Best Music Movies of 1986

One of the world's biggest bands returns to the scene of their Live Aid triumph (one year earlier in 1985) to play all their greatest hits in front of a packed Wembley Stadium.

A wanna-be blues guitar virtuoso seeks a long-lost song by legendary musician, Robert Johnson.

January 1978. After their success in England, the punk rock band Sex Pistols venture out on their tour of the southern United States. Temperamental bassist Sid Vicious is forced by his band mates to travel without his troubled girlfriend, Nancy Spungen, who will meet him in New York. When the band breaks up and Sid begins his solo career in a hostile city, the turbulent couple definitely falls into the depths of drug addiction.

Admired as one of the best lyricists of pop rock, Bob Dylan has his name recorded in music history. During his four decades career, he has been through many facets: from acoustic to electric guitar; from politicized to religious lyrics; from minimalist to very highly sophisticated arrangements. And his characteristic voice, for some, hoarse and full of style, for others a little out of tune, still influences many musicians. In this presentation filmed at the Sydney Entertainment Centre in Australia over February 24-25 1986, Dylan is accompanied by Tom Petty and the band The Heartbreakers, as well as a very fine selection of new compositions. To close the spectacle, Bob Dylan and Tom Petty perform a vocal duet in "Knockin' on heaven's door", one of the most famous songs of this compositor.

A Valentine's Day special featuring rock and roll music set to scenes from Disney animation.

It's Christmas Eve and the playroom is alive with excitement for the new toys that will arrive the next day. Balthazar, the old and wise bear, explains to the other toys that they must welcome the newcomers even though each of them may be replaced as one of the children's new favorite toys.

Eddie Weinbauer, a metalhead teen who is bullied at school, looks to his heavy metal superstar idol, Sammi Curr, for guidance. When Curr is killed in a hotel fire, Eddie becomes the recipient of the only copy of Curr's unreleased album, which, when played backwards, brings Sammi back to life. As Halloween approaches, Eddie begins to realize that this isn't only rock 'n roll...it's life and death.

Outdoor Concert by Jean Michel Jarre to celebrate 150 years of Houston and Texas and 25 years of NASA.

Heavy Metal Parking Lot documents heavy metal music fans tailgating in the parking lot outside the Capital Centre (since demolished) in Landover, Maryland, on May 31, 1986, before a Judas Priest concert (with opening act Dokken).

A small but growing Texas town, filled with strange and musical characters, celebrates its sesquicentennial and converge on a local parade and talent show.

The colorful holiday classic is finally brought to the big screen, designed by famed children's story author and artist Maurice Sendak, and written for the first time to be as close as possible to the original story. A lavish, exciting and heart-warming celebration of dance, of music, and of life. Based upon the Pacific Northwest Ballet's original production.

Larry Abbot, speaker in the radio horror shows of Manhattan Mystery Theater wants to marry. For the marriage he takes his fiancée home to the castle where he grew up among his eccentric relatives. His uncle decides that he needs to be cured from a neurotic speech defect and exaggerated bursts of fear: he gives him a shock therapy with palace ghosts.

Mildred is one of the young girls at a prestigious witch academy. She can't seem to do anything right and is picked on by classmates and teachers. The headmistress of the school, Miss Cackle, has an evil twin sister who plans to destroy the school. Can Mildred foil the plan before the Grand Wizard comes to the Academy for a Halloween celebration you'll never forget?!!

A collection of music videos spanning the first eight years of The Cure's career. 1. Killing An Arab 2. 10:15 Saturday Nigth 3. Boy's Don't Cry 4. Jumping Someone Else's Train 5. A Forest 6. Play For Today 7. Primary 8. Other Voices 9. Charlotte Sometimes 10. The Hanging Garden 11. Lets Go To Bed 12. The Walk 13. The Lovecats 14. The Caterpillar 15. In Between Days 16. Close To Me 17. A Night Like This.

The Whole Story is the first compilation album by English singer Kate Bush, it was Kate's third UK number one album. Released by EMI Records on 10 November 1986. The album included 10 hit singles, plus a "new vocal" version of debut hit Wuthering Heights and one new track, Experiment IV. The compilation was released on VHS video and Laserdisc, containing the videos for all the tracks, plus one bonus video: The Big Sky.

Originally broadcast as an exclusive special on HBO, Barbra Streisand launched her September 6, 1986 concert One Voice, in part, as a protest against Reagan-era nuclear arms proliferation in the late Cold War; the event marked the diva's first official live performance since 1972.

