My Favorite Music Documentaries 

The get back documentary was easily one of my best watches put of any forms or genres of video content in the last couple of years.

“long strange trip” is an amazing in depth look at not only the Grateful Dead but the whole hippie and beatnik early 60s scene moving all the way into the early 90s Dead head scene I highly recommend

Searching for Sugarman! My dad grew up in S.A. when his album became more popular than Elvis there, and actually got to see him in concert twice. Unfortunately for one of them you could tell he was severely inebriated, from what sounds like was a hard life.

Video essay or talking non scripted about any particular topic, you always smash it. Perhaps my favourite youtube channel.

The Devil and Daniel Johnston is a pretty good one. The guy's life makes for a rich narrative and there is some memorable imagery here and there, really feels like a good summation of his style, both audio and visual. I've watched the Best Thing Ever's Bathroom Tour DVD multiple times and really liked it, but that one I doubt has as broad appeal

When I defended my PhD in 2019, I was essentially mentally useless for a few days afterwards. I watched No Direction Home first because I had to let my mind coast for a good three hours, but I also had to learn something. It was an unforgivable moment, and it gave me the best recovery into the world with en intelligent but also rich work of art and history.

Searching for Sugarman is a must see as well. Captures the warmth and authenticity of a struggling singer-songwriter from Detroit, MI and his remarkable fondness across the world.

I LOVED the Zappa doc made by Alex Winter in 2020. The ending has made me cry all five times. Zappa was such an interesting and complex person, it was really cool to get a more personal look at him. The Supersonic documentary about Oasis is great too, it’s what got me into them.

I can never recommend "Such Hawks Such Hounds" too much. (Desert Rock/ Stoner/ Doom). Martin Scorsese's "The Blues". "Dig!" Is a fun watch of an era of the music industry that is no longer the model.

Dig! (2004) is ready interesting and definitely still relevant to those in alt bands today. Very pretty and heavily stylized. Gives heavy gonzo documentary vibes.

It might be cool to do an on-camera/unscripted video where you tell us your own musical journey and how your tastes have evolved. What was the first song you remember hearing that blew you away? What was your first concert? Your first band you followed religiously? Was there a time you loved a band or artist and grew out of them, or a time you didn't appreciate an artist and they grew into a personal favorite? Etc.

It's so great to hear a shout-out about Velvet Goldmine! It's one of my all-time favorite movies, though I think it's less biopic and more David Bowie fanfiction. It would be awesome to hear more of your thoughts on it! Also, I'm Not There is a top-notch biopic.

Heaven Adores You, the Elliott Smith documentary. This documentary provides a beautiful and complicated perspective on a beautiful and complicated man and his music. Now, I don't know if it's just great cinematography because I am not a film guy, but the shots of the streets and neighborhoods Elliott used to walk are jaw-droppingly gorgeous, and I'm surprised no one else is talking about this one.

"Sound City" is my favorite, followed by "If These Walls Could Sing".

My favorite has to be Fugazi: Instrument. Incredible portrait of my all time favorite band.

I *love* Scorsese's music docs: The Last Waltz, No Direction Home, George Harrison: Living in the Material World, he really knows how to weave stories together and the passion he has for the artists pops off he screen.

Standing in the Shadows of Motown is a favorite of mine, as well as PBS' Rock and Roll, which is a hard one to find. A few of the episodes are here, but not all of them.

Your enthusiasm is contagious even through your nervousness. Love your work and the direction you're going. Keep up the good work.

It might get loud is personally is one of my favorites

Summer of Soul is probably one of my absolute favourite music docs that came out recently. It was so incredible to see this collection of forgotten footage of an event that was so important but left forgotten. The Beatles Get Back was wonderful as well. It was so cool to see an iconic album and performance flesh out before our eyes. Outside of that I really love Sound City as well. Seeing the story of this one studio that was responsible for so many albums that are must listen, iconic and so well known is phenomenal. It Might Get Loud is also one that really tickles parts of my brain. The evolution of the sound of the guitar through the lens of 3 guitarists who are iconic in their own way makes for a riveting watch.

When Were Brothers is a great Documentary about The Band that covers everything from the very beginning to their eventual falling apart with modern day interviews with the remaining members, would highly recommend.

You rock, Noah! Thanks for this list. Your video essays are elite but I really dig this too. Come as you are man. And as a fellow Dylan stan, I always enjoy hearing you speak about him.

