These Secret Musicians Played on LA’s Biggest Hits

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Жыл бұрын

These seven musicians are invisible giants. They recorded the most important songs of the 1960’s, but most people have never heard their names. The Wrecking Crew - 1962 - 1972 Rock and Roll
🚨 See some factual corrections and clarifications in the pinned comment of this video below.
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Including members:
- Tommy Tedesco
- Carol Kaye
- Hal Blaine
- Joe Osborn
- Larry Knechtel
- Glen Campbell
- Bill Pitman

Пікірлер: 334

@JoshWalshMusic 3 ай бұрын

🚨 Corrections from this video: Thanks to a number of commenters for pointing out some things I got wrong. Notably, the opening sequence of Good Vibrations features Carl Wilson. I am just stupid and said the wrong name. Thanks for correcting me. Many people have pointed out that Glen Campbell was a guitar player, not bass. This is of course true, BUT Glen had many recordings on bass too, notably The Beach Boys recording I mention in the video. Similarly with Carol Kaye, who was known for playing bass but has many credits on guitar, especially in her early years. There were so many prominent players in this group that I couldn’t mention them all. I picked some of my personal favorites. Lastly, the title of this video has been revised to be more clearly focused on the LA scene where the group was based. Cheers!

@markmalasics3413 3 ай бұрын

Another one you flubbed. Simon And Garfunkel did NOT go "back to the studio" to re-do the Sounds Of Silence track. Paul was in England when he first heard the re-done version on the radio there, which was recorded without his or Garfunkel's presence or knowledge.

@TimothyBruneau 2 ай бұрын

Your candor and humility is appreciated. Also, for what it's worth, it was Kip TYLER and HIS Flips, not Kip "Taylor" and "The" Flips as you mention. But not worth re-recording to fix that little slip 🙂. Btw you had never heard of Glen Campbell??? You kids! lol. But I totally agree with you re Rhinestone Cowboy, I always felt it was a bit too kitschy 🙂

@mnblkjh6757 2 ай бұрын

Muscle shoals did the same also

@howie9751 2 ай бұрын

There was no piano on "The Sound of Silence".

@markjamesmeli2520 Ай бұрын

A "secret" to almost no one who read the backs of album jackets.

@user-sl5oi6pp4l 5 ай бұрын

Glen Campbell gotta be top 5 guitar players ever. He had over 600 record credits.

@richdiddens4059 3 ай бұрын

And he never learned to read music! He played totally by ear and often learned a song after hearing it only once.

@TimothyBruneau 2 ай бұрын

Yep his vocals on Witchita Lineman, By The Time I Get to Phoenix, and later Rhinestone Cowboy hits were preceded by his being one of the sought-after guitarists as a member of The Wrecking Crew. Few people realize what an absolutely remarkable guitar player Glen was. He was amazing on that instrument.

@brianmi40 Ай бұрын

Could be around top 5, others above him would include Tommy Tedesco (1,000+), Lee Ritenour (3,000+) or Larry Carlton (4,000+)... All of which doesn't touch Carol Kaye with her estimated 10,000 recordings... including "Pet Sounds" by The Beach Boys, "River Deep, Mountain High" by Ike & Tina Turner, and hits for The Monkees, The Righteous Brothers, and many more. She was BOTH a monster bass player as well as very accomplished jazz guitarist.

@user-sl5oi6pp4l Ай бұрын

I like all your selections and I would say you said it better than I. Thank you@@brianmi40

@jaycareaga9929 Ай бұрын

There’s about 10 with over a thousand.

@davekeyes5589 4 ай бұрын

There was a fella named Leon Russell that played piano for The Wrecking Crew as well.

@47AndyT 3 ай бұрын

Many have NO IDEA how much the great session made a difference! Carol Kaye was named by some as the greatest guitarist EVER! Many people never heard of her! She came from jazz and also taught many students in her spare time!

@peetyw8851 3 ай бұрын

Check out Leon Russell’s induction into the RandR Hall of Fame video. The introduction accolades listed the artists that he backed up. People like Sinatra and on and on. I read that session musician at the time Jimmy Page played on the Stones’ Heart of Stone. I suppose that there’s some reason maybe as to why not, but it’s always seemed to me that there should be some writing credits and royalties. The reason might be that those getting the royalties now would lawyer-up in the battle. ?

@user-ie1tz5rm8x 3 ай бұрын

Leon has good stand alone albums ,two come to mind , mid 70s ,

@RedRuffinsore 3 ай бұрын

@@47AndyT I watched a video of Carol and while she is best known for playing the bass, she could play all guitars at an expert level.

