented by affable Brit maestro, Howard Goodall (whose own notable works include the theme tunes to Blackadder and Mr. Bean), this enlightening,…
Johnny Cash - The Man, His World, His Music (2000): Feat. Johnny Cash; A loosely constructed documentary that follows country folksinger Johnny Cash on tour and at home in the late 1960s. Though the quality of footage…
Metallica - S & M (2000): Dir. Wayne Isham; Michael Kamen directs the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra in an epic accompaniment for heavy–metal gods Metallica. Songs include: The Ecstasy…
Rapmania (2000): A transcontinental coming–together of US rappers and hiphoppers with twin concerts at New York’s Apollo Theatre and L.A.’s Palace…
Songs for Cassavetes (2000): Dir. Justin Mitchell; Documentary homage to the idealistic, participatory spirit of the latter–day US punk bands of the 1990s. Featuring interviews and…
Art of Piano, The (1999): Dir. Donald Sturrock; Survey of 20th century classical pianists that starts with Hofman and ends with Arrau, taking in such diverse talents of the keyboard as Rachmaninov,…
Buena Vista Social Club (1999): Dir. Wim Wenders; A handful of sprightly elderly Cuban musicians assembled in 1996 by guitarist Ry Cooder produced, with their soulful, melodic jazz sound, the biggest…
Close to You - Remembering the Carpenters (1999): A documentary celebration of Karen and Richard Carpenter's rise to pop stardom. Features extensive interviews with Richard, videos, live…
Ella Fitzgerald - Something to Live For (1999): Dir. Charlotte Zwerin; A modest and carefully selected musical 'album' of jazz singer Fitzgerald's greatest years. Not really biographical in its focus, this…
Fugazi - Instrument (1999): Dir. Jem Cohen, Fugazi; Culled from concert, interview and home footage, this portrayal of fiercely independent rock–bank Fugazi transcends the…
Genghis Blues (1999): Dir. Roko Belic; Absorbing, stranger–than–fiction tale of San Francisco singer Paul Pena’s passion for Tuvan ‘Throat–singing’…
Life and Art - Maria Callas (1999): Dir. Alan Lewens, Alistair Mitchell
Feat. Maria Callas; Sympathetic documentary concerning the life and art of famed opera singer Maria Callas. Features extracts from 'Tosca', "Norma', 'Barber of Seville',…
Paul Robeson: Here I Stand (1999): Dir. St. Clair Bourne; Documentary exploring the life and career of Paul Robeson, the singer, actor and political activist whose distinctive bass baritone is heard on some…
Roy Orbison - In Dreams (1999): Comprehensive documentary claiming to be the only authorised Roy Orbison doco, includes performances of his greatest hits, home video footage and…
UB40 - The Story Of Reggae (1999): Dir. Bob Smeaton; Essentially a South Bank Show Special Edition that tells the story of British reggae–rockers UB40, from their formation in 70's Birmingham…
David Oistrakh - Artist of the People? (1998): Dir. Bruno Monsaingeon; The life of the renowned 20th century Russian violinist, who at times locked horns with the Soviet state, is told through interviews with family and…
Decline of Western Civilization Part III, The (1998): Dir. Penelope Spheeris; The third in Penelope Spheeris' cult trilogy set in the late 90's follows the format and musical subgenre of the original, but with heightened…
Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau - Autumn Journey (1998): Dir. Bruno Monsaingeon; Interviewed on his 70th birthday the German baritone recollects his life and art in fascinating detail. Tape includes an 85–min concert recital…
Frank Sinatra - His Life and Times (1998): Feat. Frank Sinatra; Comprehensive look at Frank's legendary 50–year career, including phases as radio star, Academy Award–winning actor, and quintessential…
Gathering, The (1998): Dir. Kylie Plunkett; Document of the popular New Years Eve celebrations at Takaka Hill 1997–8, featuring a variety of dance–music, local DJs and of course,…
Henry Rollins - You Saw Me There (1998): Dir. Modi; Spoken–word performance from the beefy, former–Black Flag singer, displaying his talent for combining humour with cringe–worthy…
Hey Hey We're The Monkees (1998): Celebratory doco featuring rare concert footage, interviews, outtakes and TV commercials of the actors–turned–'musicians', The Monkees.
