Q&A Sessions
Waddy Wachtel: August 4 - 17, 2003
Page 3

Joe & Carol..."Fantasy":

blackcat That's neat to hear. How about Don's associate, that "Ordinary Average Guy," Joe Walsh? You have worked with him quite a bit too!

Waddy Joe Walsh and I have a very good time in the studio together. I'll tell you a little story that went down with Joe Walsh and I one time. We did a couple of records together. And we were working on this one album, "The Confessor." We were out late in Goodnight LA working on some stuff. I'd call him JW and he called me WW. I'd say, "Hey JW, I've got an idea for this," and he'd go "Yeah, WW that's a good idea, yeah." We were talking about this one song, and all the sudden Joe looks at me, and I said, "Well I think I should play that part. Why don't I lay that part down." And he says, "Yeah that's a really good idea. Why don't you play it, and then I'll 'double you' WW." We both just stopped dead for like 2 minutes, laughing. Joe is great!

It's funny because we just played with my band, we played a little gig on Thursday night, and went by my bass players house afterwards. And he says, "Waddy, you got five minutes? I gotta show you something." He found a tape of us when we . . .. We went to Australia (with Joe Walsh, Rick Rosas, an Australian drummer named Richard Harvey and myself) and did a tour and some recording over there. We came back and did this concert at The Forum for the Vietnam Vets. It was this big, big concert . . . and we were drunk out of our brains back then. So he is showing me this footage. I barely even remembered it, but it's Joe Walsh, Rick and me on stage, with like men like Jeff "Skunk" Baxter and others. All these people up on the stage playing with us, and we didn't really know any of them very well-and I am cueing everybody, and we're trying to play "Rocky Mountain Way," and I'm yelling cues to people, and there we were completely out of our skulls. We definitely had a lot of fun together on the road.

And you know Joe Walsh opened for Stevie for a while. They spent time hanging out together.

blackcat Yep, I remember. I've heard many of her interviews talking about Joe. He was the man in her life for a while, there's no doubt about it. ("Has Anyone Ever Written Anything For You.")

"My life has been a tapestry of rich and royal hue."~Carole King

blackcat You have been in the business as much as, and if not more than, most people. You worked with Carole King, who knocked the world out with her Tapestry album. How did you hook up with Carole King and what was it like being on the road with her? (She has a new one out now called Love Makes The World.)

Waddy You know, Carole and I look like brother and sister, or at least we used to. I was the new boy in town, basically. I had already played with the Everly's, and was doing session work. All of a sudden I got hired by Lou Adler. He produced Tapestry. He also produced The Mamas and Papas. Lou is a great, great guy. I was scufflin' around for years, and I played some guitar for someone who heard me. The next thing I knew I wound up on a date for Lou Adler, for Tim Curry. Tim Curry was the first session I did for Lou. That's where I met Danny Kortchmar. And that completed my cycle of meeting everyone in The Section. You know, Leland Sklar, Russell Kunkle, Craig Doerge and finally Kooch . . . who I hated (Laughing) because Kootch was the one working on the records in town, and I couldn't get any work! I hated his guitar playing! I hated his solo sound, and everything. And I said, "I'm going to hate this guy when I meet him," and we loved each other . . . and we love each other to death.

So I worked for Lou for Tim Curry, and then I got called to do another session to for a guy named Peter Allen. I don't know if you remember this artist. He was a gay singer and a very talented guy that died of AIDS a while ago. And then I got called for Carole. And— BOOM— I couldn't believe it! I was like, "Holy Shit! Major Artist time! I can't fuckin' believe this!" And I went to this studio . . . you know how I mentioned this brother and sister thing. I walked into the session and Carole King is walking down the hallway and looks and me and goes, "Who are you?" I said, "I'm Waddy." And she goes, "Are you my brother or something?" You know at that point we had the same hair, the same little Jewish nose . . . ah, big Jew nose I should say, and we looked like brother and sister! She said, "I thought you were my brother." So I got in and we started playing, and it went great. She loved what I was doing and Lou loved what I did, anyway. So . . . then I was told she's going to tour, and we want you on the tour.

