Mark Knopfler: A Life in Songs (2010)

Full title: Mark Knopfler: A Life in Songs
Director: Bob Smeaton
Year: 2010
Runtime: 60 min
Language: English

A Life in Songs [...] is a documentary which takes a meandering look at Knopfler’s career, from his beginnings in the north-East of England to global superstardom in the mid-80s. Using a mixture of archive performance footage and intimate interviews with the man himself, it shows us how Dire Straits was forged in the late 1970s on the back of a handful of demo songs (one of which was Sultans of Swing), and how his own distinctive bluesy guitar-playing and drawling vocal style matured. The programme also touches on his second career as a producer and composer of film scores (he wrote the soundtrack for Local Hero and The Princess Bride, among others).

via telegraph.co.uk

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Rico Rodriguez - The Legacy (2006)

 

Full title:  Rico Rodriguez - The Legacy (2006)

Directors: Jep Jorba, Miquel Àngel Arnáiz, Ester Casals

Year: 2006

Runtime: 24 min

Language English

This documentary is a very humble documentary, in terms of money and material resources. We know that it has its limitations and could be much better.

In spite of that fact, the national TV in Catalunya wanted to show it and everything was OK for the broadcasting. We thought that should be no problem with the rights of the songs, as we didn't get almost any money for that broadcasting.

The surprise was when the companies that owns the rights of the songs asked me an ashaming quantity of money that it was impossible for us to pay. We explained that we were students, that we didn't had that kind of money. We got no reply. Those are the so called "defenders of the rights of the culture-makers". Pure rasclaat lies!

So, after two years, I've decided leaving apart the top-down strategy to an horizontal one, creating this blog [link], in order to show the entire documentary to everyone.

via ricorodriguez-thelegacy.blogspot.com

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Frank Zappa Chart (2008)

Author: Ward Shelly (web page) Year: 2008Details: oil and toner on mylar, 64.5" X 32"  A magnificent visual representation of Frank Zappa's life and work by a Brooklyn artist Ward Shelly.

  Click on image for enlarged version:

 

Blood, Sweat & Vinyl (2011)

Full title: Blood, Sweat & Vinyl: DIY in the 21st Century
Year: 2011
Director: Kenneth Thomas
Language: English

This captivating documentary is the product of five years of obsessive filming of live concert footage, exclusive interviews, and historic documentation focusing on three fiercely independent music labels and their bands.

Featuring Neurosis, ISIS, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Pelican, Oxbow, Evangelista, Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra, Cave In, and many others whose music and art found ideal homes in the artist-run record labels of Hydra Head, Neurot, and Constellation.

These labels combine hard-to-define, heavy music with a visual aesthetic that has enraptured worldwide fans, without the need for radio or corporate media outlets. They uphold the legacy of treating music as an art form, not as a product.

This film is an answer to those who question where the spirit of punk rock is today.
Over 20 bands and visual artists. 3 record labels. 1 philosophy.

via bloodsweatvinyl.com

Watch the trailer:

Blood, Sweat & Vinyl: DIY in the 21st Century (Trailer) from kenneth thomas on Vimeo.


Additional clips:


Blood, Sweat + Vinyl - Hydra Head Records clip from kenneth thomas on Vimeo.


Blood, Sweat + Vinyl - Neurot Recordings clip from kenneth thomas on Vimeo.


Blood, Sweat + Vinyl - Constellation clip from kenneth thomas on Vimeo.

In session: SRV & Alber King (1983)

Full title: Albert King With Stevie Ray Vaughn In Session
Year: 1983 (audio CD published in 1999, audio/video CD/DVD published in 2010)
Runtime: 88 min
Language: English

In December [1983], Vaughan appeared with Albert King for a Canadian television show called In Session. Recorded at CHCH studios in Hamilton, Ontario, In Session displayed the guitarists' mutual respect and admiration. A CD from the program was released in 1999. A two-disc CD/DVD version of this performance was subsequently re-released in late 2010.

via Wikipedia

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