I backed a Kickstarter campaign over a year ago that just came to fruition with the release of The Wrecking Crew, a rockumentary movie about the group of LA session musicians in the ’60’s and ’70’s that played on more albums and songs than I can keep track of. I was able to watch the movie (finally!) yesterday, and it was worth the wait. It took Danny Tedesco something like 18 years to get the film together, partially to honor his father, Tommy Tedesco, who was a core member of the group. It’s a fine film, and a great tribute to everyone involved. Click on the pic to see the trailer. And you can watch it now on iTunes!
But there is something missing from the movie, something that crept out in the updates during the Kickstarter campaign. Danny interviewed many living members of the crew, not just the half-dozen who are the focus of the movie. Please allow me to share some of the most delightful clips on the Kickstarter website.
Leon Russell and Cher, the day he jumped onto his piano and told Phil Spector to fuck off
Don Peak, and the spontaneous creation of the opening to Marvin Gay’s Let’s Get It On. “…says, why don’t you make something up at the beginning?” Shivers down my spine.
Richard Carpenter, and the untold story of Close To You
Bill Medley, how You Lost That Loving Feeling became a baritone song
Jerry Fuller, how Travlelin’ Man very nearly ended up in the trash can, before Ricky Nelson turned it into a 6-million record hit
The making of Phil Spector’s Christmas Album
Don Randi, eating on the road with Frank Sinatra
So much fun stuff on the Intertubes. I don’t miss cable TV at all 🙂