Last month I wrote about The Funk Brothers from Motown, The Swampers from Muscle Shoals, and Booker T. & the MGs. In Part 2, let’s look at MFSB in Philadelphia and The Wrecking Crew from Los Angeles. These session musicians and singers are in many cases who you really heard on the records, but the credit was given to others.

Glen Campbell is the most famous of The Wrecking Crew. His career started as a member of The Champs playing on the hit song "Tequila." Leon Russell was also a member, as well as playing outside L.A. on some of the greatest rock ‘n’ roll songs ever and on stage with the top tier of music acts.

The Wrecking Crew: In the early ’60s, jazz, classical training or versatile musicians moved to southern California where the entertainment business was moving. Almost overnight, these musicians were picking up gigs and being heard by some of L.A.’s most established, gifted and trained musicians. The established musicians/singers started saying these newbies were wrecking their industry. Thus, Hal Blaine, a drummer, coined the name The Wrecking Crew for this new gang of musicians. From the Monkees to Bing Crosby and almost every genre of music in between, you can hear work that was done by The Wrecking Crew. Among the artists using their talents were: Nancy Sinatra, Bobby Vee, The Partridge Family, The Mamas & The Papas, The Carpenters, The 5th Dimension, John Denver, The Beach Boys, Simon & Garfunkel, The Byrds, The Monkees, The Association and Nat "King" Cole.

Phil Spector used them on many of his "Wall of Sound" songs. Brian Wilson had them playing on the critically acclaimed albums "Pet Sounds" and "Smile."

One famous song they played on was The Byrds’ "Mr. Tambourine Man." Columbia Records wasn’t sure of the skills of The Byrds with the exception of Roger McGuinn. He had played in session work in New York City prior to moving to L.A. They played all the music of The Association, as well as The Monkees.

Member Carol Kaye played bass on many of the ’60s top hits, although she is hardly, if ever, recognized and, in fact, might have played on more than 11,000 songs. Among those songs: "Then He Kissed Me" by The Crystals; "Danke Schoen" by Wayne Newton; "The Beat Goes On" (that awesome intro) by Sonny and Cher. Other songs: "Johnny Angel," "La Bamba," "You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling," "Good Vibrations," "California Girls," "Feelin’ Alright," "I’m A Believer," and "Little Green Apples." Check out her website at: www.carolkaye.com.

Hal Blaine is probably the only member of The Wrecking Crew who did get headlining credits in Las Vegas but wasn’t the star. He played the drums for Nancy Sinatra and did "Those Boots Are Made For Walking." The marquee said "Nancy Sinatra with drummer Hal Blaine." He also played drums For Elvis, The Beach Boys, The Carpenters, The Monkees, The Association, Simon & Garfunkel and is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Time and his love life got to him. Today, it is my understanding he drives a cab in Phoenix.

I can’t do justice to this group of musicians/singers without mentioning others including Tommy Tedesco, Al Casey, James Burton, Leon Russell, Dr. John and more. Here’s another website to check out: http:wreckingcrew.tv/

MFSB: Most of us know this group for having the theme for "Soul Train," but they are known for so much more. They were the pre-eminent instrumental outfit of Philly especially in the late ’60s and early to mid-’70s backing many of the tunes done by Kenny Gamble and, his partner, Leon Huff. Several of the musicians had worked together on the hit "The Horse" which was credited to Cliff Noble. The center of the group was guitarists Norman Harris and Bobby Eli, bass player Ronnie Baker and drummer Earl Young.

If you like the O’Jays, Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes, The Stylistics, The Spinners, The Delphonics and more, then you have heard these musicians.

It was in 1973 when TV host Don Cornelius approached Kenny and Leon to write a theme song for his new national program "Soul Train." Along with MFSB and The Three Degrees, the song came out and Kenny pushed Don to release it as a single. The rest is history. "T.S.O.P." ("The Sound of Philadelphia") went to the top on both the pop and R&B charts.

In all, the group backed up some of the best songs of that era and had six albums of their own. However, by the end of disco in 1981 they disbanded. Oh yeah, what does MFSB stand for? It’s simply Mother Father Sister Brother.

Next month: Forrest McDonald might be the luckiest guy you know. It’s all about being at the right place at the right time. Next time you listen to Bob Seger’s "Old Time Rock ‘n’ Roll," about 57 seconds into the song is a solo by Forrest. I’ll talk to Forrest about that event, playing with the Yardbirds, the music scene in L.A. and San Francisco, and playing with the top of the rock in the early ‘70s.