Best Music Movies of 1976

Drunken, has-been rock star John Norman Howard falls in love with unknown singer, Esther Hoffman, after seeing her perform at a club. He lets her sing a few songs at one of his shows and she becomes the talk of the music industry. Esther's star begins to rise, while John's continues to fall. She tries desperately to get John to sober up and focus on his music, but it may be too late to save him.

The best of Led Zeppelin's legendary 1973 appearances at Madison Square Garden. Interspersed throughout the concert footage are behind-the-scenes moments with the band. The Song Remains the Same is Led Zeppelin at Madison Square Garden in NYC concert footage colorfully enhanced by sequences which are supposed to reflect each band member's individual fantasies and hallucinations. Includes blistering live renditions of "Black Dog," "Dazed and Confused," "Stairway to Heaven," "Whole Lotta Love," "The Song Remains the Same," and "Rain Song" among others.

The Bette Midler Show is a HBO Video special of one of Bette Midler's tours entitled 'The Depression Tour', The video is of her show at the Cleveland Music Hall during February 1976. the show features many of Bette's popular songs, such as "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy", "Friends", "In The Mood", "Hello In There", and "Lullaby of Broadway" As well as dazzling the audience with her spontaneous wit with her 'Wonderful Sophie Tucker Jokes' and her special 'The Vicki Eydie Show'

From the fall of 1975 to the summer of 1976, Bob Dylan took a happy gaggle of musicians out on a two-leg tour dubbed the Rolling Thunder Review.

Pacific Overtures is a musical written by Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman. The show is set in Japan beginning in 1853 and follows the difficult westernization of Japan, told from the point of view of the Japanese. In particular, the story focuses on the lives of two friends caught in the change. The original Broadway production of Pacific Overtures in 1976 was staged in Kabuki style, with men playing women's parts and set changes made in full view of the audience by black-clad stagehands. It opened to mixed reviews and closed after six months, despite being nominated for ten Tony Awards. Set in 1853 Japan, Pacific Overtures follows the Westernization of Japan, mainly through the story of Kayama, a samurai, and Manjiro, a fisherman. The lives of both men are radically changed by the coming of American ships to Japan.

A biography of Woody Guthrie, one of America's greatest folk singers. He left his dust-devastated Texas home in the 1930s to find work, discovering the suffering and strength of America's working class.

Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire present more golden moments from the MGM film library, this time including comedy and drama as well as classic musical numbers.

Three sisters start out singing in their church choir in Harlem in the late 1950s and become a successful girl group in the 1960s.

In the tiny kingdom of Euphrania, the King and his court are most anxious to get Prince Edward wed. But Edward wants to marry for love. Meanwhile, young Cinderella finds life drastically altered with her father's death as she's forced to be a servant in her own house. But a cheery fairy godmother helps her with her impossible tasks, and even gets her to take an evening out at the King's bride-fin

On his deathbed Carmine Vespucci's father tells him to "get Proclo". With "the hit" on, Gaetano tells a cab driver to take him where Carmine can't find him. He arrives at the Ritz, a gay bathhouse.

The music speaks for itself in this performance documentary that highlights some of the biggest names within the country-folk scene in Texas and Tennessee during the last weeks of 1975 and the first weeks of 1976, eschewing narration and staged interviews.

Billy Connolly was, in the 1970s, a sort of Scottish Lenny Bruce, who, with devastating humour, sliced through the hypocrisies he perceived. This 1976 documentary follows the singer-comic during his 1975 Irish tour. Made in a cinema verité fashion, the performer appears to be completely unaware of the presence of the camera in his off-stage and backstage moments.

Everyone has nightmares! But only Alice Cooper would defy rock 'n' roll convention and present those image in his legendary show show "Welcome to my Nightmare." the first full-blown rock-theater extravaganza ever, this is the concert that amazed audiences and critics everywhere. Alice stares in this visual feast, which was to set the standard for all rock tours to follow with its elaborate and innovative staging in 1975

A complex, insightful look at the Chicano experience as mirrored in the lives and music of the most acclaimed Norteño musicians of the Texas-Mexican border, including Flaco Jimenez and Lydia Mendoza. Video includes bonus feature, Del Mero Corazon.

The lives of a group of Hollywood neurotics intersect over the Christmas holidays. Foremost among them, a songwriter visits Los Angeles to work on a singer's album. The gig, unbeknownst to him, is being bankrolled by his estranged father, a dairy magnate, who hopes to reunite with his son. When the songwriter meets an eccentric housewife who fancies herself a modern-day Garbo, his world of illusions comes crashing down.

