Music and documentaries have one thing in common: they make for great storytelling. When combined, it gets even better. Music documentaries can take you back to some of the greatest eras of music, and help you feel closer to the artists you listen to. And while there's a wide range of them to choose from, these 5 films spanning over 5 decades are a great start to a journey through music.
1. Jazz On A Summer's Day (1959)
A glimpse into the Newport Jazz festival of 1959, this documentary follows performances by some of Jazz’s greatest, including Louis Armstrong, Chuck Barry, and Anita O’Day. If you're looking to watch a laid-back and comfortable film, this is exactly what you need. Nostalgia is what hits you on your first viewing, as the film allows the viewer to people-watch and catch glimpses of audience reactions to iconic performances.
2. Jimi Hendrix (1973)
Jimi Hendrix is a documentary that was made 3 years after the rock legend's untimely death and is a must-watch for fans of classic rock. The film is essentially a visual biography that follows some of Hendrix’s most iconic performances, including Woodstock in 1969, and also includes interviews with other artists, like Eric Clapton and Mick Jagger, who speak about his music. Nothing beats classic rock, and this documentary is a perfect example of why that's true.
3. George Harrison: Living in the material world (2011)
A Martin Scorcese film, this documentary delves into the life of ex-Beatle George Harrison and his experiences with fame, spirituality, and family. In a span of 3 and a half hours, the documentary uses both archival and present-day footage to construct a video biography of the singer-songwriter and features artists like Ringo Starr, Paul McCartney, and Eric Clapton.
4. Score: A film music documentary (2016)
At the risk of getting too meta, we've included Score: a film music documentary. This film delves into the history of music in movies, the creative process behind creating scores today, and helps shine a light on composing for film, a part of production that is so often overlooked. Composers such as Hans Zimmer (Dune, Interstellar, Gladiator) and David Newman (Matilda, Ice Age, Heathers) feature, as they sit down to talk about what scoring means to them. Music and film enthusiasts alike are bound to enjoy this thoroughly educational piece.
5. Amazing Grace (2018)
Amazing Grace is a documentary featuring Aretha Franklin, the American singer-songwriter who is often referred to as the “Queen of soul”. While the documentary was released in 2018, all its footage was recorded over the two days that Franklin conducted service for the New Temple Baptist Mission church. Unfortunately, due to
mistakes in production and poor planning, a film that was recorded back in 1972 had to sit and wait for the right director to come along. A valuable watch for fans of soul and gospel music.
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