Talk:List of song recordings featuring Hal Blaine

Surfin USA

Hal Blaine absolutely did not play on the famous version of "Surfin USA", that was Frank DeVito. It's possible that he played on another version of the song, maybe Bruce and Terry's. But the way the list is written now makes it look like he played on the Beach Boys version of it. I have my doubts about other songs listed here too, but I'm away from my books, and do not know off the top of my head. Santa Claus of the Future (talk) 21:31, 20 February 2010 (UTC)

Thanks for the info. Let's move Surfin USA off the list for now. Don't be shy about this stuff, we want it right. Carptrash (talk) 21:58, 20 February 2010 (UTC)

I'm finally at my books and Blaine is listed as the drummer on Surfin' USA in both and so I guess I will wait to hear from you before making any changes. Einar aka Carptrash (talk) 00:57, 21 February 2010 (UTC)

I'll get back to you soon... I'm sure that Hal had played on a recording of Surfin' USA back then, but I'm also sure it wasn't the one by The Beach Boys. There are very few outside musicians on The Beach Boys' first two albums... I'll be able to check later this week, maybe tomorrow. Santa Claus of the Future (talk) 06:34, 21 February 2010 (UTC)

Here is what I am looking at:

Q: (asked by Max Weinberg

After the Beach Boys cut their first national hit single Surfin Safari, they hired you and other studio players for their records. Why was it important to them to have you play drums and Steve Douglas , for instance, to play sax?

I'm not saying this sort of thing can't be trumped, but you have to hold the cards to do it. Carptrash (talk) 16:06, 21 February 2010 (UTC)

Since the only source listed in the article is a book by Blaine (and the other source listed above is an interview with Blaine), it may be more accurate to call this a list of recordings of songs that Hal Blaine thinks he played on. (Or maybe a list of songs that Wikipedia contributors think Hal Blaine played on.) When you've played as many sessions as Blaine has, you're not likely to have a clear memory of these things. Bernard Purdie mistakenly thinks that he's on Beatles records released by Capitol, Big Jim Sullivan mistkanly thinks he's on "Space Oddity", and so on and so forth. These are the sorts of things that explain why Wikipedia guidelines indicate that articles should mainly use secondary sources.

I'm pretty sure that Blaine isn't on anything too much (if at all) before the Surfer Girl LP, which means he isn't on the original Beach Boys hit version of "Surfin' USA". My source in this case is David Leaf's liner notes for the twofer reissue of Surfer Girl/Shutdown Vol. 2. He writes that "Our Car Club" is "one of the earliest Beach Boys appearances of world-famous “Drummer Man” Hal Blaine." If correct, that would basically rule out Blaine as the drummer on "Surfin' USA". SlubGlub (talk) 05:25, 14 August 2010 (UTC)

Ah, crud, I got the chronology messed up in my head. "Surfin' USA" is possible. It's "Surfin' Safari" that would be ruled out. SlubGlub (talk) 05:34, 14 August 2010 (UTC)

Additional confounding factors: Blaine's book says he's on "Fun, Fun, Fun" but Brian Wilson (in the liner notes for Surfer Girl, see http://www.albumlinernotes.com/Surfer_Girl_Shut_Down__V2.html) says that it's Dennis Wilson. Who to believe? (Is this even a list that's appropriate for Wikipedia? Not saying yes or no, just asking.) SlubGlub (talk) 05:42, 14 August 2010 (UTC)

"Fun, Fun, Fun" mystery solved, perhaps? Secondary source http://books.google.com/books?id=BeUDXaFrpTUC&lpg=PA90&ots=GeJb1_mfht&dq=%22Fun%2C%20Fun%2C%20Fun%22%20%22Dennis%20Wilson%22%20%22Hal%20Blaine%22&pg=PA49#v=onepage&q=%22Fun,%20Fun,%20Fun%22&f=false indicates that the Beach Boys played a slower version of it, and that the studio musicians present may have then moved in for the familiar version that became a hit. At least that's how I'm reading it... SlubGlub (talk) 05:46, 14 August 2010 (UTC)

*sigh* Or not. The source also lists two saxophones that are not on "Fun, Fun, Fun" so who's to say that the session musicians weren't there for other stuff recorded that day and not for "Fun, Fun, Fun"? Or that their version wasn't used? Or whatever. Time for me to give up, maybe. SlubGlub (talk) 05:53, 14 August 2010 (UTC)

Hal Blaine definitely plays on "Fun, Fun, Fun"; there's a copy of the AFM contract for the session date on page 48 of Keith Badman's book The Beach Boys. That book also has the AFM contract for Surfer Girl, on page 38, and Hal Blaine is not listed, so I'll remove that song from this list. Santa Claus of the Future (talk) 14:54, 14 August 2010 (UTC)

