LA in the 60s was a boom-town for rock and roll. The group of musicians responsible for making so many of the hits come alive in those days was The Wrecking Crew. They played on hits for the Beach Boys, Frank Sinatra, Nancy Sinatra, Sonny and Cher, Jan & Dean, The Monkees, Gary Lewis and the Playboys, Mamas and Papas, Tijuana Brass, Ricky Nelson, Johnny Rivers and were Phil Spector’s Wall of Sound. The record industry was primarily in New York, London and Detroit in the late 50s and early 60s. Then there was a surge towards the mid-60s that pushed the recording to the west Coast. So these musicians were recording around the clock for a good 8 years. The hey day for this group was in 1967 when the charts turned to the west.
I would give anything to have been a fly on the wall in one of those sessions. A little known fact is that Glen Campbell was one of the Wrecking Crew; he played many of the Beach Boys guitar riffs that are so much a part of our collective pop music conscious. Since I was only in elementary school during those amazing times, I wasn't aware that people made a living creating music. The only time I saw this was in the Disney cartoon, 101 Dalmatians, where Roger, the human lead, wrote songs in his London bachelor flat. Maybe subconsciously I made a mental note that it would be cool to do the same one day.
As every musician makes the transition from amateur to pro, there are a series of lessons to be learned. The video below is an out take from a film being produced about the famed Wrecking Crew. Louie Shelton, guitarist extraordinaire, talks about his early days with the WC and a golden learning moment concerning "playing in the pocket" with the Crew's famed drummer, Hal Blaine.
That was the music I grew up listening to and still love today. When Chicago Transit Authority appeared on the scene they became my favorite group of all time!
ReplyDeleteIn the late 80's I discovered CCM and am thankful for it. I loved the beat in the 'pop rock style' songs and found the same beat with an awesome message in CCM. Of course, then TRUTH was the favored group. Still miss that, but am happy to read how God is using you individually. Maybe a reunion tour someday!!!!