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Entries in Atlantic Records (2)

Monday
Jun062011

'What'd I Say' an expensive book but worth the price

"What'd I Say: The Atlantic Story" was given to me as a Christmas gift (thanks, Sandi). I mention that because at $75 list ($52.50 at Amazon.com), this isn't a book I would normally buy myself. But after spending the last five months poring through 560 pages of wonderful photos and recollections of the most famous names in music, I can attest that this history of Atlantic Records is a fantastic investment in time and money. 

At 9.6 pounds, this oversized hardbound is a beast, but you'll appreciate the high-quality paper and crisp reproduction as you savor every inch of every page. Many of the photos come from the Atlantic archives and were previously unpublished. 

Outside of a half-dozen longer chapters written by famed music journalists like Greil Marcus, Robert Christgau and Robert Gordon, most of the text is presented as quotes and vignettes from label execs, musicians, producers and engineers. And it works, making the immersion into Atlantic's rich history of jazz, R&B, soul, rock and disco -- and perhaps equally important, key roles in promoting civil rights from day one -- more of an adventure than a lecture. 

The Coasters, Ornette Coleman, Solomon Burke, Otis Redding, Aretha Franklin, Cream, Led Zeppelin, CSN&Y, Foreigner, Abba, Matchbox 20, the list goes on and on and on. And on and on. 

Over five decades this was an independent label that kept its oversized personality and feistiness even after being sold and absorbed into the behemoth WEA conglomerate. 

Be forewarned, however: This is not an impartial look at  Atlantic. It was commissioned by Atlantic founder Ahmet Ertegun and his recollections on acts ranging from Ray Charles to Yes to Jewel run throughout. But Ertegun and the book's contributors are smart enough to present more than a few warts amid the highlights that made Atlantic the record label of the last half-century, perhaps for all time. 

I know I'm slobbering at this point, but I can't recommend this book enough. If you're lucky, someone who really loves you will save away for a rainy day and surprise you when you least expect it. It's a gift I'll treasure forever.

Monday
Nov292010

"The House That Ahmet Built"

I can't recommend enough an illuminating two-hour documentary on Ahmet Ertegun, the inspiration and brains behind Atlantic Records. 

"Atlantic Records: The House That Ahmet Built" documents the birth of the label in the late 1940s, when Ertegun's love of jazz led him to embrace rhythm and blues, which he helped to turn into a popular genre that reshaped popular music for the next half century. 

"The House That Ahmet Built" is a 2007 documentary from PBS' "American Master" series, but it's pretty much an biased love letter. But the archival footage and back stories behind some of America's greatest music make it easy to overlook any sense of sanitization.

There's great footage throughout, including performances by Ray Charles, Solomon Burke, The Coasters, Ruth Brown, and appearances by later Atlantic stars like Led Zeppelin and Phil Collins. 

"The House That Ahmet Built" earned an average of 4.5 stars from 19 Amazon.com reviews, and a 3.9 rating out of a whopping 10,400 Netflix reviews.