Behind the Curtain: The Wrecking Crew, Part 1 - The Guitarists

[@walterulasinksi7031]

For the best info on this subject watch “The Wrecking Crew” a documentary by Tommy Tedesco’s son.

[@steveanddaves6530]

You're so right. Nothing better than hearing the story directly from the horses' mouths.

[@Sunfried1]

I agree with the comment that said you guys need better sound recording equipment.

[@mikecummings1061]

When Glen Campbell released his first solo album "Rhinestone Cowboy" , he was backed up by The Wrecking Crew, of which he was a member.

[@georgesouthwick7000]

Glen Campbell’s first solo album was Big Bluegrass Special, released in 1962. Rhinestone Cowboy wasn’t released until 1975.

[@garychambers5850]

The were Herb Alperts Tijuana Brass, on records, they were Gary Lewis's Playboys on records and on TV. 🎸🎹🎼🎵🎺🎷

[@johnheinrich1718]

I bought Gary Lewis and the playboys greatest hits album back in the late 60s and on the back of the cover it said arranged by Leon Russell, I thought what is Leon Russell have to do with Gary Lewis and the playboys, 50 years later I found out why!!!!

[@gc3098]

Music and Cars were kinda “Side by Side” from the late 50’s thru the 60’s.. Very exciting time in history…

[@shannonwadley2252]

Glen Campbell played on most all of the Spector sessions along with Ricky Nelson's hits. Glen also went on tour with Nelson. The demo for travelling man was cut by Campbell originally pitched to Sam Cooke but it was passed on and given to Nelson. Glen Campbell and Carol Kaye played electric 12 String guitar on the Caroline No session for Pet Sounds. Glen later replace Wilson on tour in 64 played bass and sang the high part. Glen was offered a permanent gig in the Beach boys but couldn't make a deal for any cut for any of the revenue of the band.

[@naturalmax8474]

I DIID HEAR HE WAS OFFERED A SPOTIN THE BEACH BOYS

[@dhornjr1]

My dad interviewed Glen in 1995, and in that interview, he talked about how difficult it was to play the bass and sing those high parts with fifteen thousand girls screaming over them.

[@stephenwalton1234]

Glen Campbell was one of the greatest guitarist to ever live....and by far the best in the wrecking crew.

[@steveanddaves6530]

We'd agree that Campbell was an enormous talent -- and is a bit underappreciated as a guitar virtuoso. We think it is inevitable, however, that Campbell's playing will have a reassessment -- he was simply that good. And there is so much of his artistry available on recordings.

[@dhornjr1]

Yeah, he was as smooth as they come.

[@johnnyd63]

Well...Glen had great feel and natural ability. Tedesco could play circles around him though.

[@GregDaniels-e7b]

I liked the pop songs the Monkees put out, and I didn't really care if they played on the records or not.

[@steveanddaves6530]

Agreed!

[@markprovance8995]

Thanks to artists and producers such as Johnny Rivers, Jimmy Webb and record companies like Dunhill Records, the members of the Wrecking Crew received individual credits on album covers and liners, very unusual in the late 60's.

[@johngolden5257]

ARE YOU GUYS KIDDING ME?! You’re talking about The Wrecking Crew rhythm sections and you don’t mention the third member of the drumming holy triumvirate, Jim Gordon?! Both Earl Palmer and Hal Blaine include Jim as every bit a member of this elite group as they were. If it wasn’t Earl or Hal the call went out to Jim Gordon. UNBELIEVABLE!

[@CharlesBallard-f3t]

You two guys need to rehearse more or we’re gonna have to get some session Podcasters in for your next recording

[@WilliamTBooth-xn4pc]

There would be no "Beach Boy" sound without the "Wrecking crew"😂

[@steveanddaves6530]

Totally agree. Brian Wilson fed off the greatness of the Wrecking Crew -- and they understood they were working with a young genius.

[@shannonwadley2252]

Phill Spector produced a little Band known as the Beatles in 1969 and a member of the Beatles known as George Harrison on his solo record in the the 70s LOL. He picked the single My Sweet Lord off of Harrison's album.

[@rogbrown1458]

Should have got a decent production team in to oversee the whole interview. Talking about musical history as important as this it needed to be top notch. . Rog. Pacific sunset records.

[@dalealanbryant7062]

The old bass player for our band, "Blitzkrieg", one, Jeff Bianco, was a well-known session player, who was with the "G-Clefs", for a number of years. Wish I knew what happened to the guy...

[@admarhermans1]

It’s actually the other way around: there would never have been a Phil Spector without the Wrecking Crew. Most players of what would become the Wrecking Crew in the late 50’s played together on sessions for both singles and movies for years by than. But, they’re mostly not the playing heroes we still know by name now and that are mentioned here by you guys.

