Frank Zappa - Freak Jazz, Movie Madness & Another Mothers
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In August 1969, to the dismay of many fans, Frank Zappa disbanded the original Mothers of Invention. Feeling constrained by the musical abilities of certain members, he cleaned the slate and set about assembling a new group. Hand-picking superior talent from a variety of musical genres, by 1970 the second incarnation of the band was unleashed. This film focuses on the sophomore Mothers, looking too at the very different projects that book-ended their brief existence; Zappa had incorporated ideas from free jazz and fusion into his music to produce three eccentric albeit influential solo albums.
Pride And Joy: The Story Of Alligator Records
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Director Robert Mugge, having recently made the film DEEP BLUES (1991) about the blues traditions of Mississippi, decided to follow up with a tribute to Alligator and its roster of top contemporary blues artists from Chicago and elsewhere. The resulting film, PRIDE AND JOY: THE STORY OF ALLIGATOR RECORDS, presents musical highlights from one of the 4-plus-hour concerts (March 12th at Philadelphia's Chestnut Cabaret) that made up the tour, glimpses of Alligator's Chicago offices, and profiles of key performers and staff members. The "pride and joy" on display are not only that of fine musical artists plying their trades, but also that of a passionate and highly principled entrepreneur succeeding in a business mostly controlled by corporate giants and littered with the wreckage of countless small, independent labels.
D.O.A. - To Hell and Back
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Sudden Death Records and MVD proudly present punk legends D.O.A.'s new live DVD "To Hell N' Back." 90 minutes of amazing action from the Godfathers of Hardcore. Recorded at home and on tour in Canada between June 2011 and January 2013 with four cameras a night. The band charges through 30 D.O.A. classic punk anthems. Includes a free CD version of D.O.A.'s studio album We Come in Peace.
DEATH by Metal
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Here comes DEATH's probing and pulsing rock doc, DEATH BY METAL, pulling back the palm fronds of DEATH's origins in Altamonte Springs, Florida, and latching a narrative hook into the headstrong Chuck Schuldiner juggernaut for fifteen gratifying if sometimes frustrating years. As the baby steps become giant leaps, the stable of supporting players grows and continually shines in its own devious light. Excitement grows as Schuldiner, his band, and the world around him evolve, and the music grows ever-more outrageous and bombastic. DEATH's threat morphs from simple zombie attack to multi-headed mega-monster hellbent on absorbing entire planets. Then suddenly, Chuck is just gone, and the lights go out. The formula for movies about bands dictates that victory is seized from the jaws of mortality in the final act. This is where things get weird. Chuck Schuldiner perished during the moment of heavy metal's weakest ebb, and possibly the quietest moment of his own career. The drawling guitar demon in the kitty cat shirt will not rise again to tour county fairs, swap one-liners on late-night TV, and jam with Judas Priest at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. But this documentary itself joins reissues, partial reunion tours, and an international reawakening as part of a decade-long ascent for DEATH to its proper place of high dominion. As you read these words and watch this film, Chuck Schuldiner and DEATH return to glory, and the legend itself becomes an eternal encore.
William S. Burroughs - Commissioner Of Sewers
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Commissioner Of Sewers combines interview and archival material, paintings, and clips of William S. Burroughs' film appearances (including "Decoder" and Gus Van Zant's "Drugstore Cowboy" and "Thanksgiving Prayer") with footage from Burroughs' last European reading in Berlin on May 9th, 1986 to create a witty and intriguing portrait of the man described by Norman Mailer as "the only American novelist living today who may conceivably be possessed by genius."
The Howlin' Wolf Story - The Secret History Of Rock & Roll
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The Howlin' Wolf Story documents the life of blues legend Chester 'Howlin' Wolf' Burnett and features rare material, including performances of many of his classic Chess Records tunes, an appearance on the show Shindig introduced by the Rolling Stones (1964) and drummer Sam Lay's home movies from the Chicago Blues scene of the 1960s.
TV Party: Makeup & Time Show
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This episode plays with ideas of time and space, ("time is money" and "dead air") alternating between aggressive boredom and quick wit. The TV Party Orchestra (Walter Steding on violin, Lenny Ferrari on the New Yorker magazine, and Tim Wright on guitar) jams while host O'Brien performs the sublime feat of rolling a joint blindfolded while smoking a joint.
