Hal Blaine Worlds Greatest Studio Drummer interview

[georgebur]

I love the answer to the first question - the hardest part about being a Studio Musician is finding a Car Park!

[Streamline09]

I think he worked with The 5th Dimension too.

[mmlight]

But he dated hookers and beat his wife... O well, not a nice guy but a machine in the studios. btw: Above came from a fellow session artists.

[toyshopper1]

Did you ever hear of a studio musician named Dee or Derryl Brown? Drummer for Sun Records and played for Elvis as a studio musician in the 70's?

[66buff]

Bears a slight resemblance to George Jones!

[lynnda99]

Hal is the man!

[1960COBLudwig]

Hi Hal the other hard thing was to find a good quality wallet back then.

[Kobeownzu81]

i never thought about now if i do this did i do this on another record

that is such a great thing to here. its always something i worried about but i kinda see what he means. great advice

[tomthefunky]

Al Jackson from Stax, Roger Hawkins from The Muscle Shoals Band and Gene Chrisman from The American Studios Band. The three best studio drummers ever. Anyone disagrees with me will have a hard time speaking when you are COLLECTING YOUR TEETH OFF THE GROUND!!!!!!!!

[GayleMI]

@tomthefunky Bet if you crossed a music fan with an intolerant, Tea Bagger kinda attitude, you'd get something like this. 

[tomthefunky]

@GayleMI: Tea-bagger? Isn't that an insult? You sound kind of "intolerant" yourself, GayleMI. My comment was actually an inside joke. It was silly musician humor. You are clearly humorless, musically clueless and politically retarded.

[GayleMI]

@tomthefunky If that's what passes for humor out your way, I hope your chops are sharper than your wit. The three drummers you mentioned are all exceptional, esp. Jackson. I prefer drummers who can underplay (Earl Parlmer, Keltner, Buttrey), but this is Hal F*ucking Blaine we're talking about. True, singers & producers would record at the studios you mentioned to get the local sound. Blaine would adapt & contribute to the artists' sound, a huge variety of artists. That's why he's a god..

[tomthefunky]

@GayleMI: I don't give a shit what drummers you like. And I don't give a shit why.

[GayleMI]

@tomthefunky Logic always triumphs over intolerance, Teabag Tom. Now pick up your teeth and go away.

[nynynyny44]

I know him for playing on Love WIll Keep Us Together with Captain and Tennille, and some of my favorite riffs are on that song...Love him!!!~

[turtlegiant]

jimmy, you forgot to mention

"Be My Baby" - The Ronettes (1963)

.. along with his drumming on all of The Beach Boys Pet Sounds

I think its some of Hal's best work!

BTW search on youtube "behind the sounds wouldn't it be nice". you won't regret it as it's Hal playing on all the sessions

[gyro62]

Hal is a Legend ,his drumming,and professionalism,and his ability to play anything that was required of him, he is such an  inspiration to me ,one of my all time drum Heroes ! Rock On Hal !!

[DancingSpiderman]

Excellent drumming on these hit songs by a real team player!

[jmua04]

Hal Blaine, Benny Benjamin, Pistol Allen are in a 3 way tie for best drummers of all time.

[conkyjoe]

Jesus, hire a soundman so we can hear what Hal has to say. 1 man bands don't cut it.

[VinDcator]

It's about time that Hal Blaine got some credit for all this. Drums are the music of the mind! I only wish that Earl Palmer were around for his share of all this. Does anybody remember "Sticks Seven"?

[arsenal754307]

Heartthrobber! Soul stirring.. Just downloaded it at DownloadMusic/./im , remove the slashes.. download it, plug ur ear phone, close ur eyes, listen to the beat and forget the world.

[MotownConnoisseur30]

I wouldn't call him the world's greatest studio drummer. There's Benny Benjamin! However, Hal is up there though.

[DangerousBastard]

"Hit it, Hal!"...

Love his playing on John Phillips "Wolfking of LA" album.

[Corporations8MyBaby]

I can't wait until "the Wrecking Crew" documentary is available.

[Bmodemusik]

Check out "The Wrecking Crew" documentary it's great!

[stumptacular]

turned onto this guy through his work with and respect for my fave : brian wilson... and now im surprised after re-discovering how much i love john denver... that hal played the drums for some of his best... IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED IN FASCINATING MUSIC LEGENDS LIKE HAL ITS WORTH A NETFLIX ACCOUNT JUST TO WATCH:

"Tom Dowd and the Language of Music"

its absolutely amazing how talented some of these behind the scenes guys truly were... i say WERE, they dont make em like they used to......

[ClubViking63]

today I saw a bit of the documentary of the Wrecking Crew! Hal Blaine is such an amazing drummer!!!

[releewasgay]

This guy laid down hits while a band's drummer went for a smoke. Now computers can take care of the shitty playing

[1musiclvr]

I never realized I had a big stack of his records! Amazing.

[rockerdude59]

Hal Blaine is the best. He played on more hits than Ringo, Keith Moon, Charlie Watts, John Bonham, & all drummer combined.

[ppetracco]

Awesome post, dude. Thank you very much!

But I gotta say I missed a lot of stuff, and I watched it several times. If someone could subtitle it or just transcript it and post anywhere, it would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks again.

[808beatbox]

Right on Mr. Blaine! There's a saying in the Musician's Union, "If you are there just in time, you're already late!"

Thank you "askjimmycarter" for posting this interview. (A lot of musicians should hear this!)

[sgtpepper1138]

if you're early you're on time, if you're on time you're late....

that was my band teachers moto, and I still use it today in my life..

[sanchorb]

I´d love to have the 1.000.000 th part of the drumming and musicial talent Hal Blaine has. Such a great talent, must be very nice to reminisce with him, must have tons of anecdotes.

[steviedeedee]

I'll take Earl Palmer ANY day of the week..

[ericebryan]

There was something Palmer did w/ the Beach Boys that I liked -- can't think of it now -- later '60s. But I love Hal's and Dennis' work, too, both expressing what Brian wanted.

[28mark]

you are the BEST Hal

[fundy76]

this is an excellent post.

THANKS!!

[annarrr]

Responsibility & Reliability! What a hero! Thank you Hal xx

[caressers]

Greatest drummer. Agree. Does good interviews too.

[mettanc]

very cool.