Best Rock Documentaries

(Newser) – In honor of Woodstock—which happened 40 years ago this weekend—and the “seminal documentary” that captured it, John Farr shares his list of the 10 best rock concert/performance films—all of which are “meant to be played loud,” he writes on the Huffington Post. “So crank it!”

• A Hard Day's Night (1964): “The disarming charisma and spontaneous energy of the Beatles made no traditional plot necessary. It was sufficient to portray a day in the life of the world's most talked about rock band.”

• Gimme Shelter (1970): This documentary covering “the soon-to-be-infamous free Rolling Stones concert at Altamont” captures “a tumultuous moment in our popular culture, and a turning point in the history of rock.”
• Elvis: That's The Way It Is (1971): “Elvis still looks (and sounds) terrific in this docu-portrait of the Memphis legend’s bid for glitzy Vegas glory.”
• The Last Waltz (1978): Martin Scorsese’s coverage of The Band's final 1976 tour is “often hailed as the greatest concert movie ever,” and “it may just be.”
• Bob Dylan: No Direction Home (2005): “Scorsese fashions a masterful portrait of a pivotal crossroads in Dylan's career” with “this intimate, insightful film.”
• Neil Young: Heart Of Gold (2006): “It's obvious he's enjoying himself, and his between-song banter is tart, concise, and utterly charming. If you don't come away from Heart of Gold humming, you better have your ears checked.”