Here’s a documentary that tells one of the most important stories in rock and roll history. It’s not flashy and bouncy like a lot of the modern rock docs you see these days, but The Wrecking Crew! is filled with a flavor of fascinating fodder that more than makes up for any shortcomings in the special effects department. More than anything, The Wrecking Crew!7 directed by Denny Tedesco, son of legendary late Wrecking Crew guitarist Tommy Tedesco, is filled with heart, soul and humanity — elements largely null and void into today’s DYI digital age of making music these days.
Denny Tedesco spent two decades organizing interviews, finding archival footage, getting the rights to the songs played and getting funding to make this movie about “a group of elite studio musicians,” who became known as the Wrecking Crew. You can tell from the get-go, with Denny speaking about his father Tommy and upbringing with a reverent tone, that this was a true labor of love. At the core of the film is an informal gathering of Wrecking Crew members, which officially ranged anywhere from five to 50, depending on who you asked and what any given session required. Tommy Tedesco, who passed away in 1997 from lung cancer, is joined by drummer Hal Blaine, bassist Carol Kaye, and saxophonist Plas Johnson on one set. Other Wrecking Crew members like drummer Earl Palmer, bassist Joe Osborn, keyboardist Don Randi, guitarist Al Casey, guitarist Glen Campbell, keyboardist Leon Russell also pipe in from various locations.
And there are those who had the Wrecking Crew on their records like Brian Wilson, Cher, Nancy Sinatra, Herb Alpert, Micky Dolenz, Roger McGuinn, and Gary Lewis — all speaking about the The Wrecking Crew with admiration and respect. Wilson’s work with these musicians is receives special attention because they played on legendary Beach Boys records like Pet Sounds and “Good Vibrations.” Other luminaries such as Dick Clark, Lou Adler, producers Snuff Garrett and Bones Howe were also interviewed and featured in the film. It’s amazing to think of the music The Wrecking Crew were part of. The Beach Boys, Phil Spector, the Mama and the Papas, the Monkees, the Byrds, Frank Sinatra, Nancy Sinatra, Sonny & Cher are just a handful of the artists whose recordings featured the backing instruments from the Wrecking Crew.
Special attention is given Tommy Tedesco, Carol Kaye and Hal Blaine. For Kaye, it was a matter of gaining respect in a men’s club. Blaine and Tedesco’s careers to interesting turns after the salad days passed (and more bands became more self-contained, becoming actual bands) and the “bubble popped,” with Blaine losing it all in a divorce and becoming a security guard in Scottsdale, Arizona, to Tedesco getting into film and TV work and succumbing to an appearance in a dress on the Gong Show (to which Frank Zappa adds a little commentary) before retiring. In the end, the lack of credit these players never got is finally getting it due with this film. As rock documentaries continue to go deep, exploring all those angles that most of us never thought about back in the days of spinning our radio dials, do yourself a favor and check out The Wrecking Crew!. Without saying much more, it explores rock and roll’s greatest musical moments.
~ Shawn Perry
