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Movie review: 'Wrecking Crew' is a look at the people who really put the bomp Comment By Ed Symkus More Content Now DailyTidings.com By Ed Symkus More Content Now Posted Mar. 13, 2015 at 12:01 AM By Ed Symkus More Content Now Posted Mar. 13, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News You probably wouldn’t know their names or their faces. But if you listened to Top-40 radio in the’60s, or tune in Oldies radio now, you’re sure familiar with their sound. The group of Los Angeles studio musicians who were hired to play instruments behind big-time pop and rock singers at scores of ’60s recording sessions came to be known as the Wrecking Crew (a kind of derogatory nickname that’s explained in the film). They were major talents who could immediately read and play new music and charts, in any style that was asked of them, and they regularly would do it (earning some hefty paychecks) for hours on end. Producers and label executives wanted their records to sound as great as possible, and they knew they couldn’t always count on raggedy, sometimes drug-fueled band members to get the job done. So they relied on a pool of crack freelancers, ranging in size, depending on the session’s requirements, between 15 and 30 players, to fill in for the folks on the album covers. The actual bands could pass muster at live concerts; there was so much screaming, no one could tell how well they played. This lively, song-filled documentary (heard are hits by the Byrds, the Righteous Brothers, the Mamas and the Papas, productions by Phil Spector, much more) tells the story of these unsung men and women, some of it through interviews and relaxed, nostalgic chats, some of it via archival footage. Bits of the latter include a young Brian Wilson in a Capitol Records studio, explaining to Wrecking Crew members (no other Beach Boys are present) exactly what he’s hearing in his head and what he wants them to capture on tape. But the film really revolves around a 1996 get-together between four former Crew members – guitarist Tommy Tedesco, bass player Carol Kaye, drummer Hal Blaine, and saxophonist Plas Johnson – who sit around reliving old memories, sending themselves and each other back to some joyous, crazy times when they were in such demand, they practically lived in the studio which, as revealed in a few stories, didn’t exactly make for a normal life. They were all part of a sort of extended family. The film was put together, over a number of years, by the late Tedesco’s son Denny, who knows enough people in the business to have plenty of folks whose lives intertwined with Wrecking Crew members also share memories. So we get great stories from “American Bandstand’s” Dick Clark, trumpeter-producer Herb Alpert (of the Tijuana Brass), singer Nancy Sinatra, and Monkee Micky Dolenz, all of whom offer nothing but high praise to the individuals who either filled out or actually made their sound. There’s a good deal of back story, and some great old footage and photos, of the four players, with the most fun coming out of Carol Kaye’s history as both a bass player and guitarist, who worked her way up to complete acceptance in a business then dominated by men, eventually becoming “one of the guys.” In a solo segment on her, she sits down, picks up her axe, and plays the instantly recognizably bass line from Sonny & Cher’s “The Beat Goes on,” then proudly recalls coming up with it on her own. Yet she’s just as quick to credit (and play) the complicated part she did on “Good Vibrations” to Brian Wilson, who also gets some camera time to throw heartfelt accolades to the players that jammed into his often crowded studio sessions. Another great segment has Micky Dolenz talking about the accusations hurled at the Monkees for not playing their instruments on their early albums. They didn’t, he says candidly. Neither did so many other bands. The oddest thing about all of this is that the names of Wrecking Crew musicians never appeared on the albums. Simple reason: The records companies didn’t want to disappoint the fans of the bands with the truth. Still, the musicians had no complaints, as they were doing what they loved, and they knew that they were in the right place at the right time. A bonus is that the film reveals some neat trivia. Among it, Cher was a backup singer for the Ronettes, and Herb Alpert’s hit instrumental “Spanish Flea” was originally titled “Spanish Fly.” Alpert changed it because he thought it was too racy. But the best news is that a multi-disc soundtrack is in the works and will soon be available. It’s going to be a must-have. Ed Symkus covers movies for More Content Now. THE WRECKING CREW Directed by Denny Tedesco With Tommy Tedesco, Hal Blaine, Carol Kaye, Plas Johnson, Brian Wilson, Cher, Herb Alpert, Micky Dolenz Rated PG By Ed Symkus More Content Now DailyTidings.com By Ed Symkus More Content Now Posted Mar. 13, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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