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Thread: Hal Blaine

  1. #1

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    Hal Blaine

    Drummer: Hal Blaine
    Main Style: Pop
    Main Band: The Wrecking Crew
    Brief Summary: Hal Blaine (born Harold Simon Belsky, February 5th 1929, Holyoke, Massachusetts) is an American drummer and session musician. He is most known for his work with the Wrecking Crew in California. Blaine played on numerous hits by popular groups, including Elvis Presley, John Denver, the Ronettes, Simon & Garfunkel, the Carpenters, the Beach Boys, Nancy Sinatra, and the 5th Dimension. Blaine is a member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
    Other Facts: Hal Blaine's drums can be heard as part of the Wall of Sound on the Ronettes' 1963 #2 hit 'Be My Baby', produced by Phil Spector at Hollywood's Gold Star Studios. Max Weinberg wrote "If Hal Blaine had played drums only on the Ronettes' 'Be My Baby' his name would still be uttered with reverence and respect for the power of his big beat." Rolling Stone magazine listed the song as #22 on The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. Hal's trademark lick was a quarter-note triplet played on two toms simultaneously, typically played during the out chorus of a song.
    Last edited by Olimpass; 09-09-2011 at 06:09 PM.

  2. #2

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    Number 1 hits featuring Hal Blaine:
    "Can't Help Falling in Love" - Elvis Presley (12/18/61)
    "He's a Rebel" - The Crystals (10/06/62)
    "Surf City" - Jan & Dean (06/22/63)
    "I Get Around" - The Beach Boys (06/06/64)
    "Everybody Loves Somebody" - Dean Martin (07/11/64)
    "Ringo" - Lorne Greene (11/07/64)
    "This Diamond Ring" - Gary Lewis & the Playboys (01/23/65)
    "Help Me, Rhonda" - The Beach Boys (05/01/65)
    "Mr Tambourine Man" - The Byrds (06/05/65)
    "I Got You Babe" -Sonny & Cher (07/31/65)
    "Eve of Destruction" - Barry McGuire (08/28/65)
    "My Love" - Petula Clark (01/15/66)
    "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'" - Nancy Sinatra (02/05/66)
    "Monday Monday" - The Mamas & the Papas (04/16/66)
    "Strangers in the Night" - Frank Sinatra (07/02/66)
    "Poor Side of Town" - Johnny Rivers (10/08/66)
    "Good Vibrations" - The Beach Boys (10/29/66)
    "Somethin' Stupid" - Frank & Nancy Sinatra (03/25/67)
    "The Happening" - The Supremes (04/15/67)
    "Windy" - The Association (06/03/67)
    "Mrs. Robinson" - Simon & Garfunkel (05/04/68)
    "Dizzy" - Tommy Roe (03/15/69)
    "Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In" - The 5th Dimension (04/12/69)
    "Love Theme - Romeo & Juliet" - Henry Mancini (05/24/69)
    "Wedding Bell Blues" - The 5th Dimension (10/04/69)
    "Bridge Over Troubled Water" - Simon & Garfunkel (02/14/70)
    "(They Long to Be) Close to You" - The Carpenters (06/27/70)
    "Cracklin' Rosie" - Neil Diamond (08/29/70)
    "Indian Reservation" - Paul Revere & the Raiders (05/29/71)
    "I Think I Love You" - The Partridge Family (10/31/71)
    "Song Sung Blue" - Neil Diamond (05/13/72)
    "Half Breed" - Cher (09/01/73)
    "Annie's Song" - John Denver (06/15/74)
    "Top of the World" - The Carpenters (10/20/74)
    "The Way We Were" - Barbra Streisand (12/22/74)
    "Thank God I'm a Country Boy" - John Denver (04/05/75)
    "Love Will Keep Us Together" - Captain & Tennille (05/24/75)
    "I'm Sorry"/"Calypso" - John Denver (08/30/75)
    "Theme from Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To)" - Diana Ross (01/22/76)
    A little known Grammy Awards record is held by Blaine who played on 6 consecutive Record of the Year winners:
    Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass in 1966 for "A Taste of Honey";
    Frank Sinatra in 1967 for "Strangers in the Night";
    The 5th Dimension in 1968 for "Up, Up and Away";
    Simon & Garfunkel in 1969 for "Mrs. Robinson";
    The 5th Dimension in 1970 for "Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In"; and
    Simon & Garfunkel in 1971 for "Bridge Over Troubled Water".
    Last edited by Olimpass; 09-09-2011 at 12:45 PM.

