Rockumentaries, biopics, music movies and more
This film documents the making of John Lennon’s first post-Beatles solo album in 1970 . Regarded as a classic, it is a fierce, raw, emotionally painful yet beautiful album containing some of the most personal and cathartic songs John ever wrote including ‘Mother’, ‘Love’, ‘Working Class Hero’, ‘Isolation’ and ‘God’.
Duran Duran shot into the limelight with two hit singles and their first album, but it was the follow-up, Rio, which catapulted the band to global success. Rio went on to become one of the most successful albums of the 80s, paving the way for Duran Duran to become one of the biggest bands in the world.
This film tells the story behind the writing, recording and subsequent success of the album through interviews, musical demonstrations, and archive footage. Original band members Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes, John Taylor and Roger Taylor are all interviewed along with director Russell Mulcahy, former manager Paul Berrow, journalist Beverley Glick, designer Antony Price and Bob Geldof amongst others.
Primal Scream’s seminal album Screamadelica was released in 1991, synthesizing the band’s rock ‘n’ roll roots with the dance culture of that time; for many, the album’s sound and imagery perfectly captured the spirit and mood of the acid house era of the early 90s.
Using archive footage and special performances, this film tells the story of Screamadelica and its hit singles and dance anthems ‘Loaded’, ‘Movin’ On Up’, ‘Come Together’ and ‘Don’t Fight It, Feel It’. The band members explain the record’s creation with insights from main producer Andrew Weatherall, Creation Records founder Alan McGee and many others involved with or inspired by it.
This documentary features Jay-Z talking about the creative process behind Reasonable Doubt. One of the most influential figures in black American music since the mid-90s, Reasonable Doubt was his debut album and is still considered by many to be his finest achievement. Much harder hitting and edgy than his later more polished and pop-orientated releases it announced to the world that a new rap star had arrived.
The Doors’ eponymous debut album is one of the greatest debuts ever. With interviews, musical demonstration, rare archive footage and live performances, this documentary tells the story behind the recording of the album and the creation of their distinctive trademark sound, charting the transition of Jim Morrison from reticent vocalist to one of the most electrifying and sexually-charged performers in rock.
Ray Manzarek, Robbie Krieger and John Densmore, the surviving members of the Doors, share memories of the band’s early days and the making of the album. Other contributors include manager Bill Siddons, beat poet Michael McClure, record company guru Jac Holzman and Bruce Botnick, the engineer on every Doors album, who examines the original multi-track tapes and describes the recording process of such classic songs as ‘Break on Through’, ‘Light My Fire’, ‘Back Door Man’ and ‘The End’.