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'Nathan East: For the Record' Movie Review

A behind-the-scenes look at the low-end legend's career and the making of his latest solo album.

Movie

Nathan East: For the Record
Yamaha Entertainment Group

The story of bassist Nathan East is in some ways similar to that of Sound City Studios. When you consider the sheer amount of successful music that has passed through these institutions, it’s hard to believe that any other bassist (or studio) had enough work to stay afloat.

Nathan East: For the Record documents East’s profound career while providing a behind-the-scenes look at the making of his recent self-titled solo album. Between sound bites from Eric Clapton, Lionel Richie, Vince Gill, and others, East tells his story in his own words, from his early days playing with his brothers in church to helping craft classic hits with Phil Collins and his breakthrough performance at Live Aid with Kenny Loggins. One particularly poignant scene captures Nathan’s son Noah playing an arrangement of the Beatles’ “Blackbird” while his dad accompanies him on upright. Each song has a story, artfully told by Nathan and his collaborators. From showing a Nashville string section recording session to capturing one of the last performances of the late drummer Ricky Lawson, For the Record is one of the better music documentaries of the year, and a long-overdue look at one of the great musicians of our time.