  3. #3

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    Hal Blaine.....damn, what a hard-working drummer.

    Nice post.
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  4. #4

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    Wow!! I didn't realize Hal had so many hits. Good post! He deserves to be here for sure.

  5. #5

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    I think that the notable session drummers like Hal Blaine are awesome - no matter what it called for, day in and day out for decades, he made it happen. Recently I've been working on learning the catalog of tunes for the wedding band I play for in order to prepare for the upcoming jobs where I'll be behind the kit rather than on trumpet, and I'm astonished by how much of our catalog of hits from the mid 50s through the late 70s were played by just a small handful of drummers, and as often as not, Hal Blaine was the man who made it happen on the original. That's the kind of drummer I aspire to be - I want to be the guy laying down the great feeling groove, not particularly noticed, but completely essential to the success of the sound.
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  6. #6

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    Hal Blaine was probably my first influence, though I didn't know it at the time.

    The musicians were seldom if ever mentioned on records, but, if I had to say who, it would be Blaine, Mel Taylor and Sandy Nelson.

  7. #7

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    Last edited by Olimpass; 03-27-2017 at 07:43 PM.

  8. #8

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    Certain record producers were swamped with the invasion of music getting popular at the time and alot of groups were nothing more than garage bands. To eliminate the frustration of repeated recordings and takes, The Wrecking Crew was hired to knock them out successfully usually on the first take.

  9. #9

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    Modern Drummer quite a while back had Chad Smith from the Red Hot Chili Peppers do, as a special guest interviewer, an article talking with Hal Blaine and how as a kid drummer, he used to play along with songs that had Hal as the drummer on them.
    "...it's the Paradigm Of The Cosmos!" Stewart Copeland on Youtube

    668: The Number Of The Guy Next Door To The Beast.

    "A random act of kindness; it keeps my heart in shape!" - Late8

  10. #10

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    Hal is one of the most under rated drummers in the biz.
    Tamaholic

  11. #11

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    Pic of Hal Blaine's monster kit

  12. #12

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    Quote Originally Posted by Olimpass View Post
    Pic of Hal Blaine's monster kit

    That set is up for sale on e-bay for $49,000.

  13. #13

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    Quote Originally Posted by rickthedrummer View Post
    That set is up for sale on e-bay for $49,000.
    WOW!...you ain't lyin'...$49,995.00. I wonder if shipping is free? Like the saying goes, if you have to ask, you can't afford it.
    Last edited by Olimpass; 12-22-2011 at 10:09 PM.

  14. #14

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    Does it included the un shaved calfskin head on the bass?
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  15. #15

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    O.o You can save a whopping five dollars!
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  16. #16

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    Quote Originally Posted by trickg View Post
    I think that the notable session drummers like Hal Blaine are awesome - no matter what it called for, day in and day out for decades, he made it happen. Recently I've been working on learning the catalog of tunes for the wedding band I play for in order to prepare for the upcoming jobs where I'll be behind the kit rather than on trumpet, and I'm astonished by how much of our catalog of hits from the mid 50s through the late 70s were played by just a small handful of drummers, and as often as not, Hal Blaine was the man who made it happen on the original. That's the kind of drummer I aspire to be - I want to be the guy laying down the great feeling groove, not particularly noticed, but completely essential to the success of the sound.
    Post of the day trickg. Well said

  17. #17

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    I think I heard this is what may have started the concert tom craze.
    Last edited by Olimpass; 01-05-2012 at 07:01 PM. Reason: added I heard

  18. #18

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    Quote Originally Posted by atomcorr2 View Post
    Hal is one of the most under rated drummers in the biz.
    I agree 100%. Hal Blane is one of my musical heros, and I find it sad that his incredible talent isn't recognized by more people, especially the younger generations.