@howie9751 2 ай бұрын

@@47AndyT She was more known as a great bass player.

@gwynnielsen5081 5 ай бұрын

Session musicians are amazing. They are truly the unsung heroes.

@JoshWalshMusic 5 ай бұрын

I’ve had a chance to do this a few times in my life, and I’ve always been blown away by the insane talent. Speed to learn. Memory. Technique. Musicality. And even friendly, most of the time.

@gwynnielsen5081 5 ай бұрын

@@JoshWalshMusic I have worked with Benny Harrison, the best session man ever. Unfortunately, though, he hasn't played on any of my tunes...yet. Thanks for your response and take care!

@raystaar 3 ай бұрын

No. Carol Kaye played electric bass on that session. There's film on YT verifying that.

@TimothyBruneau 2 ай бұрын

Yes, Carol was best known for her bass playing - perhaps most notably for her intro on Sonny and Cher's The Beat Goes On - but she did also play guitar on many tracks.

@johnross7901 2 ай бұрын

Yes ! Carol Kaye was the bass player

@pedroV2003 3 ай бұрын

The Wrecking Crew, The Swampers, Booker T & MGS and most of all The Funk Bros.

@TimothyBruneau 2 ай бұрын

What most people don't realize is besides a session musician's obvious talent on their instrument is their ability to sight read charts. They could come in, take a brand new piece of music they had never seen before, and after a run-through or two, they could play it at performance level. That was their true gift.

@JoshWalshMusic 2 ай бұрын

Indeed, and often times the "charts" were just rough scribbles, leaving them to not just perform those parts, but invent them too.

@JimLongCO 17 күн бұрын

@@TimothyBruneau Except Glen Campbell couldn't read music - which is even more amazing

@rupe53 15 күн бұрын

@@JimLongCO most of the Beatles didn't read music when they were younger either.

@thomasmetz3 3 ай бұрын

Larry Knechtel became a member of Bread in the 1970’s. He also played the iconic bass hook on The Byrds Mr. Tambourine Man. The Wrecking Crew was also all over the cool TV themes in the ‘60’s & ‘70’s.

@JoshWalshMusic 3 ай бұрын

I knew about the TB themes, the Byrds and Tambourine Man, but I did not realize he joined Bread. Thanks for letting me know!

@peternewman3487 3 ай бұрын

Actually it was Carl Wilson on bass in that film clip.

@JoshWalshMusic 3 ай бұрын

Yup, ashamed I got that wrong. Thanks for keeping me honest.

@VIRGONOMICS 8 ай бұрын

The KEY to being a good musician is having better musicians to play with; you either sink or swim. There is magic that occurs collectively, call it collective consciousness.

@jesusislukeskywalker4294 2 ай бұрын

☝️❤️🙏

@donhaworth5862 3 ай бұрын

Glen Campbell played with the wrecking crew up til Southern Nights then he formed his own band

@jaycareaga9929 Ай бұрын

Southern Nights was well after the Wrecking Crew. By 1970 they had been replaced by the next generation. Glen stopped sessions in 1969 when he got his tv show.

@in2food 3 ай бұрын

I heard Glenn Campbell say, in an interview, that he occasionally subbed as a singer for The Beach Boys when one was not in good voice.

@jaycareaga9929 Ай бұрын

He toured with them around 1965-65 that’s what he was referring to.

@garymickus6412 3 ай бұрын

Highly recommend book “The Wrecking Crew”.

@lowerquadrant 3 ай бұрын

My musical idol : Joe Osborn. His best work (to me!) : 'Pleasant Valley Sunday.'

@user-ik9mo8wm7q 3 ай бұрын

His best work? Everything he did with the carpenters.

@stevebobamerican8635 3 ай бұрын

And everything he did with Ricky Nelson

@steveglisson3511 2 ай бұрын

Learned to play bass listening to Joe on the carpenter tracks. Still use many of his licks.

@lowerquadrant 2 ай бұрын

My first 'encounter' with Joe O. was in June of '67. In the barracks. (Navy) I had the radio on. A song came on - it was Scott McKenzie's 'San Francisco.' That weekend I went out on the 'Strip' in San Diego to a store called Finder Music and bought my first bass guitar. Unbeknownst to me, Joe was the bassist.

@donhaworth5862 3 ай бұрын

Tommy Tedesco us a guitar legend and Carol Kaye as well for bass

@garymickus6412 3 ай бұрын

From the book Wrecking Crew I learned that Carol Kaye was an accomplished bebop guitarist. I believe she got her start on the slide guitar, which is a very difficult instrument. Her first guitar teacher was amazed at her innate talent.

