Wrecking Crew Movie Call to Action

Here I’m fowarding the latest Wrecking Crew Movie newsletter entirely. These are not my words, but the words of the movie’s creator Denny Tedesco (yes, Tommy Tedesco’s son).

quoting:

Never give up. And never, under any circumstances, face the facts
– Ruth Gordon

Well here are the facts that I will face and conquer, as well as a few questions that need to be addressed.

Why has the film not been released yet?

  • I have to pay off the licensing before we can distribute. Pretty easy to understand when you have 133 music cues the majority of which are huge hit records, but without them there is not a story!
  • Once we pay off the licensing we will hit the road with the film. Small art house theaters, special events-fund raisers, universities, local music stores. (if they want it, we’ll be there)
  • The DVD of the film will have a companion DVD of out-takes.  I continue to shoot more interviews to be included in the 2nd DVD.
  • We hope to have a compilation soundtrack to go with it. (CD and LP— dust off the turntable)

Why haven’t I given up?
That wouldn’t be a great example to my children.  The screenings that we have give me hope and faith by the encouraging words from the audiences at Q&As as well as the emails that follow. If they were walking out, then I’d quit. Neither my father nor his friends ever gave up their dream of playing music for a living so I will keep going to share their story.

Why is this film and other music docs of this era important?
If you were an art student and someone asked, “Who is Michelangelo, Picasso or Leonardo da Vinci?”, they know who they were (hopefully). Well I feel the same way about these musicians and artists in the 20th century. Thousands of years of making music, but we are the only generation in the history of mankind to experience the first recordings. We know exactly what the artist meant the piece to sound like. The only way to teach any subject is to know the fundamentals, and what came before us influences what we produce in the future. This is not just music but everyday life.

I guess Ella says it better.

Just don’t give up trying to do what you really want to do. Where there is love and inspiration, I don’t think you can go wrong – Ella Fitzgerald

One Last Request…
I received an email from a fan of the movie in Europe. He loved the film which is very gratifying, but then he said he bought it on the internet. Oh wow! I hope that’s not true. If it is, I beg you with all of my heart -? please, please don’t buy this film until you receive an official announcement from me that it’s available to purchase. You’ll be the first to know if you’ve signed up on the website.

I have spent 14 years of my life, trying to make this dream come true. I can’t even imagine the kind of person that would do that. That is bad Karma.

(If you want the Wrecking Crew Film with Dean Martin as Matt Helm — that’s different… go for it)

My other request goes to others who have made copies from screeners without my permission. Some of you I know. (this is different then selling it)

I truly thank you so much for the greatest compliment by bootlegging the DVD. And the buzz is the best thing that keeps others wanting to see it which is awesome. But it doesn’t get me across the finish line.

Ask any musician how they would feel if they found out someone didn’t buy their album because they already had a copy. (hit home?)

But please at least send a donation to help me pay for the rights. It’s tax deductible. Send me the matinee price if you watched it during the day. But if you watched it at night with a room full of musicians, please think of it as a cheap night out with friends.

If you’re one of the many tour buses that had the chance to view it and liked it, dedicate a song from your band. (details on website).

Enjoy the out-takes and please tell others to sign up on the site. It’s the most important need next to raising donations.

Thanks.
Denny
www.wreckingcrewfilm.com

Links for 1/21/09

Hollywood To Establish Elmer Valentine Way

Phoenix Surf & Garage Cocktail Party feat. The Mod Zombies, The Rebel Set, & Thee Jaguar Sharks

Arizona Surf & garage Acts @The Ruby Room – Phoenix New Times

Movie Review: The Beach Boys and The Satan

46 Classic TV- and Movie Opening Credits

opening still

Crime

  1. Lady in Cement
  2. The Prisoner
  3. Randall and Hopkirk Deceased
  4. Duffy
  5. Department S
  6. The Saint
  7. The Rockford files
  8. La Polizia ordina: sparate a vista
  9. The Avengers
  10. The Baron
  11. Columbo
  12. Seven Golden Men
  13. Cannon
  14. Deadly Shots on Broadway
  15. The Streets of San Francisco
  16. Superargo

Comedy

  1. Le Gendarme de Saint-Tropez
  2. My Favorite Martian
  3. Pink Panther

Intermission

  1. No matter what shape your stomach is in

Animation

  1. Menace from the Bottom of the World
  2. Stingray
  3. Rod Scribner Opening for UPA shorts
  4. ?????????? ED
  5. Ghost A Go-Go

Exploitation

  1. The Cool Ones
  2. Sor Yeye
  3. The Mariners
  4. American Graffiti

Spy

  1. Assassination
  2. The Man From U.N.C.L.E.
  3. Gerak Kilat
  4. Where the Spies Are
  5. Spy Today Die Tomorrow
  6. Spy in Your Eye
  7. Some Girls Do
  8. From the Orient with Fury
  9. Master Stroke
  10. Mission Bloody Mary

Adventure

  1. Daktari
  2. The High Chaparral
  3. Der Schatz im Silbersee
  4. The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
  5. Robinson Crusoe

Romance

  1. Love is a Many Splendored Thing
  2. Arabesque
  3. The Sandpiper

Day & Hudson Go Pagan!

