Tom Dowd & the Language of Music
|
List Price: Our Price: $17.77 You Save: $7.21 (29%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $13.99 (click here) Category: DVD See more DVD releases |
|---|
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
Movie Reviews of Tom Dowd & the Language of Music
Movie Review: Amazing Man, Amazing Life
Summary: 5 Stars
I have been anticipating this DVD for a few weeks, after hearing Moormann's interview on NPR, and I was not disappointed in the least. Tom Dowd was an amazing man who led an amazing life, and it is pieced together beautifully in this engaging documentary. But you don't have to be a fan of Tom Dowd to appreciate this disc. Anyone who loves music will find something here to appreciate, whether it's archival footage of Otis Redding, an interview with Eric Clapton, or Dowd's rendition of "I Love a Piano" by Irving Berlin. And in the process of telling Tom's story, the film also provides a fascinating history of record producing, from its primitive beginnings, through the marvels of 8-track tape, straight up to the computers of modern music production.
Like most people, I had never heard of Tom Dowd but have been touched by his musical influence. I am grateful that Moormann chose to do this project, to bring Tom's work out into the light for me and other music fans. It is a perfect way to honor Tom's memory, and I will enjoy watching it again and again.
This documentary has several goose-bump moments, and as the final credits roll, you can't help but feel inspired. We should all be as fortunate as Tom Dowd--to find such joy in our life's work, and to be so darn good at it.
Movie Review: Loved it!
Summary: 5 Stars
The previous poster, that song you want to know is LAYLA by Derek and the Dominoes..the piano part is 4 minutes in, and was written by the drummer Jim Gordon (just the piano part, clapton wrote the words), who also is playing the piano (though some piano parts are played by Bobby Whitlock)...not to be confused with the version Eric Clapton did in that MTV unplugged thing..Ok, this was a great bio/documentary on an unsung hero of the music industry. The only thing else I could wish for is maybe interviews with Aretha Franklin or Wilson Pickett? How cool is it that this guy not only worked on the Manhattan Project, but worked with greats such as John Coltrane, Ray Charles, the Allman Brothers band etc. They all respected his work too. He seems like such a regular guy, and pretty much was a regular guy. The montage in the begining (with Tales of Brave Ulyssess in the background) is sometimes a bit much, but very artistic. Other than that, a great docu, and be sure to check out the bonus material with extra interviews and deleted scenes. I really like how they keep going back and forth to his youth working with Physics. Some of the most fascinating bits of the film. Most of the historic footage is from TV shows featuring the artists.Movie Review: Good documentary about a great recording engineer
Summary: 5 Stars
It's hard to overstate the impact Tom Dowd had on the recording industry, yet few outside the industry know anything about him. I can name a dozen engineers and producers that are better known although they did not accomplish nearly as much. This documentary was strong on it's interviews while occasionally falling into the trap of contrivance in an attempt to dramatize certain events. Overall it is a strong effort however, and if you love music the performance footage along is worth the price of admission. Obviously the filmmakers had the cooperation of many people in laying their hands on this footage. The interviews with Ahmet Ertegun, founder of Atlantic Records and Les Paul inventor of the electric guitar and multi-track recording are singular and of historical cultural significance as well.
The DVD has a very good collection of extra features that are not merely afterthoughts, and include literally dozens of interviews that didn't make it to the final film. Dowd's family was barely addressed in the film itself, but there is a section in the extras devoted to it. This is a comprehensive chronicle of a landmark individual. While I initially rented this DVD from Netflix I have since purchased it. This one's a keeper.
Movie Review: an architect of recorded music
Summary: 5 Stars
this video is a must-see for any audiophile or musician. well researched and written. takes you from the beginning of tom dowd's career as a recording engineer to recorded music as we know it today. it is amazing to see how primitive the technology was and how sharp and instinctive the engineer had to be just to capture the basic sound of the performance. he worked with a virtual who's who of artists. thelonious monk,john coltrane,tito puente, ray charles,aretha franklin, the cream, led zepplin, allman brothers, leonard skinner, and many others. includes historical footnotes about tomas edison and tom dowd's involvement in the development of the atomic bomb. interviews with eric clapton,gregg allman,dickie betts, ahmet ertegun,jerry wexler,phil ramone, and other musicians and industry people. it is not an exageration to say that tom dowd was a genius. he also had an excellent knowledge and feel for music and was an excellent teacher, arranger, and motivater. he worked extremely well with all the musicians and became friends and mentor to them. if you love music and history you will love this documentery.Movie Review: THE REAL GENIUS
Summary: 5 Stars
Tom Dowd became a nuclear physicist when he was sixteen years old, who's work was directly involved in the production of the atomic bomb. He was actually present when the mushroom clouds went up during the Bikini Atoll tests.
...He also produced a slew of classic jazz, r&b, and rock albums over a fifty some odd year time span, and was GREATLY respected by the likes of Ray Charles, Thelonios Monk, Charles Mingus, Otis Redding, Eric Clapton, Aretha Franklin, The entire Allman Brothers band, Lynyrd Skynyrd, etc. For helping to shape, and create their most timeless recordings.
This is a very entertaining documentary about him. Made around 2001-2002, just before he passed away. It shows that Tom Dowd was a hell of an innovator in just about everything behind the scenes of popular music. He started way back when all music was recorded on one take... and then revolutionized multi-track, and stereo recording. I found it very interesting to see how much this guy had his hands on. And how much of a web he weaved, that connects so many artists over such a span of time.