Les Paul

One could never have enough kind words for Les Paul. Best known as the man who invented the electric guitar as we know it today, he is also one of music’s greatest talents, having well over a half-century of performances, albums and collaborations to his credit. He tells a pretty mean story to boot. Chasing Sound is a compelling documentary that follows Paul’s meagre upbringing to a horrific accident that left him without a strumming hand — he had a prosthetic fashioned specifically to hold a pick and therefore not destroy his guitar playing forever — through to becoming the man that every walk of musical genre respects and adores. The likes of B.B. King, Keith Richards, Merle Haggard and throngs more heap praise upon the legend in this hour-long documentary that is enhanced with bonus material, including live shows, vintage performances, television appearances and interviews. Anyone worth their weight in plectrums would do well to bone-up with this informative and valuable homage to one of modern music’s most influential contributors.