Vinyl Documentary - Sound It Out

[Piraya]

Sound It Out - 2012 - 7/10

Documentary about the last surviving record shop in Teeside.
The owner is a music expert, his loyal assistant has his own expertise, the backroom girl runs the computer and ensures they make money.
Obsessive collectors are profiled, 99% of whom are guys.
They share their stories, display their treasures, warble on and on about the glories of vinyl.
One man - owner, I think - commented that vinyl holds memories.
Fair enough. I used a similar phrase when reviewing All Things Must Pass, doc about the demise of Tower Records.
This would make a fine companion to that, and in many ways is more satisfying.
Watching the tiny survivor after the monster chain failed to crush it.

 

[Piraya]

All Things Must Pass - 2015 - USA​

All Things Must Pass - 2015 - 7/10

Documentary follows the rise and demise of Tower Records.
History charts the humble beginning to the pinnacle to the disastrous aftermath of “file-sharing.”
Entertaining throughout, though the last section is uncomfortable.
Greybeards share memories (Tower execs, Label moguls, famous shoppers) in between vintage photos.
Smiles all around, but one cannot escape the notion of widespread nepotism at HQ.
By 2004, giant record stores passed into memory, Gen X-ers were likely the last generation to shop the bins.

10 minutes inside Tower Records - Sunset Blvd.
Back in the early 70's -

https://archive.org/details/casacsh_000018

For what it's worth, three years on from this video, I would shop this location weekly.

 

[Piraya]

The Joy Of Easy Listening - 2011 - UK

The Joy Of Easy Listening - 2011 - 6/10

Dim the lights. Better, light the candles, pour the wine, spin up your 101 Strings Plays Soothing Black Metal.
Brace for silk, satin and romance. Ha, in your dreams, button-head.
Long sweep of Easy Listening from its origins in post WWII to Millennials rediscovering with, “Wow cool!”
From Percy Faith, Ray Conniff, Bert Kaempfert, Henry Mancini (represented by their daughters) –
Herb Alpert, Richard Carpenter, Jimmy Webb,
Better for those with a broad, diverse musical palate. Embarrassing how much I knew, how much I own.

Note: I grew up hearing this daily. Apart from Dad’s nonstop Big Band Swing, Mom kept her kitchen radio glued to the easy listening station. WHEZ (I kid you not) which my brothers and I referred to as Wheeze.
Worse, I bought countless Easy LPs. I joined the record club for my free KISS, Deep Purple, Beatles, whatnot. Then, to fulfill my obligation, I bought 101 Strings, Mantovani, Percy Faith for a dime each. Ended membership, joined a month later under a new name. Gave the mellow vinyl to Mom. Which, to my annoyance, she played.

 

[Snoopy]

Some of those documentaries about vinyl are very entertaining but it’s always a bit cringy when they mention how a scratched up old record would still be better than a digital release and how CDs have no soul..

 

[Piraya]

Prog Rock Britannia: An Observation In Three Movements - 2009​

Prog Rock Britannia: An Observation In Three Movements - 2009 - 6/10



Ha ha ha.
Zillions of notes, oddball time signatures, fairyland lyrics, Roger Dean art, Gabriel’s outfits, the madness.
Plus Keith Emerson stabbing his keyboard with the knife!
Hour and a half documentary highlighting wild excesses with amused performers.
Why do a song in 3 minutes when you can do it in 33 minutes? Or longer!
Wait till you hear how many groupies the Prog guys pulled. Zero!
I still have my Yes, King Crimson, Genesis, Emerson Lake Palmer, Captain Beyond, Tull, several others.
On vinyl and CD! Ha ha ha, pezhead!
Great times.

 

[Piraya]

When Pop Went Epic: The Crazy World Of The Concept Album - 2016 - UK​

When Pop Went Epic: The Crazy World Of The Concept Album - 2016 - 7/10



Documentary, hosted by a droll Rick Wakeman, explores concept albums.
From early steps to the heyday of the 60’s and 70’s to the excesses that led to parody.
Many “survivors” interviewed, all amused and chuckling at the loon within.
One of the more illuminating interviewees was artist Roger Dean, who explained his private concepts for his Yes covers.
Lots of music - sadly, I own almost every album on LP or CD.
Worse, there were two or three albums I did not have, which I now have to find.
Hopefully, they came out in gatefold.
Great companion to Prog Rock Britannia: An Observation In Three Movements.