[@pliccut]

This is an informative video that could have been even better with some editing. The audio cuts out at times and you get you get the names wrong at times. Just feels like time wasn’t taken to give this video feel finished. I’m spoiled by watching Rick Beato on KZbin.

[@steveanddaves6530]

Rick Beato spoils all of us. Nevertheless, we appreciate you watching the video. The Wrecking Crew's influence remains a fascinating aspect of the popular music scene in the U.S. in the 1960s

[@BuddyBoo123]

Phil Spector started off as a frustrated jazz guitar player he used to take guitar lessons from Barney Kessel and Barney Kessel told him he should be a producer

[@steveanddaves6530]

For this reason, Spector would give his session guitarists extra "attention" in the studio -- while those on other instruments would get far less instruction.

[@davefairburn3298]

Not only did the Wrecking Crew play on many of the Top 40 hits, but the easy listening songs too, Frank Sinatra; Sammy Davis; Dean Martin, Nate King Cole Fifth Dimension; Mamas & Papas, which Hal Blaine is quoted as saying "his most overall best work" since they only recorded for a year & a half. If they had any extra time, they would throw music together - Marketts plus playing on commercial - Alka Seltzer - "Any Shape You Want It."

[@steveanddaves6530]

You're totally correct. The Wrecking Crew played on everything -- and for everyone. If you heard something in the 1960s (on the radio, tv, or a film) someone from the Wrecking Crew was likely involved

[@TheOriginalRick]

@@steveanddaves6530 I was listening to Sirius XM Radio a couple of months ago and on the 60s Channel they played five Wrecking Crew songs back-to-back. It wasn't featured, and I'm pretty sure it wasn't intentional as they made no mention of that fact. It's just that the wrecking crew was so dominant it would be natural for five of their songs to be played in a row.

[@steveanddaves6530]

@@TheOriginalRick We've had similar experiences. Just one after the other. Must have been surreal to have been a member of the Wrecking Crew to say "I played on that one -- and that one." Part of the reason it's so important to give note to their contributions.

[@TheOriginalRick]

@@steveanddaves6530 I was listening to SiriusXM the other week with my 13 year old granddaughter while driving her home. They played The Boxer by Simon and Garfunkel, and I told her the story of Hal Blaine and his boom-boom-boom portion of the song by the elevator. Two songs later they played something by the 5th Dimension and I mentioned it was the same drummer. Four of the next 10 songs also featured Hal playing. She asked me if he was the only drummer working during that time.

[@debcamp2359]

I ❤ the monkeys, etc. Media problem with slander or maybe so eons didn't get paid?

[@lamper2]

21:22 The Monkees brought that "shit storm" down on themselves by not admitting "Hey, we're ACTORS playing the part of musicians" Two didn't anyway!

[@steveanddaves6530]

From our vantage point today, the controversy surrounding all this almost seems charming, but in this era it was a genuine point of contention when considering the "authenticity" of The Monkees. The music -- whether played by the Wrecking Crew and/or The Monkees holds up, more or less.

[@eravelo]

I think you guys saw Tedesco’s Wrecking Crew documentaries and took notes

[@steveanddaves6530]

You're so right. After we had decided to do this video, we knew our research wouldn't be complete without watching Denny Tedesco's tribute to his father. I loved that documentary and took tons of notes. How did you like it?

[@gc3098]

Regardless how this was all planned and put together - I enjoyed every minute and the video answered a ton of questions I’ve always had in my head. I was born in ‘44 and grew-up with Ricky Nelson and Elvis and The Beach Boys. I LIVED music and even had a “Six transistor pocket radio”. Thank You - all of you - for all this very interesting video. I also enjoyed a long video about Muscle Shores. Very similar to this one..

[@gc3098]

I meant to say “Muscle Shoals”…. Sorry

[@steveanddaves6530]

Thanks for the kind comment, GC. We're glad you enjoyed it. We love this stuff, too, and we make these videos for like-minded folks. And you're so right about Muscle Shoals being another fascinating topic, too. The Swampers are legendary session guys in their own right. It's on the short list for our next Behind the Curtain projects.

[@timitbiscuit3620]

Nobody knew for years though. It still would be that way. How you going to do a record with a band that people can't play in???? Every band is a monkeys

[@joelbrittenour8197]

Not every band used them. Rush, BTO, Led Zeppelin , many others.

[@jorlove56]

I’m confused about the cost of session time? Why was cost so high because it seems that record companies would have established business relationship/contracts? Was the wrecking crew so talented, so in demand to drive up their fees, that there were no other talented musicians searching for their big break? Not saying wrecking crew weren’t talented. Just thinking out loud about the others enormous influence/persuasion they wielded over our western culture. And so, how, when, where, why did the music industry regress to rap,?hip hop, techno crap? Nonetheless, the music they created was so uplifting and far superior to music of recent- which isn’t even music. Just a bunch of synthesized tribal percussion beats.