Glen Campbell with drummer Hal Blaine at a Wrecking Crew session (Photo: Denny Tedesco archives; used with permission)
The producer of the outstanding 2015 documentary on the Wrecking Crew, the Los Angeles-based musicians who performed on literally hundreds of hit recordings in the 1960s and 1970s, has established a crowd sourcing campaign to create a second edition of hits from their enormous discography.
A 4-CD soundtrack to the film was released in 2015, and featured such classic songs as the Byrds‘ “Mr. Tambourine Man,” the Mamas & the Papas‘ “Monday, Monday,” the Beach Boys‘ “Good Vibrations,” the 5th Dimension‘s “Up, Up and Away” and Glen Campbell‘s “Wichita Lineman,” each of which featured the Wrecking Crew’s musicianship on their performances.
The cover of The Wrecking Crew – Take 2
Six years in a row in the late 1960s and early 1970s, the Grammy for Record of the Year went to Wrecking Crew member recordings.
Producer Denny Tedesco, son of guitarist extraordinaire Tommy Tedesco, has teamed with PledgeMusic to raise the funds to produce a Take 2 triple CD. As he explains: “We’re looking at two CDs filled with hits that didn’t make it on the first Soundtrack, but we’re also stretching out to the 1950s and 1970s to show the range of the Wrecking Crew’s contribution to music. The third CD which we are calling, ‘Crew Cuts,’ will feature original recordings from some of the players themselves.”
Among the dozens of songs expected to be included in Take 2: Gary Puckett & the Union Gap‘s “Young Girl,” Spiral Starecase‘s “More Today Than Yesterday,” Joe Cocker‘s “Feelin’ Alright,” Harry Nilsson‘s “Without You,” Johnny Rivers‘ “Secret Agent Man” and Seals and Crofts‘ “Humming Bird.”
Watch The Wrecking Crew documentary trailer
One of dozens of bundles you can purchase to support the campaign
“To be able to release any album these days, you need to make sure you have the audience and funds ahead of production,” says Tedesco. “This pre-sale gives us a chance to involve you, the fans, as part of our project and journey from the very beginning. It is thanks to you that we can distribute these independent music projects and connect to new audiences.”
Related: Our interview with Denny Tedesco on his making-of the documentary
As with most crowd sourced campaigns, there are a broad range of ways in which fans can support the cause. In this case, Tedesco is offering the new Take 2 collection, the vinyl edition of the first set and the official book on the Wrecking Crew, Sound Explosion for $125. The triple Take 2 CD alone is $30. Tommy Tedesco’s original Mandocello is available for $2500. (A guitar of his has already sold.) There are literally dozens of opportunities to support the campaign. Click here to see them all.
1 Comment so far
Jump into a conversationThe movie, sadly enough, was plagued by delays………and when it finally came out, many people who wanted to see it, had no clue it was finally available. Not enough publicity was done when the film was truly ready for showing.
Perhaps a theatrical re-release at cinemas would be in order, now.