Lou Reed - Rock and Roll Heart (1998): Dir. Timothy Greenfield-Sanders
Feat. Lou Reed; Filmic biography tracing the life and career of iconic musician Lou Reed, from his seminal work with The Velvet Underground in the late 60s through…
Modulations (1998): Dir. Iara Lee; Sub–captioned "Cinema for the Ear", this is an enlightening exposition of electronic music – a marginalised yet broadly significant music…
Radiohead - Meeting People Is Easy (1998): Dir. Grant Gee; The album OK COMPUTER took the Oxford quintet into the rock stratosphere, a place where, on this evidence, they'd often rather not be.…
Richter, The Enigma (1998): Dir. Bruno Monsaingeon; Lengthy biography of the supremely expressive Russian pianist Sviatoslav Richter, who only emerged from behind the Iron Curtain in the late 1950s.…
Turandot Project, The (1998): Dir. Allan Miller
Feat. Zhang Yimou, Zubin Mehta; The glorious insanity of Italian opera defeats all obstacles in this amusing behind–the–scenes account of a gigantic international…
Art of Conducting - Volume 2, The (1997): Dir. Peter R Smith; Excellent study of six more conductors of the 20th century – Sergiu Celibidache, Wilhelm Furtwangler, Erich Kleiber, Evgeny Mravinsky, Charles…
Charlie Mingus - Triumph of the Underdog (1997): Dir. Don McGlyn; The enigmatic bass player, as much known for his volcanic temperament as his musical innovations is well–served in jazz–documentarian…
Classic Albums - Bob Marley (Catch A Fire) (1997): Dir. Jeremy Marre; Bob Marley's Catch A Fire deconstructed track–by–track and placed in both personal and creative context by key collaborators. Generously…
Classic Albums - Fleetwood Mac (Rumours) (1997): Dir. David Heffernan; Fleetwood Mac's Rumours deconstructed track–by–track and placed in both personal and creative context by the artists themselves.…
Classic Albums - Grateful Dead (1997): Dir. Jeremy Marre; The Grateful Dead's Anthem to Beauty album deconstructed track–by–track and placed in both personal and creative context by the artists…
Classic Albums - Jimi Hendrix (1997): Jimi Hendrix's Electric Ladyland album deconstructed track–by–track and placed in both personal and creative context by the artists…
Classic Albums - Meat Loaf (Bat Out Of Hell) (1997): Dir. Bob Smeaton
Feat. Meatloaf; Meat Loaf's 'Bat Out Of Hell' deconstructed track–by–track and placed in both personal and creative context by Meat, Jim Steinman, Todd…
Classic Albums - Paul Simon (Graceland) (1997): Dir. Jeremy Marre
Feat. Paul Simon; Paul Simon's "Graceland" album deconstructed track–by–track and placed in both personal and creative context by the artists themselves.…
Classic Albums - Phil Collins (Face Value) (1997): Dir. Jeremy Marre
Feat. Phil Collins; Phil Collins' Face Value deconstructed track–by–track and placed in both personal and creative context by Phil himself and key…
Classic Albums - Steely Dan (1997): Dir. Alan Lewens; Steely Dan's Aja deconstructed track–by–track and placed in both personal and creative context by the group and key collaborators.…
Classic Albums - Stevie Wonder (Songs in the Key of Life) (1997): Dir. David Heffernan; Stevie Wonder's Songs in the Key of Life album deconstructed track–by–track and placed in both personal and creative context by the…
Classic Albums - The Band (1997): The Band's self–titled album deconstructed track–by–track and placed in both personal and creative context by the artists…
Classic Albums - U2 (The Joshua Tree ) (1997): U2's Joshua Tree deconstructed track–by–track and placed in both personal and creative context by the group themselves and collaborators…
Isle of Wight Festival: The Movie - Message to Love (1997): Dir. Murray Lerner; Epic doco capturing the music, anarchy and general behind–the–scenes mayhem at the final Isle of Wight Music Festival in 1970. Dir.…
Kurt and Courtney (1997): Dir. Nick Broomfield; Not even an unofficial biography of 'Nirvana', Kurt Cobain or Courtney Love, but instead a wickedly amusing slice of pop–cultural…
Yo-Yo Ma - Inspired by Bach Vol. 1 (1997): Dir. Kevin McMahon, Francois Girard; Cellist Yo–Yo Ma’s celebrated musical exploration of Bach’s enigmatic solo cello suites, prompted six films, attempting to complement the…
Yo-Yo Ma - Inspired by Bach Vol. 2 (Falling Down Stairs / Sarabande) (1997): Dir. Barbara Willis Sweete, Atom Egoyan