  19. #19

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    Last edited by Olimpass; 03-27-2017 at 07:43 PM.

  20. #20

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    Quote Originally Posted by Olimpass View Post
    Number 1 hits featuring Hal Blaine:
    "Can't Help Falling in Love" - Elvis Presley (12/18/61)
    "He's a Rebel" - The Crystals (10/06/62)
    "Surf City" - Jan & Dean (06/22/63)
    "I Get Around" - The Beach Boys (06/06/64)
    "Everybody Loves Somebody" - Dean Martin (07/11/64)
    "Ringo" - Lorne Greene (11/07/64)
    "This Diamond Ring" - Gary Lewis & the Playboys (01/23/65)
    "Help Me, Rhonda" - The Beach Boys (05/01/65)
    "Mr Tambourine Man" - The Byrds (06/05/65)
    "I Got You Babe" -Sonny & Cher (07/31/65)
    "Eve of Destruction" - Barry McGuire (08/28/65)
    "My Love" - Petula Clark (01/15/66)
    "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'" - Nancy Sinatra (02/05/66)
    "Monday Monday" - The Mamas & the Papas (04/16/66)
    "Strangers in the Night" - Frank Sinatra (07/02/66)
    "Poor Side of Town" - Johnny Rivers (10/08/66)
    "Good Vibrations" - The Beach Boys (10/29/66)
    "Somethin' Stupid" - Frank & Nancy Sinatra (03/25/67)
    "The Happening" - The Supremes (04/15/67)
    "Windy" - The Association (06/03/67)
    "Mrs. Robinson" - Simon & Garfunkel (05/04/68)
    "Dizzy" - Tommy Roe (03/15/69)
    "Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In" - The 5th Dimension (04/12/69)
    "Love Theme - Romeo & Juliet" - Henry Mancini (05/24/69)
    "Wedding Bell Blues" - The 5th Dimension (10/04/69)
    "Bridge Over Troubled Water" - Simon & Garfunkel (02/14/70)
    "(They Long to Be) Close to You" - The Carpenters (06/27/70)
    "Cracklin' Rosie" - Neil Diamond (08/29/70)
    "Indian Reservation" - Paul Revere & the Raiders (05/29/71)
    "I Think I Love You" - The Partridge Family (10/31/71)
    "Song Sung Blue" - Neil Diamond (05/13/72)
    "Half Breed" - Cher (09/01/73)
    "Annie's Song" - John Denver (06/15/74)
    "Top of the World" - The Carpenters (10/20/74)
    "The Way We Were" - Barbra Streisand (12/22/74)
    "Thank God I'm a Country Boy" - John Denver (04/05/75)
    "Love Will Keep Us Together" - Captain & Tennille (05/24/75)
    "I'm Sorry"/"Calypso" - John Denver (08/30/75)
    "Theme from Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To)" - Diana Ross (01/22/76)
    A little known Grammy Awards record is held by Blaine who played on 6 consecutive Record of the Year winners:
    Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass in 1966 for "A Taste of Honey";
    Frank Sinatra in 1967 for "Strangers in the Night";
    The 5th Dimension in 1968 for "Up, Up and Away";
    Simon & Garfunkel in 1969 for "Mrs. Robinson";
    The 5th Dimension in 1970 for "Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In"; and
    Simon & Garfunkel in 1971 for "Bridge Over Troubled Water".
    I like just about everyone of these songs. That really was my era.

    all the best...