I really like both formats, I'd continue using both and seeing where each one is appropriate. For something like this video where you're talking about your personal favourites its cool to see you face to face off script. But when you're doing your eras and genres work it feels more epic when you've got a distilled script and spent that extra time with the editing and visuals. Great work either way man! You're easily my favourite person producing content on this stuff. I also like Trash Theory a British channel but I'm sure you know it.

Linkin Park: The Making Of Meteora is my favorite music doc that I've seen. Even though it was on the album but it was an album I absolutely connected to back in school. It was an album that was special to a lot of people and it still holds 20 years later. The doc also saw what they were doing in the studio as well as making or I can say sequence the album. Otherwise it still holds in my heart until this day. The making of Somewhere I Belong to the mixing with Andy Wallace was phenomenal and still holds up!

Your channel is one of the best out there. Always a must watch when they come out!

I really like the intimacy of this informal video format. Just as much information and fun to watch. Please make more of these!

not a big Eagles fan , but there docseries was incredible: History of the Eagles ; directed by Alison Elwood

Some of my favorites that weren’t mentioned: _The Last Waltz_ - The Band _I Am Trying To Break Your Heart_ - Wilco _Nothing Can Hurt Me_ - Big Star _One More Time With Feeling_ - Nick Cave _Amazing Grace_ - Jeff Buckley _The Searcher_ - Elvis Presley _Gimme Shelter_ - Rolling Stones _Still Bill_ - Bill Withers _That’s The Way It Is_ - Elvis Presley _From The Sky Down_ - U2 _It Might Get Loud_ _Beware Mr. Baker_ - (Cream) _Wings For Wheels_ - Bruce Springsteen _What Happened Ms. Simone_ - Nina Simone _20,000 Days On Earth_ - Nick Cave _The ‘Classic Albums’ Series_ _Ain’t In It For My Health_ - Levon Helm _Birth of The Cool_ - Miles Davis _Living In a Material World_ - George Harrison _Rattle & Hum_ - U2 _Supersonic_ - Oasis _Twenty_ - Pearl Jam _Smile_ - Brian Wilson/Beach Boys _Who Is… Harry Nilsson_

I think the Ken Burns "Jazz" doc is one of my favorites too. The scope of it is amazing. The multi-volume soundtrack (which I had to buy) is an education, too. I also really liked "Dig," "Sound City," "It Might Get Loud," and "The Decline of Western Civilization." There's a bunch of others, but I haven't had enough coffee yet to remember them. 😁

Searching for sugarman has to be the most incredible story of any musician ever. Dig 2004 is also very good, a close second

wow added all to my watchlist! def liked this laid-back video. i would love to hear more on concerts, films, documentaries, etc.

Meeting People Is Easy - Documenting the hype circus around Radiohead while they were touring in support of OK Computer. It's beautifully shot, and really puts the band's trajectory into context. It was filmed and released before Kid A was recorded, but also perfectly explains why the band went in the direction they did with Kid A. The Devil and Daniel Johnston - A documentary/biography of the American indie folk singer, Daniel Johnston, who suffers from an atypical bi-polar condition, leading to the belief that his life was being deliberately sabotaged at every stage by none other than Satan himself. The film truly tears a hole in the romanticization mental illness and the notion of the tortured artist. And lastly, I'd be remiss if I didn't recommend "Classic Albums," a British TV series that broke down the making of famous rock and pop albums, complete with people going back to the multitrack tapes and breaking down the mixes, piece by piece. This show was the spark that lit my fascination with the production side of music making.

Great vid, good choices. Furthermore I can highly recommend Tony Palmer’s All You Need Is Love, a 17 part series about the history of popular music that ran in the late 70s. Other docs I really like are Radiohead’s Meeting People is Easy, Fugazi’s Instrument, The Rolling Stone’s Gimme Shelter and Scorsese’s The Blues to name just a few. I also think music docs are highly underrated so I’m glad to see a video like this.

I love all your videos. This personalised format is great. It is nice to get to know you better. Keep it going ❤

How lovely to have Ken Burns acknowledged here. I didn't expect it.

Love how 'Stop Making Sense" and "Floyd at Pompeii' get a mention here. Sublime. (Radiohead's 'In Rainbows from The Basement' is another amazing live/no audience film.) And I'd love to hear more of your opinions about biopics. I'm a big fan of 'I'm Not There', the arty expressionistic Dylan film. The Woodstock doc is incredible. Also, 'Lost Highway - The Story of Country Music', made for TV and a little dated in style, is a fascinating watch. Keep well Mr Polyphonic dude. Your videos have given me so much joy, education and relaxation over the years. Much luv bruv'.

