![The Wrecking Crew: The Inside Story of Rock and Roll's Best-Kept Secret | [Kent Hartman]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51JILW4aHML._SL175_.jpg "The Wrecking Crew: The Inside Story of Rock and Roll's Best-Kept Secret | [Kent Hartman]")
The Wrecking Crew: The Inside Story of Rock and Roll's Best-Kept Secret
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- Regular Price :$27.99Special Offer: Learn how to get this for $7.49 !
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Average Customer Rating
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LENGTH9 hrs and 40 mins
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RELEASE DATE06-18-12
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AUDIO FORMATS
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Program TypeAudiobook
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PUBLISHER
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Publisher's Summary
Audie Award Nominee, 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
What the Critics Say
"[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)
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What Members Say
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Diana Haynes Vancouver, British Columbia Canada 07-30-12 Member Since 2000- HELPFUL VOTES
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- ratings
- REVIEWS
- 6
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"Fascinating Story Well Told"
What made the experience of listening to The Wrecking Crew the most enjoyable?Bought this book after watching the documentary and found that it contains many more stories and interesting details than the documentary (which was equally good). Who knew?
What other book might you compare The Wrecking Crew to and why?I can't think of another book to compare this to - it is unique.
What about Dan John Miller???s performance did you like?Good voice well paced.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?I wish.
Any additional comments?Anyone who likes rock and roll would like this book.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful -
TIMOTHY BARRINGTON, IL, United States 11-12-12 Member Since 2012
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- 3
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- REVIEWS
- 5
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"SO MANY THINGS I NEVER KNEW, WOW!"
Would you listen to The Wrecking Crew again? Why?ONLY AS REFERENCE. GOT THE STORY FIRST TIME.
What was one of the most memorable moments of The Wrecking Crew?SOOO MANY. THE INDEPTH RE. LEON RUSSEL, GLEN CAMPBELL, TOMMY TEDESCO, CAROL KAY AND THE OPENING NARRITIVE.
Did the narration match the pace of the story?A LITTLE SLOW BUT NOT BAD.
Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?NETHER LAUGH OR CRY. BUT IT MADE BURN UP GOOGLE LOOKING UP THE PEOPLE I JUST NEVER KNEW ABOUT.
Any additional comments?AN EPIFFINY FOR ANY MUSIC LOVER OF 60'S 70'S MUSIC LOVERS
2 of 2 people found this review helpful -
"Will change the way you listen to music"
I am a fan of the music from the 60's and the 70's, heck truth told there is just about no music I do not enjoy. So as to not give the "plot Away" too badly it tells the history of how the in studio music was recorded during the heyday of Rock and roll. Touches on the Beach Boys, Phil Spector and an interesting story about Glenn Campbell. it's a must read if you enjoy the ins and outs of Rock and Roll.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful -
Lee Blue Anchor, NJ, United States 08-29-12 Member Since 2007
- HELPFUL VOTES
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- REVIEWS
- 439
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"Familiar names to any 70's rock fan"
The Beach Boys were always a mystery to me. I have gone to see them several times, each time they were worse than the last. The voices intermittently hit the mark, but the musicianship would embarrass a 3rd grade band. I wondered how the same people who recorded Pet Sounds could be in front of me with a minimal knowledge of their instruments. Now I know.
This book is good.2 of 2 people found this review helpful -
"Great listen...hate that it's over!"
If you could sum up The Wrecking Crew in three words, what would they be?Fascinating, interesting, excellent
What was one of the most memorable moments of The Wrecking Crew?Too many to pick from
Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?Lots of them.
Any additional comments?If you like music from the sixties and seventies and enjoy history, you will LOVE this.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful -
"Fasinating history of 60 and 70 rock'n roll"
What made the experience of listening to The Wrecking Crew the most enjoyable?The information of the different bands was fascinating and a real eye opener to the music business in the 60's and 70's. Interesting to find out who controlled the business and the caliber of musicians at that time.
What other book might you compare The Wrecking Crew to and why?Me the Mob and the music by Tommy James although a different story, studio muscicians played a huge roll in the outcome of the music.
Have you listened to any of Dan John Miller’s other performances before? How does this one compare?No
Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?I will view all my rock idols differently after listening to this book. Especially the Beach Boys.
Any additional comments?Great listen for anyone interested in rock history. I wish I could see the film that was made about the same group of musicians. Check out Carol Kaye on utube.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful