Here's a short (just over thirty minutes) video about Richard Manuel, the pianist/singer/drummer of The Band:

https://youtu.be/7r2w5ioGgqE?si=s7LUHImyLPSiBQQi

Posted yesterday on YouTube, a nice little video the subject of which is one of Americana music’s two MVP’s: Larry Campbell (the other is Buddy Miller). Here tis:

https://youtu.be/29SPfLhJYaI?si=s6KzwVWggTakINCD

I watched a few,about the Doors,on You Tube. 

+1 Lemmy

Beyond the Lighted Stage - Rush

Jaco - Jaco Pastorius

Lemmy - Lemmy Kilmister

I agree with every post on here...a first! One outstanding film that is missing is 

Chuck Leavell: Tree Man

You can watch it on YouTube for free now. He's written some of the best, most recognizable keyboard solos in modern music history Check it out:

Check Leavell: Tree Man

Since Ken Burns' Country Music is mentioned, I'll add Ken Burns' Jazz documentary. Another one I just remembered is Louie Bluie. It's about Howard Armstrong, who was a member of the Black American string band, Martin, Bogen and the Armstrongs. It was directed by bdp24's friend Terry Zwigoff.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Qv9HEc2-EE

If it hasn't been suggested yet I would recommend the PBS documentary "Introducing Roy Buchanan" (also referred to as "The Greatest Unknown Guitar Player in the World")

I was planning to see Roy play a free outdoor show in Guilford, CT when I learned a day or two before the show that he had hung himself in jail. Such a loss.

Hall of Fame guitarist, John Cippolina, slipped under the radar of many, but deserves respect and consideration. RIP, Mr. Coppolina.

Here are a few links to documentaries about John’s life and music:

The first one is 4 minutes well spent if you want a short introduction to John’s personality, wit, and how he viewed the music industry.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_aV8cm9x7NA

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11115712/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIw7NasZhmU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHeShg2zvvE

And then there is classical music!  The Ken Russell 1962 documentary on Elgar made for the British Broadcasting Corporation's fine arts program Monitor was voted best TV program of the decade in the UK.  That is despite Monitor insisting that the actors were not allowed to speak, and the documentary being shot in black and white.  It kick started Ken Russell's film career and several other music documentaries.

Worth an hour of anybody's time, in my opinion.

I don’t think anyone mentioned Song of the South: The rise of Duane Allman and the Allman Brothers Band, which I enjoyed and recommend.

I’ve enjoyed many of the documentaries mentioned above. One documentarian not mentioned yet whose films are well worth tracking down is Les Blank. He’s done some really good work with blues musicians, particularly Lightnin’ Hopkins. Look for:

The Blues Accordin’ to Lightnin’ Hopkins

A Well-spent Life (Mance Lipscomb)

A Poem is a Naked Person (Leon Russell)

His catalog is vast and includes films about Tex-mex, Mexican, Cajun, Bluegrass and other music genres.

if you happen to be a fan of Werner Herzog, you might enjoy Werner Herzog eats a shoe, about a bet Herzog made with Blank and lost.

Though not acclaimed for his music, his art has long been "music-adjacent": R. Crumb. The documentary is entitled Crumb, made by his friend Terry Zwigoff. His record collection (shown in the film) appears to be entirely 78's (played on a Lenco table, iirc), recordings of "old timey" music from the early part of the 20th century. His view and opinion of the San Francisco bands he was surrounded by (expressed in the film) are really funny. He probably approves of Dan Hicks & His Hot Licks.

“If You Could Read My Mind” about Gordon Lightfoot on Amazon Prime is really good. Gordon narrates most of it himself & is very honest about his life. He’s one of the greatest singer / songwriters ever. 

Loved the animation on that.

@scottya118 -

Beware of Mr. Baker-How many documentaries begin with the subject assaulting the director? LOL

Festival Express 1970 is currently streaming. That's a hoot.

The Bogdanovich documentary on Petty was excellent.

Loved Ken Burns' "Country Music"

Beware of Mr. Baker is a must.

Don’t Look Back - Bob Dylan’s solo tour through England, 1965 - 

What the Hell happened to Blood Sweat and Tears.

Another interesting aspect.....

Documentary on Muscle Shoals; https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2492916/

Unbelievable what Rick Hall put together at Fame Studios in that Alabama town.

Feel Like Going Home. PBS Documentary on the Delta Blues by Scorsese.

https://www.pbs.org/theblues/aboutfilms/scorsese.html

Who is Harry Nilsson and why is everybody talkin’ about him? Highly enjoyable and informative.

@bdp24 -

Wrecking Crew is a terrific documentary. This is one of my favorite parts-Tommy Tedesco ("the King of session guitarists").

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DVnW6SeOl4

Has anyone watched "Pop Go the 60's"? It's on youtube. Matt Williamson does pretty forward, decently researched features/segments on bands from that era.

https://www.popgoesthe60s.com/

@immatthewj -

Thanks for the clips. Going forward, I don’t think I will be able to watch Stevie Nicks sing without focusing on her nose. LOL.

