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Tom Dowd & the Language of Music

Play trailer Poster for Tom Dowd & the Language of Music Released Jan 19, 2003 1h 32m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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90% Tomatometer 30 Reviews 92% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
Although he's not as well known as many of the musicians whose records he produced, Tom Dowd's influence in the music world is undeniable. Responsible for studio techniques like stereo sound and multitrack recording, Dowd helped shape the sound of pop music for more than half a century. New and archival interviews with some of the legendary artists he worked with, including Ray Charles, Eric Clapton and Aretha Franklin, detail Dowd's influential work and his impact on the recording industry.

Critics Reviews

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Peter Travers Rolling Stone Rated: 2/4 Aug 14, 2007 Full Review Ted Fry Seattle Times Affable and hugely entertaining. Rated: 3.5/4 Aug 13, 2004 Full Review Joel Selvin San Francisco Chronicle A fitting epitaph for a giant few people outside the industry knew but whose work everybody heard. Rated: 4/4 Aug 13, 2004 Full Review Jason Gorber Film Scouts A must see for any fan of popular music from the latter half of the 20th century. Rated: B+ Jun 21, 2007 Full Review Film Threat Rated: 5/5 Dec 6, 2005 Full Review Robert W. Butler Kansas City Star The film's high points are to be found in tremendous archival footage. Dec 17, 2004 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Jim C One of the best documentaries I have ever seen. If you are into music, YOU MUST SEE THIS !!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 12/31/13 Full Review Audience Member a required viewing piece while i was in the long beach commercial recording engineer program excellent movie, i highly recommend for any music enthusiasts! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/17/23 Full Review Audience Member This is a very interesting documentary. I had no idea Dowd did all this other stuff beyond producing Clapton, Skynyrd, Allmans etc. And it also offers a few insights on the creative process, which is neat. On the other hand, the film itself could be better. There are "dramatizations" (though these disappear as the chronology progresses) and there are loads of shots of live performances of artists he recorded (when he wouldn't have been recording them). I think it could have been significantly better. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/19/23 Full Review Audience Member Wonderful documentary about a legendary producer and record engineer who's worked with everyone from Otis Redding and Aretha Franklin to Cream and Lynyrd Skynyrd, and obviously one heck of a guy too. Highly recommended for anyone who truly loves music. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/14/23 Full Review Audience Member If you are a serious music lover you have to see this great documentary of an unsung hero behind the greatest music artists ever... Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/31/23 Full Review Audience Member extremely fascinating!! Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/17/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Tom Dowd & the Language of Music

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Tom Dowd & the Language of Music

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Movie Info

Synopsis Although he's not as well known as many of the musicians whose records he produced, Tom Dowd's influence in the music world is undeniable. Responsible for studio techniques like stereo sound and multitrack recording, Dowd helped shape the sound of pop music for more than half a century. New and archival interviews with some of the legendary artists he worked with, including Ray Charles, Eric Clapton and Aretha Franklin, detail Dowd's influential work and his impact on the recording industry.
Director
Mark Moormann
Producer
Scott Gordon, Mark Moormann
Distributor
Palm Pictures
Production Co
Language of Music Films
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 19, 2003, Original
Release Date (DVD)
Aug 24, 2004
Box Office (Gross USA)
$40.2K
Runtime
1h 32m