 

[Piraya]

Joy Single - Albums Rule - Sound City​

The Joy Of The Single - 2012 - UK
When Albums Ruled The World - 2013 - UK
Sound City - 2013 - USA



Three music-biz documentaries.
First focuses on the single, typically the wax 45.
Mostly white geezers and burnouts warble their memories, display collections and jukeboxes.
Gradually 7 inchers lost influence as LPs gained prominence.
Second doc is about albums, specifically concept albums.
Dylan, Pepper, Yes, Floyd - you know the terrain.

Third doc covers Sound City Studio, famed recording venue of the 70’s and 90’s.
Analogue studio. Gone now, replaced by digital, Pro Tools, etc ...



All docs were enjoyable.
Third one wandered near the end, slipping from the heyday of the 70’s to Dave Grohl's attempt to recreate the era.

 

[Piraya]

Imaginos: Blue Öyster Cult’s Occult Rock And Roll - 2021 - USA​

Imaginos: Blue Öyster Cult’s Occult Rock And Roll - 2021 - 6/10



Partly, it was the butchery that the Old World inflicted on the New World.
Partly, it was Spanish lust for the shining silver and bright, bright gold, and the plundering of both.
Along with the black obsidian mirrors, whereby innocence corrupted experience.
Leading to unimaginable slaughter in Europe generations later.
Lengthy documentary on BÖC’s long gestating, deeply flawed, screwed-up-by-the-label, final album.
First twenty minutes detail Sandy Pearlman, inspiration, creative architect, poseur, Svengali, warped.
Best guess, based on writings, interviews, recollections by others.
Second twenty minutes follow the Soft White Underbelly, the Stalk Forrest Group, the enigmatic Bill Gawlick, the group climbing, peaking, faltering, shadowland.
Final hour – Hour – is all about the troubled “Imaginos”. From the Soft Doctrines to Mutant Reformation.
For diehard fans of Susie and Desdinova and the Four Winds Bar.

A slice of King:

 

[Piraya]

Van Halen: 1984 Documentary - 2024 - USA​

Van Halen: 1984 Documentary - 2024 - 6/10



Lengthy, five-part fan documentary on Van Halen’s “1984” album.
The lead ups, the internal divisions, concerts, substance abuse, massive egos.
Five parts, the entirety runs about two and a half hours.
A I has been used to emulate Roth’s voice based on his writings.
I missed the earliest version of this.
Afterward, Rhino (a label that had NOTHING to do with the original incarnation of the band) put out an injunction of all music video clips and songs. Perhaps, they intend to release their own doc. It will not be this comprehensive, and it may be more sanitized. This is warts and all.
Owing to Rhino meddling, this is a frustrating watch.
Still a labor of love by Alan Berry and a must for Van Halen 1 fans.
Trailer –

 

[Piraya]

Karen Dalton: In My Own Time - 2020 - USA​

Karen Dalton: In My Own Time - 2020 - 7/10



Of all the Folkies, Karen had the worst luck, in line with her antagonism to showbiz.
Stellar documentary of her hard-scrabble Oklahoma childhood, marriage at 15, abandoning marriage #2, heading to Greenwich Village during the Bohemian Folk boom of the early 1960’s.
Her voice, depressing, distressing, mournful, laments from one song after another in this.
In spite of her obstinacy, and later substance abuse, she miraculously recorded two albums.
Two live albums were released following her early, and not surprising, death.
Dalton is essential for late, late night listening.

 

[Piraya]

The Agony And The Ecstasy Of Phil Spector - 2008 - USA​

The Agony And The Ecstasy Of Phil Spector - 2008 - 6/10



Strange “documentary” that seems part interview, part paean to the troubled producer.
Weaving in and out, the 2007 homicide trial for the murder of Lana Clarkson.
Spector, hands visibly shaking (Parkinson’s, Bells?) discusses his life, production glories, individuals.
For whatever reasons, he has a particular axe to grind against Tony Bennett.
Courtroom proceedings are all but silent, although several of the high tier individuals seem to mug and giggle.
Video clips of groundbreaking songs also fuel the narrative.
Underneath, an author writes hyperbolic, rapturous praise about these pop hits.
There is no real biographical meat to this.