Here’s a great find, Rock Hudson checking out the linernotes to Dominic Frontiere’s Pagan Festival LP, while resting in Doris Day’s lap on the set of Pillow Talk.

Search for Doris Day and Rock Hudson at www.mptv.net/.

This Sunset Strip Summer

Domenic Priore writes:

O.k., lots of fun stuff to think about, and to do: I’ve set it up so that if you live anywhere near New York, San Francisco or Los Angeles, there will be a ‘Riot on Sunset Strip Film Festival’ near you. Please check out:http://dumbangelmag.blogspot.com/

There’s lots of cool pictures here as well, and a link to watch Lloyd Bridges driving ‘The Silhouette’ for a couple of minutes… along with some groovy Love, and Brian Wilson ‘Smile’ stuff.

In L.A., I’m doing a ‘Beatnik Sunset Strip’ slide show at Skylight Books in Los Feliz, Thursday, June 26 (free), then the following Sunday (June 29), will be hosting two documentaries at The American Cinematheque’s Egyptian Theater… the Love documentary Love Story, and one on jazz vibraphonist/arranger Gary McFarland This is Gary McFarland. Both events start at 7 p.m.

In New York, it will be the ‘Riot on Sunset Strip Film Series,’ over two months of midnight movies at The IFC Center in Greenwich Village, each weekend starting July 25.

In San Francisco, The Red Vic Movie House on Haight Street will feature the ‘Riot on Sunset Strip Weekend’ featuring Riot on Sunset Strip, The Trip, You Are What You Eat and the Love documentary Love Story. This will happen August 28 through 31st.

So, have a look, it’s an easy thing to peruse, and a lot of fun this summer to come from it. …

Wrecking Crew Movie

via Moritz ®

A film by Denny Tedesco
What is the Wrecking Crew?

The Wrecking Crew were a group of Studio Musicians in Los Angeles in the 60s who played on hits for the Beach Boys, Frank Sinatra, Nancy Sinatra, Sonny and Cher, Jan & Dean, The Monkees, Gary Lewis and the Playboys, Mamas and Papas, Tijuana Brass, Ricky Nelson, Johnny Rivers and were Phil Spector’s Wall of Sound. The amount of work that they were involved in was tremendous. …

here’s the trailer

Song List (the links go straight to iTunes):

5th Dimension
Let the Sunshine in/Aquarius
Stone Soul Picnic
Up Up and Away
One Less Bell to Answer

Association
Windy
Never My Love

Beach Boys
California Girls
Don’t Worry Baby
Fun Fun Fun
God Only Knows
Good Vibrations
I Get Around
Sloop John B

Byrds
Mr. Tamborine Man
Turn Turn Turn

Glen Campbell
By The Time I Get to Phoenix
Gentle on My Mind
Wichita Lineman

Captain and Tennille
Love Will Keep Us Together

Carpenters

Close to You
We’ve Only Just Begun

Cher
Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves
Half Breed

Chipmunks
Chipmunks Theme

Nat King Cole
Ramblin Rose

Sam Cooke
Twisting the Night Away
You Send Me

Crystals
And He Kissed Me
Da Doo Ron Ron
He’s A Rebel

Bobby Day
Rockin’ Robin

Defenders
Taco Wagon

Shelley Fabares
Johnny Angel

Richard Harris
MacArthur Park

Jan & Dean
Dead Man’s Curve
Surf City
Little Old Lady From Pasadena
Balboa Blue

Gary Lewis and the Playboys
Everybody Loves a Clown
Sure Gonna Miss Her
This Diamond Ring

Barry McGuire
Eve of Destruction

Mamas & Papas
California Dreaming
Creque Alley
Dedicated to the One I Love
Monday Monday

Henry Mancini
Pink Panther

Marketts
Out of Limits
Surfer Stomp

Dean Martin
Every Body Loves Somebody

Scott McKenzie

Are You Gonig to San Francisco

Monkees
Mary Mary
Valerie

Chris Montez
Let’s Dance

Ricky Nelson
Fools Rush In

Wayne Newton
Danke Schoen

Jack Nitzsche
Lonely Surfer

Harry Nilsson
Everybody’s Talking At Me (Echoes)

Partridge Family
Come on Get Happy

Elvis Presley
A Little Less Conversation
Viva Las Vegas

Paul Revere & the Raiders
Indian Reservation

Righteous Brothers
Unchained Melody
You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling

