The Wrecking Crew

The Inside Story of Rock and Roll's Best-Kept Secret

By: Kent Hartman

Narrated by: Dan John Miller

Length: 9 hrs and 41 mins

Publisher's summary

Audie Award Winner, History, 2013

If you were a fan of popular music in the 1960s and early '70s, you were a fan of the Wrecking Crew - whether you knew it or not.

On hit record after hit record, by everyone from the Byrds, the Beach Boys, and the Monkees to the Grass Roots, the 5th Dimension, Sonny & Cher, and Simon & Garfunkel, this collection of West Coast studio musicians from diverse backgrounds established themselves as the driving sound of pop music - sometimes over the objection of actual band members forced to make way for Wrecking Crew members.

Industry insider Kent Hartman tells the dramatic, definitive story of the musicians who forged a reputation throughout the business as the secret weapons behind the top recording stars. Mining invaluable interviews, the author follows the careers of such session masters as drummer Hal Blaine and keyboardist Larry Knechtel, as well as trailblazing bassist Carol Kaye, who went on to play in thousands of recording sessions. Listeners will discover the Wrecking Crew members who would forge careers in their own right, including Glen Campbell and Leon Russell, and learn of the relationship between the Crew and such legends as Phil Spector and Jimmy Webb.

Hartman also takes us inside the studio for the legendary sessions that gave us Pet Sounds, Bridge Over Troubled Water, and the rock classic “Layla”, which Wrecking Crew drummer Jim Gordon cowrote with Eric Clapton for Derek and the Dominos. And the author recounts priceless scenes, such as Mike Nesmith of the Monkees facing off with studio head Don Kirshner, Grass Roots lead guitarist (and future star of The Office) Creed Bratton getting fired from the group, and Michel Rubini unseating Frank Sinatra's pianist for the session in which the iconic singer improvised the hit-making ending to “Strangers in the Night”.

The Wrecking Crew tells the collective, behind-the-scenes stories of the artists who dominated Top-40 radio during the most exciting time in American popular culture.

©2012 Kent Hartman (P)2012 Tantor

Critic reviews

"[ The Wrecking Crew] has the...potent excitement of a collection of greatest hits. It makes good music sound better." (Janet Maslin, The New York Times)

For those who love 60’s music

Growing up I listened to 60’s and 70’s music, so it was great to hear the story about the musicians behind the music. Great narrative, easy to listen to, and most of all, great stories and memories!

Superb revelations...!!!

Grew up in. with the sounds of this music ringing in my ears every day. there was no internet there was no Google there were only the album jacket liner notes which we devoured repeatedly to learn about the performers and lyrics of the anthems we loved. WHO KNEW these Geniuses of the studios even existed...!?!? I was a drummer working in Saloon bands throughout that time and rarely heard the names of Studio musicians whom I could even recognize what instrument they played. this in-depth journalistic project enabled me a virtual seat in the studios where some of the greatest musicians brought their genius to the soundtrack of Our Lives. names that we're never publicly known are revealed with all of their Splendor and sometimes sorrow. there's far too much present for me to comment on and I will definitely listen again. these stories filled in a huge gap in my musical vocabulary. if you are a fan of music from Elvis through FM radio this presentation will be more than just entertainment. 👍👍👍👍👍

Learned things I didn't know

And I grew up in the LA area and played in bands during that whole era. WOW, an eye opener to what went on behind closed doors and the people you would never suspect that started their careers as studio musicians. Great book. Good listen.

Enlightening and entertaining!

This was a good story and well narrated. I listened on my smart phone, and paused to play the referenced songs (via Amazon Prime Music). That made for a memorable experience!

So much more

All I can say is WOW. Yes it's a story about the Wrecking Crew but it's also a story about the music industry, a very inside look. Excellent job.

Good info and entertaining

Much more in depth than the movie. A picture of a unique window in time which will never exist again.

Amazing Secrets, and they keep on coming!

You will be surprised and intrigued by the non-stop celebrity musicians who started in the 60's being back-up musicians and how THEIR performances are the ones you hear on your 60's and 70's Spotify!
This is a dizzying history that keeps pace with the frenetic times and the musicians hop-scotching from recording to recording.
If you are a fan of that time period, you NEED to hear this history, well read by Dan Jon Miller. This was an accidental story that luckily Kent Hartman heard, and was determined to tell...... Thanks for shining a light on this!

Really interesting listen

I really enjoyed this one. The only complaint is the narrator's voice reading female parts.

SUPERB!!

Couldn't get enough of the amazing backstories from the Wrecking Crew. Wishing for book 2!

The Music Biz

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, I would recommend this to my music lover friends.

What other book might you compare The Wrecking Crew to and why?

Possibly Don Felder's Heaven and Hell. Both are eye opening regarding the music business and insight into bands.

What does Dan John Miller bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

While intending to be flattering a good voice should not add or subtract from the story.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Open Your Eyes Wide

Any additional comments?

Very impressed with Glen Campbell as a musician and with his ambition for success.

I must say Brian Wilson is every bit the nut I would have expected. Pet Sounds did him in. Or did his father?