Eagle Rock's "Classic Albums" TV series was amazing. I loved those.

Ken Burns is brilliant!! I've watched a solid chunk of his documentaries multiple times over, and his "Country Music" series is one of my very favorites. It also taught me to love country music!

never get discouraged polyphonic. we love your content buddy

Keep up the new format 👌🏻 As much as I love the other format and am always impressed by the visuals this conversational style is great too. 👍🏻

Searching for Sugar Man is also a fantastic documentary.

Really excited on your enthusiasm towards the Velvet Underground doc. I just picked it up in the Criterion sale this month as a blind pick. Lou and company has always peaked my interest, but have never dug deep into their history or discogrpahy.

Love the format!

"Who's afraid of Mr Baker" is awesome as well

Great job, I enjoy this format and ... nice to see you!

It's awesome to hear (and see) you talk about music in whatever way you feel it at any given moment! Thanks for helping indulge me in another firm of weirdness; I'm always looking for new ways to express individuality, and music is a great format.

Love your videos man. You leave a great mark on my day. Thank you

I love music documentaries, and agree that Ken Burns is the GOAT. Also love Nebula. Hoopla and Kanopy, free apps available to library users, have music documentaries. Muscle Shoals, Creem, Let There Be Drums, It Might Get Loud, Woodstock, Ain't In It For My Health (Levon Helm), This is It (Michael Jackson),The Wrecking Crew, an Echo in the Canyon, the recent Gordon Lightfoot documentary, Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble, Hired Gun, Sidemen, and many of The Great Courses series about music - all are or have been available on demand for free. My favorite price! 😂 Here's to libraries! PS I've watched Get Back many times. It's one of the few documentaries I've purchased.

This format is great! Its contrasts with your more planned content excellently!!!!!

Great to finally see the face behind this fantastic voice. Thank you for your recommendations! I cherish your style of portraying stories about music, always wondered where that came from ;) The format is very nice, maybe try to look directly at camera, 'cause when you look a little above it, it's a little disconnecting. Great work, Man, always curious for your next video!

I really enjoyed this! I honestly could listen to anyone talk about something they're passionate about for hours lol, you clearly love music and that's so dope

I'm loving these more off the cuff videos even as much as the rest. Please keep it up! 😊

Moonage Daydream! For me is the best "avant garde" documentary. It's like a new experience.

Heartworn Highways and Festival Express are worth checkin out too

i will always love the company original cast recording documentary. absolutely beautiful time capsule

Amazing video!! I would love to see more of this :)

So many great picks ! I remember watching Don't Look Back in one of my cinema classes in college and it had a huge impact on me and my interest in music documentaries. A couple months ago, I watched Depeche Mode : 101 which is also by D.A. Pennebaker, and I really enjoyed it. The concert footage of their famous show at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena is amazing. Another Beatles documentary I really want to recommend is George Harrison : Living In The Material World, directed by Martin Scorsese. It highlights beautifully his incredible songwriting and how his spiritual journey shaped his life.

Filmage, about the history of Descendents and ALL is a surprising heartwarming punk rock doc.

I have interest in this! You SHOULD make this a series!!

-A Band Called Death -Searching For Sugarman -Some Other Guy: The Story of the Big Three Great music documentaries

I enjoyed this! Please do videos on your favorite live concert docs AND biopics.

Great stuff man, in terms of documentaries, they really mange to capture the moment in music more than any other genre

Haven't seen Lemmy (2010) mentioned in the comments yet, interesting character and a fun watch, and definitely got me into Motorhead

Heartworn Highways is up there for me

Love this new format ❤

Searching for Sugarman has such a fun and triumphant narrative all circling around some great folk music that needs more ears

Go for the series! Great work!

Great stuff. Keep it coming!

I’d love to see a video about concert films. Great stuff dude

I will have to check some of these out, esp the ken burns ones and the MIA one! One of my favorite docs is the Rush doc Beyond the Lighted Stage, I love the editing & embelishments in it!

