The chains exhaustive inventory and knowledgeable staff earned it. The subject of the independent lens film tower was the heroism of multiple people caught in the crossfire that day, and to create the mood, the soundscape of the time, to give you a sense of what. The documentary gives brief mention to tower s completely lame ecommerce play. For three decades tower records, the forerunner of such names as. From humble beginnings in a smalltown drugstore, tower records eventually became the heart and soul of the music world, and a powerful force in the music industry. Get the film home trailer theatrical info news premiere.
Established in 1960, tower records was once a retail powerhouse with 200 stores, in 30 countries, on five continents. The life and death of tower records, revisited npr. The last gunslinger, roland deschain idris elba, has been locked in an eternal battle with walter odim, also known as the man in black matthew mcconaughey, determined to prevent him from toppling the. Elton john once bought all his musiclistening there and still describes its closure as one of the greatest tragedies of my life. My grandfather, sam gordon, was russs first landlord for those first two tower records. Colin hanks on his new documentary about tower records kqed. But before you could download or stream music, there were record stores. Apparently, tower records has an early music store on aol or something like that. Movie rental businesses such as blockbuster are facing the prospect of. Colin hanks and the making of the tower records documentary.
Browse a wide selection of documentaries films and your downloads will be instantly accessible. Remembering tower records 10 years after it closed its doors. The leadership of tower records had very little knowledge, or curiosity, about digital music. My grandfather told me the story, that he rented to russ with no cosigner at the watt avenue store. The rise and fall of tower records 2015 all things must pass is a documentary that explores the rise and fall of tower records, and its legacy forged by its rebellious founder, russ solomon. The record a new documentary from colin hanks looks back on a business empire that helped shape the tastes of many music fanatics. All things must pass is a bittersweet ode to tower records by zach schonfeld on 32515 at 1. Everyone thinks they know what killed tower records. X japans first vinyl release from sony music in 28 years.
Tower records training video the basics of customer service. It was 2005, i was a fifthgrader, i hadnt even started middle school. Great documentary, but this is coming from someone who was the property manager of. Jun 01, 2015 but before you could download or stream music, there were record stores. The tower records project is an effort to promote the legacy of an american retail icon and help the center for sacramento history preserve the official archives of. All things must pass is a new documentary about tower records.
The rise and fall of tower records and how the music. Mar 28, 2016 it is time to remember tower records one last time. Tower records documentary premiere sactown magazine. With anthony lapaglia, debi mazar, maxwell caulfield, rory cochrane. Great documentary, but this is coming from someone who was the property manager of the watt avenue 1st store and broadway 2nd store. Also, i dont remember where i was when i downloaded the new iggy pop record. Courtesy watching a movie about an indie record store at this particular moment feels about as far away as a. Napster, itunes and illegal downloads liquified the concrete beneath. But just five years later, tower declared bankruptcy. All things must pass documentary shows rise and fall of tower. By 1999, tower was operating more than 150 stores in almost twodozen countries, generating annual revenues of a billion dollars.
More than a history of tower records but a history of the last 50 to 60 years of music. Tower was a commercial enterprise that was a kind of community. I just finished watching colin hanks impressive documentary on the rise and fall of tower records, titled all things must pass. Remembering tower records founder russ solomon youtube. The rise and fall of tower records and how the music industry. And in california none was bigger than tower records. Tower records founded in 1960 by russ solomon, tower records developed from a business he founded as a teenager to resell 78 rpm jukebox records in his fathers sacramento drug store, into a record retail behemoth that operated dozens of stores across north america, south america, europe and. Sales growth in itunes was actually stronger in catalog and deep catalog albums than in recent releases, underlining that the itunes store is picking up the broader, older album sales that dying record stores are leaving behind after being finished off in their attempts to compete in sales of recently released albums against the big box retail stores offering those same albums at cost. Tower records dublin will use the information you provide on this form to be in touch with you and to provide updates and marketing. Records and books stores in sacramento ace hart productions. The interface is loud and in your face, much like the real thing. What i found this documentary did a miserable job in demonstrating is the balance between the 30 year rise of tower records and the gradual decline of tower records for what is described as two main reasons, the greed of tower records trying to control the price point of the lp and subsequent cd, then not realizing soon enough the evolution of.
Aug 27, 2015 established in 1960, tower records was once a retail powerhouse with two hundred stores, in thirty countries, on five continents. Jun 23, 2006 the brickandmortar king of music, tower records, has opened a fullfledged online store. Tower records is an international retail music franchise and online music store that was formerly based in sacramento, california, united states. My first itunes song download is downright embarrassing, but please be kind. A sniper rode the elevator to the top floor of the iconic university of texas tower and opened fire, holding the campus hostage for 96 minutes in what was a previously unimaginable event.
