Product Details

• Actors: Ray Charles, John Coltrane, Aretha Franklin, Ginger Baker, Eric Clapton
• Directors: Mark Moormann
• Producers: Mark Moormann, James Kirk, Jonathan Dana, Juan Carlos Lopez, Lawrence Saichek
• Format: DVD, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: Unrated
• Studio: Palm Pictures / Umvd
• DVD Release Date: August 24, 2004
• Run Time: 82 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (59 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00011ZBOS
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #16,931 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Tom Dowd & the Language of Music" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Studio: Uni Dist Corp (music) Release Date: 08/24/2004 Run time: 90 minutes Rating: Nr

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing Man, Amazing Life, September 13, 2004

By 

H. Webber (Austin, TX United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tom Dowd & the Language of Music (DVD)

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.

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it!, September 17, 2004

By 

swlabr123 (Delaware) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Tom Dowd & the Language of Music (DVD)

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.

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb - a great DVD, a great life - thanks PALM, December 3, 2004

By 

Luigi Facotti (Chicago Il) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

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This review is from: Tom Dowd & the Language of Music (DVD)

Firtsly, my wife who hates most of my music sat transfixed through this movie - from the Manhattan project, through the early years of Atlantic, Stax to the Allman Brothers one cannot miss both the impact and the enthusiasm of Tom Dowd. The commentaries by both the musicians, Jerry Wexler, Ahmet Ertegun and Phil Ramone as well as Tom's own commentaries show what a special individual Tom Dowd was. All though this movie - especially seeing the late Ray Charles - the magnitude of what was committed to film is highlighted. This is a special movie about a very special person - I loved the comments on the primitive nature of the recording hardware in the UK compared what Tom Dowd was using in the 50s and early 60s.