... record companies probably don't want the secret out that for almost two decades numerous Billboard Top 100 Hits weren't performed by the recording "artists" they were attributed to... but by a small handful of seasoned Jazz/Pop musicians who generally worked for union scale...
They MUST get the entire "Wrecking Crew" movie released to the public. It's hung up over the "lawyers" and "legality" of royalties and other CRAP due to the record companies. COME ON RECORD COMPANIES- do this for HISTORY, for the honor of these great players- for ANYONE who ever loved music and bought BILLIONS of dollars worth of your records. MAKE THIS HAPPEN. This film will one day end up in the Smithsonian- so why wait? Nike- JUST DO IT already.
Carmella Ramsey has a great voice, but also plays great fiddle and mandolin. She may still be with Patti Loveless playing twin fiddles with Jeannie Richardson.
These guys were sort of the West Coast counterparts to The Funk Brothers. Folks who saw and enjoyed this film will likely equally enjoy the movie, Standing In the Shadows of Motown. When will we be able to get The Wrecking Crew on a dvd?
God bless ye, Slymo1. I could spend days talking to you. Rentatrip, the answer to that one is a simple letter "S" with two vertical, parallel lines through it. I STILL haven't seen the film yet and am dying to but don't know how or where to see it...
Tommy, was my fathers friend; then mine I am from Buffalo,,I grew up with these guys....remotly at most they moved to LA,,but you never leave your roots ( Buffalo) has produced some of the most influencila people ever,,,,these guy's wer LOVING, KIND, HONORABLE, DECENT, FAMILY MEN AND WOMEN, the most beautiful people you would ever want too know,,just honest decent,,,real, just real,,amazing talent!! AMAZING,,GOD IS REAL!!
Denny is apparently having trouble getting distribution for this effort. What a shame that such an imprtant piece of American music history is being pased over. You'd think with all the cable channels, there would be someone to snatch up this gem....
Tommy Tedesco was a legend. I used to follow his column in Guitar Player magazine in the 80s. His book, "For Guitar Players Only" has helped me in my professional career more than any other. Thanks TT, hope you're still playing up there.
Slutsky wrote in '95 that "IWMTLH" must have been recorded in '66 or '67, i.e. as of then he didn't think he knew what date it was recorded. But in '00 he wrote that he had received copies of CK's handwritten logs from the '60s 13 years earlier (i.e. 8 years before 1995), and that on "hits she claims to have played on, Carol's log always was at odds" re the dates. ("Always.") Hmmmm, that raises the interesting question, When did Slutsky begin believing he knew what date "IWMTLH" was recorded?
Those with enough true interest in Motown, google "lost my athletic scholarship after participating in the civil rights sit-in". This is from that page about Frank Wilson of Motown (& note "regulars"): "The[...] musicians for [a particular late '65 Motown session] were pulled from the studio regulars that included Billy Strange, Glen Campbell, Hal Blaine, Al De Lory, Carol Kaye and Tommy Tedesco.[...] As far as it can be established the tapes were dispatched to Detroit [in] November 1965[....]"
Quote from Frank Wilson of Motown from that page, which says "Frank Wilson March 2009" near the top: "Gordy came out several times [to L.A....] [W]e were taking [him] to the airport[...] and he said, 'What makes you think you can produce?', I said, 'Because I've been producing much of the stuff that you've been hearing'. So he turned to Marc [Gordon] and Hal [Davis]. He said, 'Is that right?' And they said, 'Yes, that's right'." (Matches very well with claims CK made to me JNS about 8 years ago)
More from that page re Motown producer (etc.) Frank Wilson and his peers (who don't include Slutsky, who never attended any '60s Motown session or met Jamerson or Benjamin): "When Berry Gordy decided to open a West Coast Motown office, following his visit there to attend a disc jockey convention in 1963, he asked L.A. veterans Hal Davis, and Marc Gordon to take charge." (Matches what CK's been saying publicly for years -- frequently resulting in scornful reactions from her energetic detractors)
More from that F. Wilson page you can find by googling "I lost my athletic scholarship after participating in the civil rights sit-in demonstrations": "During 1964-65 Frank [Wilson] saw an increasing number of his compositions being released[....] Frank[...] soon found himself[...] supervising recording sessions.[...] At some point in 1965 the decision was taken to launch Frank Wilson as a Motown artist in his own right[... recording in] Armin Steiner's 8 track Sound Recorders studio[....]"