A portrait of Arthur "Peg Leg Sam" Jackson --black harmonica player, singer, and comedian who made his living "busking" on the street and performing in patent-medicine shows touring southern towns. Footage includes excerpts from one of his last medicine shows, videotaped at a county fair in 1972, and material filmed near his home in South Carolina in 1975. The performance includes harmonica solos, songs, a parody of a chanted sermon, folktales and reminiscences, and three buck dances.

Peter Pan is a 1976 musical adaptation of J. M. Barrie's Peter Pan, or the Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up, produced for television as part of the Hallmark Hall of Fame, starring Mia Farrow as Peter Pan and Danny Kaye as Captain Hook, and with Sir John Gielgud narrating. Julie Andrews sang one of the songs, "Once Upon a Bedtime", off-camera over the opening credits. It aired on NBC at 7:30pm on Sunday, December 12, 1976, capping off the program's 25th year on the air. The program did not use the score written for the highly successful Mary Martin version which had previously been televised many times on NBC. Instead, it featured 14 new and now forgotten songs, written for the production by Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse.

A Halloween-themed television special starring Paul Lynde which aired only once on October 29, 1976 on ABC. It features guest stars including Margaret Hamilton (who reprises her role as the Wicked Witch of the West), Billie Hayes (as Witchiepoo from H.R. Pufnstuf), Tim Conway, Roz Kelly, Florence Henderson, rock band KISS, Billy Barty, Betty White and, in an unbilled surprise appearance, Donny and Marie Osmond.

The cream of the New York new wave/punk crop, filmed live at CBGB when the scene was just beginning. Includes performances by Patti Smith, Blondie, Television, the Ramones, Talking Heads, the Heartbreakers, the Shirts, Wayne County, the Marbles, the Dolls, Miamis, Harry Toledo, and the Tuff Darts (w/Robert Gordon).

Bugs and Daffy perform and act out their own version of the classic "Carnival of the Animals."

A Kentucky-born maiden realizes her dream of becoming a country music star. However, she discovers that her single-minded determination has caused her to lose things far more precious than fame or money when she gets involved with a group of corrupt music executives.

A surreal musical exploring the problems of the multicultural residents in a Notting Hill boarding house.

Dorothy is a sixteen-year-old groupie riding with a rock band when, suddenly, the van is in a road accident, and she hits her head. She wakes up in a fantasy world as gritty and realistic as the one she came from and learns she killed a young thug in the process. A gay clothier called the Good Fairy gives her a pair of red shoes as a reward to help her see the last concert of the Wizard, an androgynous rock singer. She is pursed by the thug's brother who attempts to rape her on several occasions. She also meets a dumb surfer, a heartless mechanic, and a cowardly biker.

Recorded live on Marvin Gaye's first European tour in 1976, at the Edenhalle Concert Hall, in Amsterdam, Holland.

The three chief executives of Creative Concepts Systems & Procedures Brothers Unlimited Inc. of New York are in hot water as their latest venture has been a huge failure, and their Mafia investor, "Mr. Big", wants his $500,000 within 24 hours, or else. So Jimmy, a courier who over hears their plight, suggests they make a porno movie as an easy way of getting back the lost money.

The son of famous studio owner is forced to make porno films to keep the bankrupt studio from being made into a shopping center. In an attempt to get back on the high ground he makes a nudie musical. He makes a bet with the debtors who wish to take ownership of the studio, that if they finance the musical and he can't complete it within two weeks, they can foreclose.

In the late 1970s, rock 'n' roll was banned from television. One young man, our hero, led the battle against the TV ban. He searched the country for the biggest rock groups to perform at a concert in support of his cause. But the enemies of rock 'n' roll had other plans... The zany, madcap Never Too Young To Rock was made at the high point of glam rock in 1975. It offers a unique opportunity to experience the driving, feelgood sounds of the era’s top pop combos in their pomp. From the infectious choruses of Mud’s ‘Tiger Feet’ and ‘The Cat Crept In’, through the catchy doo-wop of The Rubettes, to percussive anthems like The Glitter Band’s ‘Angel Face’, this film provides aural nostalgia at its most intense.

Fass Black, an accomplished black man in Los Angeles, is bullied to play another record labels music at his disco club, but continually refuses because it ain't groovy enough.

Musical Special featuring Shirley MacLaine in her tribute to chorus dancers, colloquially known as "gypsies." Produced by Cy Coleman and Fred Ebb, the special uses a self-referential show business plot in which the star rehearses for her television special about the life of a dancer. MacLaine performed a wide range of songs including "Lucy's Back in Town," during which Lucille Ball made a "surprise" appearance. The program won Outstanding Special: Comedy-Variety or Music at that year's Emmys as well as awards for writing (Ebb), music composition (Coleman), and choreography (Tony Charmoli).