@immatthewj 

@bdp24 

Another musician, of Beatle fame, George Harrison damaged his vocal cords with cocaine during his 1974 tour. I saw him at Nassau Coliseum, and I remember by the end of the show his intonation was non-existent and he was shouting the lyrics to "What is Life." And if I remember correctly, in Martin Scorcese's "All Things Must Pass", they mention the amount of coke George consumed on tour.

@yogiboy: Speaking of mono Everly Brothers albums, when the brothers moved from Cadence Records to Warner Brothers, they rerecorded all their hit songs in stereo (the Cadence recordings were monaural), and Warners released those recordings on an album entitled The Very Best Of The Everly Brothers (WB catalog no. WS1554). That was the first album of theirs I acquired, in 1969. The fidelity of those recordings is fantastic! The front cover of the LP is emblazed with the proclamation "NEWLY RECORDED."

In the 1980’s I crossed paths with Rhino Records reissue engineer Bill Inglot in the Rhino storefront in Westwood Village. By that time I had numerous Everly Brothers albums that had been reissued by both Rhino and Ace, and found the Ace versions somewhat superior to the Rhino’s. I asked Bill if he had heard the Ace LP’s (and told him I thought the Ace sounded better than the Rhinos he had mastered. How rude!). He replied he had, and agreed with me about the Ace LP’s sounding better than the Rhinos. He attributed that superiority to the better electronic mastering chain Ace had in relation to that of Rhino.

This is Linda Ronstadt on Glen Campbell’s Good Time Hour (1971), doing Long, Long Time solo and then a duet (Carolina In My Mind) with Glen.  When I first watched it several years ago on Tubi, my initial impression was that her voice was sounding on the nasal side, and then before she gets started singing with Glen the side of her hand goes up to her nose and there is that telltale "snarff." . . .

Linda Ronstadt & then Glen Campbell - Long, Long Time & Carolina in My Mind

. . . and speaking of indulging in happy powder, check out Steve Earle in Austin (1988) doing San Antonio Girl for an encore:

Steve Earle - "San Antonio Girl" [Live from Austin, TX]

Martin Scorsese developed quite a coke habit in the 1970’s (I believe when he and Robertson were at one point living together in L.A.), and on one binge overdosed, ending up in the hospital.

It sure looked like both Robertson and Clapton had been into the happy powder pretty heavy when they were playing together. . . .

Martin Scorsese developed quite a coke habit in the 1970’s (I believe when he and Robertson were at one point living together in L.A.), and on one binge overdosed, ending up in the hospital.

" [. . .] it’s such a fine  line, I hate to see it go [. . .]"  from Cocaine/Jackson Browne/Running On Empty/Electra Asylum 1977/"Recorded in room 124 at the Holiday Inn, Edwardsville, Illinois-8/17/77."  (I presume he was performong at MRF Edwardsville.)

@wharfy , when I read your post I thought maybe it was this performance that you were alluding to

Bing Videos

and I was going to say I kind of liked Nicks husky sound which I was thinking may have been attributed to the use of some cocaine, but I do see where this performance was from ’76, so I guess not.

How about Linda Ronstadt, the Simple Dreams album?  I always thought (and still think) that Linda’s voice had a nasal (but not objectionable quality) to it.

And Eric Clapton/Slowhand?  When he recorded that one his voice was definitely suffering from what I am thinking were certain excesses.  Cigarettes and what have you.  

 Robbie Robertson looks kinda wired throughout the film.

"Kinda wired"?   @bdp24 , the whole time he is introducing Neil Young before Helpless he is sniffling and snuffling!  He looks lit up when he is playing with Clapton!

On edit6:  I am pretty sure I remember in Once Were Brothers Hawkins talking about a cocaine buy that was made prior to the concert and I am thinking he said that in his opinion it wasn't very good coke.  But they all looked like they were doing okay to me.

 @bdp24 I forgot to mention that about ten years ago I bought a limited edition of 1500  in mono of the original cadence recording .Outstanding!

@yogiboy: I got myself two copies of the Songs Our Daddy Taught Us LP back in the 80’s, but they were reissues on Ace Records (a great UK label) and Rhino. The original is hard to find in good condition, and for years has been in my "Look for" notebook I take with me when I’m out hunting down records. I’m a patient kind of guy, so one day I’ll find a copy.

I buy every good condition original pressing Everly Brothers LP I find, and currently have 29 in my collection (5 on CD). That includes the pair of albums they did in the 80’s with Dave Edmunds producing. Lately I’ve found a few of the brothers solo albums on LP as well. Love The Everly Brothers to death! By far my favorite of the original 1950’s Rock ’n’ Roll acts. Speaking of Edmunds, posted below is a video of "Here Comes The Weekend", a song co-written by Dave and Nick Lowe and found on Dave's "perfect" album Get It. The song is obviously modeled on the EV Brothers, with Dave singing both vocal parts.