So at that point . . . now I'm getting' scared. Because my friends Leland and Danny and Russell . . . these guys, they are called The Section. They have a reputation. They make money, these guys, on the road. And I made $250 a week for the Everly Brothers. I didn't know what the fuckin' deal was. I was scared because I had to talk money with this guy, Lou Adler, about Carole's gig. So I called up Leland. We knew each of, just kind of. I didn't know him that well. I said, "Can I ask you something man? I gotta talk business with Lou Adler. And I don't know what to ask for. So could you tell me what you get to do this gig so I can kind of gauge it." And he said, "Yeah. We get such & such for a gig, such & such per day off, and such & such per rehearsal." "Wow! Great, man!" And then for two days I'm kind of sitting around wondering how I can ask for that much money?

blackcat The kid from New York.

Waddy I can't ask for this much money. Holy shit! What am I going to do? Lou called me and he says, "Waddy." And he is the most mellow and subtle guy. He goes, "Waddy I understand we have to 'talk business'. So let's talk." He leaves this message on my machine! So I called him back and go, "Hi Lou. It's Waddy." And he goes, "Waddy do you know what everyone else is getting?" I go, "We gotta talk money, we gotta talk, right?" And he goes, "Do you know what everyone else is getting?" And I went, "Ah, yeah." And he goes, "You get the same." He goes, "You're number one in my book, man."

blackcat Whoa!

Waddy He goes, "Talk done, okay?" I said, "That's fine by me!" (Laughing) So that was that. And then we went out. It was an album called Thoroughbred.

blackcat I have it.

Waddy Oh, you have it? And we toured around for a couple of weeks, maybe. It wasn't a big tour or anything. But we had a great time. I loved her. She loved me. And it was wonderful.

At one point she had this boyfriend who was a fuckin' screwball. She was this Jewish girl from New York, and she was going with this Gentile cowboy, redneck, asshole. You could tell this guy was a druggie, a fucked up guy. And like I said, I was "new boy." And we were on this tour. And we did a show, we came off and all the sudden this guy starts yelling at Danny-Kootch. He was screaming in Kootch's face. This asshole is a BIG guy. And I don't know what is happening, or what the fuck is going on, but all the sudden he hits Danny. He punches him! And I was sitting there on a road case. And I just did the Clark Kent thing. I just stood up on top of the road case, and dove on this guy from across the hall and took him down on the fuckin' floor, and Kunkle grabbed him, too, and we started pounding the shit of this fuckin' guy. Thank God Russell [Kunkle] was there because he's big, too. I'm this little twerp. We pulled this guy into a bathroom and were pounding him. Hey, then as soon as Russell let go I jumped off. (Laughing) At that point Danny Kortchmar and I were just getting to know each other. Then we went back out and did our encore. (Laughing) Danny comes up to me and he goes, "Man I just want you to know something. You and I are brothers from now on, man . . . forEVER. I don't know who you are, but you and I are brothers. You will never lose my friendship for what you just did." It was great, you know?

blackcat That's cool.

Waddy So it was a great time. Carole is lovely. We see each other now and then. Oh man, and she, believe me, there is a woman who is a "bandleader." And that impressed me so heavily. I am used to going to sessions, and you work for these people, and they need "this and that." She sat down at that piano and took charge. She said, "No, this is like this," and "No, no, no! This chord is this. No, no, no Bar 16 is this chord, man, WAKE UP." And I am looking at this woman and thought, "Wow! I like this!" A real musician. It was great. I was put with her and it was a great thing.

blackcat Thank you, Waddy. I was so curious as to how you met. I think there's a few other folks out there that are curious too. It has been great getting to hear some of these stories!

"Smackwater Jack", A Shotgun Of Questions for Waddy:

blackcat I have a few questions for you, here Waddy. I'm going to give them to you "magazine style." Maybe some weird questions, maybe some hard ones. These are the kinds of questions you find in the back of a magazine. Alright?

Waddy Alright.

blackcat Okay, now remember that Waddy kid growing up in New York. That boy. What is your greatest extravagance?

Waddy Extravagance? Hmmm. Gee. I don't know. You'd better ask Annie that one.

blackcat (Laughing). I will. Don't worry, I will.

Waddy I don't know that I have any.

blackcat Your guitars maybe?

Waddy Well, that's not an extravagance. That's my life's work.

blackcat You don't have a million guitars?

Waddy No, I really don't have a million. As a matter of fact, I was looking at an interview of my friend Hutch, who is a bass player, and he listed all the basses. He has like a million basses. Wait a minute. Let me look around here for a second.

blackcat Well, did you figure anything out? (Laughing!)