Elvis '56
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1956 was Elvis Presley's breakthrough year, and this program takes you back, including his early television performances on the Dorsey Brothers Show and the Ed Sullivan Show (where the cameramen were instructed not to shoot the lower half of his body!). This DVD has an entire hour of rare footage and performances captured during the amazing year when Elvis Presley became not only a star, but a phenomenon. So slip on your blue suede shoes and step back to the beginning of an era, with rare early recordings and never-before-seen footage. Narrated by The Band's Levon Helm. Directed and Produced by Oscar-winning directors Alan and Susan Raymond. Including iconic photos by the photographer who toured with Elvis that year (Al Wertheimer) who captured many intimate moments from this one year.
Color Me Obsessed: A Film About The Replacements
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Over the The Replacements' 12-year existence, its live sets were magical. Gorman Bechard's remarkable history of the 'Mats takes us from their first show and everywhere in between. He relies solely on the fans; memories of their albums & antics. Material from Husker Du, Babes in Toyland, The Decemberists, The Hold Steady, Archers of Loaf, Titus Andronicus, and Goo Goo Dolls is included.
Plasmatics - Live! Rod Swenson's Lost Tapes 1978-81
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The rare Wendy O. Williams/Plasmatics live footage in this DVD has, in the main, never been released before. During the early years Plasmatics creator Rod Swenson, who directed and shot all the Wendy O./Plasmatics conceptual videos (AKA known for his footage of the Ramones, Dead Boys, Blondie, and Motorhead among others) shot numerous Plasmatics shows the footage from which was never edited or released. Except for some short excerpts most of it until the discovery of this footage was thought to be lost or degraded (shot on tape which has been shown as with audio tape to degrade over time). Recently during the moving of WOW/Plasmatics archive material the footage here was found unlabeled in buried boxes. While much had degraded, Producer/Director Randy Shooter was able to discover, relabel, and with additional editing and restoration, salvage the rare and remarkable footage in this DVD. A lot of it is raw (and much of the audio is the audio from ambient video deck mics, noise and all) but the energy and power is there straight through. The material includes two tracks from CBGB the first of which was among the first Plasmatics shows ever as well as other footage from benchmark shows. A bonus track (Monkey Suit) features footage shot by Swenson when he was shooting the iconic album cover for New Hope for the Wretched, but never released.
TV Party: Premiere Episode, December 18, 1978
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This was the premiere show. Regulars included Jean-Michel Basquiat, Fab Five Freddie, Deborah Harry, John Lurie and Tim Wright of DNA. Extras: John Lurie, David Walter McDermott, Kate Simon, and Mick Jones of the Clash.
Queen - Under Review 1973-1980
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This release features rare live and studio performances of the band playing some of their best known hits, rare and classic Queen interview footage plus a host of other features, all interspersed with the independent review and criticism from a panel of esteemed experts. These include broadcaster, journalist and long time friend of Freddie Mercury Paul Gambaccini; rock author, journalist and Queen expert Malcolm Dome; guitarist and journalist Simon Bradley; contributing editor from Uncut Magazine Nigel Williamson; ex Melody Maker features editor Chris Welch and many others. Features rare performances of the following classic Queen tracks: 'Keep Yourself Alive', 'Seven Seas Of Rhye', 'Killer Queen', 'Stone Cold Crazy', 'Somebody To Love', 'Bohemian Rhapsody', 'Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy', 'We Will Rock You', 'We Are The Champions', 'Bicycle Race', 'Don't Stop Me Now', 'Crazy Little Thing Called Love' and 'Another One Bites The Dust'.
David Bowie: Under Review 1976-79 "The Berlin Trilogy"
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David Bowie - Under Review 1976 - 1979 The Berlin Trilogy features live and studio performances by Bowie, rare interviews and a host of other features all interspersed with the independent review and criticism from a panel of esteemed experts. These include; former members of both Neu! And Cluster (and key Bowie influences), Dieter Moebius and Michael Rother; broadcaster, journalist and ambient author, Mark Prendergast; author and Melody Maker/Mojo journalist, David Stubbs; Journalist and author Daryl Easlea; style aficionado, Paolo Hewitt and many others.
