October-18th-2005, 01:57 PM
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#1
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House ghost
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Sweden
Posts: 1,918
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Favourite music documentary?
What's the best music documentary/documentaries you've seen?
Music documentaries often disappoint me by being too much non-critical idol worshipping, which is probably why my choice is "Nico Icon" by Susan Ofteringer which doesn't try to wipe the dirt of Nico's career under the rug to make a more flattering portrait.
A second choice would be "A Skin Too Few - The Days of Nick Drake" by Jeroen Berkvens, largely for its slow, impressionistic beauty.
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October-18th-2005, 02:11 PM
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#2
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www.steveminkin.com
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Healdsburg, Sonoma County, California
Posts: 11,961
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The best I ever saw was an obscure film called "Flamenco" -- a series of dances and musical performances that started great and got better. Not sure if this one's ever made it to DVD.
This was the second best, a GREAT documentary on Latin jazz, and a favorite of our late friend Dobie:
Another favorite featured the recently deceased Paul Pena:
And the original Buena Vista Social Club was a pretty great movie, too.
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October-18th-2005, 02:21 PM
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#3
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Six decades
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Capital City
Posts: 12,801
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"Don't Look Back " and "Gimme Shelter."
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October-18th-2005, 02:26 PM
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#4
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Middle Man
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: New England
Posts: 6,302
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October-18th-2005, 02:33 PM
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#5
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Just be frank
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: SF
Posts: 13,434
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October-18th-2005, 02:37 PM
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#6
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De harder dey come...
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 6,336
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Chuck Berry Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll (1987)
 Directed by
Taylor Hackford
Thelonious Monk - Straight No Chaser
DVD ~ Charlotte Zwerin
Last edited by groover; October-18th-2005 at 02:37 PM.
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October-18th-2005, 03:09 PM
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#7
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Columnated ruins domino
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Melrose, MA
Posts: 9,999
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Definitely agree with Don't Look Back, Gimme Shelter (which, nonetheless, I just can't watch), and Straight No Chaser. The others I haven't seen. I would add:
The Gospel According to Al Green
Brian Wilson: I Just Wasn't Made For These Times
Wattstax
Rock & Roll (PBS) - particularly the Dylan/Beatles, Funk, and Punk episodes
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October-18th-2005, 03:13 PM
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#8
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Quitting @ 10.4k
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: New York state
Posts: 11,087
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Standing in the Shadows of Motown
Last edited by rollhead; January-17th-2007 at 03:05 PM.
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October-18th-2005, 03:19 PM
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#9
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www.steveminkin.com
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Healdsburg, Sonoma County, California
Posts: 11,961
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Strong seconds for Standing In The Shadows of Motown (Vote for Martha for Detroit City Council!!) and Don't Look Back.
Is Gimme Shelter the one about the Altimont concert? A lot of my friends were at that one, and I saw the film about it when it came out, not long after the concert -- very charged atmosphere in the theater! Haven't seen it since.
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October-18th-2005, 03:20 PM
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#10
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Six decades
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Capital City
Posts: 12,801
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Squaredancecalling Steve
Is Gimme Shelter the one about the Altimont concert? A lot of my friends were at that one, and I saw the film about it when it came out, not long after the concert -- very charged atmosphere in the theater! Haven't seen it since.
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Yep. It covers teh '69 Stones tour first, with great footage from Madison Square Garden, and the setup and misexecution of Altamont, along with the band's reactions in the editing room.
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October-18th-2005, 03:25 PM
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#11
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How I love robbin' banks!
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 886
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October-18th-2005, 03:44 PM
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#12
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Middle Man
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: New England
Posts: 6,302
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This is a fine series:
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October-18th-2005, 04:02 PM
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#13
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Kills all threads!
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Chicago
Posts: 2,217
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Didn't Ken Burns do something about Jazz?
How was that?
__________________
"The challenge of creative music has never been more important than in periods of profound unrest and realignment."--Anthony Braxton
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October-18th-2005, 05:26 PM
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#14
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Victory at sea!
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Santa Cruz
Posts: 8,594
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October-18th-2005, 05:32 PM
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#15
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www.steveminkin.com
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Healdsburg, Sonoma County, California
Posts: 11,961
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Rob C
Didn't Ken Burns do something about Jazz?
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No, he did a Civil War thing and a gumbo thing, but he never did anything about jazz.
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October-18th-2005, 06:14 PM
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#16
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 5,904
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Hated: GG Allin and the Murder Junkies. The most compelling part is the special features part which has him being filmed walking around Manhattan after his last show, on the way to score the heroin on which he'd fatally OD.
