The Byrds, James McGuinn (he legally changed his name to Roger McGuinn in 1968), David Crosby, Gene Clark, Chris Hillman, and Mike Clarke, were formed in Los Angeles.
Their first hit single was written by Bob Dylan. When they recorded Mr. Tambourine Man, Roger McGuinn was the only member of the group considered good enough to play on the recording date, so session players were called in to lay down the tracks. Those session players eventually became known as The Wrecking Crew.
In celebration of seeing the documentary movie, The Wrecking Crew, at the Vancouver International Film Festival, almost every song on this week's show is performed by The Wrecking Crew, either as backup musicians for other recording artists such as Nancy Sinatra, Fifth Dimension, The Monkees, The Beach Boys, Sonny and Cher, and so many more; or songs they recorded on their own as a group of featured players, but given different names for each release, such as The Marketts, The T-Bones, etc., but not The Wrecking Crew.
Here is a rare clip of The Byrds performing, err that is, lip synching Mr. Tambourine Man, our Song of the Week.
For more, visit The Wrecking Crew movie website.
Enjoy!
Michael