Disneyland's Summer Vacation Party (1986)

A country-western singer on a trip through the Tennessee mountains runs into a reclusive backwoodsman — and a witch.

The place is Melbourne, Australia 1978. The punk phenomenon is sweeping the country and Dogs In Space, a punk group, are part of it. In a squat, in a dodgy suburb, live a ragtag collection of outcasts and don't-wanna-be's who survive on a diet of old TV space films, drugs and good music. And the satellite SKYLAB could crash through their roof at any moment...

A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grand Jatte by Georges Seurat is one of the great paintings of the world, and in "Sunday in the Park with George," book writer James Lapine and composer/lyricist Stephen Sondheim bring a story based on the work brilliantly to life. While the painting depicts people gathered on an island in the Seine, the musical goes beyond simply describing their lives. It is an exploration of art, of love, of commitment. Seurat connected dots to create images; Lapine and Sondheim use connection as the heart of all our relationships. Winner of the 1985 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Originally broadcast as part of "American Playhouse" on PBS (season five, episode nineteen).

A concert film directed by and featuring the music of Laurie Anderson, filmed at the Park Theater in Union City, New Jersey, during the summer of 1985.

Watch The Plan of Salvation unfold in the story of five children who come to Earth to experience the joys and trials of mortality.

Ozzy was at the peak of his 1980s popularity. Filmed live on tour in 1986 for MTV, this video was a promotional celebration of Ozzy's triple platinum fifth solo album, 'The Ultimate Sin'.

A documentary about the band X. Includes live and studio performances and interviews with the band members.

A defense contractor who somehow becomes the sole survivor of a nuclear holocaust. In his solitude, he traces the history of U.S. civilization in the 20th century through musical numbers.

A recording of Horowitz's historic 1986 recital in Moscow, the program also includes highlights of his return to his native Soviet Union--his first visit in 61 years.

A musical adaptation of Colin MacInnes' novel about life in late 1950s London. Nineteen-year-old photographer Colin is hopelessly in love with model Crepe Suzette, but her relationships are strictly connected with her progress in the fashion world. So Colin gets involved with a pop promoter and tries to crack the big time. Meanwhile, racial tension is brewing in Colin's Notting Hill housing estate...

Two friends from Miami are in the French Riviera enjoying life by scamming money off of rich women. One day, they read about a young woman set to inherit $50 million from her father. At first, Tricky has Christopher Tracy talked into romancing her for her money, but in getting to know her, Christopher falls in love with her. This love comes between the brothers, and Tricky tells about the plan.

Shirley Clarke's frenetic documentary about multi-talented musician Ornette Coleman.

11-year-old Lisa has no time for toys; she's too busy taking care of her siblings and cooking for her mother. During the Christmas Eve blizzard, Lisa travels to Toyland in Wizard of Oz-like fashion and arrives just in time for a wedding. Young Mary Contrary is about to marry mean, old Barnaby Barnacle, despite the fact that she loves Jack Be Nimble. Lisa tries to stop this terrible wedding and, together with her new friends, discovers that Barnaby wants to take over Toyland. Lisa, Mary, Jack, and Georgie Porgie ask the Toymaster for help, but he can't help them as long as Lisa doesn't truly believe in toys.

WHAT YOU MEAN WE is a surreal short film by experimental artist Laurie Anderson.

Short movie by New York photographer and cinematographer Richard Kern.

August 30, 1972, John Lennon and Yoko Ono backed by The Plastic Ono Elephant's Memory Band, played a benefit concert to raise money for mentally handicapped children. It was their last concert together.

New York, 1986: a city of big dreams and equally big problems. Like New York itself, hip-hop music encompassed both of these human conditions. But hip-hop and its cultural birthplace shared other important characteristics, too: the desire to always be original, a hustle-to-survive ambition, and — if the stars aligned — the ability to come out on top, no matter what the odds. Big Fun in the Big Town is about hip-hop when artistry in the game was still at its center. When skills, not hype, got you your first record deal. When Run-DMC took the reins from Doug E Fresh and Grandmaster Flash, paving the way for hundreds of other hitmakers to follow. When a chart-topping LL Cool J still lived with his Grandmother. When the Latin Quarter was the club to be at on any weekend night. And when artists from all backgrounds could taste their own pop chart dreams, just beyond their reach but still seemingly attainable.

A short film which incorporates three music videos Derek Jarman directed for The Smiths: “The Queen Is Dead,” “Panic,” and “There Is a Light That Never Goes Out.”