Here is part of a 2/18/2002 post on the Soulful Detroit Forum: "[...] I'm Billy Wilson President of the Motown Alumni Association.[...] Carol did play on a few lesser know recordings at Motown . . . and I do mean LESSER KNOWN! [...] From 1964 to 1968 the company only used Jamerson.[...]" Note that the last sentence contradicts that Frank Wilson page, on which Andrew Rix describes Kaye as one of the "regulars" in L.A. as of '65. (cont.)
Note that Billy Wilson presents himself in the 2/18/2002 post as knowing who played bass on every 1964-1968 Motown recording. (!!!) Now check this out from the same post: "The Motown Alumni Associaton provides information and gives assistance to entities such as the Library Of Congress, the Smithsonian Institute, Motown/Universal Music Group [this is people like Weinger] ,Rythum & Blues Foundation, Motown artists[...]" Should we be surprised there's a Kaye-is-a-liar myth?
Quote from Armin Steiner, Mix magazine interview with Maureen Droney, 2001; compare it to Frank Wilson who was there -- and then to Billy Wilson, and to the Kaye detractors' myths: "From that moment on, word started traveling. Motown got interested, and I was busy all the time. I had Glen Campbell, Billy Strange, Tommy Tedesco, Dennis Bud[i]mir, [...] Ray Pohlman[...]. Hal Blaine, Earl Palmer, Joe Osborne, Larry Knecht[e]l[...]" (cont.)
"[...] Bill Pittman, Mike Deasy and, of course, Carol Kaye.[...] I used to have The Supremes up there, Marvin Gaye — my mother used to cook for them. Stevie Wonder was in when he was 9 years old. People think I'm making this stuff up, but it's true. As a matter of fact, I did a film session with Stevie awhile back, and he remembered both me and my studio. It was a different time, a different place. You couldn't do that kind of thing now, the city wouldn't allow it. I mean, it was all illegal."
Regarding JJ and CK: Harry Weinger works for _Universal_ and has access to Motown master tapes. Weinger takes Slutsky seriously as a researcher. Is Weinger's only source for JJ on bass on SW's "I Made To Love Her" Slutsky? Is Slutsky's story that Benjamin's nickname being heard on the master of it proves that _Jamerson_ was present a reasonable story? Could Kaye and Benjamin have recorded together in LA, for instance? Who says Benjamin didn't session in LA? Slutsky, who never met JJ or BB?
Cannot thank you enough, Denny. When I was a teenager living in the middle of a cornfield in western Ohio I would have given anything to know the backstory to all those amazing songs I was hearing on the radio. Your film does that in a most compelling way.
I know Denny's brother Damon, and have had the pleasure of hearing many stories about Tommy Tedesco. What an amazing man and an amazing talent. There will never be another group of musicians like The Wrecking Crew -- they were the best!!
Having had the pleasure of exchanging emails with Denny, and personally knowing Al Casey in his last years in Phoenix, I cannot wait to see this fabulous documentary.
Not set as yet since it does not have a distributor. It's on the film fest circuit. If you are in San Francisco, it is coming to your area to The Mill Valley Film Fest. October 6 and 8. Not only that, The Wrecking Crew is playing a concert after the 10/6 show. Hal Blaine, Don Randi, and Chuck Berghofer will be playing. Saw them play after a screening in LA and it was sooo cool!
When I was young I knew Tommy Tedesco. My father put the alarm in is house when he had a house in Grand Island. I even went swimming in his large pool. I even have some old photos of me when I was 5 or 6 standing right next to him. My parents also went out to dinner with him a few times. He was a great guitar player and a very cool guy. He passed away when was maybe six. The best thing is, I still remember him and I still got the memories.
Wow! This was a historic event. I got to see the film and go to the after-party. Hearing those old songs played again by some of the original cats was wayyy cool. The audience in the theater really dug the film and other Wrecking Crew guys like guitar man Billy Strange attended. A magical evening--thanks NFF!
... record companies probably don't want the secret out that for almost two decades numerous Billboard Top 100 Hits weren't performed by the recording "artists" they were attributed to... but by a small handful of seasoned Jazz/Pop musicians who generally worked for union scale...