@47AndyT Ай бұрын

Tommy was from the same hometown as Nino Tempo and April Stevens. Nino was a child prodigy at age 4! He also was in and out with the Wrecking Crew and was Sinatra's favorite saxophone player. Niagra Falls NY must have had SOMETHING in their drinking water!

@1mespud 3 ай бұрын

Honorable mention: Drummer Earl Palmer.

@JoshWalshMusic 3 ай бұрын

LEGEND

@JOHNWLOUCKS 3 ай бұрын

Yes ! I love his drumming The Night Has A Thousand Eyes.

@jamesdellaneve9005 2 ай бұрын

Don Randi was one of the Wrecking Crew. He still owns, runs and plays at the Baked Potato Jazz club in LA.

@jaycareaga9929 Ай бұрын

Actually his son Justin runs the Spud now. Don just plays there from time to time.

@davefairburn3298 7 ай бұрын

Hal Blaine it is estimated he played on 36,000 songs. This included work for TV shows, Batman with Adam West, commercials. At one point, Hal Blaine played on eight straight songs of year.

@mensaconservative7887 3 ай бұрын

Simon and Garfunkel recorded Sound of Silence a cappella. Then they went on tour in Europe. While they were gone, the drums and guitar were added and it became their most popular hit. They were surprised.

@watcher9987 Ай бұрын

Nope not acapella. The recorded it with acoustic guitars and a bass. Then when Dylan came out with Like a Rolling Stone, they overdubbed the drums and electric guitar

@stuart8663 3 ай бұрын

Joe also played on The Carpenters songs. I've listened to their isolated bass tracks and his are the smoothest group of notes I've ever heard. God bless you Joe!

@mccypr 3 ай бұрын

Really amazing stuff! A great video about it. Thanks! ✌️🎻🙂😎

@stefanschutz5166 3 ай бұрын

Thank you so much from Amsterdam. Illuminating.

@johnhorazy12notes 8 ай бұрын

Josh, great review, thank you for displaying the Clique name. The original before the Wrecking Crew marketing name. There is so much information about this era. Your review is a great review. You will find my name on the Soundtrack albums of The Wrecking Crew. The vinyl and both sets of CD’s

@JoshWalshMusic 8 ай бұрын

Thanks John! I have the CDs around here somewhere, I will look you up!

@michaellandreth1392 5 ай бұрын

It was no secret these guys played on those recordings. All the bands they played for knew it. As they never wasted expensive studio time letting them record a song then calling in these guys. According to Lou Adler Jan Berry was the one who put these guys including Leon Russel and Earl Palmer (drums) in rotation together and he was the one who got Brian Wilson to use them. Joe Osborn was Ricky Nelson's Bassist and appeared on the Ozzie and Harriet Show with him. On the Album Surf City and other Swinging City's. Jan gives these guys credit. I will say once in a while they would let someone play their Instrument on a take but rarely was it being recorded. With the exception of Roger Mcguinn of The Byrds who played 12 String Guitar

@jaycareaga9929 Ай бұрын

The public didn’t know that’s why it was secret.

@maxwrangler5788 6 ай бұрын

Good video, good job emphasizing these great guys. Doing a video on Nashville would be great, I had the fortune of being around Harold bradley, who helped, along with his brother, start the recording scene here in Nashville. Truly a fascinating guy, had some great stories. But it has slowed down in the past few years. But in the 90’s it was hopping

@claudia7237 Жыл бұрын

Hey, that's actually Carl Wilson playing the bass in the Beach Boys' Good Vibrations video :) Fantastic video. Really enjoyed it!

@JoshWalshMusic Жыл бұрын

Oops! 🫣 Thanks for keeping me honest!

@FYMASMD 5 ай бұрын

He actually played on a lot of their early releases.

@Paul-tk2my 2 ай бұрын

Thank you, this is fascinating stuff. A lot of us know about Glenn’s part in this group, and how good he was, but the rest of these musicians are unknown to me- except Carol. I was astonished by Hal Blain’s contribution to recorded music’s history. His book must be worth a read. I’ll also check out Danny Tedesco’s documentary as well.

@BrianHartDesign Жыл бұрын

Dude, thanks so much for this. Never heard of the wrecking crew before and watched it tonight. Amazing.

@JoshWalshMusic Жыл бұрын

Hey Brian! So glad you liked it!

@Corporations8MyBaby 2 ай бұрын

Don't leave out the amazing bass of Ray Pohlman on the Beach Boys and so many more. Don't forget the irreplaceable drumming of Earl Palmer between 1958 and the early 80s.

@francisrichard5282 Жыл бұрын

Thanks Josh, very interesting!

