Best Music Movies of 1989

Depeche Mode 101 is a fascinating documentary codirected by the esteemed D.A. Pennebaker (The War Room, Down from the Mountain), focusing on backstage realities of art and business during the British synthesizer band's 1988 American tour. We see managers worrying over slow ticket sales for a stand at the Rose Bowl, observe sound checks at concert sites, get a tour of the group's multiple keyboard banks, and listen with some alarm to singer David Gahan describe his steroid-based throat treatments. There are plenty of performance clips, but for music alone, disc 2 in this package contains the uninterrupted Rose Bowl show, including the plaintive "Blasphemous Rumours," the exultant drama of "Stripped," and the dreamy "Somebody." Pennebaker's promotional video "Everything Counts" is also here, but don't miss the director's recent, touching, and informative interviews with the now 40-something, individual members of Depeche Mode. --Tom Keogh

The Leningrad Cowboys, a group of Finnish musicians, and their manager, travel to America seeking fame and fortune. As they cross the country, trying to get to a wedding in Mexico, they are followed by the village idiot, who wishes to join the band.

A Hollywood filmmaker (Mike Jittlov) makes a short for an evil film studio. Unbeknownest to him, the producer has placed a bet of $25,000 that he won't come up with anything with a use. Luckily, our film creator gets the help of his friends.

A behind-the-scenes look at the putting on of the successful West End stage musical, including footage of the cast rehearsing and the triumphant first night.

By 1988, Rush had reached the pinnacle of their success. Internationally acclaimed as one of the world's greatest live acts, Rush remained an enigma. With little airplay or MTV coverage, yet arenas of fans, Rush capture 3 nights of their Hold Your Fire tour at the NEC, UK during April 1988. This third attempt to capture their live atmosphere still doesn't quite hit the mark.

In the sixties, Eddie and the cruisers was the hottest band around. But the tragic death of its lead singer broke the band up. Only Eddie is not dead. He works as a carpenter in Montreal. His love of music forces him to create a new band which will have to struggle with its anonymity.

The concert was recorded live at the Dominion Theatre in London, on June 3, 1988. TracklistHide Credits 1 Jackie 2 Just Like You Said It Would Be 3 Mandinka 4 Just Call Me Joe 5 Never Get Old 6 Jerusalem 7 Troy 8 I Am Stretched On Your Grave

Louise is not very popular at her highschool. Then she learns that she's descended from the witches of Salem and has inherited their powers. At first she uses them to get back at the girls and teachers who teased her and to win the heart of the handsome footballer's captain. But soon she has doubts if it's right to 'cheat' her way to popularity.

A live video recorded at the NEC in Birmingham, England on 27 and 28 November 1988 during Iron Maiden's Seventh Son of a Seventh Son world tour.