“You’ve got to be the master of your instrument. You’ve got to be dedicated and you’ve got to do a lot of practicing, especially in the beginning. Once you’ve got it, you’ve got it. It will always be with you.”
~Hal Blaine
As I said yesterday when I posted Part 1 of the Hal Blaine tribute medley, I could go on and on (and on) but I had to stop somewhere.
Blaine – who died on March 11, 2019 at the age of 90 – played on so many hit recordings (150 songs reached the Top Ten with 40 of them reaching #1) that posting them all could easily be a full-time gig, but I settled for a few of the artists he played with.
The last song was the final recording ever made by Glen Campbell. Joining him in the studio in January 2013 were his former Wrecking Crew bandmates; 75-year old pianist Don Randi, 75-year old bass guitarist Joe Osborn, and an 83-year old drummer named Hal Blaine.
Play button is on the left … Volume slider is on the right
Hal Blaine Medley, Part 2
Sam Cooke – Crystals – Bobby Darin
Beach Boys – Paul Revere & The Raiders – Petula Clark
5th Dimension – Vogues – T-Bones
The First Edition – John Lennon – Captain & Tennille
Frank Sinatra – Johnny Rivers – Albert Hammond
Neil Diamond – Simon & Garfunkel – Glen Campbell
Damn Ray (pardon my curse) I was warned how you were going to end this tribute to Hal Blaine’s fantastic drumming & I still cried even tho I had heard it before. I was pleased to hear the First Edition included. (Saw them at the Rutland Fair in 1970) Played that song a lot in 1976 but now my mind will connect it with Glen Campbell’s last song. Was that on purpose? Incredible drumming yesterday & today; Ted started playing bass guitar a month before we were married. He has always said bass works with the drums. Thanks for giving people like Hal Blaine & the Wreaking Crew the recognition they deserve & I will remember that Sunday is for smiling 🙂 Again, thank you for the music; have a good day.
Thank you so much, Lee ❤️
The Campbell song was last because not only was it Glen’s final recording, it was also Hal’s.
Ted is right. To the casual listener, the importance of the bass guitar player and the drummer can often go unnoticed. In reality, these two elements are a crucial aspect to any band, acting as the “backbone”. A strong relationship between the drummer and bass player is the foundation of a great rhythm section.
Remember to smile (a lot) today! 🙂
Simply fantastic! Thank you for helping us remember Hal and the Wrecking Crew! Though I know, and love, these songs, I don’t know if I would be aware of their contributions without hearing it from you. Thanks for another great listen! The Glen Campbell song was a perfect finale. It’s always quite clear how much thought and effort go into your medleys. Enjoy your day and stay warm! 🙂 XOXOXOXO 🙂
Thank you, Wendyl ❤️
Hal could play so many styles of music. You wouldn’t be alone in not knowing about his (and the rest of the Wrecking Crew) contributions to hundreds of hit songs. A lot of people still aren’t aware of that fact and I thought Mr. Blaine deserved the attention.
Stay Warm!
❤️XOXOXOXO❤️
Ray what a way to start my day!! I’m going to need a Wrecking Crew to get me off this!! A fathers love will never fade away hard to tell that with you and Wendy!! I feel like I’m in the 5th Dimension!! After all the years of playing in bands I had great drummers and the drummer was the backbone of the group!! Ray I can close my eyes and hear Mr.Blaine leading these great musicians!! Can you imagine being in the recording room with this talent!! He also won The Lifetime Achievement Award!! Brian Wison said he was the greatest drummer ever!! Ray what a fantastic tribute!! “May he rest forever on 2 and 4”
Thanks, Fred.
Yeah, I guess you could say the Darin song fits Wendy and me pretty damn well. 🥰
I’d have to agree with Brian Wilson on Hal’s talent.
I’ll leave you with one more Hal quote: “You gotta understand also that teenage kids just don’t have the experience and the studio technique. I mean, in those days it wasn’t electronic like it is today, where you can hit a drum and, you know, the engineer does it all. In those days, everything was live and you had to have decent sounds, and through the years you get to weed out what’s bad and what’s good.“
Ditto from yesterday
Enjoyed with a smile
If you enjoyed, Mary Helen, that works perfectly for me. 🥰
Another great medley (understatement). Is amazing how much impact studio musicians have on the music / albums and many people don’t realize it. I think it was something from the one yesterday where he had joked about covering a beach boys album while the drummer went to the beach and the difference on who got paid what. I think (not sure) that studio musicians get paid better now than they did then, at least I hope so!! Finishing with that Glen Campbell song was powerful and can relate to many diseases, not just what he suffered through.
Thanks for all you do and put into these medley’s, it obviously shows your passion and love for music!!
Stay warm and dry my friend!!!
Thank you, Penny, for your beautifully worded comment. 🥰
Studio musicians get paid very well today. The guys in the Wrecking Crew also did well, and it came at a time when they were doing 3-4 different sessions a day!
Stay Warm and Safe, young lady!
Ray this was so heartfelt! If it is possible at an older age in life to develop even more appreciation, for the live music that melted with a vocal and made a song, I feel like I have progressed. It is amazing to me, and singling out all of the different instruments that are played together, and every single chiming in so to speak, happens at exactly the right time, Music was really music!! I have such a high respect for Hal Blaine as he made sure that drums were key and in every single song. I couldn’t be happier than to have the privilege of listening to this latest medley. In my book it is absolutely tops. I will definitely listen to it again. And of course at the end like everyone else who has listened to this medley, who couldn’t appreciate and feel sad about the last song that Glenn Campbell ever recorded, and also the last for Hal Blaine. At 83 years old, what a magnificent accomplishment! I could go on and on but I have to listen to the next medley, and I am going to come back to this one. Thank you so much Ray you are the best!!
Sandy, that is the most heartfelt comment I have ever seen. ❤️
It should be no secret that I was a huge fan of Hal and if I hadn’t wanted to drive everyone crazy, I could have easily (and happily) done a Part 3 and a Part 4! There are still so many songs he contributed to that weren’t played.
Thank you again for “getting it”. ❤️
I would love a part three and part four, so if things get slow and you don’t have anything lined up in the future, spin them up!
I’ll keep that in mind, Sandy 🙂
Amazing! Ray..as always your knowledge and love of music never ceases to impress me! Bless you “Master “
Thank you, Bob. That means a lot to me. At my age, music is the one thing I can do without hurting myself. 🙂
Hope you’re well, my friend.