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Post by SteveC on Jun 16, 2017 15:07:16 GMT
From today's Times Viewing Guide.
Music fans should look out for this one - a well-observed poignant feature documentary about Tower Records.
"It was that place where your dreams met the listener," says Bruce Springsteen.
Established in 1960, Tower Records grew to be such a force that in 1999 it was making a billion dollars. Seven years later, the company filed for bankruptcy.
Yet was it really as simple as the internet killing the party? Lots of A-list colour makes for a breezy, nostalgic film, an ode to the simple pleasures of going to the record store to buy music.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 16, 2017 15:45:39 GMT
Thanks Steve, set it to record
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Post by MartinT on Jun 17, 2017 7:47:15 GMT
I used to love roaming through Tower Records in Piccadilly. They had so many rarities and specials for you to pick through. The classical department was amazing, as disorganised as Foyles but so compelling.
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Post by SteveC on Jun 17, 2017 10:58:38 GMT
I used to love roaming through Tower Records in Piccadilly. They had so many rarities and specials for you to pick through. The classical department was amazing, as disorganised as Foyles but so compelling. Ditto. I used to spend hours in there when visiting the smoke! The program was a great couple of hours of TV and an interesting trip down memory lane, covering (the supposed demise of) vinyl sales, the rise of CD, failed formats such as DAT and cassette and great contributions from the likes of Elton John. The failure of the business was put down to a perfect storm of over-expansion, executives who had the necessary vision but no business acumen and the appearance of internet threats such as Napster. When the banks stepped in, they sacked loyal staff who had been with the company for 30 years and appointed people who didn't really understand the success of Tower, closing the publication "Pulse" and selling off the most profitable stores in Japan. The program ended with an emotional trip to Japan (where Tower Records is still going strong) by the founder, Rus Solomons.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 17, 2017 21:20:41 GMT
I too used to like the trip (usually with my Dad) to Tower Records in London. It was such a shame when it closed.
Great documentary, I found it interesting how the business was brought down by a vast number of silly and inexperienced moves, but impressed with the passion shown by the different members of the Tower Records family.
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Post by Stratmangler on Jun 18, 2017 10:50:20 GMT
For them as missed it (like me) the documentary is on again at 1am on the 22nd of this month. I have it set to record ....
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Post by MartinT on Jun 19, 2017 20:11:16 GMT
What a fascinating and emotional trip that was. The London store got a quick mention but I had visited a few of those US stores shown, too. It's amazing that the likes of HMV are still running (albeit mostly from video sales) but all credit to the Japanese for keeping the Tower name and music focus going.
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Post by The Brookmeister on Jun 21, 2017 21:04:29 GMT
I was amazed watching this. HMV was rescued by vinyl btw not video sales!
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Post by MartinT on Jun 21, 2017 21:12:07 GMT
You're probably right, looking at their vinyl sales now. They annoyed me tremendously with their diversion into 'white goods', taking over half the store with Apple shite.
However, it's good for us that they're still around.
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