Here's the fifth installment in our ongoing series This Film Should Be Played Loud!, in which we recommend five great concert films. As you may know, the name is taken from a title shown at the beginning of Martin Scorsese's movie The Last Waltz.
Full disclosure: if you buy the movies featured here through one of the links we provide, we get a (very) small commission. So treat yo'selves!
Hit us up on on our forum, our socials, or in the comments to let us know what you think of our selection and what your favorite concert films are.
Aretha Franklin: Amazing Grace
"Amazing Grace" is an absolute treasure. Superlatives fail to convey the magnificence of the movie and performance, which truly encapsulate the essence of musical brilliance. Directed by Sydney Pollack, this concert film is a breathtaking testament to the Queen of Soul, whose voice remains one of the most beautiful in music history.
In a church setting, Franklin's gospel performance is soul-stirring and sublime, made even more powerful by her unparalleled vocal prowess. Accompanied by a top-notch band featuring the talents of Chuck Rainey, Cornell Dupree, and Bernard Purdie, among others, the music reaches sublime heights.
Despite technical and legal problems that prevented its release until 2018, the film emerges as a timeless masterpiece, capturing a pinnacle moment in music history with unparalleled grace and power. This is not just a concert film; it is a transcendent artistic experience.
Yessongs is a concert movie capturing the classic line-up of Yes at the pinnacle of their powers. Filmed in London in 1972, the band's musicianship is nothing short of astounding, with each performance exuding unparalleled virtuosity, passion and energy. The setlist features their very best numbers, bringing to life the intricate compositions and mesmerizing melodies that have defined their legendary status.
The End is Black Sabbath's farewell show, which took place in their hometown of Birmingham on February 4th, 2017. The core line-up of Tony Iommi, Ozzy Osbourne and Geezer Butler played a killer 90-minute set focused on their first five albums which are the considered the Tables of the Heavy Metal Law. A fantastic document of a wonderful evening. We know: we were there!
SPIRITS in the Forest was filmed by long-time Depeche Mode collaborator Anton Corbijn is more than aconcert film. Of course, there is footage of a typically spectacular Depeche Mode performance on the last stop of their Global Spirit Tour, but it's interwoven with moving portraits of a handful of DM fans... Like most everything this band does, this is unique. It also serves as a testament to the late Andrew Fletcher, who died before the next Depeche Mode album/tour cycle.
Shot at the iconic venue L'Olympia in Paris, this concert film sees the superstar playing an intimate concert for nearly 2000 lucky fans. Spanning Sting's entire career, from The Police to his then-current album
57th & 9th, the music and performances in
Live at the Olympia Paris are absolutely exquisite.
You can check out the previous installments of our "This Film Should Be Played Loud" series here:
Part 4
Part 3
Part 2
Part 1
There are also some great concert movies and music documentaries available on Paramount +. A few Springsteen titles, some Metallica, Oasis, Madonna... check it out HERE.
