Even if you’ve listened to music during the Digital Era, this 96 minute documentary chronicling the rise and fall of the legendary Tower Records franchise is a fascinating watch.
The film takes you through the life, career and vision of founder Russ Solomon, who converted his dad’s drug store into a fledging record store in Sacramento. Through the years, the store blossomed and eventually grow to become the most important and influential store in the world, with iconic stores in Los Angeles, New York, London and Japan.
Interviews ranging from loyal employees and customers including Elton John, Bruce Springsteen and Dave Grohl, as well as insights by David Geffen and advertisements from John Lennon, reveal the reason for the long-term loyalty from all involved. Solomon gave his workers complete freedom to create and run the business, trusting their instincts as long as they got the job done.
Unfortunately, as the story so often goes, they eventually got “too big for its britches” and after riding out various musical trends, they succumbed to the affects of Napster and “free” downloading.
The film is a lesson in both the pitfalls to avoid and the sage lessons to use when running a business. Every employer should take note of the work attitude of Solomon, who is free to admit his weaknesses and strengths during this educational journey of music.