Simply put, you can’t celebrate drums without mentioning one man who played on more #1 hits than any person in music history. If you judge the greatness of an individual by the number of their successes, no one, absolutely no one can match drummer Hal Blaine.
He played on 150 songs that reached the Top Ten – with 40 of them reaching #1. He holds a Grammy Awards record for playing on six consecutive Record of The Year winners.
Hal Blaine was legendary and that’s not a throwaway line. In the world of session musicians, he stood out. Blaine, who lent his signature sounds and structure to scores of Grammy-winning and chart-topping songs — from Frank Sinatra and Simon & Garfunkel to the Byrds and the Beach Boys as part of the famed Wrecking Crew of session men — died in 2019 at the age of 90.
Today we are playing thirteen of those # 1 hit songs and tomorrow we will be playing more of them. He should never be forgotten because he did, in fact, play on the soundtrack of your life, even if you’ve never heard of his name.
“If music in the second half of the 20th century were the Empire State Building,” Art Garfunkel once said, “Hal Blaine would be the ground floor.”
Memories … That’s What We’re All About
Play buttons are on the left … Volume sliders are on the right
Hal Blaine Medley
Nancy Sinatra – Crystals
Jan & Dean – Beach Boys
Gary Lewis & The Playboys
Sonny & Cher – Tommy Roe
Frank Sinatra – Supremes
Lorne Greene – Barry McGuire
Mamas & Papas
Simon & Garfunkel
After playing in bands for years there is a front man but the real leader was the drummer!! And Hal was the best!! The drummer set the pace and controlled the entire song!! And drum solos became huge!! All great tune’s what were the chances you would have Frank in the mix!! That just shows how good Hal was to play with people like that!!
Love ya
Thanks, Fred!
Hal played with Frank, Dean, Elvis, the Byrds, the Monkees, Paul Revere & The Raiders, the Association, John Lennon, Henry Mancini, and so many more! I could play all of the songs he was connected to for a week and barely scratch the surface!
Love Ya!
Another great start to my day thanks to you. Have a great day!
Thanks, Nancy ❤️
I hope the memories put a smile on your face! 🙂
What a great medley and tribute to a very talented session musician, who like many of that ilk, were never really appreciated or recognized for the diversity of their talents.
Thanks for giving us a hint about Hal in the past, but this really brings it home!
What an incredible and diverse group of songs from our musical memories
Thank you, Mary Helen 🥰
There are so many examples of Hal playing “behind the curtain” in the 60s and 70s. I have much more coming tomorrow but I’m so glad you enjoyed Part 1!
Terrific job, Ray…I agree with Fred.
I can’t help wondering how the regular drummers in the bands that these singers/groups felt when they were replaced by Hal. Probably happens with all instrument players from time to time.
Again, Ray, super job on bringing drummers to our attention as well as providing a lot of fond memories!
Thanks, Jim!
Hal and the Wrecking Crew played the music on so many band’s big hits! Hal once said Beach Boys drummer Dennis Wilson didn’t mind him laying down the drum tracks in the studio on a number of Beach Boys recordings. That gave The Beach Boys’ popular drummer more time to surf and drive his car.
More Hal tomorrow!
Wow!!!! Music, memories & more. Proof that you can make a difference in many lives even if recognized by a much smaller circle of friends. Anyone listening today would say that it’s going to be incredibly hard to “beat” Hal Blaine’s drumming contribution to memorable music. 🙂 🙂 Lee & Ted
Thanks, Lee & Ted 🥰🥰
I’m so glad you appreciate Hal’s contributions to “our” music!
Kudos to Hal and to you Ray for putting this together, great music full of memories.
Thanks, Pat 🥰
There will be plenty more of Hal and plenty more memories tomorrow!