Feat. Arsinee Khanjian, Don McKellar; Cellist Yo–Yo Ma’s celebrated musical exploration of Bach’s enigmatic solo cello suites, prompted six films, attempting to complement the…
Yo-Yo Ma - Inspired by Bach Vol. 3 (1997): Dir. Niv Fichman, Patricia Rozema; Cellist Yo–Yo Ma’s celebrated musical exploration of Bach’s enigmatic solo cello suites, prompted six films, attempting to complement the…
Dancing in the Street (TV Series) (1996): Exemplary documentary chronicles the history of pop music through nine hour–long episodes defined by generic lineage. Truly rare clips and…
Dexter Gordon - More Than You Know (1996): Dir. Don McGlynn; Tenor jazz saxophonist Dexter, renowned for his work with Lionel Hampton and others, gets fan treatment in a lively montage of performance and…
Hype! (1996): Dir. Doug Pray; Absorbing document of the evolution of the Seattle grunge–music 'scene' from its genesis in the early '80s. Reflected in the ambiguous light of…
Jimmy Cliff - Moving On (1996): Reggae laureate Jimmy Cliff talks candidly about his music, religion and Jamaican culture to the tune of his greatest hits. Performances include: The…
Leaving Home (TV Series) (Orchestral Music in the 20th Century) (1996): The famed conductor Sir Simon Rattle here presents an accessible guide to the challenging classical music traditions of the 20th…
Lynyrd Skynyrd (Freebird: The Movie / Tribute Tour) (1996): Dir. Jeff G Waxman, Christine Strand, Nancy Saslow; A feast for Lynyrd Skynyrd fans, this features two full–length movies about the rock–n–roll band of the American South. Freebird…
Rocker, The - A Portrait of Phil Lynott (1996): An in depth look at the life and death of of legendary rocker, Phil Lynott, founding member of top 70's group Thin Lizzy. Through archive footage and…
Transformation of the World Into Music (1996): Dir. Werner Herzog; Werner Herzog, indulging in a love of opera, turns his documentary eye on the Richard Wagner Festival, capturing the pulse of the annual event, and…
Gesualdo - Death for Five Voices (1995): Dir. Werner Herzog; A sharp, sometimes unflattering profile of 16th century composer Don Carol Gesualdo, with dir. Herzog dividing his time between the artist's sexual…
History of Rock 'n' Roll, The (TV Series) (1995): Feat. Elvis Presley, John Lennon, Madonna…; An epic and (mostly) comprehensive journey through the history of rock music from the 1950s to the mid–1990s, featuring an unprecendented…
I Just Wasn't Made for These Times (1995): Dir. Don Was; Step gingerly into the strange world of Beach Boys genius Brian Wilson. Interviews with friends, family and Wilson himself chart a tumultuous and…
Masters Of American Music (1995)
Nico Icon (1995): Dir. Susanne Ofteringer; Most famous as one–time singer for the Velvet Underground or arguably just for being famous, this takes a biographical tour of the late German…
Show, The (1995): Dir. Brian Robbins; Well–made document of a 90s hiphop roadshow featuring Run DMC, Naughty BY Nature, Warren G and Wu–Tang Clan. Combines live and backstage…
32 Short Films About Glenn Gould (1994): Dir. Francois Girard; Built out of 32 disparate fragments, this quasi–doco on the Canadian pianist is fittingly tailored to its difficult and elusive subject,…
Blur - Starshaped (1994): Dir. Matthew Longfellow; Following the early career of 'Britpop' rockers Blur on the road in Europe between 1991 and 1994, this gives a certain insight into the makings of…
Art of Conducting - Volume 1, The (1993): Dir. Sue Knussen; Sixteen of the 20th century’s greatest conductors are studied in this top–notch, award–winning series, including: Bernstein,…
Latcho Drom (1993): Dir. Tony Gatlif; A moving testament to the plight of inter–continental gypsy culture and to the redemptive and communicative power of music, Tony Gatlif's…
Theremin - An Electronic Odyssey (1993): Dir. Steven M. Martin; The fascinating life of Prof. Leon Theremin, the Russian inventor of the Theremin – a unique musical instrument/sound effects generator,…
Mojo Working - The Making of Modern Music (1992): Exhaustive compilation of rare archival footage charting modern music’s greatest influences. Includes seminal performances by BB King, James Brown,…
Search for Robert Johnson (1992): Dir. Chris Hunt; Essential documentary attempts to unshroud the mystery surrounding the legendary Blues singer/songwriter who was murdered in 1938 at only 27.