Waddy No! I think you got me. You stumped the band on that. Not to sound modest or anything. I'm a hobbyless person. I don't have that many guitars laying around. Well, okay, of course the living room is full of them, but . . . I don't know.

blackcat Okay, how about this. What is your favorite guitar?

Waddy My Les Paul. My 1960 Les Paul.

blackcat Okay, that's good.

Waddy Oh yes, that's good. That's real good. It's worth quite a bit of money, that guitar.

blackcat Okay, well, maybe that's an extravagance?

Waddy It's not an extravagance! I bought it for $350.00 in 1969. You know, an extravagance would be like me having a closet full of Brooks Brothers shirts, which I certainly don't! (Laughing)

blackcat Or driving a really fancy car. Or expensive cars like Mercedes Benz.

Waddy I drive a Volvo.

blackcat That's cool. But you really aren't an extravagant person, are you.

Waddy (Laughing) I am sure Annie will go, "What about ________!?" You know I am snooty about food.

blackcat It's okay Waddy. I like that. You're not extravagant. Okay, I've got another one. What is your greatest musical regret?

Waddy Musical regret? My greatest musical regret is that I haven't written enough songs. And I certainly haven't written enough hit songs. I haven't written enough songs.

Dr. Lou & Irie

Just some of Waddy Wachtel's accomplishments:

David Letterman is correct. Waddy Wachtel's list of session work is phenomenal. He has recorded and toured with many of rock's legends, earning a reputation as one of the top sessions guitarist in the rock and roll industry. His accomplishments are not limited to playing guitar—he is a writer, producer, singer and composer of musical scores, including his most recent work, the David Spade movie, "Joe Dirt." What is most amazing is that as active as this man has been in music, very few people "outside the business" have even heard of him. The average "joe" might be surprised at how much of Waddy's work can be found sitting in their cd racks and mentioned in the liner notes of their LPs. Waddy Wachtel's name, (along with some of these other incredible musicians, Jorge Calderon, Dan Dugmore, Kenny Edwards, Bob Glaub, Don Grolnik, Danny Kortchmar, Russ Kunkle, Rick Marotta, John David "JD" Souther, Benmont Tench, David Lindley and Leland Sklar) is everywhere. Ever play "Five Degrees of Separation in Rock & Roll?" Place the name "Wachtel" in the mix, and there's sure to be a connection.

Rolling Stone (399) calls Waddy "rock and roll's most valuable player." "People would hire me because they needed that rock and roll element," Waddy told Musician Magazine. Clearly there is much more of a reason as to why many artists have sought Waddy out: The legendary and incendiary rock guitarist, Keith Richards (of the Rolling Stones) had this to say about why he chose Waddy as he was setting up his solo band ("The X-Pensive Winos"):

So I started to put a band together, because I can't work without a band. Steve looks at me and says, 'Who do you want to play with?' I said, 'Guitar? Waddy Wachtel.' And he goes to me, 'My very words.' I'd known Waddy since the middle '70s, and I've always liked his stuff. But I always recognized him as a man left alone out there running a chick's band. And I knew this man wants to rock more desperately than he's allowed to. (Laughs.) He's doing Linda Ronstadt, then he's doing Stevie Nicks, and I know my man wants to rock. Waddy and I have always had that empathy, and he understands my music. I don't have to explain anything to Waddy. I say, 'It goes like this,' and everybody else would say, 'Well, that's weird.' But Waddy goes, 'Oh, that's interesting.' That's what you look for, that ESP doesn't come hard. Because what you're looking for in a band is that you don't have to bother about thinking about something, that it's picked up automatically." (Obrecht, Jas: Guitar Player, December, 1992, "Filthy, Filthy, Filthy: Keith Richards Comes Clean On Distortion And The Meaning Of Music," pages 34-48, 64.)

There is MUCH more to this Keith Richards interview on line than is found in the magazine. Mr. Obrecht complete interview can be found on this internet site:

http://home-2.tiscali.nl

Also, see recent pictures of Waddy and Keith Richards playing at The Joint:

http://www.wireimage.com

Those unique qualities, that ability to understand other artists, are why Waddy is referred to as a "veteran sessions player." He has clearly earned his stripes. Waddy loves to perform LIVE-and it's got to be rock & roll music. When he's not producing, touring, writing, managing, working on movie sound tracks, you might be able to catch him in LA, playing at "The Joint."

