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2 of 2 found the following review helpful:
 Documentary or promotional tool? Feb 09, 2010
I thought this was a documentary but it's a celebration of Ahmet Ertegun, a promotional piece. Don't look for an impartial portrayal. Ertegun appears fun loving and likable enough. As a kid he loved Jazz and he pays lip service to "Black Music" throughout the film. But, as one reviewer noted, where are the Jazz musicians he recorded? Kid Rock freestyles something to the effect that Ahmet is the blackest cat he knows. What nonsense. Which "Black" are they talking about and why can they get away with these meaningless generalizations? I mean, really, can music be described as "Black" if Ertegun or Lieber and Stoller wrote the lyrics. Another reviewer noted the way in which Ahmet Ertegun and Jerry Wexler dealt with Stax Records. These men were not altruists driven by a love of music as the film claims, they were opportunists. The best part of the film is the short clip of Aretha in the studio back in '60s, you catch a glimpse of Tommy Cogbill, Jimmy Johnson and Roger Hawkins (the Muscle Shoals Studio musicians) laying down the groove. Does it get any better than Aretha and The Swampers? I wish I could have seen more. Instead, we're given an extra large helping of Phil Collins and narrator Bette Midler! Need I say more?
 Amazing! Dec 05, 2009
This DVD is a really great look at the history of an American music legend - Atlantic Records! The references to Tom Dowd is worth the dvd! He was a great man that changed how ALL home studio producers create their music. This is a must see for ANY musician, music lover, producer or everyone else. There is something here for everyone!
Amen, Ahmet Jul 05, 2009
Every class in The History of Rock and Roll should view this disc. Atlantic Records was a powerhouse and Ahmet Ertegun lived his life with passion and a sense of adventure few can claim. Nicely done, all around!
1 of 2 found the following review helpful:
 One 60's powerhouse not even mentioned. May 10, 2009
What group had 3 number 1 hits and 6 top tens on the Atlantic label from 1966-1968 and no mention on the dvd. What group was not even mentioned in the book "Music Man" by Wade & Picardie as evidenced by non inclusion in the index. What group gave you "Good Lovin'", "Groovin'" and "People got to be Free" all # 1 hits for Atlantic.
I grew up partying to their songs and remember seeing the almighty Atlantic label on those old 45's.
Give up?--The Young Rascals later to be The Rascals.
For those too young to remember the group, just pick up any Rascals greatest hits cd. Oh, 45's were these very small discs larger than cd's with big center holes but smaller than 33's.
Forget it, this is not a musical history lesson, just wish the Rascals were included on the dvd.
Nuff said!
Atlantic records was the most important independent label in history. Jan 01, 2009
Who would ever believe it? In 1947 financed with a $10,000 loan from his dentist, Ahmet Ertegun, an immigrant of Turkish descent, and his friend Herb Abramson founded Atlantic records. Ahmet's goal was to record the rich variety of black music that was just bubbling to the surface in those halcyon days. Ahmed Ertegun was a connossuer of this music and he firmly believed that he was the guy to introduce it to general audiences. "Atlantic Records 60: The House That Ahmet Built" tells the remarkable story of Atlantic Records and the man who founded it and led it for nearly six decades.
Now back in the late 1940's there were tons of independent labels operating in the U.S. Many were fly by night operations that never amounted to much of anything while others managed to produce a few hits before either being bought out or folding altogether What the people at Atlantic records were able to achieve was clearly the exception to the rule and the man who made all the difference was Ahmet Ertegun. Ahmet knew talent when he saw it and consequently over the years he managed to surround himself with an extremely gifted team that helped him to grow the label. Among those in the inner circle at Atlantic was Ahmet's brother Nesuhi Ertegun who handled the jazz division in the early days of the label and Jerry Wexler who would play a major role in securing talent for the label for decades. Talented engineer Tom Dowd also came aboard early on and was responsible for producing some of the greatest jazz and r & b sides ever made.
And I would be remiss if I failed to mention the legendary songwriting team of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller who would pen more than 150 hit records over these years, most of them at Atlantic.
The roster of artists who recorded for Atlantic over the years reads like a who's who of popular music. From Ruth Brown, The Clovers and Ray Charles in the label's earliest days to the likes of Bobby Darin, Sonny and Cher, Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, Phil Collins and Bette Midler, Atlantic records clearly had it's finger on the pulse of what audiences wanted to hear.
"Atlantic Records 60: The House That Ahmet Built" chronicles the remarkable story of this venerable label. Unfortunately, we lost Ahmet Ertegun back in 2006. When you discover how he died you will think it quite appropriate indeed. For Ahmet Ertegun was able to spend his entire adult life doing what he loved best. It is a compelling story. Very highly recommended!
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