BillDerBerg 6 months ago
Please please please ! This is the stuff.
guitarsla 8 months ago
They MUST get the entire "Wrecking Crew" movie released to the public. It's hung up over the "lawyers" and "legality" of royalties and other CRAP due to the record companies. COME ON RECORD COMPANIES- do this for HISTORY, for the honor of these great players- for ANYONE who ever loved music and bought BILLIONS of dollars worth of your records. MAKE THIS HAPPEN. This film will one day end up in the Smithsonian- so why wait? Nike- JUST DO IT already.
chandarast 8 months ago 3
Great clip from the past. Be nice to see the whole film. Any suggestions anyone?
BTW how old was TT when he passed on?
mosrite60 10 months ago
Carmella Ramsey has a great voice, but also plays great fiddle and mandolin. She may still be with Patti Loveless playing twin fiddles with Jeannie Richardson.
ArkRed1 11 months ago
wow.. was that a shot of Glen Campbell playing a Teisco Del Ray ??
How odd that he would be playing that guitar !!! I think there are a B/W vid or 2
on YT showing him pretty much rippin' it up on the same guitar.
timjmoran 11 months ago
I have a question. Are The Wreciking Crew involved in Desi, Dino & Billy's, "Please, Don't Fight It" and Keith Green's, "Go, Go, Getter"?
Khultan 1 year ago
is there somebody that will put the full documentary up?
jdromero092287 1 year ago
These guys were sort of the West Coast counterparts to The Funk Brothers. Folks who saw and enjoyed this film will likely equally enjoy the movie, Standing In the Shadows of Motown. When will we be able to get The Wrecking Crew on a dvd?
RootsinBrooklyn 1 year ago 2
Comment removed
lconeill1949 1 year ago
Get educated friends.
ronnieciago 1 year ago
I saw this film at the Vancouver Internation Film Festival and I'm still hoping this will be released as a DVD. It's the best sound track ever!
wendyhunter0405 1 year ago
Can you buy this Movie ?
This is History.
God Bless
Thank you Denny for doing this
TL250Rider 1 year ago
God bless ye, Slymo1. I could spend days talking to you. Rentatrip, the answer to that one is a simple letter "S" with two vertical, parallel lines through it. I STILL haven't seen the film yet and am dying to but don't know how or where to see it...
ROCKSTARCRANE 1 year ago
Tommy, was my fathers friend; then mine I am from Buffalo,,I grew up with these guys....remotly at most they moved to LA,,but you never leave your roots ( Buffalo) has produced some of the most influencila people ever,,,,these guy's wer LOVING, KIND, HONORABLE, DECENT, FAMILY MEN AND WOMEN, the most beautiful people you would ever want too know,,just honest decent,,,real, just real,,amazing talent!! AMAZING,,GOD IS REAL!!
buffalojack 1 year ago
Denny is apparently having trouble getting distribution for this effort. What a shame that such an imprtant piece of American music history is being pased over. You'd think with all the cable channels, there would be someone to snatch up this gem....
ROCKSTARCRANE 1 year ago
@ROCKSTARCRANE
seems to me Mel Gibson with his multi-millions from The Passion film should have the distribution "GIVEN" -
Or WHY can't Capital Records - foot the distrib-?
Now A DAYS Hollywood is Retarded -
I hope it gets an OSCAR
rentatrip1 1 year ago
tommy tedesco is a legend forever one of the greatest guitar players it was a rite of passage to get bested by him on a session .
desipelletier 1 year ago
Man, that's Carmella Ramsey with the Wrecking Crew. She is one great talent.
ArkRed1 1 year ago
THE HAIR ON MY ARMS STOOD AT ATTENTION AFTER WATCHING THIS.
Denny, you done good man....real good. These guys put the ROCK in Rock & Roll.
conkyjoe 2 years ago
Tommy was one of my influences thanks for posting this. Can't wait to see full film...
v2vroth 2 years ago
Just saw it at the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum...incredible.
wendythev 2 years ago
Is this available on DVD???
MrJsmith49 2 years ago
I think it will be released next year.
PeterMayer 2 years ago
a few musicians have trouble accepting Carole Kaye as one of the top bassists of all time, but she's a big part of American music.
