X: The Unheard Music (WT Morgan, 1986)

I first saw this film at the Majestic Theatre in Madison in 1986. It is a great film that gives insight into this seminal punkabilly band who ended up in the hands of former Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek. X is one of those bands that was cool to be into in part because they were "X." So many of their lyrics still echo in my head. Songs with interesting titles, "Your phones off the hook but you're not," "Johnny hit and run Paulene," "White Girl" are all cleverly crafted rock classics. Think Johnny Cash/June Carter gone punkabilly and you've got X. Today the band tours as The Knitters doing, ironically, music that is very much in the Johnny/June vein. This film captures a classic band in their heyday leaving no doubt as to their place in punk and rock history.