Plot
A celebration of the musical work of a group of session musicians known as "The Wrecking Crew", a band that provided back-up instrumentals to such legendary recording artists as Frank Sinatra, The Beach Boys and Bing Crosby.
Release Year: 2008
Rating: 7.9/10 (157 voted)
Critic's Score: /100
Director: Denny Tedesco
Stars: Lou Adler, Herb Alpert, The Association
Storyline
A celebration of the musical work of a group of session musicians known as "The Wrecking Crew", a band that provided back-up instrumentals to such legendary recording artists as Frank Sinatra, The Beach Boys and Bing Crosby.
Cast: Lou Adler -
Himself
Herb Alpert -
Himself
The Association -
The Association
(archive footage)
H.B. Barnum -
Himself
Chuck Barris -
Himself
(archive footage)
The Beach Boys -
The Beach Boys
(archive footage)
Hal Blaine -
Himself
Sonny Bono -
Himself
(archive footage)
James Burton -
Himself
(archive footage)
Glen Campbell -
Himself
Al Casey -
Himself
Cher -
Herself
Dick Clark -
Himself
Sam Cooke -
Himself
(archive footage)
Sammy Davis Jr. -
Himself
(archive footage)
Runtime:
(Buenos Aires Festival Internacional de Cine Independiente)
User Review
Author:
Rating: 10/10
Imagine if every hit song of the late 50s, 60s, 70s, and even into the
80s was performed by one band. Ridiculous, huh? Well, guess what? It's
closer to reality than you may think. I attended the World Premiere of
"The Wrecking Crew" at the 2008 SXSW Film Festival and I was so moved
by it that it's hard to contain my enthusiasm for this stunning
documentary.
Denny Tedesco chronicles the musical history laid down by his legendary
late father Tommy, as well as Hal Blaine and Don Randi (who were
present for a Q&A afterward), Carol Kaye, Al Casey, Earl Palmer, Plas
Johnson, Joe Osborn, and the dozens of others who sat in on the
recordings. Known informally as The Wrecking Crew, these session
musicians played on so many hit songs that it could be said they had a
larger role to play in the culture of the last 50 years than any other
group of people in the world. You may not have heard their names, but
you've heard their music.
The list of artists whose songs they backed up is amazing: The Beach
Boys, The Byrds, The Association, Glen Campbell, The Mamas & Papas, The
Monkees, Richard Harris, The 5th Dimension, Sam Cooke, Sonny and Cher,
Captain and Tennille, The Righteous Brothers, Simon and Garfunkel,
Frank Sinatra, Gary Lewis and the Playboys, Ike and Tina Turner, Nancy
Sinatra, The Carpenters, Tommy Roe, The Ronettes, Paul Revere and The
Raiders, and Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass, to name a few. The
Wrecking Crew played on almost all their hit songs. To look at the list
is to hear the soundtrack of your life, whether you're 15 or 85 -- you
know these songs.
"The Wrecking Crew" was so lovingly made. And the fact that Tedesco got
the clearances which gave him the rights to include the music in the
film is a tribute to the industry's love and respect for these
musicians. It goes without saying that the soundtrack is, without a
doubt, the greatest of any film I've ever seen. It has to be, after
all. These are the songs we've been listening to fondly for 50 years. I
had the chance to sit down with Blaine and Randi after the screening
and hear some of their incredible stories. For example, not only are
both in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but their contribution to
Grammy history is groundbreaking. Blaine played on seven Records of the
Year, including an incredible run of six in a row back in the 1960s.
That would be unheard of today. It's a feat that was never equaled, not
before or since.
No matter what your age, if you have ever listened to music I can
guarantee you "The Wrecking Crew" will touch you as few films have. To
say that this film is long overdue would be an incredible
understatement. It's hard to imagine anyone alive today who hasn't been
affected by the people who are profiled in this documentary. There's
even a good chance you wouldn't be here if not for the music of The
Wrecking Crew. Ponder that.
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