CrackerJackLee 2 years ago 2
Tommy Tedesco was a legend. I used to follow his column in Guitar Player magazine in the 80s. His book, "For Guitar Players Only" has helped me in my professional career more than any other. Thanks TT, hope you're still playing up there.
sixstring58 2 years ago 2
sixstring58,
me too...who didn't love Tommy Tedesco...his playing, his sense of humor, and humility.
rpavich 2 years ago 2
This has been flagged as spam show
Slutsky wrote in '95 that "IWMTLH" must have been recorded in '66 or '67, i.e. as of then he didn't think he knew what date it was recorded. But in '00 he wrote that he had received copies of CK's handwritten logs from the '60s 13 years earlier (i.e. 8 years before 1995), and that on "hits she claims to have played on, Carol's log always was at odds" re the dates. ("Always.") Hmmmm, that raises the interesting question, When did Slutsky begin believing he knew what date "IWMTLH" was recorded?
JosephNScott 2 years ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Those with enough true interest in Motown, google "lost my athletic scholarship after participating in the civil rights sit-in". This is from that page about Frank Wilson of Motown (& note "regulars"): "The[...] musicians for [a particular late '65 Motown session] were pulled from the studio regulars that included Billy Strange, Glen Campbell, Hal Blaine, Al De Lory, Carol Kaye and Tommy Tedesco.[...] As far as it can be established the tapes were dispatched to Detroit [in] November 1965[....]"
JosephNScott 2 years ago
Quote from Frank Wilson of Motown from that page, which says "Frank Wilson March 2009" near the top: "Gordy came out several times [to L.A....] [W]e were taking [him] to the airport[...] and he said, 'What makes you think you can produce?', I said, 'Because I've been producing much of the stuff that you've been hearing'. So he turned to Marc [Gordon] and Hal [Davis]. He said, 'Is that right?' And they said, 'Yes, that's right'." (Matches very well with claims CK made to me JNS about 8 years ago)
JosephNScott 2 years ago
More from that page re Motown producer (etc.) Frank Wilson and his peers (who don't include Slutsky, who never attended any '60s Motown session or met Jamerson or Benjamin): "When Berry Gordy decided to open a West Coast Motown office, following his visit there to attend a disc jockey convention in 1963, he asked L.A. veterans Hal Davis, and Marc Gordon to take charge." (Matches what CK's been saying publicly for years -- frequently resulting in scornful reactions from her energetic detractors)
JosephNScott 2 years ago
More from that F. Wilson page you can find by googling "I lost my athletic scholarship after participating in the civil rights sit-in demonstrations": "During 1964-65 Frank [Wilson] saw an increasing number of his compositions being released[....] Frank[...] soon found himself[...] supervising recording sessions.[...] At some point in 1965 the decision was taken to launch Frank Wilson as a Motown artist in his own right[... recording in] Armin Steiner's 8 track Sound Recorders studio[....]"
JosephNScott 2 years ago
Here is part of a 2/18/2002 post on the Soulful Detroit Forum: "[...] I'm Billy Wilson President of the Motown Alumni Association.[...] Carol did play on a few lesser know recordings at Motown . . . and I do mean LESSER KNOWN! [...] From 1964 to 1968 the company only used Jamerson.[...]" Note that the last sentence contradicts that Frank Wilson page, on which Andrew Rix describes Kaye as one of the "regulars" in L.A. as of '65. (cont.)
JosephNScott 2 years ago
Note that Billy Wilson presents himself in the 2/18/2002 post as knowing who played bass on every 1964-1968 Motown recording. (!!!) Now check this out from the same post: "The Motown Alumni Associaton provides information and gives assistance to entities such as the Library Of Congress, the Smithsonian Institute, Motown/Universal Music Group [this is people like Weinger] ,Rythum & Blues Foundation, Motown artists[...]" Should we be surprised there's a Kaye-is-a-liar myth?
JosephNScott 2 years ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Quote from Armin Steiner, Mix magazine interview with Maureen Droney, 2001; compare it to Frank Wilson who was there -- and then to Billy Wilson, and to the Kaye detractors' myths: "From that moment on, word started traveling. Motown got interested, and I was busy all the time. I had Glen Campbell, Billy Strange, Tommy Tedesco, Dennis Bud[i]mir, [...] Ray Pohlman[...]. Hal Blaine, Earl Palmer, Joe Osborne, Larry Knecht[e]l[...]" (cont.)
