Everybody knows the iconic walking bass
line in Nancy Sinatra's "These Boots Were Made for Walkin'." But do you
know who wrote the part? Though they played on hundreds of
standards—from the songs on the Beach Boys' Pet Sounds to Ricky
Nelson's "Fools Rush In"—the group of L.A. musicians, dubbed "The
Wrecking Crew" by drummer Hal Blaine, has gone unknown to everyone but
the odd music curmudgeon for over 40 years. The Wrecking Crew, a
lovely little documentary by Denny Tedesco, the son of a prominent Crew
guitar player, sheds light on the story of the mishmash gang of musical
castoffs that made all of Phil Spector and Brian Wilson's weird ideas
come to fruition. The only downside is, the film never attempts to
answer the burning question: If these players were so good, how come
they never tried to form their own band? Hollywood Theatre. 7 pm Sunday, May 8.
- Best paired with: Lagunitas A Little Sumpinâ Sumpinâ Ale.
- Also showing: Road House (Laurelhurst), Spaceballs (Academy).
WWeek 2015