Fred Vail on the passing of Wrecking Crew Drummer, HalBlaine

 With thanks to Kent Kotal of Forgotten Hits​ and, of course, Fred Vail​

​Fred Vail's Response to the Passing of Hal Blaine on Forgotten Hits​ 

I was saddened to learn of the passing of my friend of 56 years, Hal Blaine, who died this morning, March 11th, at the age of 90. 

I first met Hal at a Brian Wilson / Beach Boys session at United - Western Recorders in the summer of '63. 

His drums graced thousands upon thousands of hit singles spanning at least six decades. He was the solid foundation of Phil Spector's 'wall of sound' and, gave us that unforgettable intro on the classic, "Be My Baby." He played on the Mamas and Papas singles, including "California Dreamin'" as well as those of Frank Sinatra, Jan and Dean The Byrds, including "Mr. Tambourine Man," Simon and Garfukel's "Mrs. Robinson" and "Bridge Over Troubled Water," The Carpenters' "Close To You," Herb Alpert's "A Taste of Honey," The Fifth Dimension's "Aquarius," Captain and Tennille's "Love Will Keep Us Together," and Barbra Steisand's "The Way We Were." 

He played on a majority of The Beach Boys' albums and singles throughout the 60's, including their classic "Pet Sounds" album, and the singles "God Only Knows" and the iconic "Good Vibrations." He played on additional hits for Elvis, Dean Martin, Johnny Rivers, Bobby Darin, The Association, The Grass Roots, Nancy Sinatra, Gary Lewis and the Playboys, John Denver, Connie Francis, Paul Revere and The Raiders, Barry McGuire, Tommy Roe, Wayne Newton, Sam Cooke, Dusty Springfield and Neil Diamond, among others. Hal was possibly the most recorded instrumentalist of all time. I wouldn't want to challenge that statement. All-in-all, Hal played on so many of the songs that made up the "soundtrack of our lives," it would be impossible to say just how much he influenced all of our lives. 

In the late summer of 1964, with the "Beach Boys Concert" nearing the top of the album charts (it would become their first #1 Gold album) I got a phone call from Jan Berry. "Fred, I want you to do for us, what you did for 'the boys."

"You mean you want to record a 'live' album?" I replied. 

"Yes, that's what I mean, Fred." 

"Well, since you're going to make a live album, you'll have to have a band." (On many of their shows they merely lip-synched to their records.) 

Jan said, "Work out the details with Lou." (Lou Adler). 

I called Lou and suggested that we hire Hal, a young singer / guitarist named Glen Campbell, and round out the quartet with Steve Barri on bass and Phil "PF" Sloan on keys. That recording session, including additional selections from Jan and Dean's "TAMI" show became their "Command Performance" album.

RIP, Hal. Tonight you're in "Rock & Roll Heaven," playing with Glen, PF, along with Carl and Denny Wilson. You're in great company my friend. And you're in one heavenly band.
Fred Vail,
Treasure Isle Recorders, Inc. •​  ​Music City, USA 

​Fed Vail's Follow-Up to Pray For Surf​

Hey, Phil....sure, always eager to share a 'war story,' so to speak. I've been truly blessed to be there in the midst of rock and roll history. And, at the time of that Western-United session, with Chuck Britz on the desk, I was a 19 year old kid, and Hal was in his mid-30's and already an LA music legend.  On that Jan & Dean poster--advertising the concert--I believe I described him as "Mr. Drums," Hal Blaine. 

When Glen was in town a few years ago, recording a track on a tribute album, "Livin,' Lovin,' Losin,' The Songs of the Louvin Brothers." Carl Jackson, the producer, and a good friend, called me and said Glen would like to say hello. Fortunately, they were at a studio in Berry Hill, barely a block from my studio, Treasure Isle. I went right over and we had a great 'reunion.' He was in great health at the time, and, fortunately, I got a photo with the three of us. He also signed a copy of that poster which J & D had already signed. It was an 11" X 14" hand bill, not a huge poster like some of my BB ones, but very special to me. 

Take care,    

Fred

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