@thesoundsmith 3 ай бұрын

?? The BASS player was Carol Kay and Glenn Campbell played guitar...

@johnross7901 2 ай бұрын

I know right ! Get it right man.

@watcher9987 Ай бұрын

Glen was originally hired to play bass live when Brian quit, also Bruce was hired to switch on bass and keys.

@alanfisher2121 6 ай бұрын

Yeah, a lot more juicy details could have been mentioned... how Joe Osborn played bass on almost every Carpenters record, and how Larry Knechtel joined the group Bread...

@davefairburn3298 7 ай бұрын

When Brian Wilson was putting together Pet Sounds, the rest of the Beach Boys were touring Asia. By then, Bruce Johnston had replaced Glen Campbell who went back to doing studio work with the Wrecking Crew. Brian used the Wrecking Crew to put Pet Sounds. You can hear Glen Campbell playing the banjo on "I know there is an answer."

@tombeach1262 Ай бұрын

This was cool. I grew up during that period and never knew the clique did so much recording.

@47AndyT Ай бұрын

He played with the Champs "Tequila" in the late50s and in the background of Nino and April's #1 hit in 1963 "DeeDee Purple".

@user-wm7mf3yq7w 3 ай бұрын

Hal Blaine was born in Holyoke Ma. [His family was originally from Eastern Europe but Hal himself was born and raised in Holyoke until age 7 when his parents and family moved to Hartford Ct. then from there moving west settling in Ca ]

@alanoneill3065 8 ай бұрын

Feelin' Alright? was written by Dave Mason of The Traffic

@jaycareaga9929 Ай бұрын

Yes it was on Traffics first album.

@TheWerequat 2 ай бұрын

Blaine toured with John Denver

@apostlepaul62 Ай бұрын

Roger McGuinn played electric 12 string on Mr. Tambourine Man

@kevincommons2638 26 күн бұрын

Glen Campbell what a musician, couldn't read sheet music but could play all most anything 🔥🔥

@lencuriel 3 ай бұрын

At 50 seconds into your presentation you mentioned that Simon & Garfunkel's "Sounds Of Silence" was recorded by the Wrecking Crew in Los Angeles. However New York Columbia records producer Tom Wilson following a Bob Dylan recording session kept the musicians to play along with the original acoustic recording from October 1964. The musicians on that June 1965 session at Columbia Studios on 52nd Street in New York were Barry Kornfeld additional acoustic guitar, Bill Lee - double bass Now for the electric overdubs personnel were Al Gorgoni, Vinnie Bell - guitar Joe Mack - bass guitar Bobby Gregg - drums

@BritishMusicVault 3 ай бұрын

Some great names mentioned here, a couple more of the very best session players were Al Casey and Mike Deasy. George Harrison was the Beatle who played most often with the studio session players. But the British session players were equally as influential, players such as drummer, Clem Clatini, bassist Mo Foster, guitarists Vic Flick and Ray Russell.

@elwoodblues9613 3 ай бұрын

Thank you, it should be criminal to discuss The Wrecking Crew and not mention Mike Deasy!

@DuncanCustomAirbrush Жыл бұрын

I found out that the same thing happens when big musicians go on tour and they often use talent local to the venue location to fill in instead of trucking around a full whole musical entourage.

@JoshWalshMusic Жыл бұрын

Yes, true. For backing musicians on tour. I’m talking about the recording artists in the studio who weren’t just backing musicians playing extra instruments. They played the main band parts too. It’s kinda like 1960s auto tune.

@jaycareaga9929 Ай бұрын

Not so much since the 1980s. You’ll find singers have the same band every tour.

@joepalooka2145 Жыл бұрын

These seven names were definitely members of the famous "Wrecking Crew" of top LA musicians who recorded so many famous songs, but there's a lot more great names than just these seven. Hal Blaine wasn't the only top call drummer, there was also Earl Palmer and Jim Gordon. Gordon just died, and he has a phenomenal Wikipedia resume of famous hits. On guitar there was also Barney Kessel, Howard Roberts, Billy Strange, Louie Shelton, and others. Billy Strange played guitar on many Beach Boys records including "Pet Sounds". The list goes on.

@JoshWalshMusic Жыл бұрын

Absolutely 100% correct. I just had to pick a few to focus on otherwise this is a 4 hour video haha.

@johnheinrich6907 9 ай бұрын

Yep, and Earl Palmer was the drummer on the most played song in history, until recently. “You’ve lost that loving feeling”

@fezzypepper8525 3 ай бұрын

Let's not forget Leon Russell.

