I feel fortunate to have seen some great movies or documentaries about music and musicians lately. (Well, within the last 10 months.)
I would like to recommend them to you, especially if you want to learn what drives particular artists; and where some of the new stuff is coming from.
First -- the Jersey Boys, about the rise of the Four Seasons in the sixties. An unusual American group that survived the Beatles invasion of North America. They had hits, some number 1s, before and AFTER the so-called English invasion. They also toured successfully through out those years. That is very unusual, many of the pre-Beatles American groups could no longer get bookings anymore. It is also interesting because in an industry known for its corruption and back biting, Frankie Valli and Bob Crewe never had anything more than a handshake to bind them. In the film they somewhat jokingly call it a 'Jersey Contract'. [Of course, in Britain, that is known as a Gentleman's Agreement and is legally binding.] It has a wonderful soundtrack from mine, and many other's youth.
Get On Up. Is a dramatic presentation of the life of James Brown. Again, a huge star with so many interesting social and cultural touchstones. See it !
Of course, there is also the Mr. Dynamite/James Brown documentary from HBO that is closer to the true story of James Brown, with interviews with the Rolling Stones. Mick Jagger was the producer behind this project. Clearly shows how Jagger developed his idiosyncratic moves after James Brown, especially when the two groups met at the taping of the seminal T.A.M.I. show in 1965. That show was long talked about. I remember reading about it in the sixties; But it was not till much later -- Eighties I think, that a good tape of the show surfaced and was released. Now it regularly features on PBS fund raising weeks !!
The two part Eagles documentary on HBO is a fascinating look at a group that are a classic example of Too Much, Too Soon. Immature Southern Californian types who felt they knew how the world worked... or should work... and why isn't the world listening to me. I am taking my ball and I'm out of here !
They fought internally a lot; Partied a little too much to their own detriment. In some fashion, though, they re-invented themselves, cleaning up their back story; depending on which current or past group member one listens to, or whose autobiography one reads. It is definitely worth watching for the music.
Sonic Highways, also on HBO, is a documentary following Dave Grohl as he and the Foo Fighters record their last album at different recording studios around America and looks into what made each studio famous. A terrific documentary and the Foo Fighters have not been any better than this. Highly recommended.
Last and no means least is Muscle Shoals a documentary on the Documentary Channel (what a co-incidence!) about the Alabama town of the same name that contained Rick Hall's FAME recording studio. So many fabulous songs came from there. It is also a story about the meanness and pettiness that permeated the business back in the sixties and seventies. It is also a story about friendship and how talent will out. Good to see great musicians, the Swampers, decide that world wide touring was not for them. They loved their little town of 8,000 people where their family lived and preferred that lifestyle. They produced great music, and instead, the world -- well known artists, singers and bands, came to them; readily and happily. Watch it.