 

[Piraya]

EMI: The Inside Story - 2016 - UK​

EMI: The Inside Story - 2016 - 6/10



Glib overview that sticks with a few artists, generally one per era.
Oh … Beatles, Pink Floyd, Queen, Sex Pistols, Duran Duran, Kate Bush, Pet Shop Boys, Radiohead.
This also remains on the British side, so don’t expect any US names.
Uncomfortable financial malfeasance unmentioned.
Entertaining, yet the feel of a hearty heigh-ho, pat on the back pervades.
The label itself was pretty much defunct by 2012.
English subs = https://subscene.cam/subtitle/3349450

 

[Piraya]

Pink Floyd: The Making Of Dark Side Of The Moon - 2003 - USA ​

Pink Floyd: The Making Of Dark Side Of The Moon - 2003 - 6/10



Entertaining, generally informative documentary of the genesis and creation of the classic album.
Aside from band members, talking heads include engineer Alan Parsons and influential critics.
Band members are interviewed separately and are civil toward each other.
This album, they regard as their finest moment as a unit.
Subsequent problems that would wedge the group are merely alluded to.
All members in 2003 are alive, lucid, although some recollections vary.
The techniques were so very old school, no computer software in 1973.
Not necessarily essential, yet fascinating for fans of the group.

 

[Piraya]

McCartney 3, 2, 1 - 2021 - USA ​

McCartney 3, 2,1 - 2021 - 8/10



Documentary I had resisted for a long time.
Rick Rubin interviews Paul McCartney in a studio.
Thorny topics avoided, they discuss Beatles and Wings.
Predominantly, the songs, and the art of song craft.
How compositions came about, inspirations, learning curves.
Informative, with an easy tone, as Paul, growing comfortable, shares memories.
Those who worried about any sort of one-upsmanship, fear not.
Superb, inspired presentation of how an interview should be done.

 

[krabapple]

Your posts don't actually link to streamable videos.

 

[Piraya]

Your posts don't actually link to streamable videos.

No, they do not.
These are in the "Music and Movies Discussion and Reviews" section.
My posts should be considered reviews.

 

[Piraya]

Goodnight Brooklyn - 2016 - USA

Goodnight Brooklyn - 2016 - 7/10

The last days of the Brooklyn music club, Death By Audio.
Told by some of the bands who performed there, people who launched the venue, and employees.
Who’s not there? The landlord, who was delighted that anyone would want to rent a building that should have been demolished.
Until, Brooklyn became trendy and the property worth a goldmine.
Who else declines to participate? Why, the new building neighbors, who coveted, then pushed out the club.
Vice Media, who built their credibility being edgy, friendly to the underground.
Enjoyable documentary, though a familiar, if sad tale.
Clubs disappear all the time. CBGB, The Cavern, The Sands, Gazzarri's, Bronco Bowl, The Ad Lib, Le Chabanais…

 

[Piraya]

Scott Walker: 30th Century Man - 2006 - UK

Scott Walker: 30th Century Man - 2006 - 6/10

Mr. Walker is best remembered as singer in The Walker Brothers, a 60's British Invasion group.
None of the members were brothers or Walkers.
In most of the world, they were known for “The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine.”
In Swinging London, they were a phenomenon.
When the moment was over, Scott followed his own dark, haunted muse, crafting chilling, lonely albums.
Musique concrete.
The documentary charts the path of the most reclusive artist.
I appreciated the film, but I didn't rush out to find “Scott 4“ or “Walker Bros Night Flight,” both highly praised.

 

[Piraya]

I Called Him Morgan - 2016 - Sweden

I Called Him Morgan - 2016 - 6/10

Informative biography on Jazz trumpeter, Lee Morgan, as told from fellow musicians, and the woman who killed him.
Morgan came up in the late 50's, working with Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, later leading his own combos.
Photos, home movies, old newsreels, combine with recollections.
Most of the interviewees are aging, one key individual was caught a month before their death.
Should appeal to music fans, whether you are into Jazz, or not.
Admittedly, I knew of Morgan, and while roughly half of my Jazz albums are trumpet players (Miles, Louis, Chet), I only had two or three, seldom listened to, LP’s by Morgan.