  21. #21

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    Quote Originally Posted by olimpass View Post
    number 1 hits featuring hal blaine:
    "can't help falling in love" - elvis presley (12/18/61)
    "he's a rebel" - the crystals (10/06/62)
    "surf city" - jan & dean (06/22/63)
    "i get around" - the beach boys (06/06/64)
    "everybody loves somebody" - dean martin (07/11/64)
    "ringo" - lorne greene (11/07/64)
    "this diamond ring" - gary lewis & the playboys (01/23/65)
    "help me, rhonda" - the beach boys (05/01/65)
    "mr tambourine man" - the byrds (06/05/65)
    "i got you babe" -sonny & cher (07/31/65)
    "eve of destruction" - barry mcguire (08/28/65)
    "my love" - petula clark (01/15/66)
    "these boots are made for walkin'" - nancy sinatra (02/05/66)
    "monday monday" - the mamas & the papas (04/16/66)
    "strangers in the night" - frank sinatra (07/02/66)
    "poor side of town" - johnny rivers (10/08/66)
    "good vibrations" - the beach boys (10/29/66)
    "somethin' stupid" - frank & nancy sinatra (03/25/67)
    "the happening" - the supremes (04/15/67)
    "windy" - the association (06/03/67)
    "mrs. Robinson" - simon & garfunkel (05/04/68)
    "dizzy" - tommy roe (03/15/69)
    "aquarius/let the sunshine in" - the 5th dimension (04/12/69)
    "love theme - romeo & juliet" - henry mancini (05/24/69)
    "wedding bell blues" - the 5th dimension (10/04/69)
    "bridge over troubled water" - simon & garfunkel (02/14/70)
    "(they long to be) close to you" - the carpenters (06/27/70)
    "cracklin' rosie" - neil diamond (08/29/70)
    "indian reservation" - paul revere & the raiders (05/29/71)
    "i think i love you" - the partridge family (10/31/71)
    "song sung blue" - neil diamond (05/13/72)
    "half breed" - cher (09/01/73)
    "annie's song" - john denver (06/15/74)
    "top of the world" - the carpenters (10/20/74)
    "the way we were" - barbra streisand (12/22/74)
    "thank god i'm a country boy" - john denver (04/05/75)
    "love will keep us together" - captain & tennille (05/24/75)
    "i'm sorry"/"calypso" - john denver (08/30/75)
    "theme from mahogany (do you know where you're going to)" - diana ross (01/22/76)
    a little known grammy awards record is held by blaine who played on 6 consecutive record of the year winners:
    Herb alpert & the tijuana brass in 1966 for "a taste of honey";
    frank sinatra in 1967 for "strangers in the night";
    the 5th dimension in 1968 for "up, up and away";
    simon & garfunkel in 1969 for "mrs. Robinson";
    the 5th dimension in 1970 for "aquarius/let the sunshine in"; and
    simon & garfunkel in 1971 for "bridge over troubled water".
    hal actually has 255 gold records to his credit...
    The drummer from da band "the knack"( my sharona)
    once said: "the most disappointing moment of my life?
    When i met hal blaine & realized he was 5 of my favorite drummers"!!!!...hal is a phriend & a hero to me,,,that is a truism!!!

    IF "THE WRECKING CREW" MOVIE EVER COMES NEAR YOU,,,GO OUT OF YER WAY TO SEE IT...PLZ!
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  22. #22

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    RDM/Damage Poets
    UFiP TAMAHA Zildjian
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    AQUARIAN

  23. #23

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    Hal Blaine is really awesome!

  24. #24

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    R.I.P. Hal Blaine

    What a legend. And he made it to 90!!!

    https://variety.com/2019/music/news/...90-1203160849/

  25. #25

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    R.I.P Mr Blaine ... legendary musician/drummer
    RDM/Damage Poets
    UFiP TAMAHA Zildjian
    REGAL TiP
    AQUARIAN

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