Selected Discography :

Below is a selected list of albums where Waddy makes an appearance. Each album, each tour he was on, and the people with whom he worked-they all represent chapters in Waddy's life. The book isn't finished-Waddy Wachtel is still working. Perhaps one day there will be a book about Waddy's life & adventures; he has been behind the music for many recording artists:

Herb Alpert:
"My Abstract Heart" (1989)

America:
"Alibi," (1980)
"Highway: 30 Years of America" (2000)

Lisa Bade:
"Suspicion" (1982)

The Bee Gees:
"Still Waters" (1997)

Barbi Benton:
"Something New" (1976)

Big Mountain:
"Unity" (1994)

Big Sky:
"Waiting For The Dawn" (1990)

Curt Boettcher:
"There's An Innocent Face" (1973)
"Misty Mirage" (2000)

Bon Jovi:
"Blaze Of Glory" (1990)

Karla Bonoff:
"Restless Nights" (1979)
"Wild Heart of the Young" (1982)

Sarah Brightman:
"As I Came Of Age" (2000)
"Café Racers" (2001)

Jackson Browne:
"Lives In The Balance" (1986)
"I'm Alive" (1993)
"Looking East" (1996)

Buckingham Nicks:
"Buckingham Nicks" (1973)
(We're ALL still waiting to see if there is a follow-up in the works!)

Jorge Calderon:
"City Music" (1999)

Kim Carnes:
"Mistaken Identity" (1981)
"Voyeur" (1982)
"Barking At Airplanes" (1985) (Lindsey Buckingham also onboard the plane!)
"Gypsy Honeymoon" (1993)
"Gypsy Come Home: Best Of Kim Carnes(1993)"
"Cafe Racers [Bonus Tracks]" (2001-reissued album)

Peter Cetera:
"Peter Cetera Collection: You're The Inspiration" (1997)

Tracy Chapman:
"Matters Of The Heart" (1992)

Rosanne Cash:
"Rhythm And Romance" (1985)
"Rosanne Cash: Hits 1979-1989" (1989)

Cheech and Chong:
"Up In Smoke" (1991)

Cher:
"Cher" (1987)
"Heart Of Stone" (1989)

The Church:
"Starfish" (1988)
"Megalopolis" (1988)
"Under The Milky Way-The Best of" (1999)
"Almost Yesterday (1981-90)" (1997)
"Gold Afternoon Fix" (1998)

Gilby Clarke:
"Pawnshop Guitars" (1995)

Leonard Cohen:
"Tower of Song: The Songs of Leonard Cohen" (1995)

Cherie Currie:
"Messin' With The Boys" (1997)

Gilbert Clarke:
"Hangover" (2001)

James Colin:
"Bad Habits" (1995)

Destiny's Child:
"Survivor" (2001)
Let's finally clear this up: Waddy Wachtel-not Stevie Nicks-is actually playing guitar on "Bootylicious." ;o)

Neil Diamond:
"In My Lifetime" (1996)
"Christmas Album" (1992)
"Vol. 2-Christmas Album" (1994)

Bob Dylan:
"Under The Red Sky" (1990)
"Greatest Hits, Vol. 3" (1994)

Melissa Etheridge:
"Melissa Etheridge" (self-titled) (1990)
"Brave And Crazy" (1990)
"Yes I Am" (1993)

The Everly Brothers:
"Stories We Could Tell" (1972)
"Heartaches & Harmonies [Box Set]" (1994)

Bryan Ferry:
"Bride Stripped Bare" (1990)

Fleetwood Mac:
"Fleetwood Mac" (1975) (the "white album")

Richie Furay:
"I Still Have Dreams" (1979)

Louise Goffin:
"Kid Blue" (1979)
"Louse Goffin" (1981) (Stevie Nicks also joined on this album)

Andrew Gold:
"What's Wrong With This Picture" (1976) (this album was made on alternate nights by the same exact band working on Linda Ronstadt's "Hasten Down The Wind")
"All This And Heaven Too" (1978)
"Thank You For Being A Friend" (1997)

Arlo Guthrie:
"Amigo" (1998)

Hall And Oates:
"Change Of Season" (1990)

Emmylou Harris:
"Profile: Emmylou Harris" (1978)

Lisa Hartman:
"Til My Heart Stops" (1987)

