The best music docus to watch

Eric Clapton: Life In 12 Bars. Directed by Lili Fini Zanuck. Blues fans out there, you think you know Eric Clapton? There is a lot more to discover in the Slowhand that we listen to and read about, and he reveals almost everything in this finely accomplished documentary. Using mostly old film footage, performance videos and home movies, Clapton in an affecting narration goes through the milestones, both the ups and downs of his life.

The childhood he spent with his grandparents; his abhorence of pop success, as he just wanted to play the blues; his bands odyssey, he was in and out with the Yardbirds, John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, Blind Faith, Cream, Derek & the Dominoes until he decided to go solo. 

His friendship with George Harrison. The Beatle played on his recording of Badge. In turn, Clapton played divinely on While My Guitar Gently Weeps. His love for Harrison’s wife Patti inspired the song Layla which was based on a Persian story about unrequited love. Clapton’s ended up requited. He and Patti were married in 1979, but later divorced.

His addiction to drugs and alcohol which nearly destroyed his career and his life. He is so thankful he survived both that he put up Crossroads at the Centre Antigua for those in similar situations in need of help.

And so much more. This is not to be missed.

Clive Davis: The Soundtrack Of Our Lives from Apple. Directed by Chris Perkel, this is an informative and sentimental, mostly fawning two-hour film about the legendary Davis who is known in the music industry as the man with the golden ear. 

Now 85 years old, he is the Harvard graduate, New York lawyer, Columbia Records president, Arista Records founder, J Records founder, financier of LaFace music, record producer etc. etc. He is a visionary, control freak, star maker, radio expert and considered the greatest record man of all time.

Starmaker Clive Davis recalls the fatherand-daughter relationship he had with the late Whitney Houston in The Soundtrack of Our Lives

His almost 50-year-old career in music has involved artists like Aretha Franklin and Alicia Keys. In between these two are Janis Joplin & the Big Brother Holding Company, Blood Sweat & Tears, Barry Manilow, Chicago, Simon & Garfunkel, Miles Davis, Bruce Springsteen, Earth Wind & Fire, Santana, Kenny G. Aerosmith, Baby Face, Melissa Manchester, Notorious B.I.G., Sean “Puffy” Coombs, Rod Stewart, Patti Smyth, The Kinks, Billy Joel and so many more.

Then, there is, of course, the talent he was proudest of, Whitney Houston. The film explores their almost father-and-daughter relationship and her descent to the depths of drug addiction. Could Davis have done something about that? Find out the answer in this fascinating documentary. Listen to recollections from stars, industry colleagues and Davis himself. And get a load of all those archival clips. 

Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me on Netflix. Get that box of tissues ready. Only the hardest of hearts will not be moved by this poignant look at the final days on the road for the legendary hitmaker of songs like Rhinestone Cowboy, Wichita Lineman, By The Time I Get To Phoenix, Didn’t We, Galveston and many others. Campbell passed away last year.

Campbell put together a 16-month farewell tour that took him to Europe, Australia and around the United States after he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease in 2011. Scenes of Campbell struggling with his sickness while performing, reminiscing of his difficult beginnings and later remarkable career, saying goodbye to his family, friends, fans and to the life he was losing make up this highly acclaimed film directed by James Keach.

Justin Timberlake and the Tennessee Kids on Netflix. This is what happens when you put a genius filmmaker in charge of a concert documentary. You get a masterpiece. Director Jonathan Demme, who megged such memorable movies as Silence of the Lambs and Philadelphia shot the final leg of Timberlake’s 20/20 Experience World Tour at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas three years ago. 

Timberlake always puts on an excellent show and this was certainly one of those. But Demme also captured his fascinating interaction with the Kids, a fantastic backing band to have around, with the audience to whom he gave a truly great time, and most of all with the camera. Timberlake is indeed one tremendous performer whether he is musing solo on stage or in a massive sing-along with everybody. This picture shows us why.  

Sad note. Demme also passed away a year ago.