Village Music: Last of the Great Record Stores

Village Music has been a cultural institution in Mill Valley, California for over five decades, but on September 30th, 2007 it will be shutting its well-worn Dutch door for good. Often referred to as “the greatest record store in the world”, Village Music has been a favorite hangout for local musicians and record collectors as well as some of the biggest names in pop, rock, jazz, rhythm & blues. George Lucas researched the soundtrack for "American Graffiti" at the store, and B.B. King, Bonnie Raitt, Tom Waits, Ry Cooder, Mel Torme, Jerry Garcia, David Grisman and Elvis Costello are among the many stars who have shopped there over the years. What makes Village Music so unique is its proprietor, John Goddard, a one-of-a-kind music historian and collector who bought the shop in 1968, after having worked there as a teenager. From his pile of "Personal Favorites" to stacks of bona fide classics entitled "Village Music Hall of Fame." to "Sometimes a Cover Is Enough", one could always discover something new in his enclave of vintage vinyl and rock memorabilia – enough to fill any respectable American music museum. But, like so many other independent stores, Village Music has fallen victim to the economic shifts in the music industry, unable to compete in the iPod era with Internet sales, the rise of the CD and changes in taste among young music buyers. Village Music: Last of The Great Record Stores is a compelling documentary that celebrates the life of this American musical institution as told through the stories of the famous (and not-so-famous) artists who were part of it’s unique history. Through personal anecdotes, candid photos and rare performances, the film interweaves the Village Music’s vibrant past and rich musical community with the final six months of its existence – marking the true end of an era. In doing so, the film also tells the larger story of the many changes the music business has undergone - a world where listeners ...

Channel: Vimeo Video Length: 5m 47s Date Found: Wed, Aug 25 2010 1:27 PM Category: Home Video Date Produced: Thu, May 27 2010 6:59 PM View Count: 0