The Greatest Ears in Town

A beautiful documentary, The Greatest Ears in Town celebrates the life and career of Arif Mardin, a key architect of popular music for more than 40 years. Largely shot within a few weeks prior to Mardin's death from pancreatic cancer in 2006, and co-directed by the subject's musician son, Joe Mardin, and Doug Biro, the film captures a joyful time during which Arif—best known as a masterful record producer, orchestrator, and arranger—recorded a solo album of his own material called “All My Friends Are Here.” Indeed, many of his friends do turn up to lend a hand with recording Mardin's own music, particularly artists whose hit songs he helped create since 1963: Bette Midler, Norah Jones, Daryl Hall, Barry Gibb, Carly Simon, and others. Between glimpses of those sessions, the documentary offers a rich history of Mardin's life in music, beginning in Istanbul, where his childhood decision to pursue recording and composing made him a black sheep within his aristocratic family. Coming to America, Mardin received a scholarship (on the recommendation of Quincy Jones) to the Berkelee College of Music in Boston, and then struggled for a while before becoming Atlantic Records' house arranger in 1963. His extraordinary ability to understand artists and both support and extend their ideas soon established him as a go-to producer, one whose touch can still be heard on hundreds of classic recordings. Also interviewed here are Aretha Franklin, Sir George Martin, Atlantic co-founder Ahmet Ertegun, the Rascals' Felix Cavaliere, and Dr. John. Fine archival music footage and interviews of Mardin's widow and children add much to this splendid portrait. Extras include bonus scenes. Highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (T. Keogh)