In announcing that she did not want to accept her induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, legendary studio session bassist Carol Kaye took a few shots, including bringing up her longstanding beefs with drummer Hal Blaine and the director of the “Wrecking Crew” documentary, Danny Tedesco. Now, saying he could hold his tongue no longer, Tedesco has spoken up at length to address Kaye’s grievances.
“As many of you know, I’ve never personally responded to any of Carol Kaye’s comments over the last 17 years about her issue with my documentary film ‘The Wrecking Crew’,” Tedesco writes at the beginning of the message. “It may be time to explain to the folks who don’t know the background of Carol’s anger.” The documentary director tagged Variety and other news media accounts on the message.
Although he is not involved himself with anything currently going on, Tedesco nonetheless got name-checked in Kaye’s public complaint about her impending induction in October (which will go on with or without her). “I am declining the RRHOF awards show (and Denny Tedesco process),” Kaye, 90, wrote on Facebook last week — leading some (Tedesco included) to wonder why she brought him up.
As he goes on, Tedesco attempts to explain what — or who — Kaye has a problem with. These are issues that may baffle anyone reading for the first time about her beefs, but which are well familiar to aficionados of the pop that the so-called “Wrecking Crew” will be well familiar with. It mostly goes back to her disdain for one of the musicians she frequently played alongside on thsoe classic ’60s sessions, the late Blaine.
“Some might not know that Carol had fallen out with Hal Blaine in the early years of the film’s production,” Tedesco writes. “I used to joke that it was like having divorced parents that you cared for but made sure to never mention them to each other. In 2008, when the film played the festival circuit, it all came to a head with Hal and Carol closing the door on each other once and for all.”
But, the filmmaker is careful to state, “There is one thing that should never be questioned: Carol Kaye is one of the greatest bass players of all time. She is a brilliant musician. She is the star of the ‘Wrecking Crew’ documentary” — although that was to her chagrin, since she was unhappy with the film, even though it elevated her public profile as well as those of her peers in a huge way.
Tedesco had a big in when it came to making a film about the loose collective of musicians who worked on thousands of pop and rock records in the 1960s and ’70s: His father, who died in 1997, was a guitarist among that so-called crew. “I started the film in 1996 when my father, Tommy Tedesco, was diagnosed with cancer,” Danny writes. “II planned to film a roundtable discussion and asked him who should be at the table with him. My father said, ‘Hal Blaine, Carol Kaye and Plas Johnson’ without hesitation.”
He continues “At the time, this was just a seed of an idea that I wanted to explore my father and his friends’ careers in the studios in the early to mid-’69s. We didn’t know what we would call it, but the obvious name kept coming up in interviews: ‘The Wrecking Crew.’ Hal had coined the term when he wrote his book in 1990, ‘The Wrecking Crew.’ It was based on their early days of being accepted into the Hollywood Studio scene.”
Along with whatever other issues Kaye had with Blaine — and apparently there were many — a big one is that nickname, which has always stuck in her craw. It’s not clear whether she would have hated the name as much if her nemesis had not come up with it, but regardless, she objects to anyone saying the phrase, even in the flattering light with which it is always used.
“I was never a ‘wrecker’ at all,” Kaye wrote in her recent post. “That’s a terrible insulting name.” An additional problem she has with it is that the name is not contemporaneous to when the assemblage of musicians was working together, although no one has really claimed it was anything other than an afterthought that emerged later.
Tedesco explains the origin of what bothers her: “When my father, Hal, Carol, Plas, Don Randi, Joe Osborn, Leon Russell, Glen Campbell and the other musicians of the time tried to break into the studio scene, they would take any recording dates that the older and more established musicians would never take. They took what they could get. Many of the early dates were non-union and rock & roll. If you were an older player and a movie call came up, you wouldn’t blow a week of work on that film for a $20 song demo. So, rumor has it, Hal heard one of the older guys say to another older musician, ‘These guys are going to wreck the business playing this rock & roll shit.’ And that is the genesis of the term.”
He continues, “Carol’s biggest complaint about my film was this name and the term in general. By the way, I agree with her 100%. I don’t think the name was ever used in the studios during the 1960s when they were recording, and I addressed this at the beginning of the film… If you’ve seen the film, you might remember that I set the story up by asking various players, artists and engineers of the time, ‘Do you remember the name and who was part of this group playing the pop songs of the day?’ Many did not remember it, nor could they come up with exactly who was part of it. I concluded it didn’t really matter; it was about a special place and time when some of the greatest pop hits were created. And is a great title for a movie!”
