My Top 5 Music Documentaries of All Time?
What are my favorite, top music documentaries of all time? A few on this list might surprise you. Today we’re doing a countdown inspired by a recent comment on my YouTube post covering Brian Jonestown Massacre.
It’s no surprise I love digging into the history of bands, albums, and songs in my record collection, so it should be no surprise that I love a good music documentary too. Iggy Pop, The Beach Boys, Daniel Johnston, Nirvana, the 13th Floor Elevators, and even some sneaky surprises!
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WATCH NEXT:
✓ The Story of The Kinks’ Waterloo Sunset: https://youtu.be/67kQKEO9Nfs
✓ The Pettiness in The Smiths Unhappy Birthday: https://youtu.be/1Igyw_RM6o0
✓ Jonny Greenwoods Early Radiohead Problem: https://youtu.be/rjz03Qy8Mlk
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Poetic Wax is hosted by Andy Fenstermaker.
CHAPTERS:
0:00 Top Music Documentaries of All Time
1:08 You’re Gonna Miss Me
2:04 Gimme Danger
2:57 The Devil and Daniel Johnston
3:49 Montage of Heck
4:58 Buena Vista Social Club
6:04 The Beach Boys and the Satan
7:34 Dig!
8:36 What’s Missing…
RESOURCES & CLIPS:
Dig! XX
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRMV55KCWD4
Watch: https://amzn.to/4bqo8q7
The Devil and Daniel Johnston
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJZOe65eA4Y
Watch: https://amzn.to/3TwgnsE
You’re Gonna Miss Me
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kREyFhFdZaw
The Beach Boys And The Satan
Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOnvLM7GlcE
Gimme Danger
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruqmemgLc2E
Watch: https://amzn.to/3S7URtN
Montage of Heck
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsB6SzPV9B0
Watch: https://amzn.to/4xdAavp
Buena Vista Social Club
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mJvToU1ZyM
Watch: https://amzn.to/4fKi1Oz
Electroconvulsive Therapy in One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Next: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8O8e8foRfyw
#vinylcommunity #vinylrecords #vinylcollection #andyfenstermaker #fensepost #vinylchannel #poeticwax #musicessay #musicstory #albumstory #musichistory #albumhistory #musicdocumentary #digxx #gimmefiction #iggypop #beachboys #13thfloor #rokyerickson #danieljohnston #nirvana #kurtcobain
@forresttt94
August 4, 2026 at 1:50 pm
Great picks! One that I'm really looking forward to is the new Butthole Surfers documentary
@Bad_Cooper
August 4, 2026 at 1:50 pm
I have two suggestions: Let's Get Lost by Bruce Weber, filmed during the last years of Chet Baker's life. And, very importantly, Instrument by Jem Cohen, about the band Fugazi – a truly unique work that compiles more than 10 years of the director's footage. A must-see.
@Unfunny_Username_389
August 4, 2026 at 1:50 pm
Eric Fundingsland's Why Am I Doing This – A Film About Touring is a music documentary nobody else in these comments is going to mention. It's an excellent look at how punk and alt. rock bands (up in the wilds of the Great Lakes Region etc.) get out there and ply their trade in noisey fun. It takes inspiration from We Jam Econo – another great film that nobody's going to mention, btw.
@trevordoolan5011
August 4, 2026 at 1:50 pm
"Heartworn Highways", predominantly about Townes Van Zant. This one puts your heart in your mouth.
"The Last Waltz", probably the greatest.
"Woodstock", probably the first.
"Song For While I'm Away", about the greatest frontman ever, Phil Lynott, Thin Lizzy.
"You See Me Laughin': The Last of the Hill Country Bluesmen", predominantly feat. the amazing Blues musician R.L. Burnside, and Fat Possam Records rise.
"Crock Of Gold: A Few Rounds with Shane McGowan" and "If I Should Fall From Grace Of God", two Shane MacGowan and The Pogues documentaries.
"The Clash: Westway to the World", the only band that mattered.
A few more to add to your list…
@roystonrubble7103
August 4, 2026 at 1:50 pm
Great list
@roystonrubble7103
August 4, 2026 at 1:50 pm
'Until the light takes us' is a must see. A truly dark music doc about the Norwegian black metal scene
@tommyamoeba9220
August 4, 2026 at 1:50 pm
who is harry nilsson and why is everybody talking about him?
@bougieman
August 4, 2026 at 1:50 pm
My favorites are "the source family", "Rush beyond the lighted stage",."The Bee Gees how do you mend a broken heart", and "searching for sugar Man". I'm also very fond of "soul power".
