20 Feet from Stardom (2013)

[Edgy MD]

Documentary visits some of the most prolific backup singers from the entire span of the rock era (did you know a teenage Darlene Love sang backup on "The Monster Mash"?), looks at the alignments of fates that allowed them long careers but kept them forever in the shadows of higher-profile, but often lesser, talents.

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[Frayed Knot]

I have this one plus the one on the Muscle Shoals studio as music docus to watch early in the upcoming year.

[Edgy MD]

Muscle Shoals' Fame Studios makes an appearance in the film, as the site of the awkward place where some of these talented African-American singers get asked to sing on... a new single by some guy named Leonard Skinnard called "Sweet Home Alabama." They recognize the song's theme seemingly before even seeing the lyrics sheet. They're deeply conflicted but, for reasons that aren't quite made clear, they accede to the advice of older peers and an older husband to sing on the song, and making their own statement by singing the hell out of it.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Saw this on the plane. Parts were really great. The focus wandered a bit at the end I thought.

[RealityChuck]

Excellent documentary with a lot of details I just didn't know.