Rip Chords
Hey Little Cobra

Johnny Rivers
Poor Side of Town

Tommy Roe
Dizzy

Ronettes
Be My Baby
I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus

Routers
Let’s Go

Sandpipers
Guantanamera

Lalo Schifren
Mission Impossible

Simon and Garfunkel
Mrs. Robinson

Frank Sinatra
Strangers in the Night
That’s Life

Nancy Sinatra
These Boots Were Made for Walking
Drummer Man

Sonny and Cher
The Beat Goes On
I Got You Babe

T-Bones
No Matter What Shape Your Stomach Is In

Nino Tempo & April Stevens
Deep Purple

Tijuana Brass
Lonely Bull
Spanish Flea
Taste of Honey
Whipped Cream
Zorba the Greek

Ike and Tina Turner
River Deep Mountain High

Ritchie Valens
Donna

Bobby Vee
The Night Has a Thousand Eyes

Ventures
Hawaii 5-O

Mason Williams
Classical Gas

Roger Williams

Born Free

Beatnik Beach Film Night at the Egyptian Theater

beats

Domenic Priore from Dumb Angel writes:

(It’s all about the ocean, mannnnnnn…… — Dom)

It’s been a while since I contacted everyone about a blog or somethin’ cool, but this time, it’s for real….

Dig, The American Cinematheque at the Egyptian Theater is letting us do our “Beatnik Beach Film Night” this Friday night. We did one last summer at Sponto Gallery in Venice, then in December we brought it to the Roxie Theater in San Francisco. Now, everybody’s been asking us for months to “do this in town” (Venice is a long haul for most of you), so we’re doin’ it up right then, and including a truly great piece of Beat cinema from 1961, “Night Tide” (starring Dennis Hopper and Linda Lawson), plus our slide show of Greater L.A. area Beat coffeehouses and jazz joints of the late ’50s and early ’60s, along with two primordial shorts from the Venice West Cafe back in the day.

If you’ve never been to the Egyptian Theater, it was the immediate predecessor to Grauman’s Chinese Theater on Hollywood Boulevard. When Sid Grauman opened it in 1922, it had the same elaborate Hollywood flair (it’s gone through a nice rennovation in its current incarnation as the American Cinematheque). This is gonna be a fun night, in the right place, with all the right people, yeh… We are working on some special guests; all three filmakers may very well be there for Q&A, at least. The American Cinematheque’s description below says it better than I can (o.k., I helped write some of it). Thanks for plannin’, and makin’ an evening of it this Friday. We’re gonna have a ball… — Domenic Priore

Friday, March 30, 2007: Egyptian Theatre

The Friday, March 30th program is a 7:30 PM screening of NIGHT TIDE, (1961, 84 min.). Director Curtis Harrington’s debut indie feature is a masterpiece, a haunted, poetic hymn to the dark world of the fly-by-night carnival, lonely midways at dawn and the siren call of eon’s-old passion spawned by the devils of the deep blue sea. In a fond nod to Val Lewton and Jacques Tourneur’s CAT PEOPLE, at-loose-ends sailor Johnny Drake (Dennis Hopper) falls in love with sideshow mermaid, Mora (Linda Lawson) who may just somehow be related to the real thing. Shot in and around Santa Monica and Venice Beach in the beat culture’s heyday, the film continues to exert a strong spell, and is brimming with the heady atmosphere of bygone coffee houses, poet hipsters, languid jazz and bongos on the shore. With Luana Anders, Gavin Muir. “…captures an intangible quality of what Santa Monica was like in the early 60s. Quite apart from Los Angeles, it was a quiet residential community. The funfair pier has just the right air of seedy despair about it. Everyone seems to be living ‘just off’ the mainstream.” – Glenn Erickson, DVD Savant Preceded by the shorts: “Venice In The Sixties” (15 min.) directed by Leland Auslender. Originally shot for a television show and never used, this is essentially a full-color look inside the atmosphere of the Venice West coffeehouse, its various sections, activities and people; “The Beat From Within: Reflections of a Beatnik” (10 min.) Produced by Ralph Morin and directed by Tom Koester, this short covers a day in the life of a Venice beatnik in glorious black ‘n’ white.

Plus, following the screening, Authors Domenic Priore and Brian Chidester (Beatsville, Riot on Sunset Strip: Rock ‘n’ Roll’s Last Stand in Hollywood, Dumb Angel #4: All Summer Long) will present a unique one-hour slide show documenting the Beat Generation’s long stretch over the Greater Los Angeles area between 1956 and 1966, via visuals of coffeehouses and jazz joints from the Sunset Strip to Malibu, Venice and Newport Beach. Legendary locations only heard about in books or in liner notes, from the Gas House and nearby Venice West Cafe, to the Unicorn and Shelly’s Manne-Hole in Hollywood, the Lighthouse and Insomniac in Hermosa Beach, then all the way down to Cafe Frankenstein (owned, operated and painted by Burt Shonberg). Arists from John Altoon to Eric “Big Daddy” Nord gave these places a colourful splash, as did the wide variety of Folk singers and poets who performed on their stages.

P.S. Also, a new Dumb Angel blog is at: http://dumbangelmag.blogspot.com/