February 2023

Video: All Things Must Pass: The Rise And Fall Of Tower Records Documentary
Thanks to Gravitas Movies you can now enjoy this special documentary about Tower Records.

  For this week's Film Friday Enjoy the Music.com is featuring All Things Must Pass: The Rise And Fall Of Tower Records. Established in 1960, Tower Records was once a retail powerhouse with 200 stores, in 30 countries, on five continents. This documentary, directed by Colin Hanks, is about the rise and fall of this once great retailer.

Many music lovers within the world are familiar with Tower Records, the company that advertised its East 4th Street and Broadway New York City location as "The Largest Record-Tape Store in the Known World". This documentary also offers insights into the critical upheavals in the 21st-century recording industry and music business.

According to Wiki, "The film's production reportedly took seven years and was completed in 2015 only thanks to a $92,000 round of Kickstarter funding. Hanks settled on the film's title after driving by an old Tower Records store and seeing a sign that had been put up by a former employee: 'All Things Must Pass Thanks Sacramento'. Moved by the sentiment, Hanks was reminded of George Harrison's 1970 triple album All Things Must Pass and asked the artist's widow, Olivia Harrison, for permission to use the title for his film. Hanks was also granted permission to play the album's title track over the end credits."

Tower Records grew to the point that in 1999 they made an impressive $1 billion ($1.78 billion in 2023 USA Dollar value), yet in 2006 the company filed for bankruptcy. The full-length movie below answers the questions what happened and why?