Stepping Razor Red X (1992): Dir. Nicholas Campbell; A vivid, disturbing portrait of politically–minded reggae–singer Peter Tosh, who after many turbulent years in Jamaica was killed in…
Twist (How Rock 'n' Roll Got its Soul) (1992): Dir. Ron Mann; Toe–tapping, snappy chronicle of pop culture's biggest ever dance craze, The Twist, with terrific archival footage from king 'twisters' Elvis…
Alice Cooper: Prime Cuts (1991): Feat. Alice Cooper; A splendid two–disc compilation of documentaries, interviews, song clips and other delights relating to that theatrical, satirical and depraved…
Cage/Cunningham (1991): Dir. Elliot Caplan; A document of the extraordinary 50–year collaboration between avant–garde composer John Cage and choreographer Merce Cunningham, who…
Monster in a Box (1991): Dir. Nick Broomfield; Spalding Gray recalls the adventures that befell him while trying to write his autobiography. Colourfully delivered monologue with Laurie Anderson…
Ray Charles - The Genius of Soul (1991): A quality TV documentary on the blind soul pianist, featuring live clips, interviews and conversations with friends like Willie Nelson, Billy Joel…
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Funky Monks (1991): Dir. Gavin Bowden; Stylishly shot documentary about the California funksters, caught on the cusp of massive worldwide success.
Time Will Tell - Bob Marley (1991): Dir. Declan Lowney; A fitting tribute to the Third World's first superstar, this gives a unique insight into his life as a spiritual and political spokesman as well his…
Ilé Aiyé (The House of Life) (1989): Dir. David Byrne; David Byrne documents the Candomblé, the African–influenced spirit cult of the Bahia region of Brazil, exploring the ways in which they have…
Let's Get Lost (1989): Dir. Bruce Weber; Stylish biography of jazz trumpeter/singer Chet Baker; rare concert footage and personal interviews combine to detail the life and music of this…
Still Life at the Penguin Cafe (incl. Penguin Cafe Orchestra - A Profile) (1989): Two selections featuring the unique musical entourage 'Penguin Cafe Orchestra' who combine classical and world music genres. 'Still Life at the…
Decline of Western Civilization 2: The Metal Years (1988): Dir. Penelope Spheeris
Feat. Lemmy , Ozzy Osbourne, Megadeth; Affectionate tribute to heavy–metal music, the musicians and the culture. The seen–it–all anecdotes of Lemmy, Ozzy Osbourne and…
Depeche Mode - 101 (1988): Dir. D.A. Pennebaker; Fascinating tour movie gives a fly–on–the–wall insight into the minds of adolescent pop music fans, a group of whom win a tour…
Imagine (1988): Dir. Andrew Solt
Feat. John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison…; A definitive document on the life of John Lennon, comprised of 200 hours of footage from newsreels, interviews and photographs. Narrated by Lennon…
Ladysmith Black Mambazo - Journey of Dreams (1988): Dir. David Lister
Feat. Paul Simon; An informative documentary about the South African vocal group as a window into the world of Apartheid and the irrepressible musical protest of the…
Marvin Gaye - Scenes from a Life (1987): Scenes from the life of the great soul singer Marvin Gaye – known for his particularly sincere delivery and progressive albums and songwriting.
Rolling Stone - 20 Years of Rock 'n' Roll (1987): Feat. Dennis Hopper; Dennis Hopper hosts this informative showcase of American rock history from the psychedelic era onwards, via clips and interviews with the performers…
Athens, GA - Inside Out (1986): Dir. Tom Gayton; A likeable survey of the music–scene in Athens, Georgia in its mid–80s heyday when bands like R.E.M. and The B–52s formed the…
Heavy Metal Parking Lot (1986): Dir. John Heyn, Jeff Krulik; A public access TV crew turn their cameras to a concert venue parking lot before a 'Judas Priest' performance, resulting in a hilarious short film…
Louie Bluie (1985): Dir. Terry Zwigoff; The feature debut of director Terry Zwigoff (CRUMB) explores the life and music of William Howard Taft Armstrong, (known as Louie Bluie), a blues…
We are the World (1985): The complete story behind the renowned 1980s charity pop–song 'We are the World' is covered in this anniversary special edition of the original…
Beach Boys: An American Band (1984): Dir. Malcolm Leo; Authorized history of the Californian hitmakers. Includes some rare, eyebrow–raising footage of Wilson family lunacy.
