UEL Music Industry Management

Recommended music documentaries:

1. Don’t Look Back - D.A. Pennebaker’s classic documentary about Dylan’s 1965 tour of England. The documentary also features appearances by Joan Baez, Albert Grossman, Donovan and Alan Price.

2. Gimme Shelter - A documentary about The Rolling Stones’ 1969 tour and the tragic events that occured at the free concert at the Altamont Speedway in California.

3. Once Upon a Time in New York: The Birth of Hip Hop, Disco and Punk - This great BBC special explores how hip hop, disco and punk emerged from the streets of 1970s New York.

4. The Promise: The Making of Darkness on the Edge of Town - Features studio footage from Bruce Springsteen’s Darkness on the Edge of Town sessions as well as commentary by Bruce and the E Street Band. The documentary goes into detail about Bruce’s vision for the album and how it was recorded as well as the issues surrounding the recordings, such as his falling-out with his manager and being legally prohibited from releasing new material.

5. Scratch - A documentary about the evolution of turntablism and its journey from 1970s South Bronx to present day San Francisco.

6. Respect Yourself: The Stax Records Story - About the rise and fall of the Memphis-based record label that worked with some of the greatest soul acts of the 1960s and 1970s.

7. Upside Down: The Creation Records Story - The story of one of the most successful British indie labels and its founder Alan McGee. The label’s roster included bands like Oasis, The Jesus and Marychain and Primal Scream.

8. The Filth and the Fury - A film which covers the career of The Sex Pistols.

9. Meeting People is Easy - A documentary about Radiohead that deals with the pros and cons of being a rock star - including the alienation and frustration that comes with touring.

10. This is Spinal Tap - Last on the list (and it’s only last because it’s not actually a documentary) is the cult mockumentary from the 1980s about the fictional band Spinal Tap - also known as “the world’s loudest band”.