But in 2004, the company was forced into bankruptcy, a victim of its own unchecked appetite for expansion, cutthroat competition from consumerelectronics retailers, tonedeaf marketing decisions on the part of the record industry, and viral filesharing. Very well done documentary about tower records rise and fall. Its impossible not to think of tower records when referring to the sunset strip. Colin hanks on his tribute doc the actor and filmmaker talks about all things must pass, his valentine to the record store that helped define an era. Feb 03, 2015 tower records documentary set for premiere at sxsw film festival s. The rise and fall of tower records, the major chain it was.
Remembering tower records in paramus, a wonderland of. Twentyfour hours in the lives of the young employees at empire records when they all grow up and become young adults thanks to each other and the manager. A lot of people have this misconception that napster is the thing that killed tower records, and that is not 100 percent accurate. The rise and fall of tower records, the major chain it was ok to love. Or see the film ondemand through your television provider.
Akin to todays eclectic curators of spotify playlists, the buyers for tower records. We are x limited edition color vinyl soundtrack to be released by sony music japan international december, 2017. In a time when music couldnt be streamed or downloaded, tower records stood above its competition. Vanairsdale nearly seven years after actordirector colin hanks began making it and four years after a hit kickstarter campaign that helped finance it, the tower records documentary all things must pass is set for its world premiere. With russ solomon, chuck d, chris cornell, heidi cotler. Music world and tower records stores have been replaced by itunes and emusic. Oct 20, 2015 the life and death of tower records, revisited. Please let us know all the ways you would like to hear from us. Stephen kings the dark tower, the ambitious and expansive story from one of the worlds most celebrated authors, makes its launch to the big screen.
Oct 16, 2015 this documentary tracks the rise and fall of the tower franchise and notes its influence on some of the biggest names in music. In fact, towers story has an arc much like human life. Jan 12, 2016 established in 1960, tower records was once a retail powerhouse with 200 stores, in 30 countries, on five continents. No music, no life motto lived with us for many years, until the music business of vinyl and cd albums were first affected by mtv, followed by later technology, specifically when the mp3s started to surface at a lower cost and for single songs.
All things must pass is a feature documentary film examining this. All things must pass is a documentary that explores the rise and fall of tower records, and its legacy forged by its rebellious founder, russ solomon. Springsteen, grohl, elton john ponder tower records business lessons as movie makes dvd mark beech former contributor opinions expressed by forbes contributors are their own. May 12, 2009 music world and tower records stores have been replaced by itunes and emusic.
Tower combines archival footage with rotoscopic animation of the dramatic day, based entirely on first person testimonies from witnesses, heroes and survivors. In 1999, tower records had sales of over one billion dollars. From 1960 until 2006, tower operated retail stores in the united states, which closed when tower records filed for bankruptcy and liquidation. How the ipod changed everything the globe and mail. Thats the story colin hanks tells in his lively and loving documentary, all things must pass. Established in 1960, tower records was once a retail powerhouse with. A new documentary from colin hanks looks back on a business empire that helped. Oct 16, 2015 the rise and fall of tower records is the subject of colin hanks all things must pass, a documentary that inspires long, gauzy gazes back to the carefree, youthful past of viewers of a certain age. A long, strange trip with all things must pass, his documentary chronicling the epic rise and fall of tower records, actordirector colin hanks brings the story of his hometowns most famous, freewheeling brand to life on the big screen. Springsteen, grohl, elton john ponder tower records. Nov 29, 2016 remembering tower records 10 years after it closed its doors.
They all face the store joining a chain store with strict rules. Tower recordings biography, albums, streaming links allmusic. Another vhs training tape for tower records employees, outside of the broadway store and inside the watt ave. Established in 1960, tower records was once a retail powerhouse with two hundred stores, in thirty countries, on five continents. While id recommend the film to anyone who was ever a frequent tower shopper, id say its a mustsee for anyone who has ever worked music retail, particularly those who worked during the late 90s to early 2000s, which saw the decline of physical media. A fan writes a message on a billboard at tower records in hollywood on sunset boulevard promoting aaliyahs 2001 album after the singers aaliyah, who died in an air crash in august 2001, recorded three albums. Dec 29, 2009 2006 and the death of tower records once, tower records was the place to go if you were searching for obscure music in any genre. From humble beginnings in a smalltown drugstore, tower records. Springsteen, grohl, elton john ponder tower records business. The service, which launched on june 1, 1999, soon spread like a virus, infecting every music nut with a computer and a dialup connection. Remembering tower records in paramus, a wonderland of vinyls, cassettes tapes and cds. Sir doug and the genuine texas cosmic groove 2015 imdb.
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