Mitzi Gaynor welcomes her guests Carl Reiner (Dick Van Dyke Show), Ken Berry (Mayberry R.F.D.) and Tony-winner Linda Hopkins to an hour, blending animation and live action, celebrating the era of flappers, speakeasies and great jazz. Songs include "Everything Old is New Again," "The One I Love (Belongs to Somebody Else)," "Runnin' Wild," and "The Charleston."

The Eurovision Song Contest 1976 was the 21st edition of the annual Eurovision Song Contest. It took place in The Hague, Netherlands. Organised by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and host broadcaster Nederlandse Omroep Stichting (NOS), the contest was held at the Nederlands Congrescentrum on Saturday 3 April 1976 and was hosted by previous Dutch winner Corry Brokken.

In her first variety special, Olivia Newton-John performs with guests including Elliott Gould, Lynda Carter, Tom Bosley, Ron Howard and Lee Majors.

Originally aired as an television special, this concert film includes interview segments, comedy sketches, and concert footage from Brian Wilson's 1976 return to the concert stage.

Peter Gabriel is among the rockstars performing the music of Lennon and McCartney against a montage of World War II newsreel footage.

At the height of his KOJAK TV series fame, Telly Savalas starred in this variety special that was sponsored by Kraft Foods and shown without commercial interruption. Barbara Eden, Cloris Leachman, Diahann Carroll and others appear and join in the singing and dancing and mugging.

For his 1976 Christmas special taped November 1-6, Cash went home to the family's farm in Bon Aqua, Tennessee, and to their house in Hendersonville, outside Nashville. The rural setting at Bon Aqua invites city-boy/country-boy ribbing between Cash and his first guest, Manhattan-born pop veteran Tony Orlando, who points out that "Tie A Yellow Ribbon" is "my prison song". Join other special guests Roy Clark, Merle Travis, Barbara Mandrell and Billy Graham in this holiday-inspired first Christmas special from the legendary Johnny Cash.

Documentary about Salsa music with interviews with major Latin stars

In this animated short, a half-naked woman dances with her black-suited partner.

It stars Art Carney, Sandy Duncan and Glen Campbell, each playing a dual role. Art Carney plays both a miserly grandfather referred to as "Gramps" and a jolly magician named Dr. Wunderbar. Sandy Duncan plays a Disneyland tour guide and Snow White. Glen Campbell plays a Disneyland cast member and Santa Claus.

Extremely rare, never repeated special starring Mary Tyler Moore, Ben Vereen, Doug Kershar, Arthur Fiedler, The Manhattan Transfer. “A special in which the vivacious Mary Tyler Moore acts out her wildest fantasies. Lot’s of big dance numbers reminds us that Mary started her career as a dancer. Moore sings and dances to rock, pop, and classical pieces in a show that's drawn from the Bible and fleshed out with allegory about man's creation, fall and rebirth. The show takes the form of surrealistic dream sequences that range from the fanciful to the solemn, and that have Mary playing the roles of angel, devil and woman." Manhattan Transfer does "Sympathy for the Devil," perhaps worth the price of admission right there.”

A musical special promoting the then-upcoming release of the 1973 musical version of "Lost Horizon".

On August 13, 1976 a white-hot KISS came to Houston concert venue The Summit for just their third show in the area. The band at this point was blowing up after releasing the hit LP “Destroyer” and brought a pyrotechnic-heavy rock show with them to thrill fans. Opening with “Detroit Rock City” and closing with “Black Diamond.”

Setlist: Hotel California Lyin' Eyes Wasted time Take it to the limit Desparado Midnight Flyer Turn to stone Already gone One of these nights Funk #49 Good day in hell Rocky mountain way Witchy Woman James Dean The best of my love Walk away Tequila Sunrise

A live performance from the Beach Boys, featuring their best known songs, including 'Help Me Rhonda' and 'Good Vibrations'.

Nina Simone was one of the greatest female vocalists of the 20th Century. She was equally at home singing jazz, blues, soul, gospel or pure pop. Nina made four appearances at the Montreux Festival between 1968 and 1990. This DVD features the whole performance from 1976 as the main feature and is supplemented by bonus features of two tracks from her concert in 1987 and four from her final show in 1990. This is the definitive Nina Simone Live at Montreux DVD.

Little Feat are one of the most influential American bands of the seventies. Founded by Lowell George and Bill Payne in L.A. during 1969; they produced a series of highly original albums over the next decade featuring an eclectic blend of rock 'n' roll, blues, country, folk, soul, and jazz before the death of Lowell George in 1979, which brought the first phase of the band's existence to an end. This set captures the band's performance at the famous Dutch festival Pinkpop on June 7th, 1976, and captures the band's classic line-up at the peak of their powers performing many of their best known tracks.

TV special airing January 13, 1976: Dean returns as host and owner of his Beverly Hills nightclub, Dean's Place, spotlighting new, young talent.

Short comedy by Chuck Statler.