Ahmet Ertegan...Master

[RIHans]

I know there are many music fans and players here, but this PBS show featuring Atlantic Records,,,Well ,Ya' young folks need to wise up to Ahmet and his footprint on what you are listening to now.

Ciao,
Hans

[Ray]

The ALL TIME A&R guy. Hands down. Discovered and developed more talent in more genres than anyone but maybe John Hammond.

Didn't see the show, but I'll look for it next time around.

-Ray

[neverraced]

Yes, much wealthier than most of the artists who recorded for him.

[Ray]

Yes, much wealthier than most of the artists who recorded for him.
Very true, but unlike a lot of those guys who were more or less parasites, he earned every penny.

-Ray

[old_school]

I am very sorry that I missed that one. Ahmet and Atlantic Records helped to define American music for over three decades. For anyone unfamiliar with the story, a nice synopsis can be found here (http://www.bsnpubs.com/atlantic/atlanticstory.html) along with the entire Atlantic catalog (http://www.bsnpubs.com/atlantic/index.html)

This year has been a bonus for fans of the genre: Rhino Records is releasing three limited edition Atlantic Records boxed sets: Atlantic Blues (1949-1970), Atlantic Soul (1959-1975), and Atlantic Vocal Groups (1951-1963). Also Concord Records has picked up rights to the Stax catalog and has been re-releasing some of the great soul recordings.

One final thought for any R&B enthusiast: Peter Guralnik's Sweet Soul Music (http://www.amazon.com/Sweet-Soul-Music-Southern-Freedom/dp/0316332739) is an excellent read - covering the story of such notable studios as Stax and Muscle Shoals.

[Fixed]

Yes, much wealthier than most of the artists who recorded for him.
+1
cat with vision and good ears
imho cheers

[RIHans]

This is an "American Masters" production on PBS. I was always a fan of R+B, and this was a nice trip back in time.

The Brill Bldg, Leiber and Stoller, Ray Charles, Phil Spector and the Wall of Sound. The Wrecking Crew, etc, etc.

Somewhere, I have a box set of LP's, Atlantic '56-'75 I think. First box set I ever heard of. Gotta dig it out and listen to the Jerry Wexler wax!!!

RIHans

[Acotts]

I always thought Dr. Dre held the title as "Discovered and developed more talent than anyone else."

[Tom]

I don't know where I saw it, but there was a show recently on the Motown studio's backup band. Apparently their day job was to work at the studio and by night they played out in the Detroit jazz clubs. I wondered why the music was that good, now I know. They were fronted by a lot of great singers, but when you listen to what's going on behind the singers it is really impressive.

One incident was hysterical. Apparently there was one bass player that had a powerful thirst. They had a session going and needed him to come in and record a particularly difficult and complex track. When they found him he was too drunk to stand up. They led him into the studio and he proceeded to lay down on the floor flat on his back and play the piece straight through perfectly in one take. They were that good.

[old_school]

I don't know where I saw it, but there was a show recently on the Motown studio's backup band.

Standing in the Shadows of Motown (http://www.standingintheshadowsofmotown.com/) - great flick

Listen to Jameson's opening bass licks in "My Girl"

[Vancouverdave]

There's another American Masters show on Sam Phillips--if PBS was smart they'd sell it on DVD packaged with the Ahmet Ertegun feature.