Like the Funk Brothers, The Wrecking Crew was the studio group that produced the great music behind the artists. This DVD documentary shows how this super group produced the sound for a dozen groups and singers during the 1960s and 1970s. If you’re a fan of music from this era, you’ll find these stories fascinating. Check out the partial list of the songs The Wrecking Crew played on below. And, check out the trailer below, too.
Selection of Wrecking Crew Hit Recordings
“The Lonely Bull” Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass 1962
“Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah” Bob B. Soxx and the Blue Jeans 1962
“He’s a Rebel” The Crystals 1962
“Surfer Girl” The Beach Boys 1963
“Surfin’ USA” The Beach Boys 1963
“Da Doo Ron Ron (When He Walked Me Home)” The Crystals 1963
“Surf City” Jan and Dean 1963
“Be My Baby” The Ronettes 1963
“I Get Around” The Beach Boys 1964
“Dead Man’s Curve” Jan and Dean 1964
“Little Old Lady (from Pasadena)” Jan and Dean 1964
“You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin'” The Righteous Brothers 1964
“Mountain of Love” Johnny Rivers 1964
“Help Me, Rhonda” The Beach Boys 1965
“Mr. Tambourine Man” The Byrds 1965
“This Diamond Ring” Gary Lewis and the Playboys 1965
“California Dreamin'” The Mamas & the Papas 1965
“Eve of Destruction” Barry McGuire 1965
“I Got You Babe” Sonny & Cher 1965
“Good Vibrations” The Beach Boys 1966
“Poor Side of Town” Johnny Rivers 1966
“Monday Monday” The Mamas & the Papas 1966
“(You’re My) Soul and Inspiration” The Righteous Brothers 1966
“I Am a Rock” Simon & Garfunkel 1966
“Strangers in the Night” Frank Sinatra 1966
“These Boots Are Made for Walkin'” Nancy Sinatra 1966
“Never My Love” The Association 1967
“Up, Up and Away” The 5th Dimension 1967
“San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair)” Scott McKenzie 1967
“Woman, Woman” Gary Puckett and the Union Gap 1967
“Him or Me (What’s It Gonna Be)” Paul Revere & the Raiders 1967
“The Beat Goes On” Sonny & Cher 1967
“Wichita Lineman” Glen Campbell 1968
“Midnight Confessions” The Grass Roots 1968
“MacArthur Park” Richard Harris 1968
“Mrs. Robinson” Simon & Garfunkel 1968
“Valleri” The Monkees 1968
“Young Girl” Gary Puckett and the Union Gap 1968
“Classical Gas” Mason Williams 1968
“Galveston” Glen Campbell 1969
“Holly Holy” Neil Diamond 1969
“Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In” The 5th Dimension 1969
“Dizzy” Tommy Roe 1969
“The Boxer” Simon & Garfunkel 1969
“(They Long to Be) Close to You” The Carpenters 1970
“Cracklin’ Rosie” Neil Diamond 1970
“Arizona” Mark Lindsay 1970
“I Think I Love You” The Partridge Family 1970
“Bridge Over Troubled Water” Simon & Garfunkel 1970
“Rainy Days and Mondays” The Carpenters 1971
“Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves” Cher 1971
“Sooner or Later” The Grass Roots 1971
“Don’t Pull Your Love” Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds 1971
“Indian Reservation” Raiders 1971
“Hurting Each Other” The Carpenters 1972
“(Last Night) I Didn’t Get to Sleep at All” The 5th Dimension 1972
“It Never Rains in Southern California” Albert Hammond 1972
“Rockin’ Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu” Johnny Rivers 1972
“Mother and Child Reunion” Paul Simon 1972
“Yesterday Once More” The Carpenters 1973
“Half-Breed” Cher 1973
“All I Know” Art Garfunkel 1973
“The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia” Vicki Lawrence 1973
“Chevy Van” Sammy Johns 1974
“The Way We Were” Barbra Streisand 1974
“Rhinestone Cowboy” Glen Campbell 1975
“Love Will Keep Us Together” Captain & Tennille 1975
Surprise, this is one I’d like to see.
Bob, THE WRECKING CREW is terrific!
I HAVE to see this – thanks George 🙂
Sergio, there’s some great music on these DVDs.
Thanks!
Will get it.
I used to listen to that music on AFN, the radio station for US soldiers in Germany …
One name that is missing:
Phil Spector, the producer behind man of these songs – a “very interesting” person, described in his wife Ronnie’s autobiography
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronnie_Spector
Just saw that Amazon.de will have it at the end of August – but they want 25€ for it!
Ok, I’ll wait a little bit …
Wolf, you might persuade your local Library to buy THE WRECKING CREW until the prices fall.
Wolf, Jack Nitzsche–who conducted The Wrecking Crew–worked with Phil Spector, too.
There is a scene in the movie where Brian brings up Phil Spector to Hal Blaine and the latter tells him (I paraphrase), “No one is doing the stuff you’re doing, not even Phil Spector.”
What I also found fascinating was researching Carol Kaye after seeing the movie. I’d never heard of her before and she had an amazing career.
Jeff, Carol Kaye has a great line in THE WRECKING CREW documentary. She says, “I was making more money than the President of the United States.” And, she was.
He is mentioned numerous times in the documentary- and there is Don footage of him but they didn’t interview him- for obvious reasons. Glen Campbell was in the wrecking crew for until he had a breakout hit. Great documentary- answers questions we didn’t think to ask. So unfair that only the Monkees were shamed for using the best of the best to record their music just like everyone else topping the charts in the 60s. R
I hope it’s on Netflix soon–this is just my cup of tea. Reminds me of “Standing in the Shadows of Motown” which had a similar theme: the unknown musicians behind the music we love.
Deb, I loved STANDING IN THE SHADOWS OF MOTOWN, too. The story of the Funk Brothers fascinated me. The story of The Wrecking Crew is just as compelling.
What music!
Patti, this DVD is a gold mine of great music! And how it was made.
George, this is fascinating. I still listen to many of the songs in the list though I’d no idea the music was produced by Wrecking Crew. Names like Captain & Tennille and The Carpenters brings back some good memories.
Prashant, The Wrecking Crew played on many of the songs I grew up loving. I’m glad they’re finally getting the credit they deserve.
For those who haven’t seen it (and you should), there is a lot of Hal Blaine & the Wrecking Crew’s work with Brian Wilson in LOVE & MERCY, both in the PET SOUNDS sessions and with “Good Vibrations” and the later stuff.
Jeff, that Brian Wilson film is on our list to see.
This looks really fun.
Yet another film I’ve never heard of but want to see.
Beth, I bought THE WRECKING CREW DVD on AMAZON for $20. Well worth it!
I contributed to the Kickstarter campaign for this movie, so I got my DVD some time ago. It had been in the works for years, but getting the rights to the music was the problem. The Kickstarter campaign allowed that to happen. My name might be in the credits somewhere, but I haven’t looked to see. Anyway, it’s a great documentary. And you should also check out the one about Muscle Shoals. The musicians there were the Wrecking Crew of Stax records.
Bill, I’ll check the credits to see if your name is there. I have the STAX DVD, too. Marvelous!
George –
I could not sleep last night so I pulled this up on Netflix. It was amazing! I hope everyone gets to see it.
Scott, THE WRECKING CREW is astonishing. What a great group! And, finally, their story is being told. With the help of Bill Crider!
I enjoyed it so much I watched it again this afternoon with my wife because I knew she would love it too. Even better the second time through
Scott, THE WRECKING CREW and STANDING IN THE SHADOWS OF MOTOWN are two of my favorite rock documentaries.