So, Tedesco points out, “In my voice-over, I specifically say (so) and set up the story and round table with this line: ‘On the first day of shooting, I brought four of L.A.’s greatest session players together.’ I didn’t say four Wrecking Crew members. Why? Because I didn’t want to upset Carol. Is it a negative term? I don’t think so unless you take it seriously and don’t understand the irony.
“Session musicians in the early days didn’t get credit on records that were due to them. They were highly respected by their peers; nothing is better. But sometimes, they were so popular that they picked up a moniker. Each generation has its ‘Wrecking Crew’: Like ‘the Funk Brothers,’ ‘the Section,’ ‘the Swampers,’ ‘the ‘A’ Team,’ ‘the Rat Pack’ and ‘the Brat Pack.’ On purpose or by accident, either way, it can be a great hook, like a hook in a great song or a great bass line.”
Returning to present concerns, Tedesco writes, “Recently, Carol was chosen to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Whatever your opinion is about some music museums, I believe it’s an honor to be recognized. Carol was a trailblazer. As Brian Wilson says in the movie, ‘She was ahead of her time.’ Many of these musicians would never have been known without music documentaries like mine and museums. But a few days ago, this was the headline around the world (yep, everywhere)…” He goes on to quote from Variety’s headline and story, including the part where Kaye called him out personally.
“I guess all publicity is good, even if it’s a slight about me personally. I’m actually honored! But I’m confused because I’m not sure what the ‘Denny Tedesco Process’ is? I have absolutely nothing to do with the RRHOF. I’m a filmmaker. I can’t even play an instrument!”
After talking about the “19 painful years” he spent working on the film before its release in 2015, he says that the film “brought fame and knowledge about the musicians who played on some of the most incredible pop music of all time. Those songs continue to be heard today. The only difference now is that listeners might know who played guitar, bass, drums or piano on the track. … I’m not even angry; I’m sad. I wish we could enjoy what we have at this point in our lives and not get crazy over a nickname that is taken out of context. I want to think the recognition Carol and the guys received over their later years was due to our documentary…” One could only hope.”
More backstory: “As I mentioned at the top of this crazy response letter, I kept Hal and Carol separated as long as possible until their relationship blew up at a screening at the AFM Union Hall. But prior to that, Carol sent me two emails in support of the film. Carol, on April 25, 2008, wrote to me, ‘Denny, don’t worry, I won’t complain about the title anymore, it seems to be a catch-word, so I’ll just live with it, you were right. xx Get rest, Carol.”
He further brings up a long, complimentary quote he says Kaye gave him to use for publicity for the film in 2008, which begins: “Denny has worked hard to put together a very world-class documentary to tell the truth about how our group of experienced fine musicians helped create and perform on everyone’s favorite recordings of the 1960s-70s… I highly recommend this to everyone to see. It’s terrific, hard-hitting with the right punches, and filmed as only experienced, fine film-makers can do…besides I’ve known Denny since he was a young lad visiting our recording studios; he’s one of ‘our kids’… I know your revealing film will be enjoyed and appreciated by the public for years to come.”
Says Tedesco, “As I said earlier, I believe Carol isn’t wrong about the term being used, but maybe just confused about its meaning. Ultimately, I hope she will be able to enjoy the love and respect the music community has for her in the future. I know she’ll never be forgotten. I’m just hoping Carol can move on from it; it’s a tired narrative.”
And he finds some bemusement in the oblique way Kaye found to take a passing jab. “Regarding the Denny Tedesco Process?” the director writes. “When my family and friends question me about something, I can always say, ‘It’s my process.’”
Now that Tedesco has finally spoken up, the next volley is in Kaye’s court.
But the bassist did post a follow-up to her original message on Saturday, without further naming names or fanning specific flames. “A WORD of THANK-YOU to all the 100s of emails I’ve been getting,” she wrote. “Thank you again for your wonderful support and ‘congratulatory’ messages… just because I said ‘NO’ to something I am not a part of, and you UNDERSTOOD and knew the cause of my decision… including my Family who are so proud. I thank my GOOD FRIENDS, also. Family and Friends and good People all are precious. Love to You All!”
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