ROCK’S UNSUNG HEROES
Wrecking Crew rocked in anonymity
THE WRECKING CREW
★★★ Directed by: Denny Tedesco Starring: Lou Adler, Herb Alpert, The Association Running time: 102 minutes
Listen to the musicians in this documentary by Denny Tedesco, and you’ll hear a lot of unsung talent.
Unsung, but not unplayed. Session musicians Joe Osborn, Hal Blaine, Leon Russell, Glen Campbell, Plas Johnson, Carol Kaye and the others who made up a West Coast collective known as the Wrecking Crew laid down musical tracks throughout the 1950s ‘60s and into the ‘70s for Frank Sinatra, Sonny and Cher, the Beach Boys, the Righteous Brothers, Herb Alpert, the Monkees and others too numerous to mention.
The group were also producer Phil Spector’s de facto famed Wall of Sound.
The film’s director is the son of the late Tommy Tedesco, whose obituaries in 1997 referred to him as the most famous guitarist you’ve never heard of; Look him up on imdb.com for a list of scores of uncredited work in movies and television, including the theme songs for Bonanza, Batman and Green Acres.
Tedesco gives his father ample screen time — and to be fair, the man proves himself a great raconteur — but he also interviews a who’s who of musical greats. Bass player Kaye is excellent at reminding viewers of a famous hit The Beat Goes On with just a quick lick from her guitar.
The players express regret that they didn’t get more recognition for their talents. Part of the problem with being an uncredited session player was that when the work dried up there was nowhere to turn for more.
But the overwhelming emotion that comes through in this 2008 documentary is joy. The Wrecking Crew sometimes becomes more about the business than the music, but anyone with more than a passing interest in the history of pop should have no trouble connecting with it.
The Wrecking Crew is also available on demand.