Lady Sings the Blues

Chronicles the rise and fall of legendary blues singer Billie Holiday, beginning with her traumatic youth. The story depicts her early attempts at a singing career and her eventual rise to stardom, as well as her difficult relationship with Louis McKay, her boyfriend and manager. Casting a shadow over even Holiday's brightest moments is the vocalist's severe drug addiction, which threatens to end both her career and her life.

Down the Tracks: The Music That Influenced Led Zeppelin

Delve into the musical influences of iconic rockers Led Zeppelin, whose epic brand of arena rock grew out of a deep love of the blues, the skiffle and folk rock. Music historians and authors join producers Joe Boyd and Larry Cohn, as well as performers John Renbourn, Chas McDevitt and Davey Graham, in their analysis of the band's musical roots. An enthralling section also explores Zeppelin's fascination with the occult.

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

Tensions rise when the trailblazing Mother of the Blues and her band gather at a Chicago recording studio in 1927. Adapted from August Wilson's play.

Eric Clapton: One More Car One More Rider

Clapton, live from Los Angeles' Staples Center on August 18, 2002, part of the sold-out worldwide tour that followed Clapton's 2001 album "Reptile." This concert DVD features live material spanning his entire career. Recorded in concert at The Staples Center in Los Angeles, August 18 2001, this performance spans Clapton's entire career and even throws in a cover of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" for good measure. Based around the album REPTILE, which had just been released at the time, this footage also includes the songs "Layla," "Tears in Heaven," "Sunshine of Your Love" and many more.

Cerebral Palsy Blues

Rod Stewart at the BBC

The BBC charted Rod's solo success over the years and there are classic performances and interviews that will make you dance, sing and pull on your heartstrings (1972- 2013) 01 - Titles & Introduction, 02 - Bad'N'Ruin - The Faces TOTP 1971, 03 - Maggie May - With the Faces TOTP 1971, 04 - Stay With Me - The Faces Sounds For Saturday 1972, 05 - Three Button Hand Me down - The Faces Sounds For Saturday 1972, 06 - You Wear It Well - With The Faces TOTP 1972, 07 - Oh No Not My Baby - TOTP 1972, 08 - Sailing - TOTP 1975, 09 - You're On My Heart - TOTP 1977, 10 - I Don't Want To Talk About It - TOTP 1976, 11 - The First Cut Is The Deepest - TOTP 1977, 12 - The Killing Of Georgie Pt 1 - TOTP 1977, 13 - Do You Think I'm Sexy - TOTP 1978, 14 - Hot Legs - Russell Harty Live In Dublin - 1981, 15 - Some Guys Have All The Luck - TOTP 1984, 16 - Handbags and Gladbags - Glastonbury 2002, 17 - I'm In The Mood For Love - TOTP 2003, 18 - Can't Stop Me Now - BBC Radio 2 In Concert 2013-05-16

Blues Brothers 2000

Finally released from prison, Elwood Blues is once again enlisted by Sister Mary Stigmata in her latest crusade to raise funds for a children's hospital. Hitting the road to re-unite the band and win the big prize at the New Orleans Battle of the Bands, Elwood is pursued cross-country by the cops.

Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story

Following a childhood tragedy, Dewey Cox follows a long and winding road to music stardom. Dewey perseveres through changing musical styles, an addiction to nearly every drug known and bouts of uncontrollable rage.

Boogie Man: The Lee Atwater Story

Boogie Man is a comprehensive look at political strategist, racist, and former Republican National Convention Committee chairman, Lee Atwater, who reinvigorated the Republican Party’s Southern Strategy to increase political support among white voters in the South by appealing to racism against African Americans. He mentored Karl Rove and George W. Bush and played a key role in the elections of Reagan and George H.W. Bush.

Crossroads

A wanna-be blues guitar virtuoso seeks a long-lost song by legendary musician, Robert Johnson.

Eric Clapton: Life in 12 Bars

An unflinching and deeply personal journey into the life and work of guitarist Eric Clapton told through his own words and songs.

Shake 'Em On Down

Shake ‘Em On Down is a one-hour documentary film which aims to tell the story of Fred McDowell, who was first recorded by Alan Lomax in 1959, traveled to Europe with the Rolling Stones in the mid-1960s, mentored Bonnie Raitt, and served as the cornerstone of the unique and enduring North Mississippi- style of blues music.

The Robber Bridegroom

In a small Southern town, a plantation owner is duped into thinking a thief is a kind stranger. To repay the stranger for stopping a robbery, the plantation owner invites him to his home to meet his daughter.

Kenny Wayne Shepherd: Guitar Center Sessions

Blues guitarist Kenny Wayne Shepherd performs "Shotgun Blues", "Losing Game", "Blue on Black", and "King Bee".

T'Ain't Nobody's Bizness: Queer Blues Divas of the 1920s

The 1920s saw a revolution in technology, the advent of the recording industry, that created the first class of African-American women to sing their way to fame and fortune. Blues divas such as Bessie Smith, Ma Rainey, and Alberta Hunter created and promoted a working-class vision of blues life that provided an alternative to the Victorian gentility of middle-class manners. In their lives and music, blues women presented themselves as strong, independent women who lived hard lives and were unapologetic about their unconventional choices in clothes, recreational activities, and bed partners. Blues singers disseminated a Black feminism that celebrated emotional resilience and sexual pleasure, no matter the source.

Head Rag Hop

A proto-music video: three minutes of experimental animation set to the tune of Romeo Nelson's 'Head Rag Hop'.

I Am One of the People

Harmful chemicals are disproportionately affecting Black communities in Southern Louisiana along the Mississippi River. I am One of the People is an experimental short film exposing the environmental racism of “Cancer Alley.”

The Power of Delta Blues Guitar 1

Learn the traditional country blues guitar styles that have influenced generations of players. Rory Block, one of the most knowledgeable and talented exponents of the classic blues style, teaches the earthy, hard-driving playing of the Mississippi Delta in a way that brings it all into focus.

Danny Adler: Trespassin' at King Records - The Last Session on Brewster

Danny fulfilled his great ambition to play and record in his native Cincinnati's King Records studio. On this unique video, he illegally enters the derelict King building in order to commune with the spirits of the great King Records artists from the past -- and, in so doing, becomes the last musician to ever record at the original studio on Brewster Avenue in Cincinnati's Evanston neighborhood. Video ncludes tracks written by Danny and others that were inspired by his King heroes such as "Cincinnati' Fatback"

The Soul of Stax

"Philip Priestley's acclaimed film charts the history of Stax Records, the influential soul and blues record company founded in the 1960s by Jim Stewart and Estelle Axton. Featuring music by an impressive roster of stars, including Otis Redding, Isaac Hayes and Carla Thomas, The Soul of Stax chronicles the performers' rise through the industry and popular culture, the role played by many of them in the Civil Rights movement, and the label's eventual decline." - bfi.org.uk