Some of the most popular songs — Carole King’s “It’s Too Late,” Warren Zevon’s “Werewolves of London,” Jackson Browne’s “Running on Empty,” Stevie Nicks’ “Edge of Seventeen,” Jimmy Buffett’s “Volcano,” Don Henley’s “All She Wants to Do Is Dance” and so many more — were written, produced, or performed by session musicians Danny “Kootch” Kortchmar (guitar), Leland “Lee” Sklar (bass), Waddy Wachtel (guitar) and Russ Kunkel (drums).
“These studio musicians go in and want to give more than what is written on paper.”
The fantastic new documentary, “Immediate Family,” directed by Denny Tedesco (“The Wrecking Crew”) has these four friends sitting around and reflecting on their lives, careers and the music they made together. Tedesco nimbly assembles a who’s who of rock including King, Browne, Nicks and Henley, as well as James Taylor, Linda Ronstadt, Keith Richards, Phil Collins, Neil Young, Lyle Lovett and many others to provide comments and anecdotes on these session musicians. (Waddy’s recollections about visiting a strip club in Wheeling, WV, with Linda Ronstadt is especially amusing.)
Tedesco also includes fantastic clips of performances that showcase the music and the musicians on stage. “Immediate Family” traces the changes in music from the 1950s, when it was about the “face” of the singer, to the 1960s, when it was about the songwriting (cue Brill Building mention), through the 1970s singer-songwriter era, and the 1980s when synthesizers and technology along with MTV changed music.
Salon chatted with Tedesco about his documentary and the music and musicians of “Immediate Family.”
How did you learn about these sessions musician and why did you take the approach of having them sit around a table reminiscing to tell their stories?
It comes from the first film, “Wrecking Crew.” My dad was a session player. I never went to work with him or saw him play an instrument at home until the mid-’70s. What I did see my father do is play cards or eat. And musicians banter. When I saw “Broadway Danny Rose,” one of my favorite movies, it reminded me of musicians and how they would talk about other players. I wanted that feeling of being around a kitchen table kibbitzing. Musicians have a rhythm. Even when they are talking, they listen to each other.
Can you talk about selecting the tracks you featured in the film?
Everybody has their Top 5 all-time. Danny Kortchmar [on Carole King’s] “It’s Too Late” — his career skyrocketed because of the time and the place of that song. Everyone has different ones, and I asked them what would be representative of your career.
The musicians describe themselves as character actors in that they come in, deliver what is needed, offer suggestions but know their place as supporting the talent. What observations do you have about their work? The band is as much the author of the song as the performer.
Classical pieces are written,