@elwoodblues9613 3 ай бұрын

Mike Deasy! On a personal level, he became a Christian, and eventually moved to Southeast Texas, where I now live. He was a pastor for a while. My sister-in-law was part of his church, having no idea about his musical background.

@tmarielbs 3 ай бұрын

Louie Shelton was great and played on many!

@sugarjoe50 8 ай бұрын

That's CARL on bass in the filmclip.

@jaycossey850 2 ай бұрын

It was easy to recognize Bridge Over Troubled Water as a musical and recording masterpiece the moment it was released (1970). But who would have guessed it was still in our top 5 productions of all time in 2024? I had no idea at the time that all those diverse albums were recorded by the same core of musicians. They deserve to be household names!

@d.carelli8036 3 ай бұрын

❤What about Leon???

@stevemenegaz9824 Ай бұрын

Don't forget Chuck Berghofer who played bass for everybody from Nancy Sinatra to the Doors. Also DOug Lubhan.

@martynramsden Жыл бұрын

Very interesting, I was surprised to hear that they actually replaced the artists playing. The wrecking crew seems quite apt, given this.

@JoshWalshMusic Жыл бұрын

It’s like 1960s autotune lol.

@ericfaley9019 3 ай бұрын

They were called the Wrecking Crew!!!!

@logotrikes 3 ай бұрын

The Wrecking Crew gets a mention in works by the Beatles according to Mike Williams, and even George made the cut in this video but no mention of him or the other lads. I don't know of course but I'm sure that sessions musicians were used in a lot of Beatles production. Mike has much to say on this matter. He's well worth checking out on all things conspiratorial re The Beatles. ....

@user-ik9mo8wm7q 3 ай бұрын

It’s interesting that you mentioned the Beatles possibly using session musicians in their productions. I always assumed they were so good that they did all of their own recordings. I know I’ve seen a lot of pictures and videos of them in the recording studios. I don’t really know if they ever used anybody or not. Well, of course they used people for instruments that they did not play, I like to check into that

@curtgottler9961 3 ай бұрын

Who is Mike Williams and where can I find out about him?

@logotrikes 3 ай бұрын

@@curtgottler9961 Mike Williams "Sage of Quay" Curt. He's done lots of podcasts, so there's hours of info. Mike looks at the historical narrative of the Beatles and dissects the official history using direct and indirect evidence. Most of his stuff, to me, is irrefutable, and you can come to no other conclusion than those reached by him. Well worth your time if you're really interested in the hit and money making machine that was the Beatles... All is not as it seems...

@user-qt5jc1qc6n 20 күн бұрын

Hal Blaine was actually born in Holyoke Massachusetts. His parents were immigrants. Great video, thank you, these are some great memories!🥲💙

@exposito1 2 ай бұрын

Ha Blaine wasn't an immigrant and he didn't move to the US in the 1940s. He was born Holyoke Massachusetts in 1929.

@danielreid5114 2 ай бұрын

Great video Josh - the Wrecking Crew deserve more credit for their work - however, The Beach Boys, apart from Mike Love, were more than competent musicians and apart from their mid-sixties albums played on many of their albums, although sometimes supplemented by session musicians!

@howie9751 2 ай бұрын

Glen Campbell played lead guitar on the Irish Rovers recording of "The Unicorn".

@MIKELIN8 3 ай бұрын

Brian Wilson chose to use "The Wrecking Creww" while The Beach Boys were on tour. On many of the sessions, while the band was in town, Carl Wilson would sit in on guitar with the rest of the musicians Brian was using. Carol Kaye usually played bass when she was working for Brian.

@luvbasses5487 3 ай бұрын

Joe Osborn: Sound Of Silence. Check out the Glen Campbell song: Baby Come Home for some smooth JO bass lines! He was just the best ever!

@mackenziemill Жыл бұрын

I had no idea, very interesting

@DojoOfCool Жыл бұрын

The 60's were GREAT especially for music so glad I grew up in L.A. The thing about the Wrecking Crew is they really weren't a band they were pretty much all the L.A. studio musicians who worked on rock sessions. Most not all were really great sight readers so they also got a lot of film sessions too. There were others in the "Wrecking Crew" like Russell Bridges AKA Leon Russell yes Leon played on Frank Sinatra sessions. Then there was an later Wrecking Crew of sorts with rock musician that were know more for playing with a feel and creating great parts, that's where start seeing names like Lee Sklar, Larry Carlton, Chuck Rainey, Steve Lukather, Jeff Porcaro, Greg Mathison and others start doing the rock session date and Quincy Jones sessions. The 60's through the 80's was a great time in music in L.A. A million young musician who half wanted to be Rock stars the other half wanting to be studio musicians playing on the hits.

