documentary, 2008,  Denny Tedesco, 101 min, ov/vo

You’ve never heard of the ‘The Wrecking Crew’ collective? Don’t worry! The documentary of the same name describes how the group of musicians, anonymous to the general public, still had a considerable influence on the so-called ‘West Coast Sound’ in the ’60s.

Those who believe that they always hear bands like The Beach Boys, Simon & Garfunkel or The Monkees themselves play on their albums, are in for a disappointment. In the golden sixties, on many occasions, the ‘The Wrecking Crew’ – or ‘The Clique’ or ‘The First Call Gang’ (because they were the ones many producers called first) as they were sometimes known – were called upon for the studio work.

For example, member/drummer ‘Hal Blaine’ has played on more #1 and Top 10 albums than anyone else in musical history. With the documentary ‘The Wrecking Crew’, the session musicians finally earn the recognition of the general public that they had always deserved for all those years.