If you're a Rush fan, "Beyond the Lighted Stage" is compulsory viewing. But you do not have to be a fan to enjoy this documentary. In fact, I only became a fan after watching the film.

Another +1 for the Tom Dowd documentary! Here are a few more worthy titles...

"Chasing Sound", about Les Paul, arguably the most interesting person in pop history and patron saint to all home recordists

"Cream", the story of Cream, of course

"Destiny Rules", showing the creation of Fleetwood Mac's last album and how bored, spoiled musicians have trouble motivating themselves even to make a bundle of money

"Jimi Hendrix" - there are numerous films about Hendrix, but I'm referring to the one from the early 70's, made shortly after his death. It features some rare footage such as Hendrix playing acoustic 12-string.

"Pink Floyd: The Dark Side of the Moon", which examines the album and how it came to be made. You get to hear soloed tracks and commentary by Alan Parsons and David Gilmour. Any PF fan knows most of the lore, but here you get to hear it from the source.

"Classic Albums: Queen: Making of Night at the Opera", which chronicles the recording of that album. Not as much technical information as I'd like, but interesting just the same. Before watching it, I'd assumed the grand chorale in "Bohemian Rhapsody" consisted of gobs over overdubs by Freddie Mercury, but it's not. It's all three of the band's singers, singing 3-part harmony together, overdubbed 3 times.

"Amazing Journey: the story of The Who" - about The Who, of course. Features some very old photos and recordings, and some surprisingly frank reminiscences from Pete.


Next up on my Netflix queue: "Frank Zappa: Apostrophe / Overnight Sensation". Looks like it might be a winner.

Two more I thought of that were really good documentaries, both well worth watching are:

Kenny Wayne Sheppard "10 Days Out (Blues from the Backroads)" where he, Chris Layton, and Tommy Shannon (of Double Trouble fame) go out and play with some well known blues musicians as well as some other less than well known artists in small, personal settings - front porches, jukes, kitchens, ...  Very good blues film.

http://www.amazon.com/Days-Out-Blues-Backroads-DVD/dp/B000IFQLSW

Another great blues film is "You See Me Laughin- The Last of the Hill Country Bluesmen"" by Mandy Stein.  This film blew me away when I saw it.  It's about the North Mississippi blues and great artists such as R.L. Burnside, Jr. Kimbrough, CeDell Davis, T-Model Ford, ... and how the two guys from Fat Possum Records wanted to get their music onto record before it all but disappeared.  The music is damn near hypnotic and extremely powerful, and the movie got me very interested in these artists.

http://www.amazon.com/You-See-Laughin-R-L-Burnside/dp/B0007R8FOE/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1335205349&sr=1-1

A clip from "You See Me Laughin'": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bjx5BjTICQ