@onebadapple7733
August 4, 2026 at 1:50 pm
Three suggestions…
'Until The Light Takes Us' (2008)
'Don't Think I've Forgotten : Cambodia's Lost Rock and Roll' (2014)
'A Band Called Death' (2012)
Honorable Mention…
'Hated : GG Allin & The Murder Junkies' (1993)
@eatingsound373
August 4, 2026 at 1:50 pm
I really enjoyed Heaven Adores You.
@anchelvakaline1485
August 4, 2026 at 1:50 pm
Please include the Maysles brothers’ documentary about the Rolling Stones Altamont concert in 1969, “Gimme Shelter.” I think it pretty much set the template for rock documentaries. Really great stuff leading up to the concert.
@jenovella70
August 4, 2026 at 1:50 pm
I really love the 1986 documentary X:The Unheard Music, about now legendary L.A. punk band X (who were often produced by The Doors Ray Manzarek.) I remember paying an extreme $85 dollars for a hard-to-find (VHS) copy in the early 90's. I still own it, but also own the DVD. Great band, great documentary.
I also own Dig! and The Last Waltz – both also great.
@willieluncheonette5843
August 4, 2026 at 1:50 pm
my top 2 are Straight No Chaser and The Decline of Western Civilization Part 1
@starrywizdom
August 4, 2026 at 1:50 pm
I recall seeing a really good documentary about John Lydon, an excellent documentary on the making of Dark Side of the Moon, & oddly enough a documentary about Mogwai, but I don't remember any of their titles, alas. The only one on your list that I've seen is You're Gonna Miss Me, but I've wanted to see Dig!, Gimme Danger, & Buena Vista Social Club for quite a while…
@ihavesoul4real
August 4, 2026 at 1:50 pm
How can such an expensive looking mic produce such bad audio quality. Every “s” squeaks like an ild door hinge.
@vangoghny2k
August 4, 2026 at 1:50 pm
I was surprised by Anvil: The Story of Anvil. Went back more than once for it, lots of heart.
@GregNewman-f1v
August 4, 2026 at 1:50 pm
Thanks for sharing this, I had fun. You have some great recommendations that I'm unfamiliar with. I'm an old coot and a bit of a collector too and thought I'd share some docs that I think are entertaining and informative. In no particular order:
BIG STAR, "Nothing Can Hurt Me"
JOHN FAHEY, "In Search of Blind Joe Death"
NICK DRAKE, "A Skin Too Few"
THE JAM, "About the Young Ideas"
LOWELL GEORGE, "Feats First"
RONNIE LANE, "The Passing Show"
MINUTEMEN, "We Jam Econo"
MOTT THE HOOPLE, "Ballad of Mott the Hoople"
HARRY NILSSON, "Who Is Harry Nilsson, and Why is Everybody Talkin' About Him"
GRAHAM PARKER, "Don't Ask Me Questions"
GRAM PARSONS, "Fallen Angel"
REPLACEMENTS, "Color Me Obsessed"
UNDERTONES, "Story of the Undertones"
XTC, "This Is Pop" (was on Showtime and is currently available on YouTube. This is excellent!
There are others I don't have but can recommend on Shane MacGowan, Gene Clark, Muscle Shoals house band and the Allman Brothers.
Please do another episode!!!
@SkippyLaRonge
August 4, 2026 at 1:50 pm
Big BJM fan. Dig did make Anton look pretty bad, but to be fair, Anton is kind of a nut job. He is a true tormented genius.
@SKYBLU4454
August 4, 2026 at 1:50 pm
The Filth and the Fury (2000), woke me up about Punk. Made up of brutally honest intervews and raw footage chronicling the explosive rise and fall of The Sex Pistols. What gives it power is the filmmaker, Julian Temple, knowing the Pistols well, so they were utterly candid with him.
@funkylove-r9o
August 4, 2026 at 1:50 pm
Is the Last Waltz not a documentary???
@sku7842
August 4, 2026 at 1:50 pm
Dig is criminally underrated
@Sangria
August 4, 2026 at 1:50 pm
New York Doll, based on Arthur "Killer" Kane's final days with the band during their one night reunion show. It's heartbreaking but so beautiful.
@CooperThørbjørn
August 4, 2026 at 1:50 pm
The Devil & Daniel Johnston is heartbreaking and inspiring at the same time. Honorable mention to Be Here To Love Me, a doc about Townes Van Zandt
@kråkhakka
August 4, 2026 at 1:50 pm
I have already seen all of these. I was unimpressed with Gimme Danger but can't recall why so I am going to assume I was stoned, might give it a second chance. I like Hype! which is free to watch on youtube.
@SixtyEightCircles
August 4, 2026 at 1:50 pm
You missed Searching For Sugar Man so I thought I'd put it number 8 on the list.