@JoshWalshMusic Жыл бұрын

Great thoughts. From what I saw in my research The Wrecking Crew era kinda ended around the early 70s as the next generation of session players took their place. People like Leland Sklar and Steve Lukather were kind of the continuation into the 70s. I’m kind of a history nerd, and being a child of the 80s, this stuff is fascinating to me.

@amymalina5073 3 ай бұрын

There’s a great documentary about the Wrecking Crew. Highly recommended to people who enjoy the legendary music that came from these extraordinary musicians. And Leon Russell could do it all. He wrote amazing songs as well. I miss him

@williamllawrence5825 Ай бұрын

Interesting about 'The Clique' name. These musicians I think were better known as 'The Wrecking Crew'. Although as the latter, they also consisted of Leon Russel.

@jaycareaga9929 Ай бұрын

The name Wrecking Crew was made up years after they were done working. The Clique is exactly what Carol Kaye said they called themselves.

@jerrywatt6813 3 ай бұрын

Carol kaye was actually an acomplished jazz guitarist struggleing raiseing her child she fell into studion work playing whatever was needed guitar bass etc but then became a goto bass player do to her great feel and creativeness but she still played guitar when needed 😊

@JoshWalshMusic 3 ай бұрын

She was a heck of a bebop guitarist. Just didn’t pay very well.

@Retaile23 2 ай бұрын

I remember at one time the big news was that the Monkees were singled out for not playing their own instruments. Now, no one plays and it's perfectly the norm.

@user-vh2pk6bd3g 8 ай бұрын

Hal was not from Europe,he was from Holyoke MA

@RicG. 3 ай бұрын

You left out Leon Russell!!!

@brucetowell3432 3 ай бұрын

Got to see Leon about 4 or 5 times in shows....great composer and pianist!!

@chriscromelin413 3 ай бұрын

Hal Blaine did the iconic drum part on The Ronnettes "Be My Little Baby". If someone asks me who my top 10 drummers are, the top 5 are Hal Blaine!!

@JoshWalshMusic 3 ай бұрын

Indeed! Legend.

@wecandobetter9821 3 ай бұрын

Jim Gordon would be on my list with Hal

@midiman5045 3 ай бұрын

Toto was in the same league as studio musicians. I Also think one of the guitarist from Bread was a studio musician. It wasn't gates if I remember correctly.

@JoshWalshMusic 3 ай бұрын

100%. Toto was great.

@jaycareaga9929 Ай бұрын

Actually that was keyboard player and Larry Knechtel. Guitarist Jimmy Griffin was never a studio player he moved to L.A. in 1965 recorded a solo album and acted in 2 movies. He continued as a songwriter until 1968 when he co-founded Bread with David Gates and Robb Royer.

@davefairburn3298 7 ай бұрын

Phil Spector used the Wrecking Crew not only to get the sound he wanted but having these talented musicians they were able to get a quality finished product out while saving money. Frank Sinatra started using the Wrecking Crew when daughter Nancy began her singing career, then Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, along with Nat King Cole also used them.

@leilanirocks Ай бұрын

Give a listen to Larry Knechtels sweet piano track on Johnny Rivers remake of Huey Piano Smith’s “Rockin’ Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu” 🎹

@alekkoomanoff7281 2 ай бұрын

Heard Simon and Garfunkel in Berkeley in 1968. They didn't need supporting musicians. Postponed the concert for a day as the hall's acoustics were not set up to their liking

@taproot381 3 ай бұрын

Yes and Louis Shelton has said on video that the Crew also rewrote or completed many songs in the studio eg Neil Diamond ‘s Moods album Also big groups Beatles, Stones etc used many session musicians too to make their recordings ready for public consumption

@bstein9500 Жыл бұрын

Tedesco wrote a book 'For guitar players only', which has some great stories and some excellent shortcuts. He also turned up on 'the Going Show'. Sadly this clip doesn't show him running down the aisle to the stage. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/ZrehrMyjtdXLZ4E.html

@TucoDog-ho6fw 4 ай бұрын

Something else that not a lot of people are aware of is that Jimmy page was a prolific studio musician before he was in the Yardbirds. I’d like to see a list of all the hits and even recordings that were not hits that he was involved with.

@47AndyT 3 ай бұрын

In 1964 Brenda Lee was invited to the UK. She did some recording over there and in one of the videos you can clearly see Jimmy Page in the background. Before he was known with the Yardbirds and Led Zepplin!

@marktwain2053 3 ай бұрын

Charlie Daniels played on a lot of the albums in those days as well.

