And Now The Musical Stylings Of "The Wrecking Crew!"

The Wrecking Crew! (2008)

Rated PG

Starring Tommy Tedesco, Brian Wilson, Glen Campbell, Carol Kaye, Dick Clark, Herb Alpert, Hal Blaine

Directed by Denny Tedesco

The Story:

In the late 50s, Rock and Roll music was born. While we are familiar with the names of the singers and bands that gave us this amazing music from that moment all the way through the 60s, many of them had a deep, dark secret: They all employed The Wrecking Crew as their session musicians to make their music sound so good.  You know the songs by heart, and now it's time to learn the story of those musicians who put their soul into the recordings with rarely any credit given to them outside of the industry.

Until now.

Denny Tedesco started a documentary about his dad, guitar master Tommy Tedesco.

Yet the more he filmed, the bigger the story got.

So he expanded it, and archive footage and interviews with industry legends and members of the Wrecking Crew are spliced together in near chronological order to give not only a behind the scenes peek at the recording industry, but a history of rock from its birth to the end of the 60s and beginnings of the 70s.

Basically, if you think The Monkees were the only band to not really play their instruments on records, you're about to have a wake up call as to who was really responsible for the music.

In some cases, the Wrecking Crew even played the music better than the artists themselves.

It's informative.

It's eye-opening.

It's worth your time.

The movie is currently streaming on Netflix as of this writing.

Final Grade: A

The Drive Behind The Success Of The Beach Boys..."Love And Mercy"

Love and Mercy (2014)

Rated PG-13

Starring John Cusack, Paul Dano, Elizabeth Banks, Paul Giamatti, Jack Abel

Directed by Bill Pohland

The Story:

Brian Wilson (Dano) struggles with the voices in his head that drive him to make music. The problem, his latest idea, "Pet Sounds" is something unlike the Beach Boys have ever done before.

Brian Wilson (Cusack) meets Melinda Ledbetter (Banks) at a car dealership and he is smitten. He begins taking her out, but their relationship continues to be stifled by the domineering presence of Dr. Eugene Landy (Giamatti).

The two stories will weave in and out of one another, almost seamlessly as the audience is taken to the 60s and 80s watching Wilson's life fall apart, and ultimately, come together.

While I'm not a huge fan of the Beach Boys, there is no denying they churned out their fair share of hits throughout their illustrious career, and many snippets will fill the soundtrack of this film.  It's interesting to see how Wilson constructed Pet Sounds and as with all things ahead of its time, the respect it receives now is nowhere near the reception it received upon arrival.

While the 60s show Wilson's descent, thanks in no part to his own father, it is the 80s that shows us a Wilson that has hit rock bottom and it is only through the kindess and love that Melinda develops for Brian that she ultimately is able to save him.

Giamatti is only missing the moustache to twirl as he relishes his role as villain in this piece.  Dano and Cusack both bring their best to showcase Brian's vulnerability and drive to the screen.

And yes, I will have to grudgingly up my respect for the Beach Boys after seeing this.

Final Grade: B