The Wrecking Crew

The Wrecking Crew, aka The Clique and The First Call Gang, were an ad hoc collection of high-quality session musicians who played on many of the hits of the 1960s. The musicians included Hal Blaine, Tommy Tedesco and Carol Kaye and they played on records released by artists such as The Beach Boys, The Monkees, the Mamas and the Papas, Frank Sinatra and Sonny & Cher.

From a jazz background, playing music in the West and East Coast nightclubs, the Wrecking Crew took their musical skills into the recording studios where they would often record a full album in a day. These musicians were presented with one-chord and three-chord pop songs. Their job was to add the jazz chords and licks, and make the songs “swing”. This they did in style, transforming a basic song into an international hit.

The Wrecking Crew often went uncredited on the record sleeves and labels, but the next time you find your foot tapping to a musical rhythm, or you find yourself singing along to your favourite 1960s song, the chances are the rhythm and melody were provided by the Wrecking Crew.

My article for the Seaside News about Peggy Lee appears on page 43 of the magazine.

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