@thomasdearment3214 3 ай бұрын

nothing spooky about it they were studio musicians, known for adding to or helping out to make a song as close to or a hit The Cream were Studio musicians. that formed a band hence their name cream the best. Bob Dylan knew allot of talented plyers were in Nashville that's why he recorded there.

@PhilUKNet 3 ай бұрын

Wasn't Chuck Rainey also part of the Wrecking Crew at one time? Another legendary session musician.

@user-fg4fr2bz5y 3 ай бұрын

the late great Dennis Budimer was one of the guitarist included on this list of contributers.

@glibretti 2 ай бұрын

It's not fair that the Monkees are not in the RRHall of Fame because the wrecking crew played on alot of there songs. The wrecking crew played on most hit songs from the 60s.

@jaycareaga9929 Ай бұрын

That’s not the reason. A number of bands are in the hall that used Studio musicians.

@hsitz Жыл бұрын

Yes, Glenn Campbell wasn't exactly unknown. Solo career, plus he actually had his own tv show, a variety show typical of the time, which I remember enjoying: kzfaq.info?search_query=glenn+campbell+show

@terrancemitchell3420 8 ай бұрын

Glenn Campbell was just an old country boy from Arkansas. Couldn't read music, but could play a milking stool if you put strings on it or even if you didn't. Played bagpipes piano or anything else. The consummate musician.

@47AndyT 3 ай бұрын

Glenn also played for the Champs (Tequila)

@jaycareaga9929 Ай бұрын

He was unknown till his first hit in 1967.

@chip9177 2 ай бұрын

If you going to do the incredible Wrecking Crew then you should also do one of the Swampers.

@TheSSMusicChannel 3 ай бұрын

Heres a question... Who were the best - The Wrecking crew or the Funk Brothers. I love both collections of their work but they were different but who had the most accolades for their work?

@f4tweet Ай бұрын

The Funk Brothers too.

@m1t2a1 7 ай бұрын

Michael Altman, 15 at the time. Wrote the lyrics in 5 minutes and made a million dollars. 4:17 His dad made seventy thousand to direct the movie.

@davidhughes4448 3 ай бұрын

I'm pretty certain Carol Kaye played bass on Midnight Confession, not Joe Osborn. Though they both played with a pick, the style and tone are Carol's, not Joe's.

@tubularbill 3 ай бұрын

Don’t forget about Louie Shelton. He played on the Monkees stuff, Jackson 5, ect

@walterulasinksi7031 3 ай бұрын

The Wrecking Crew, were the no- traditional studio musicians of their time the traditional musicians required every part to be written out, s they could attempt to play a piece. They failed in the rock genre, and sounded like Lawrence Welk, as the refused to free themselves from page of music, the Crew, were each experienced in genres such as Latin and Jazz. Th traditional musicians believed they would wreck the music business. Each member of the crew, would offer suggestions the producers and together create the hits. Sometimes, as with Brian Wilson,h would not be on tour with the Beach Boys but working with the Crew to get the sound he wanted. The group would play live at concerts, No lip synching. Tommy Tedsco’s son,has made a full length documentary about the Wrecking Crew and how they created some of the most memorable music of the 60’s. In many cases just by a single musician.

@jaycareaga9929 Ай бұрын

The only studio players the required REAL charts were horn and string players, uncles a studio player was on a movie or tv date. Studio musicians basically wrote all their own parts on the spot.

@walterulasinksi7031 Ай бұрын

@@jaycareaga9929 while most of the wrecking crew could read music , they did not confine themselves to the sheets. How a piece sounds is based upon the manner un which a musician has been trained and restrained. This applies even in orchestral music. There is a distinct difference between the New York philharmonic and the Bulgarian philharmonic in playing a piece such as the West Side Story Suite. You can just play the notes or you can retain the emphasis of the Composer. When musicians are freed from the restraint of the page into creative mode of expression of those notes, new forms emerge. Such creativity can become epidemic This is what occurred with the Wrecking Crew. Even with brass, woodwinds and strings, the music was accentuated in new and exciting ways. What would “Rocking Robin” be without the piccolo trill? Every player has an innate sound. These distinctions were accentuated be it 8n bass lines like Carol Kanr’s opening for “Witchataw lineman” or the double bass line for” These Boots are Made for Walking”.

@lionheartroar3104 25 күн бұрын

Not "The Clique" . They were known as "The Wrecking Crew".

@rayarmstrong4350 2 ай бұрын

Glenn Campbell:-guitar on Sinatra's Strangers in The Night....who would have thought......