More of this!!! It was fantastic 😊

Great to see you Noah! Lots to explore in the music Doc, concert film arena, definitely worth a short series in this format. Some of the ones I have found myself watching multiple times are: The Wrecking Crew Muscle Shoals Searching for Sugar Man The Last Waltz A little known Canadian multi-performer concert tour post Woodstock (summer 1970) is worth looking up “Festival Express”, some of Janis Joplins final performances. An eclectic mix of The Grateful Dead, Buddy Guy, Ian & Sylvia, Janis Et al….

Loved this video man

Really excited to hear what your fave docs are. So far, mine is The Last Waltz, but I'm looking forward to your recommendations.

Please do one with concerts. Stop Making Sense and Exit Stage Left are great.

so happy that polyphonic is comfortable on camera, keep it up lad

Beastie Boys Story is probably one of my favourite docs ever, certainly one of the best I've seen in recent(ish) memory. It's just Mike D and Ad-Rock on stage talking about their life for two hours and it's brilliantly captivating. It's also just a really gorgeous tribute to MCA, who, by all accounts, was the mastermind of the group, and the love and reverence with which they talk about him is beautiful. Shout out to the deleted scene where Adam talks about the "ring" story. As heart warming as it is hilarious.

Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen, A Journey, A Song - one of my favorite music documentaries. I didn't know much about Leonard Cohen before, and this was very informative for me. I really appreciated the format - looking into his life, his artistic process, and his legacy through the lens of one song.

I would recommend the Maysles brothers 1964 documentary on The Beatles first visit to USA in February 1964. Started without much expectations, the Maysles realized very fast that they were witnessing a cultural, generational and musical tsunami. Five years before they filmed Gimme Shelter about Altamont festival. One of the highlights is to see the 4 Beatles looking out at the storm outside their bubble and not understanding why the world seemed to be going mad about them.

great video and awesome comment section - many documentaries in my watchlist now!

I’ve never seen your face before. It’s so great to see a face connected to the voice. And your voice is great. I’m so grateful for everything you do. It’s superb! Please keep doing it. ❤

yeah! keep doing stuff like this! your biopic takes would be great

I really enjoyed this! A part 2 and 3 please!!!🎉

the microphone eating was hilarious, i like seeing your face and always hearing your thoughts

I really like this format and went to listen to your podcast after your last one. I love your normal videos of course but sometimes I need a more audio based thing to consume while crafting.

Thank you for this amazing youtube channel you made. As a music lover, I watch every video of yours as much as possible. Also hello from Turkey !

we love ya Poly! keep up the great work boss!

I like the format, its the casual Friday to your main material.

Searching for Sugar Man is an incredible intimate portrait of an obscure musician called Rodriguez. Great doc.

Totally down to see you talk about more kinds of music adjacent media in this style.

I love this new format of Polyphonic, because I’ve listened to his voice for so long, now that I’ve put a face to that voice, I feel like I’m listening to a long time friend.

"Fillmore: The Last Days" gave a nostalgic look at Bill Graham and a great music venue.

Yes! All of the videos you mentioned: Biopics, Concert Films, Music Movies would be very interesting and I look forward to watching. Also may I suggest Jukebox musical movies like Yesterday, and movies that just feature one artist’s work like The Graduate. Love your work, and I’m glad you’re sharing your perspective.

Good idea about making this a series because I'd love to have more episodes about biopics and concerts.

Two of my favourites are "be here to love me" about Townes Van Zandt and "There but for fortune" about Phil Ochs. Dylan is talked about in the Ochs doc, if you haven't seen it you might be interested. Also of the top of my head "the devil and Daniel Johnston" was good

Now that you mention it, I’d love to see a video about your fav concert films!

I recently watched McCartney 3, 2, 1 and I had an amazing time, as a beatles fan! Going deep into the songs and hearing Paul talk about direct inspirations was amazing

Oh I learned a ton of stuff from "20 Feet From Stardom" as well as "Hired Gun". And it's almost criminal that something like "Summer of Soul" wasn't introduced as a sort of companion piece to "Woodstock" back in the day.

What a good idea for a presentation! Man, there are so many terrific music docs out there, and perhaps one day you’ll make one yourself! I’m assuming you haven’t seen the Oscar-winning Searching For Sugar Man, otherwise you would’ve mentioned it! And I suggest adding to your viewing list Moonage Daydream, When You’re Strange, Heima, Scott Walker: 30 Century Man, and any of the excellent films on Nick Cave, as all of these make for great viewing.

Congrats on 1 million subs ❤