The Writer's Life 3/8 - Wrecking Crew

For some reason even a Cablevision techie couldn't figure out, my internet connection was down last night. Although I suspect the bugs I picked up during a recent download had something to do with it, he didn't think so. Whatever. In case it happens again this evening, here's yesterday's blog:

Ever heard of a band called The Wrecking Crew? I hadn't until this morning when I read a great article by Larry Getlen in the NY Post. Here are highlights from the piece, edited by yours truly:
"Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Hal Blaine has played on more hits than any drummer in rock history, including 40 No. 1 songs and 150 more that cracked the Top 10. The Wrecking Crew, a documentary, is opening Friday. It was a loosely defined group of musicians, anywhere from 15 to 30, who dominated rock ’n’ roll in the late ’50s, ’60s and early ’70s. They played on most of the Beach Boys’ discography in that era as well as six consecutive Record of the Year Grammy winners, from 1966 to 1971. Their hits include California Dreamin’, Mrs. Robinson, I Got You Babe, You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’, Viva Las Vegas, Surf City, Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In, Mr. Tambourine Man and many, many more. For the most part, the musicians’ names remain unknown to anyone outside the business. It wasn’t uncommon for the group to record over 20 sessions in one week. In the film, the Byrds’ Roger McGuinn recalls how, as a former studio musician himself, his band’s producer allowed him to play on the recording of Mr. Tambourine Man,  but the rest of the Byrds, including David Crosby, were not. The band members were livid, though maybe less so when the song went to No. 1. 'The Wrecking Crew and I knocked out two tracks in one three-hour session,' McGuinn said. 'When the rest of the band got to play, it took us 77 takes to get the…track for Turn! Turn! Turn!' The Wrecking Crew’s dominance shrunk gradually from the mid-’70s to the mid-’80s, as new, electronic forms of recording made their particular talents less in demand. Some of the members have struggled since. Some have passed on; others are still making hits. Former Wrecking Crew member Glen Campbell’s I’m Not Gonna Miss You won a Grammy last month for Best Country Song."
A lot of successful artists did not play on their own records! Who knew?

NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio  has been habitually late to the appearances his office demands. He was so again yesterday, sliding into the St. Patrick's Day Parade in the Rockaways a half-hour and 14 blocks behind schedule. He was greeted with cries of "One-term Mayor!" He is blowing what should be a slam dunk re-election. The city's tax coffers are bursting at the seams, powered by tourism and the purchase of heavily taxed real estate by foreigners. The Wall Street money that used to keep the Big Apple afloat is not missed at present. Unfortunately, murders are up 20%, subway delays 45%, and welfare rolls 4%. The Post has a picture of him on the front page in green garb, holding an alarm clock. The caption reads: "Mayor Putz."

My thanks to the king folks who bought books yesterday on Bay Parkway.

Vic's 5th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/okxkwh5Vic's 4th novel: tinyurl.com/bszwlxh

Vic's 3rd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3

Vic's Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx
Vic's Short Story Collection: http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tiny.cc/0iHLb Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/kx3d3uf
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tinyurl.com/pdxwsnt

Vic's Rom-Com Screenplay: http://tinyurl.com/kny5llp

Vic's Horror Screenplay: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3f

Vic's Blog: http://vicfortezza.blogspot.com/

Vic's Web Site: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/