Posts: 15,844
Threads: 977
Joined: Jan 2016
Reputation:
1
Yes, there is discussion about this film hiding in the links section. You can find that talk here: http://www.brotherhoodofdoom.com/doomFor...p?tid=3424
But I have seen the film and I can say it is fine. It interviews all the players except for the creditors appointee who eventually shuttered the place. There are even a few rock stars in the mix to tell how Tower Records impacted their life. It gave Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters a job. It sold Bruce Springsteen's music (He seemed out of place). And it gave Elton John a place to shop. He would go into the Sunset Store once a week.
All in all, it told the story of Tower. Not a lot of juicy bits. No real surprises. It's demise was due more to over expansion than MP3 sales. You can look at how Tower still thrives in Japan to show having a record store can still be a viable business. They cover Tower Books. They talk about Pulse, the in-store magazine.
There are a lot of good extras on the DVD. And I watched most of them. The best was about the in-stores which showed which bands showed up at the store.
And I caught one picture of the Campbell store, but that was it.
I would be interested to see all of El Dingo's footage. If he needs it digitized, I know a guy.
As a matter of fact, my anger does keep me warm
Posts: 15,844
Threads: 977
Joined: Jan 2016
Reputation:
1
And then synchronicity clicks in. Elton John is holding a free concert today at the site of the old Tower records on Sunset to promote his new album. Uncanny.
Elton at Sunset
As a matter of fact, my anger does keep me warm
Posts: 33,874
Threads: 2,549
Joined: Oct 2005
Reputation:
3
The best part of my last LA trip was seeing the tower store.
No wait...the best part was getting groped by Emily Beecham.
Nooooo....it was lunch with Greg. 
Shadow boxing the apocalypse
Posts: 15,844
Threads: 977
Joined: Jan 2016
Reputation:
1
Seriously?
It was being groped by Emily Beecham.
As a matter of fact, my anger does keep me warm
Posts: 33,874
Threads: 2,549
Joined: Oct 2005
Reputation:
3
Chatting up Madeline about butt doubles was good too
Shadow boxing the apocalypse
Posts: 33,874
Threads: 2,549
Joined: Oct 2005
Reputation:
3
Is this the perfect thread for this or what?
Quote:Iconic Tower Records Returns As Website Selling Vinyl, Cassettes, CDs
By Bruce Haring
Bruce Haring
pmc-editorial-manager
November 13, 2020 4:17pm
![[Image: Tower.jpg?w=681&h=383&crop=1]](https://deadline.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Tower.jpg?w=681&h=383&crop=1)
YouTube
One of the most iconic retailers in entertainment has returned in a new incarnation. Tower Records, which closed its stores 14 years ago and declared bankruptcy, today announced it has come back as an online service.
The new Tower Records has online events, the return of its Tower Pulse! magazine, a merchandise section, and, of course, music, music, music, including vinyl and cassette selections in various genres.
Founded in Sacramento in 1960 as a section in a drug store, the chain grew to an international success behind the savvy of the late Russ Solomon, who was memorialized in a 2015 film, All Things Must Pass, which studied the chain’s rise and eventual demise, save for a giant store in Tokyo that retained the name and remains open.
The new online version of Tower Records was originally scheduled for introduction at the 2020 South by Southwest, but pulled back when that event was curtailed by the pandemic. It was also envisioned as a series of pop-up shops, an idea also delayed by the coronavirus.
Danny Zeijdel, Tower Record’s new CEO, said the chain’s return “has been met with tremendous success, feedback. A lot of people are so happy taking pictures of when they receive an order from Tower Records, posting it on Instagram.”
Known for its enormous volume and knowledgeable staff, Tower Records was as much as culture as it was a retailer. The Sunset Boulevard store in West Hollywood in particular became a place where celebrities shopped, fans came to soak in the vibe, and was a go-to stop for anyone interested in music. Such artists as Prince and Elton John would shop before and after regular store hours.
Shadow boxing the apocalypse
Posts: 3,426
Threads: 389
Joined: Oct 2005
Reputation:
0
Finally watched this. Enjoyed it. It made me nostalgic for going to Tower. And for record covers that showed off the artwork. I must say that digital is way more convenient.
They did not mention the head shop section in the stores. In ours anyway.
ED had a good take on Tower's demise in the linked thread. And as Greg said above, they were over-expanded. And Russ Solomon was not a money watcher. (Probably fair to say that none of them were very good businessmen, except the accountant who left.) It became (was always?) a house of cards that the rise of streaming knocked over. They only mentioned the price of CDs in passing, but the greed of the record companies in charging more than the price of an LP for something that cost less to produce was another factor, especially since Tower gave up stocking singles in favor of albums.
the hands that guide me are invisible
Posts: 4,735
Threads: 904
Joined: May 2008
Reputation:
2
I worked in the bookstore in Mtn View...IIRC because Ted (Teo?) from MVHS worked there, so I "knew" someone which helped me get thru the "are you cool enough" gauntlet. Our manager lived on a boat in the Santa Cruz harbor and would commute in whenever... the rumor is that she'd do coke in her office with reps when they came by.
Since she wasn't overseeing most of the time, it was just a hang out for a bunch of young adults. I don't know how the store lasted as long as it did. So much shrinkage out the back door (that's not a yeti reference). It was a fun job while it lasted and, since I handled the Computer Book section, I was able to spin that when I switched to working at the Mac shop in Palo Alto which led me to where I am today...
So, thanks MTS Incorporated!
--tg
|
