Atlantic Records: The House That Ahmet Built

Writer-director Susan Steinberg would have us believe that both Atlantic Records (once described as "the most important independent label in history") and founder Ahmet Ertegun are unique in music business annals. But hey, what record company wasn't started by an erudite son of a Turkish diplomat, a young man who knew as much or more about black American music as anyone, and not only presided over the recording of classics by the likes of Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, John Coltrane, Led Zeppelin, and others, but also wrote songs for many of them? None of the others, of course: yes, The House That Ahmet Built, narrated by Bette Midler, really is a remarkable story, one that's told extremely well in this entertaining documentary that is less of a critical overview than a commemoration of Atlantic's 60th anniversary—a valentine to Ertegun, his partners, and, of course, the artists. Regardless, the saga is compelling, from the company's early days specializing in R&B through its emergence (thanks to Ertegun's prescience and commercial savvy) as a rock giant with a roster that at various times included the Rolling Stones, Cream, Phil Collins, Kid Rock, and others. Instead of merely interviewing the colorful and garrulous Ertegun (who died in 2006 after falling backstage at a Stones concert), Steinberg filmed conversations between him and Charles, Franklin, Midler, Mick Jagger, Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, and others, resulting in some fascinating and witty exchanges. Highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (S. Graham)