A girl finds herself inside a fashion magazine – Joanna Hogg's graduation piece at the National Film and Television School starring a then unknown Tilda Swinton.

M. Harry Smilac is a down-on-his-luck music manager who is having a hard time attracting talent and booking gigs for his band, Kicks (The most recent of the gigs is a Dairy Queen opening!!). When making arrangements for a campaign fund-raiser, he mistakes Rick Roberts, a professional wrestler, for a musician and hires him. At that moment he becomes a wrestling manager and starts to book matches for him and his teammate Tonga Tom. The team is a success, and Harry decides to take his wrestlers and his band on a "Rock n' Wrestling" tour. The tour is a success, and Harry feels what it is like to be a winner again.

Earth is visited by a race of aliens, who issue an ultimatum: either peace or complete destruction.

A 22 year old man who has lived inside a crystal room because of a rare illness, meets an up and coming rock star, and the two fall in love.

This is the 1983 edition of Jamaica’s annual Reggae Sunsplash in Montego Bay, a week-long showcase for some of the greatest names in reggae, ska, funk and dub poetry.

The Madballs are a zany animated rock band who rock and roll their way across the galaxy. Music is illegal on their home planet so they make a break for it on Earth.

The Little Match Girl is a short story by Danish poet and author Hans Christian Andersen. The story is about a dying child's hopes and dreams, and was first published in 1845. This adaptation was made for Harlech TV and broadcast on 28th December 1986 and starred Twiggy and Roger Daltrey, and features the song 'Mistletoe and Wine' which became a Christmas number one for Cliff Richard in 1988, the biggest selling record of that year.

A street Gang that is also a rap group tries to get a record contract.

Live concert of the Bangles at the Syria Mosque Arena, Pittsburgh, recorded December 13, 1986 Playlist: 01 - Let It Go 02 - Restless 03 - Walking Down Your Street 04 - James 05 - Going Down To Liverpool 06 - He's Got A Secret 07 - September Gurls 08 - If She Knew What She Wants 09 - Return Post 10 - Live 11 - In A Different Light 12 - I Want You 13 - Angels Don't Fall In Love 14 - Hero Takes A Fall 15 - Manic Monday 16 - Walk Like An Egyptian

A program originally produced for the BBC, and aired on television several times in 1986. Originally conceived as a long-form promotional piece for «Press to Play», the BBC staffer (Richard Skinner) persuades Macca to talk about much more, including one of the more in-depth interviews about Wings. All of the interview bits were done at Abbey Road studio 2, leading to some reminiscing on Paul's part. Scattered among the interview are some nice McCartney film rarities (including rarely seen promo clips/videos, concert footage from both the 1973 and 1976 tours, and even a bit of the never released "One Hand Clapping" film).

Ron Jeremy hosts an MTV-style erotica show.

This concert program, from the London Palladium, begins with Minnelli singing “New York, New York” as an encore number to her show, then reflecting back 90 minutes to when she began the performance. Upon taking the stage, Minnelli opens with a medley of “Pick Yourself Up,” “Blue Skies.” and “I’m So Excited.” Next, Minnelli sings “Old Friends,” followed by “Wherever He Ain’t,” “Sad Songs (Say So Much),” “I Don’t Care Much,” “When the Sun Comes Out,” “I Couldn’t Be Happier (for You),” “London Town,” “I Don’t Want to Know,” “Some People,” and “Here’s to the Band.” After telling of how she recently turned forty, Minnelli sings “The Saga of Emma Finch”. Minnelli finishes singing “You’ve Let Yourself Go,” “He’s Funny That Way,” “I Love a Piano,” and “New York, New York.” Following a standing ovation, Minnelli is greeted backstage by her sister, Lorna Luft. Minnelli then encores with “Cabaret.” Finally, Minnelli returns to the stage for a final song: “The World Goes ‘Round.”

The Ever Popular Tortured Artist Effect uses the interviewer/interviewee format in which Todd Rundgren answers numerous questions about his life, his music and his philosophy using his explanations spliced with large portions of his songs.

Experience the exuberant jazz and harmonic vocals of The Manhattan Transfer in this spectacular performance at Nakano Sun Plaza Hall in Tokyo. Recorded in February 1986, the 80-minute concert features 19 songs, including "Birdland", "Java Jive", "Boy from New York City", "Four Brothers", "Rambo", "Meet Benny Baily", "Airegin", "To You", "Sing Joy Spring", "Move", "That's Killer Joe", "The Duke of Dubuque" and "Gloria".