@scottski51 3 ай бұрын

Newcomer here. Boomer. So when you say this is a particularly good song to hear each WC member on, then You play it on the piano... I'm stumped. Were we supposed to Guess what Hal Blaine played on the drums, or the lick that Tommy T. nailed with his guitar ???! Is there a copyright issue I'm unaware of ??

@JoshWalshMusic 3 ай бұрын

Yes, copyright is difficult to navigate on KZfaq and prevents me from playing real clips.

@jeffmurphree2937 2 ай бұрын

How did Leon Russell fit into this secret profession? Didn’t he used to do this before he went onto fame and fortune?

@jaycareaga9929 Ай бұрын

Yes he played piano on sessions.

@lohphat 2 ай бұрын

See: Marni Nixon

@brucetowell3432 3 ай бұрын

Believe Leon Russell should have been mentioned, he played on Beach Boy sessions, Gary lewis and the Playboys, Monster Mash Bobby Pickett, and,many.many more, Sinatra we well

@irishoxley994 3 ай бұрын

The same type story is absolutely true with all of Motown studios .. The studio musicians called the Funk Brothers . Recorded every motown hit .you can name . ..check out the funk Brothers story on video

@owenjinxy 3 ай бұрын

They were the true "cream"...and glen was a magnificent guitar player ❤

@rexjamerson9316 3 ай бұрын

Not to mention James Burton who played on at least 400 albums.

@broeheemed32 3 ай бұрын

You're right.... things are not as they seem. Carol Kaye was the bassist, Glen Campbell was a guitarist.

@brucestarr4438 3 ай бұрын

Carol Kaye's bass intro for Wichita Lineman is epic. She created so many great bass 'hooks'.

@codetech5598 3 ай бұрын

Glen also played bass with the Beach Boys.

@soaringvulture Ай бұрын

@@brucestarr4438 Besides that, she loaned Glen her 6-string bass for his Wichita Lineman solo.

@AugustThor438 Жыл бұрын

Carol Kaye was on bass and Glenn Campbell was on guitar

@JoshWalshMusic Жыл бұрын

You are right about their primary instruments, but from my research Glenn played bass with The Beach Boys, not guitar. And Carol started her career on guitar (playing rhythm guitar with Richie Valens, for example) before switching primarily to bass later on. I did a double take on this research true, but I’m pretty confident in it. There’s a bit more about it about halfway through the video in the section dedicated to Carol. 👍🏻 Thanks for watching.

@AugustThor438 Жыл бұрын

@@JoshWalshMusic there is a video on Carol Kaye where she talks about the bassline on Good Vibrations and she says she played it, maybe she only played bass on that one song :)

@JoshWalshMusic Жыл бұрын

@@AugustThor438 I’m not sure. I found plenty of references that these musicians played throughout the Pet Sounds album as Brian Wilson was trying to compete with The Beatles. I don’t know specifically if, or what other tracks Carol played on specifically. I’ve seen that video you referenced.

@AugustThor438 Жыл бұрын

@@JoshWalshMusic yes it probably was completely chaotic, these years they maybe got 3 or 4 different players to play for each song. She also claimed to have played on “I was made to love her” for Stevie Wonder but that has been confirmed that James Jamerson played the final version that appeared on the album.

@JoshWalshMusic Жыл бұрын

@@AugustThor438 what a legend.

@pedroV2003 3 ай бұрын

I gotta say I've never heard these guys referred to as the Clique.

@user-ik9mo8wm7q 3 ай бұрын

Carole Kay confirmed it. In one of her interviews you could tell she was not necessarily pleased when Hal Blaine changed the name in his book . However, the wrecking crew sounds much better than the “Clique”

@pedroV2003 3 ай бұрын

@@user-ik9mo8wm7q don't get ms started on Carol Kay.

@hansvandermeulen5515 3 ай бұрын

Frank Zappa had 3 days of recording sessions for an album Lumpy Gravy (not the one that was released at the time, an early version) and he would use session playes, a lot of 'em from The Wrecking Crew incl Tommy Tedesco. The playes cwme invery snobbish and total disdain for this freak who thinks he's a composer. Whenpresentedcwithbthe music it looked quite complex, not what they'd expected and theyvrefused to even rehearse. After Zappa played the clarinet part on his guitar, everybody realized he KNEW EXACTLYXwhat ye was doing and they started rehearsing and recording and gave him their all. They all left after the sessions were over with the utmost respect for his talent as a composer with several of them lifelong Zappa fans, offering their services for future orchestral/big band projects (Waka/Jawaka, The Grand Wazoo and Orchestral Favorites). This version of Lumpy Gravy was released in Zappa's posthumous Lummpy Money boxed set.