The Wrecking Crew

If you are looking for some outstanding entertainment in the next few days, here you go: The Guild Cinema is running the documentary film The Wrecking Crew through Tuesday, April 28. Directed by Denny Tedesco, the story celebrates the legendary career of his father, guitarist Tommy Tedesco, and reveals the inner workings of studio recording sessions in the 1960s and early 1970s. 

Tedesco sets a down-to-earth and down-to-business theme for his film that resonates throughout. These are family-oriented people who happen to be the most in-demand union musicians in Los Angeles. The freelance life comes with unimaginable ups and drastic downs. There is lamenting about missing their children growing up, strained relationships and choices they wish they didn’t have to make. But when the payoff is being a first-call player earning utter respect from every major label, producer, arranger and A-list act, putting in extensive hours in unknown basements becomes sensible.

Twenty years ago, when Tommy Tedesco was blindsided with a terminal cancer diagnosis, Denny became determined to bring recognition to his father’s influence on musical history. He orchestrates a reunion of several “Wreckies” who divulge the exceptional events that lead to their music becoming the secret weapon behind countless number one hits. Denny was on hand for the Guild’s Saturday showing to introduce the film and warmly interacted with the audience in his welcoming style. He stayed to answer questions long after the screening ended and was joined by songwriter and Albuquerque denizen, James Martin (Marty) Cooper.

While still fresh and funny, Tommy Tedesco (he died in 1997 at age 67) recounts in the film the outrageous work required as the king of LA session guitarists. His personality is endearing and self-effacing. He arrived in town from Niagara Falls at 23 years of age, a self-taught strummer with a big Italian heart. Success clamped on to him tightly. At the height of his career he would work a call starting at 9:00 AM on Monday until 6:30 PM, move to a record date at 7:00 PM until midnight followed by a date from 2:00 AM (Tuesday) until 6:30 AM and immediately trudge on to the next call at 9:00 AM. Salaries for session players at the time ranged from $20,000 to $150,000 a year.

Getting to know bassist Carol Kaye is such a treat. As one of the few women session players, she shines as she grabs her Fender and taps out unforgettable bass leads (always with a pick) that made music millions. “That’s pretty much all there was to it,” she shrugs. Her accomplishments are also immeasurable including recording with The Beach Boys, Phil Spector, Nancy Sinatra, Herb Alpert, Sonny & Cher, Gary Lewis & the Playboys and The Monkees.

Hall of Famer Hal Blaine’s rise-and-fall tale is gripping. He is so prolific; stats say he has played drums on at least 50 number one hits, 150 top ten hits and more than 35,000 pieces of music. He is candid about the ride he takes in this rollercoaster industry and the struggles he endures in his personal life. As he nostalgically drives around Hollywood pointing out studio landmarks he pines for the days when The Wrecking Crew family was going strong.

Other profiles include Leon Russell and Glen Campbell, two Wreckies who made it out of anonymity to the big stage. All in all, this rare group of talented artists established a genre of music in a phase when name bands needed the backbone of no-nonsense players—the ones with all the spirit and all the know-how—to materialize the sound of a generation. It’s an era that may never be repeated and Denny Tedesco is admiringly preserving their legacies in this exceptional documentary.

Don’t miss the chance to see The Wrecking Crew at the Guild Cinema, an intimate art house theatre with new seats and a trendy vibe in the historic Nob Hill district of Albuquerque. The documentary will appear in 175 theaters over the next six months and is also available as a six-hour version on DVD and Blu-Ray. Visit their site to view the trailer and for more info.

On assignment for ABQToDo.