Syd Barrett - Under Review
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Syd Barrett - Under Review features rare live and studio performances from this hugely influential and legendary musician, interspersed with the independent review and criticism from a panel of esteemed experts. These include; Melody Maker contributor during the 1960s and early champion of Syd Barrett, Chris Welch ; Barrett biographer and all round expert, David Parker ; Uncut Magazine's features editor, Nigel Williamson; former Soft Machine bassist who backed Syd on Madcap Laughs, Hugh Hopper; Total Rock DJ and journalist, Malcolm Dome and many more. Features rarely seen promo films, interview footage with Syd and other Floyd members, TV clips and more.
Roots, Rock, Reggae - Inside The Jamaican Music Scene
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'Roots Rock Reggae' depicts an unforgettable moment in Jamaica's history when music defined the island's struggles and immortalized its heroes. Director Jeremy Marre films Bob Marley and the Wailers, and Lee 'Scratch' Perry record in his legendary Black Ark studio with The Upsetters. Jimmy Cliff rehearses with Sly and Robbie, while Inner Circle's historic live gig is recorded on the violent Kingston streets. 1977: An extraordinary year for Reggae music.
Southlander: Diary Of A Desperate Musician
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With music performances by Beck, Beth Orton, Hank Williams III, Union 13, and Billy Higgins, plus cameos from Laura Prepon, Ione Sky and Elliott Smith, Southlander is a comically uncanny Rock and Roll party adventure. Chance (Rory Cochrane), a hapless LA Musician, has found his ticket to fame, fortune and romance with the coveted keyboard, the '69 Moletron, which got him the gig and the girl (Beth Orton). But now the Moletron is missing, and Chance must reclaim it by working his way through The Southlander, the ultimate buy/sell classified paper for musicians in Southern California.
Iggy & The Stooges Live Detroit 2003
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Iggy & the Stooges: Live in Detroit 2003 features Iggy Pop and the original lineup of the Stooges (with bassist Mike Watt subbing for the late Dave Alexander) performing at their first Detroit homecoming in 29 years. It is a full concert of the best songs of the first two Stooges albums from 1969 & 1970. In Iggy Pop's own words, "Here they are, the original Stooges, the band that never bit the weenie. A particular stiff-necked place and time spawned the undying attitude of refusal to compromise. This was Detroit, Michigan, in the late 1960s, when men were men and ears were ears. Now, we are here in the 21st Century, in a "music industry" that bores and annoys, persecutes and depresses. This concert, by the Stooges reunited, does not bore me. I love the groove. I love the songs. I love the vibe. I love the audience. I love this band, and I'm very proud of this high-quality product by the Stooges."
Melody Makers
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This documentary takes you behind the scenes to explode the myths, honor the legends, and reveal the incredible stories and never-before-seen photographs of rock giants like Mick Jagger, David Bowie, Elton John, Bob Dylan, Jimmy Page, Jimi Hendrix, Ray Davies, Frank Zappa, Patti Smith and many, many others. This tell-all reveals anecdotes and unpublished photos from the world's most influential music publication, Melody Maker magazine with its intimate access to legendary rock bands including The Rolling Stones and the Beatles, Pink Floyd, Queen, The Who, Led Zeppelin, The Animals and on and on. At the heart of this film is Melody Maker's head photographer, Barrie Wentzell who takes us along on an intimate journey with his colleagues into the world of rock icons. These journalists, with cameras in hand, had free rein and were creatively involved with the artists, something unheard of today. The film captures this unique period telling the story behind the magazine's rise and fall, showing first hand how the artists, the record companies and journalists came to move a generation. The magazine was a "must read" during its time, now the movie is a "must see" for musicians, music fans and photo buffs alike!
Leonard Cohen - Under Review: 1934-1977
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Leonard Cohen - Under Review 1935 -1977 is a 90-minute documentary film which reviews the poetry, music, performances, and career of one of contemporary Canada's greatest artists. Features include musical performances of Leonard Cohen reviewed by our team of esteemed experts, obscure footage, rare interviews, and scarcely seen photographs of and with Leonard and review, comment, criticism and insight from; official Cohen biographer, Ira Nadel; Leonards regular guitarist and band leader, Ron Cornelius; producer on the New Skin For The Old Ceremony and New Positions albums, John Lissauer, Cohens backing vocalist, Ronee Blakley and many more.

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