Less compelling but more enjoyable was Rebel Music: The Bob Marley Story, which is the best of any of the Marley stuff i've seen. The Johnny Cash Anthology documentary is enjoyable as well.
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October-18th-2005, 06:17 PM
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#17
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Victory at sea!
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Santa Cruz
Posts: 8,594
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Borat Pri Hagafen
Hated: GG Allin and the Murder Junkies. The most compelling part is the special features part which has him being filmed walking around Manhattan after his last show, on the way to score the heroin on which he'd fatally OD.
Less compelling but more enjoyable was Rebel Music: The Bob Marley Story, which is the best of any of the Marley stuff i've seen. The Johnny Cash Anthology documentary is enjoyable as well.
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I liked the whole thing.
Is that the Marley doc that shows him onstage with Michael Manley and that other politician brought onstage to shake hands during a concert with the lightning flashing in the background?
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October-18th-2005, 06:30 PM
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#18
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 5,904
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Surfer
I liked the whole thing.
Is that the Marley doc that shows him onstage with Michael Manley and that other politician brought onstage to shake hands during a concert with the lightning flashing in the background?
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The Manley-Seaga handshake is in Heartland Reggae, which is packaged as if it's a Marley concert/documentary but really isn't.
From the Amazon review of Rebel Music...
Aside from the clips of Marley himself, Bunny Livingstone and Peter Tosh (the Wailers), Island Records founder Chris Blackwell, two Jamaican prime ministers (Socialist Michael Manley and Conservative Edward Seaga), and even a CIA official (Philip Agee) all make an appearance. The breadth of Marley's music is represented by over 40 tracks, from the early ska hit "Judge Not" to later political numbers like "Africa Unite."
Rita Marley is also heavily interviewed, and says things that i hadn't heard before.
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October-18th-2005, 06:34 PM
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#19
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Victory at sea!
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Santa Cruz
Posts: 8,594
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Borat Pri Hagafen
The Manley-Seaga handshake is in Heartland Reggae, which is packaged as if it's a Marley concert/documentary but really isn't.
From the Amazon review of Rebel Music...
Aside from the clips of Marley himself, Bunny Livingstone and Peter Tosh (the Wailers), Island Records founder Chris Blackwell, two Jamaican prime ministers (Socialist Michael Manley and Conservative Edward Seaga), and even a CIA official (Philip Agee) all make an appearance. The breadth of Marley's music is represented by over 40 tracks, from the early ska hit "Judge Not" to later political numbers like "Africa Unite."
Rita Marley is also heavily interviewed, and says things that i hadn't heard before.
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Huh. I'm not a Marley junkie but i like his music, and his life was interesting, and that footage of him onstage with Seaga-Manley with the lightning crack going OFF in the near background is riveting.
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October-18th-2005, 06:38 PM
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#20
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House ghost
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Sweden
Posts: 1,918
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Speaking of reggae documentaries, I enjoy "Roots Rock Reggae" from 1977, directed by Jeremy Marre of "Rebel Music" fame.
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October-18th-2005, 06:43 PM
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#21
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 5,904
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Surfer
Huh. I'm not a Marley junkie but i like his music, and his life was interesting, and that footage of him onstage with Seaga-Manley with the lightning crack going OFF in the near background is riveting.
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Yeah, no doubt. My friend who's a major Marley junkie looks at that moment as if the power of the gesture of Marley bringing those 2 together is what caused the lightning. Certainly a captivating moment.
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October-18th-2005, 06:53 PM
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#22
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Victory at sea!
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Santa Cruz
Posts: 8,594
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Borat Pri Hagafen
Yeah, no doubt. My friend who's a major Marley junkie looks at that moment as if the power of the gesture of Marley bringing those 2 together is what caused the lightning. Certainly a captivating moment.
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The timing of the lightning is UNCANNY. Its almost exactly when he brings their hands together.
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October-18th-2005, 11:11 PM
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#23
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Reevaluating @ 500k
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Here
Posts: 31,326
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I was really impressed by:
Tom Dowd was a visionary & a mensch.
This was a Dobie favorite too.
Last edited by Pete C; October-18th-2005 at 11:14 PM.
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October-18th-2005, 11:26 PM
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#24
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Registered Osprey
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: DC (Taxation Without Representation)
Posts: 8,888
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 Always For Pleasure (1978)
An intense insider's portrait of New Orleans' street celebrations and unique cultural gumbo: Second-line parades, Mardi Gras, Jazz Fest. Features live music from Professor Longhair, the Wild Tchoupitoulas, the Neville Brothers and more. This glorious, soul-satisfying film is among [Les] Blank's special masterworks.
