The Wrecking Crew - B

Rated G, 95 minutes
Wes's Grade: B

Fascinating musical documentary "The Wrecking Crew" gives full credit to 1960s session musicians

If you're a fan of such '60s pop groups as The Beach Boys, The Monkees, The Mamas and the Papas, Sonny and Cher, Herb Alpert, Jan & Dean and many more, then you've heard The Wrecking Crew and just didn't know it. They're a group of talented musicians who famously and anonymously backed these famous artists without getting credit, and the fascinating, energetic new documentary "The Wrecking Crew" seeks to give them full credit for their work. The film tells the story of these unsung musicians that provided the backbeat, the bottom and the swinging melody that drove many of the number one hits of the 1960's.  The Wrecking Crew was a nickname for this group of session musicians, including Tommy Tedesco and Carol Kaye that played during the 1960s. Directed by Denny Tedesco, son of Wrecking Crew member Tommy Tedesco, completed in 2008 (production started as early as 1996) and just now getting a wide release, perhaps influenced by the similarly-themed and Oscar-winning documentary "20 Feet From Stardom," "The Wrecking Crew" lacks the power and crowd-pleasing appeal of "20 Feet," (interestingly, Darlene Love appears here too in old clips) but isn't any less entertaining. The documentary provides many fascinating backstage stories, not to mention generous musical clips and interviews with many entertainers, including Cher, Herb Albert, Brian Wilson, the late Dick Clark and a pre-Alzheimer's Glen Campbell. But most important, we get a chance to hear from The Wrecking Crew themselves as they remember those days of "the Wall of Sound," from Tedesco and his family, an always fun and very talented Kaye, as well as other members Lew McCreary, Earl Palmer, Hal Blaine, Leon Russell, and Julius Wechter.  "The Wrecking Crew" is fast-paced and compelling, and most unfortunate that these talented players haven't received the proper credit their due, and hopefully this will have wider appeal than outside hardcore musicians. Thanks to a Kickstarter campaign, this helped get the film off the shelf to cover its music licensing fees and final production costs. A must-see for music lovers.