Les Paul was responsible for one of the most instantly recognisable articles in the annals of rock. The Gibson Les Paul is the object d'art that prompts salivation in wannabe rock star saddos and delivers salvation for actual rock stars; a hulking lump of wood that delivers such tone, sustain and sheer grunt that it's impossible to consider the birth of rock and its many schisms without it. Along with Leo Fender's namesake it defines the look, feel, sound and soul of late 20th century music transgressing genres, tastes and demographics. Which makes it all the more remarkable how much of a missed opportunity this documentary represents.
Les Paul was not only a six-stringed technical virtuoso but also one of the greatest innovators of recording technology - inventing multi-tracking, phasing, overdubbing and delay to name a goddamn important few. Primarily a country player early on, the restless and inquisitive Paul quickly added jazz to his repertoire before moving onto backing Bing Crosby and Top 40 success with his wife, Mary Ford. All reasonably interesting and necessary exposition-wise, it seems the filmmakers either willingly or by force diminished his role in developing the solid body electric guitar by barely touching the Gibson Les Paul element of his life. Maybe the idea was to redress the balance, to remind us there was a vastly talented and driven man behind "the log," as he called it.
On that count, Chasing Sound works. It's just there is way more to the story that should be told. In its absence hit the local music shop, strap on the most expensive guitar you can find - it'll be a Les Paul - and grind an E major chord in honour of the legend.
