The Wrecking Crew (45 page)

Chuck Berghofer, pictured here in the early Seventies on an electric bass, was better known as one of the Wrecking Crew's main string bass players. Berghofer played the famous, signature descending bass run on “These Boots Are Made for Walkin'” by Nancy Sinatra.
Courtesy of Chuck Berghofer

Everybody loves Dino! The Reprise recording session at United Recorders for the song “Houston” in 1965, with, from left to right, Glen Campbell, the producer, Jimmy Bowen, Dean Martin, and the arranger, Billy Strange. Hal Blaine's famous blue sparkle Ludwig drum kit is just visible in the bottom right corner.
Courtesy of Billy Strange

Engineer Bones Howe sitting in on the drums during the recording of “Where Were You When I Needed You” by the Grass Roots, 1966.
Courtesy of Bones Howe

A recording date for the groundbreaking
Pet Sounds
album, with, from left to right, Brian Wilson, Lyle Ritz, and the drummer/percussionist, Jim Gordon, early 1966.
Courtesy of Lyle Ritz

Creed Bratton (aka Chuck Ertmoed) of the Grass Roots singing in the studio, 1967.
Courtesy of Creed Bratton

The Versatiles, better known as the 5th Dimension, with their beloved producer, Bones Howe (glasses), and multi-Grammy-winning songwriter Jimmy Webb (far right) in Western 3 during the sessions for
The Magic Garden
album, 1967.
Courtesy of Bones Howe

Hal Blaine, going tie-dyed this time around, tells one of his trademark jokes to start a session in Western 3, circa 1968.
Courtesy of Bones Howe

Joe Osborn holding the 1960 Fender Jazz bass that he played on countless rock-and-roll masterpieces such as “MacArthur Park,” “Aquarius,” and “Bridge Over Troubled Water.” Osborn never changed the strings once during his entire tenure as part of the Wrecking Crew.
Courtesy of Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

Mason Williams (right), composer of the Grammy-winning “Classical Gas,” confers with Tiny Tim (left) and Tommy Smothers backstage, 1969.
Courtesy of Mason Williams

Grammy time: from left to right, Rod McKuen, Mason Williams, José Feliciano, and Glen Campbell cradling their trophies at the big 1969 awards ceremony.
Courtesy of Mason Williams

A couple of pages from Hal Blaine's session diary, showing his work for Simon & Garfunkel on their legendary
Bridge Over Troubled Water
album in August 1969. The entries are notated as “S&G.”
Courtesy of Hal Blaine