Another State of Mind (1983): Dir. Adam Small; A compelling time–capsule from the early 1980s American punk–scene, documenting the travails of two L.A. bands (Social Distortion and…
Other Side of Nashville, The (1983): Feat. Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash; The 'alternative' stars of country music are the subject of this loose documentary, which includes some rare live footage. Featured are Bob Dylan,…
Style Wars (1983): Dir. Tony Silver; Landmark PBS documentary on the explosion of graffiti art in New York in the late 70s/early 80s, which became an important foundation stone in the…
Rolling Stones - Let's Spend the Night Together (1982): Dir. Hal Ashby
Feat. Mick Jagger; Above–average concert film of Brit rockers The Rolling Stones, which combines three individual concerts from their 1981 US tour and assorted…
Wild Style (1982): Dir. Charles Ahearn; The Hip–hop movement had it first wide impact via this documentary–drama shot on the streets of The Bronx in 1982. With its close…
Decline of Western Civilization, The (1981): Dir. Penelope Spheeris; Iconic exploration of the Los Angeles punk scene circa 1980 featuring behind–the–scenes and performance footage of seminal bands X, The…
Heartworn Highways (1981): Dir. James Szalapski; Cult documentary on country music's 'Outlaw Movement' of the 1970s, featuring key players like Townes Van Zandt, Guy Clark, Rodney Crowell, Steve…
From Mao to Mozart (1980): Dir. Murray Lerner; Deserving winner of the Best Documentary Oscar follows violinist Isaac Stern on his concert and tutorial tour of China in 1979. A film as moving as…
Memories of Duke Ellington (1980): A tribute to the great jazz composer–pianist 'Duke' Ellington, who created and developed his own sophisticated aesthetic from the late 1920s to…
We Jam Econo - The Story of The Minutemen (1980-1985): Dir. Tim Irwin; Detailed documentary on the too–brief life of the intensely creative and somewhat groundbreaking band, The Minutemen. The history of the band…
Benjamin Britten: A Time There Was (1979): Dir. Tony Palmer; Revered British composer Benjamin Britten’s life and times is given the royal Tony Palmer treatment in this comprehensive, loving portrait of…
Kids Are Alright, The (1979): Dir. Jeff Stein
Feat. Keith Moon, Roger Daltrey, Pete Townshend; Chaotic yet compulsive documentary defining the eclectic career of 'The Who', made shortly before the death of drummer Keith Moon. The others, of…
Last of the Blue Devils, The (1979): Dir. Bruce Ricker; Jazz documentary covering everything from the Basie big–band sound to Kansas City Jazz and blues and the rock and roll that brought attention…
Rust Never Sleeps (1979): Dir. Neil Young
Feat. Neil Young; King loser Neil Young triumphs in this concert film of him and Crazy Horse at the height of their rustic charm. Twenty songs, a great guitar sound…
All You Need is Love (TV Series) (1977): Dir. Tony Palmer; Prolific arts filmmaker Tony Palmer oversaw this landmark, encyclopedic history of modern pop and rock – prescribed viewing for anyone who’s ever…
Grateful Dead Movie, The (1977): Dir. Jerry Garcia
Feat. Jerry Garcia
Tomorrow Show, The: John, Paul, Tom and Ringo (1975-1981): Hosted by broadcasting legend Tom Synder, this features the last ever interview with John Lennon before he disappeared from the public eye, as well…
Johnny Cash - Ridin' The Rails: The Great American Train Story (1974): Dir. Nicholas Webster
Feat. Johnny Cash; Johnny Cash narrates this fascinating glimpse into the history of America's railroads, which includes performances of his well–loved songs…
Leonard Cohen: Bird on a Wire (1974): Dir. Tony Palmer
Feat. Leonard Cohen; Fittingly moody portrait of the master of melancholy is an intimate account of his exhausting 1972 European Tour.