I like Norah Jones, and don’t mind Green Day, but I’ve not been terribly motivated to give Foreverly a listen. How is it?

Has everyone heard the story about Scorsese electronically removing the clump of white powder that was clearly visible in Neil Young’s nostril in The Last Waltz? In an interview with one of the performers, the artist said there was a table behind the Winterland stage, on top of which was a giant mountain of cocaine. Robbie Robertson looks kinda wired throughout the film.

https://youtu.be/nlbdmR0HETk?si=rWQIYGGjJ9jfJUry

And this great tribute LP!

@bdp24 Do you have this LP? It is my favorite Everly Brothers recording!

@goodlistening64 -

I'm laughing too...we should start a thread, "Singers who destroyed their voices because of drugs."

Stevie Nicks

Jerry Garcia

Whitney Houston

@lmnop -Good catch!  The Kids Are Alright is fantastic.

Surprised no mention of The Who, either The Kids Are Alright or Amazing Journey. But the one to seek out is We Jam Econo; The Story of the Minutemen. D Boon like so many others, gone too soon.

@wharfy 

The amount of cocaine they consumed is astounding.

That made me chuckle. I read Stevie Nicks autobiography and she stated she spent millions on the drug. A plastic surgeon told her that her nose could be irreparably damaged to the point of losing her voice which is why she finally checked herself into rehab in 1985.

When I read the book, I eagerly picked up Fleetwood Mac LIVE, which was recorded in 1980. Kind of the peak of when the band was putting bottle caps of coke all over the stage for one to partake while performing.

Stevie's singing on the LIVE album is horrific. More so when you know why. She sounds like she has a cold - all stuffed up! - and when you know the truth it is a hard listen. I jettisoned that album quickly after realizing that the band couldn't stop for one night to ensure they sounded as they should. In fact, they were not even aware that they sounded awful. 

Has anyone watched "Quincy", the documentary about Quincy Jones?

The list of accomplishments is too large to cover here. This is from wikipedia-The film epilogue details his career as follows: "Over 2,900 songs recorded; over 300 albums recorded; 51 film and television scores; over 1,000 original compositions; 79 Grammy nominations; 28 Grammy awards; 1 of 18 EGOT winners (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony); Thriller the best selling album of all time; We Are the World the best selling single of all time; $63 million raised for famine relief in Africa; and 7 children."

For those who need prompting, here's the trailer for the Everly Brothers documentary nominated above by yogiboy:

https://youtu.be/QrADLcz_a-0?si=1whsKAhGkVmBqI36

@yogiboy: Thanks for the Everly Brothers tip. I love them, and was unaware of the documentary. Dave Edmunds and Nick Lowe are big fans of theirs, and they included a 7" EP in the first pressing of the Rockpile album, in which they perform four of the brothers' songs.

“The Velvet Underground”, a documentary about the legendary 60’s band that is currently available from the Criterion Collection. This one is in my Blu-Ray collection. 
 

https://www.criterion.com/films/33386-the-velvet-underground

Lots of good picks so far. If I had to only recommend one music related documentary, it would probably be "Muscle Shoals."

Here's a few that have not been mentioned yet: 

BADFINGER - Director's Cut

BECOMING LED ZEPPELIN - If you can see (and hear) this in an IMAX theater, it is well worth the time and effort.

HUNG UP ON A DREAM (The Zombies)

IMMEDIATE FAMILY - Directed by Damon Tedesco ("The Wrecking Crew") about the careers of studio musicians: Danny Kortchmar - Russ Kunkel - Lee Sklar & Waddy Wachtel.

SEARCHING FOR SUGARMAN (Rodriguez)  

Tom Petty: Heartbreakers Beach Party.  Paramount +.  Played on MTV one time in the early 80s.  Just updated and released.  The story of the band doing the album Long After Dark. RIP TP. 

We really enjoyed this:

Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band  (2024)

The "Decline of Western Civilization," "20 Feet from Stardom," and "Heartworn Highway" are particularly good mentions.  I would add the following:

"Festival Express" (train tour across Canada by The Band, Grateful Dead and The Flying Burrito Bros.)

"American Hardcore" (about the early Hardcore music scene)

"This is Spinal Tap" (the best fake documentary on any subject)

The Last Waltz

A new concept for general release in cinemas. A visionary director and recorded in stereo sound in the early days of FM broadcasting in the UK. The film aired on TV and BBC Radio Two simultaneously allowing for stereophonic sound.

l can remember setting my alarm clock for 2 O Clock in the morning to get up and set the Stereo Video and radio station to be able to record and mix onto video tape the concert film. Terrestrial TV was not broadcasting at that time in Stereo. Obviously the concert later was easily available in all formats but in the 80s “simulticasts” as they were called was then cutting edge technology in the UK.