58 minutes. ISBN: 0-933621-00-0.
Home Video: $29.95
Home DVD: $29.95
Universities and University Libraries: $99.00
and I second Calle 54!
Last edited by bluenoter; October-18th-2005 at 11:28 PM.
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October-18th-2005, 11:37 PM
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#25
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 4,331
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Yes, 'A Skin Too Few'. I accidently taped over my copy.
There was a rather odd Doc on John Cale I saw a few years ago. I remember that it was very good but slightly unsettling. There was a scene in a slaughterhouse (can't remember why) which was very difficult to watch. This one wasn't the idol worship type iirc unlike the Lou Reed one, Rock and Roll Heart.
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October-19th-2005, 12:11 AM
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#26
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georgebushbroketheworld
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Vermont
Posts: 910
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Surfer
Huh. I'm not a Marley junkie but i like his music, and his life was interesting, and that footage of him onstage with Seaga-Manley with the lightning crack going OFF in the near background is riveting.
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This is my favorite Bob Marley video: Bob Marley Story - Caribbean Nights
Good interviews. Great music. Cool footage of funeral celebration. Bob's Mom is cool. Peter is philosophical. Judy Mowat is whacked.
Must see.
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October-19th-2005, 12:18 AM
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#27
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 5,904
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Mingus
This is my favorite Bob Marley video: Bob Marley Story - Caribbean Nights
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I've never seen this, but it looks like it's slated for a November 8th DVD release, so i'll definitely add it to my list.
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October-19th-2005, 12:24 AM
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#28
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georgebushbroketheworld
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Vermont
Posts: 910
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Borat Pri Hagafen
I've never seen this, but it looks like it's slated for a November 8th DVD release, so i'll definitely add it to my list.
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I've had it on vhs for years. never gets old. I'm sure you'll enjoy it!
Cheers!
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October-19th-2005, 05:26 AM
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#29
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House ghost
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Sweden
Posts: 1,918
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by JBW
Yes, 'A Skin Too Few'. I accidently taped over my copy.
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Too bad you lost it, it still doesn't seem to be out on DVD. 
Quote:
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There was a rather odd Doc on John Cale I saw a few years ago. I remember that it was very good but slightly unsettling. There was a scene in a slaughterhouse (can't remember why) which was very difficult to watch. This one wasn't the idol worship type iirc unlike the Lou Reed one, Rock and Roll Heart.
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Could it be this one?
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John Cale
documentary directed by James Marsh, 60 min, Wales, 1998
Documentary profiling Cale's life - some kind of a film companion
to his autobiograhy What's Welsh For Zen.
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I wasn't aware of its existence, but I'd sure like to see it, especially now since I'm reading "What's Welsh for Zen?".
I recently watched the Reed documentary you mention and I agree it strays a bit too far into idol worship territory. It does however pay some attention to "Metal Machine Music" which surprised me given its slightly oily TV documentary style.
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October-19th-2005, 09:18 AM
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#30
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 4,331
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by AntManBee
Could it be this one?
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
John Cale
documentary directed by James Marsh, 60 min, Wales, 1998
Documentary profiling Cale's life - some kind of a film companion
to his autobiograhy What's Welsh For Zen.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
I wasn't aware of its existence, but I'd sure like to see it, especially now since I'm reading "What's Welsh for Zen?".
I recently watched the Reed documentary you mention and I agree it strays a bit too far into idol worship territory. It does however pay some attention to "Metal Machine Music" which surprised me given its slightly oily TV documentary style.
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Yes, AntManBee, I'm pretty sure that's the Cale one.
btw. The New Cale album is pretty good but the release seems to have gone unnoticed. I expected to see a few reviews around and Lazarus is the only other person I've seen mention it.
I did enjoy Rock and Roll heart but as you said in the first post...
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Music documentaries often disappoint me...
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Yes, me too so the Reed one actually has some good moments in comparison with others I've seen but started to wear out its welcome near the end.
I woud like see a documentary wholly devoted to VU with some time devoted to Sterling, Mo and Doug; is there one?. As I've said before I'm a big fan of the combined sounds of Lou and Sterl's guitar. I'm sure the VU seem a bit old hat to some but the records, particularly the first 2 and 1969 Live, still surprise me even after all these years.
Last edited by john williams; October-19th-2005 at 09:26 AM.
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