JosephNScott 2 years ago
This has been flagged as spam show
"[...] Bill Pittman, Mike Deasy and, of course, Carol Kaye.[...] I used to have The Supremes up there, Marvin Gaye — my mother used to cook for them. Stevie Wonder was in when he was 9 years old. People think I'm making this stuff up, but it's true. As a matter of fact, I did a film session with Stevie awhile back, and he remembered both me and my studio. It was a different time, a different place. You couldn't do that kind of thing now, the city wouldn't allow it. I mean, it was all illegal."
JosephNScott 2 years ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Regarding JJ and CK: Harry Weinger works for _Universal_ and has access to Motown master tapes. Weinger takes Slutsky seriously as a researcher. Is Weinger's only source for JJ on bass on SW's "I Made To Love Her" Slutsky? Is Slutsky's story that Benjamin's nickname being heard on the master of it proves that _Jamerson_ was present a reasonable story? Could Kaye and Benjamin have recorded together in LA, for instance? Who says Benjamin didn't session in LA? Slutsky, who never met JJ or BB?
JosephNScott 2 years ago
IS that Nelson Bragg at 8:10? If so he is the precussionist for the Brian Wilson band at present.
IainB1511 2 years ago
After the wrecking crewe all is gone?
bohemiastudios 3 years ago
Cannot thank you enough, Denny. When I was a teenager living in the middle of a cornfield in western Ohio I would have given anything to know the backstory to all those amazing songs I was hearing on the radio. Your film does that in a most compelling way.
andyinoregon 3 years ago 2
I just saw this film and want to thank Denny for making this and not letting this important part of history be forgotten.
DukeofSanchez 3 years ago 2
I know Denny's brother Damon, and have had the pleasure of hearing many stories about Tommy Tedesco. What an amazing man and an amazing talent. There will never be another group of musicians like The Wrecking Crew -- they were the best!!
GWBsux 3 years ago 2
I want a copy of this movie How Can I get one.
This history the 60's Rock is Great Please let me know
TL250Rider 3 years ago
Campbell played guitar on a lot of the early beach boys records and originally replaced Brian in the touring band before Bruce Johnston.
IainB1511 3 years ago
You know what is a pisser. do a google on wrecking crew, and at least three groups say they are the wrecking crew. There is only ONE
wrecking crew right here!!!
rockerdude59 3 years ago
If you go to Hals website, send him an email, and yes he will respond a true gentlemen.
rockerdude59 3 years ago
Having had the pleasure of exchanging emails with Denny, and personally knowing Al Casey in his last years in Phoenix, I cannot wait to see this fabulous documentary.
daveinaz 3 years ago
I met Denny and he was so cool. Great film. Definitely opened my eyes to music from this era. Yea, I'm deprived.
But it was suuuuch a great film.
deja0entendu 3 years ago
What a wonderful tribute to perhaps the the best studio ensrmble ever! I want this film. Thanks so much for posting
Mac
Canada
PadreMDB 3 years ago
when is this awesome film coming out???
please let me know, jim from san francisco
jimymac1 3 years ago
i agree when will it come out?
spooner1957 3 years ago
Not set as yet since it does not have a distributor. It's on the film fest circuit. If you are in San Francisco, it is coming to your area to The Mill Valley Film Fest. October 6 and 8. Not only that, The Wrecking Crew is playing a concert after the 10/6 show. Hal Blaine, Don Randi, and Chuck Berghofer will be playing. Saw them play after a screening in LA and it was sooo cool!
jongreek 3 years ago
When I was young I knew Tommy Tedesco. My father put the alarm in is house when he had a house in Grand Island. I even went swimming in his large pool. I even have some old photos of me when I was 5 or 6 standing right next to him. My parents also went out to dinner with him a few times. He was a great guitar player and a very cool guy. He passed away when was maybe six. The best thing is, I still remember him and I still got the memories.
--Ozzy--
Yardbirdsfan 3 years ago
Wow! This was a historic event. I got to see the film and go to the after-party. Hearing those old songs played again by some of the original cats was wayyy cool. The audience in the theater really dug the film and other Wrecking Crew guys like guitar man Billy Strange attended. A magical evening--thanks NFF!
jongreek 3 years ago
this film was so great, and the closing party was amazing!
meganholt 3 years ago
This is incredible. Congrats Denny, and thanks so much for sharing an early draft of the film with me. -- Mark A. Moore
mark319u2b 3 years ago