I've removed the listign for "Surfin' USA", as not only does the AFM contract for the session not list Hal, but also David Marks doesn't recall him playing drums (but he does recall Frank DiVito !). — Preceding unsigned comment added by Andrew G. Doe (talk • contribs) 10:20, 3 December 2011 (UTC)

Also removed "In My Room", as one of the band present for the recording - David Marks - tells me that Hal wasn't in the studio. Andrew G. Doe (talk) 09:38, 1 March 2012 (UTC)

Please be aware that AFM sheets aren't always correct, because contrary to what it says, things could change during takes and the session documentation wouldn't be revised or updated. Another thing to consider the claims that certain songs recorded by Simon & Garfunkel in New York City - either the CBS 30th Street Studio, the CBS Studio Building in 52nd Street or the 799 7th Avenue (later sold to Phil Ramone and renamed A&R Recording) - are said to have Hal on drums, but that is impossible, since a) Hal and The Wrecking Crew were based in Los Angeles and b) the duo would've likely used New York City studio musicians. 203.221.128.210 (talk) 09:47, 3 February 2018 (UTC)

References

Our Car Club

I removed "Our Car Club". I had originally added on the grounds that David Leaf's liner notes for the twofer reissue of Surfer Girl / Shut Down Vol. 2 says it's Blaine.

The Doe/Tobler book Brian Wilson And The Beach Boys sort of backs up Leaf by saying that it is "safe to assume" that it's Blaine. But that strangely would seem to leave more room for doubt than Leaf, who said matter-of-fact it was Blaine.

Further research has revealed that Hal did play on "Our Car Club", but that session was for a possible Honeys song, and was titled "Rabbit's Foot": Brian just reused the track !Andrew G. Doe (talk) 10:23, 3 December 2011 (UTC)

Enter the Keith Badman book The Beach Boys which describes the July 16 1963 session where "Our Car Club", writing: "The group...record vocals and instrumentation for 'Our Car Club'...." Badman makes no mention of studio musicians at this session and seems to be saying that the group is on the track. (I also am not convinced by Leaf et al.'s comment that the drumming on "Our Car Club" is too complex for Dennis Wilson to have played it, but that's WP:OR on my part.)

SlubGlub (talk) 18:04, 24 August 2010 (UTC)

Alphabetizing

I notice that "A little less conversation" is under "A" but "A taste of honey" is under "T", I favor dropping the "A" in the alphabetizing process, but thought I'd seek other opinions before slashing & burning my way through the list. Carptrash (talk) 16:56, 5 September 2012 (UTC)

Katie Lied

Katie Lied is not a song, but an album title. The song on the album on which Hal Blaine played drums is called "Any world (that I'm welcome to)" as the article about the album states correctly. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 95.89.21.159 (talk) 13:56, 9 November 2012 (UTC)

Dick Dale

Dick Dale songs recorded with Hal Blaine (refer to playlist) , and another noteworthy Hal Blaine radio tribute show Dogears (talk) 13:27, 21 March 2019 (UTC)

References

add Little Honda by so-called Hondells (studio pick-up group) and Secret Agent Man by Johnny Rivers ?

IDK if these Internet sources are trustworthy though https://vancouversignaturesounds.com/hits/little-honda-beach-boys/ https://www.popmatters.com/127668-the-hondells-go-little-honda-the-hondells-2496172201.html https://wror.com/2019/03/12/hal-blaine-classic-songs/ — Preceding unsigned comment added by 205.154.192.197 (talk) 00:44, 7 June 2022 (UTC)

These Boots are Made for Walking

Hal Blaine did not play drums on These Boots are Made for Walking and in fact was not even present at the recording session.

This has been confirmed by Nancy Sinatra in the CD booklet for the 2021 re-release of her album Boots.

Though Facebook citations are frowned upon, this was also confirmed by both Nancy Sinatra and fellow Wrecking Crew member Don Randi in a video on her Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=376827827462870&ref=sharing

Further, in a discussion on the Hal Blaine Facebook page, Scott Frost, the son of the actual drummer, Donald "Richie" Frost (drummer for Ricky Nelson), confirmed both that his father played on the track but that his father continues to receive Union royalties for doing so:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/drummerhalblaine/posts/10159804996102888/?comment_id=10159806743167888&reply_comment_id=10159808933057888

Don Randi also confirms it was not Blaine in his 2015 book, You've Heard These Hands: From the Wall of Sound to the Wrecking Crew and Other Incredible Stories.

Though several sites state Hal played on Boots, and Hal himself claimed to have done so, I trust those actually present at the recording session and the fact that Donald Frost continues to receive Union royalties. — Preceding unsigned comment added by COBill (talk • contribs) 05:24, June 13, 2022 (UTC)

References