Sometimes the blogs just write themselves. We can’t imagine our good fortune. We won the blog lottery!
On Friday, May 27th, we’ll be showing “The Wrecking Crew.” It’s a documentary about, yep, “The Wrecking Crew,” a loose group of about 20 to 30 studio musicians used in the LA recording industry during the 1960′s.
They recorded more number one singles than the Beatles and cut records with Elvis Presley, Herb Alpert, the Beach Boys, Sonny and Cher, Frank Sinatra, Nancy Sinatra, Phil Spector and the Wall of Sound, and the Monkees among many others. The film asserts that they provided “the soundtrack to our lives”.
They are the best.
In the run up to the event, we’ll be posting critical and timeless Wrecking Crew tracks. Yes, they rocked “California Girls” and the Phil Spector stuff, but here are just a few deeper cuts:
Mamas and Papas, “Midnight Voyage.”
This tune gives me goosebumps everytime. Check out Mamas Cass’ delicate, restrained vocals, the beautiful quasi-ragtime piano of keyboard genius Larry Knechtel, and the stunning Gregorian chamber-echo vocal majesty towards the end. The swansong of the Mamas and Papa’s career (ignoring their yucky comeback” album in 1971), the melancholy vibe here is viscous. The Wrecking Crew is playing with incredible softness and restraint!
Buffalo Springfield, “Expecting to Fly”
A no-brainer. Jack Neitzche’s at the producer’s desk, the reverb is cranked, and soft heavenly bliss is achieved. Neil is ruling.
Monkees, “Porpoise Song”
The Monkees are totally amazing. Mickey Dolenz is the greatest American singer of the pop era, and here he shows why. This Goffin/King tune was included in their amazing ’68 film “Head,” and, keeping with the floating-on-a-cloud-like vibe of the previous two tunes, it does not disappoint. In the film, they jump off a bridge while this song plays – they are committing artistic suicide! It’s high mass in some infrared psychedelic church.
Don’t miss this movie!!