Wattstax (1973): Dir. Mel Stuart; A little–seen yet significant concert film of the 'Wattstax' festival in Los Angeles in 1972, organised to commemorate the 7th anniversary of…
George Harrison and Friends: The Concert for Bangladesh (1972): Feat. George Harrison, Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan…; A lavish presentation of possibly the first all–star charity concert, organised by ex–Beatle George Harrison in 1971 at Madison Square…
Ladies and Gentlemen...The Rolling Stones (1972): Dir. Rollin Binzer; Legendary Stones concert film captures the band at arguably their artistic peak shortly after the release of Exile on Main Street. Filmed on a…
Elvis - That's the Way It Is (1970): Dir. Denis Sanders
Feat. Elvis Presley; The King is captured in preparation of an elaborate Las Vegas concert that was to mark the end of an eight year absence from public performance. With…
Gimme Shelter (1970): Dir. David Maysles, Albert Maysles, Charlotte Zwerin
Feat. Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ron Wood…; The Rolling Stones captured at the summit of their popularity and musical form in 1970, on the tour that led to disaster at Altamont. The Maysles…
Groupies (1970): Dir. Ron Dorfman, Peter Nevard; A flawed but fascinating glimpse into the world of rock groupies (both male and female) during the heyday of psychedelia in 1969. Though managing…
Let It Be (1970): Dir. Michael Lindsay-Hogg
Feat. John Lennon, George Harrison, Paul McCartney…; 'Fly on the wall' chronicling of The Beatles' recording session for their "Let It Be" album that unwittingly provided glimpses into the fractious…
Nashville Sound, The (1970): Dir. David Hoffman, Robert Elfstrom; Encyclopedic doco filmed during Country Music Week 1969, featuring a pretty impressive lineup from a great period for the form. Includes Roy…
Woodstock (1970): Dir. Michael Wadleigh; Historical gathering of the world's best rock performers and half a million Americans for an unabashed weekend of sex, drugs, rock and roll and…
All My Loving (1968): Dir. Tony Palmer; Early essay–piece from Tony Palmer was born from a challenge to the then–classical music documentarian by John Lennon and Paul McCartney:…
Complete Monterey Pop Festival, The (Monterey Pop, Jimi Plays Monterey, Shake! Otis at Monterey) (1968-1997): Dir. D.A. Pennebaker
Feat. Jimi Hendrix, Otis Redding; In 1967 the acclaimed documentary maker D.A. Pennebaker recorded performances at the Monterey Pop Festival, California. This…
Doors, The - Feast of Friends (1968): Previously only available as a bootleg, this long sought after documentary, self–produced by The Doors, features mythological footage of the…
Elvis - '68 Comeback Special (1968): Feat. Elvis Presley; An extraordinary and comprehensive compilation of material centering around the televised 'comeback' of Elvis Presley in 1968. In addition to the…
Don't Look Back - Bob Dylan (1967): Dir. D.A. Pennebaker
Feat. Bob Dylan; One of the best portraits of an artist ever committed to film, this extraordinary documentary about Bob Dylan captures the man behind the phenomenon…
Festival! (1967): Dir. Murray Lerner; A valuable time–capsule of the mid–1960s US folk movement, which browses performances from the Newport Folk Festival in the 1963–66…
Elgar (1962): Dir. Ken Russell
Feat. Peter Brett, Rowena Gregory, George McGrath; Restrained and brilliant TV docudrama on England’s greatest 20th century composer, Edward Elgar, that made the director’s name and…
Two Sides of Johnny Cash (Five Minutes to Live + Johnny Cash: An Anthology) (1961): Dir. Bill Karn
Feat. Johnny Cash; Double disc DVD includes Cash's starring turn in sixities B–movie thriller FIVE MINUTES TO LIVE, plus JOHNNY CASH: AN ANTHOLOGY, a tribute…
European Nights (1959): Dir. Alessandro Blasetti; A variety bill of nightclub acts from the heyday of European cabaret. Included are acts from Carmen Sevilla, The Platters, Ukrainian Balalaika…
Delius (1958): Dir. Ken Russell; Ken Russell's BBC film biography of the music and life of English composer Frederick Delius, who had to overcome blindness and paralysis to fulfil…
Complete Beatles, The: Feat. Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison…; Almost everything you ever wanted to know about the pop music phenomenon is here contained. Their performances, recording and marketing techniques…
Doors, The - Tribute to Jim Morrison: An interesting documentary on which much of Oliver Stone's film was based. Much rare footage is intercut with interviews from band members and…
Songmakers Collection, The: Dir. Morgan Neville; Documentary about the musical revolution that took place in New York's Brill Building, an office space a few blocks from Times Square dubbed "The Hit…

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