Don Henley:
"Building The Perfect Beast" (1984)
"The End Of The Innocence" (1989)
"I Can't Stand Still" (1982)
"Actual Miles-Henley's Greatest Hits" (1995)

Bruce Hornsby:
"Harbour Lights" (1993)

Michael Hutchence:
"Michael Hutchence" (2000)

Peter Ivers:
"Peter Ivers" (1976)

Colin James:
"Bad Habits" (1995)

Vinnie James:
"All American Boy" (1991)

Erikah Karst:
"Buellton Diaries" (2000)

Carole King:
"Thoroughbred" (1975)

Kris Kristofferson:
"A Moment of Forever" (1995)

Lambright & Nuttycombe:
"As You Will" (1973)
(The album includes contributions from both Waddy and Lindsey Buckingham)

Eric Martin:
"Eric Martin" (1985)

Amanda Marshall:
"Tuesday's Child" (1999)

Will T. Massey:
"Will T. Massey" (1991)

Delbert McClinton:
"Never Been Rocked Enough" (1992)

Shannon McNally: "Jukebox Sparrows" (2002)

Bette Midler:
"No Frills" (1995)
"Experience The Divine" (2000)

Eddie Mitchell:
"Les Nouvelles Aventures" (1999)
"Les Nouvelles Aventures 2" (1999)
"Les Nouvelles Aventures 3" (1999)

Katy Moffatt: "Kissin' In The California Sun" (1978)

The Motels:
"All Four One" (1982)
"Little Robbers" (1983)

Jenni Muldaur: "Jenni Muldaur" (1993)

Maria Muldaur: "Sweet Harmony" (1976)

Graham Nash: "Innocent Eyes" (1986)

Troy Newman: "Gypsy Moon" (1970)

Randy Newman:
"Little Criminals" (1977)
"Born Again" (1979)
"Trouble In Paradise" (1990)
"Faust" (1995)
"Guilty: 30 Years of Randy Newman" (1998)

Aaron Neville: "Tattooed Heart" (1995)

Ivan Neville: "If My Ancestors Could See Me Now" (1988)

Stevie Nicks:
"Bella Donna" (1981)
"Wild Heart" (1983)
"Rock A Little" (1985)
"The Other Side Of The Mirror" (1989)
"TimeSpace" (1991)
"Street Angel" (1993)
"Trouble In Shangri-la" (2001)

Dolly Parton: "Rainbow" (1987)

Steve Perry:
"Street Talk" (1984)
"Greatest Hits + Five Unreleased" (1998)

The Pointer Sisters:
"Energy" (1978)
"Priority" (1979)

Iggy Pop:
"Brick By Brick" (1990)

Judi Pulver: "Judy Pulver" (1973)

Dory Previn:
"Live At Carnegie Hall" (1998)

John Prine:
"Lost Dogs and Mixed Blessing" (1995)

Bonnie Raitt:
"The Glow" (1979)
"Bonnie Raitt Collection" (1990)

Kenny Rankin:
"Inside" (1975)
"Peaceful: The Best Of Kenny Rankin" (1996)

Keith Richards:
"Talk Is Cheap" (1988)
"Live At The Hollywood Palladium, Dec. 15, 1988" (1991)
"Main Offenders" (1992)
Waddy co-wrote "999," "Words of Wonder," "Yap Yap," and "Hate It When You Leave." You can catch Waddy on Keith Richards' video "Live At The Hollywood Palladium."

Kim Richey: "Glimmer" (1999)

Johnny Rivers:
"Last Train To Memphis" (1998)
"Johnny Rivers Live: Back At The Whisky (A Go-Go)" (2001)

Janice Robinson: "Color Within Me" (1999)

The Rolling Stones: "Bridges To Babylon" (1997)

Ronin: "Ronin" (1980)

Linda Ronstadt:
"Simple Dreams" (1977)
"Living In The USA" (1978)
"Hasten Down The Wind" (1976)
"Mad Love" (1980)
"Greatest Hits: Vol. 2" (1980)
"Get Closer" (1982)
"We Ran" (1998-which included Waddy's featured song, "I Go To Pieces,")
"Linda Ronstadt Box Set" (1998)
"3 For One" (2000)

Sandy Salisbury: "Sandy" (2000)

David Sanborn: "Hideaway" (1979)

Sandrubies: "Return Of The Living Dead" (1998)

Adam Sandler:
"What The Hell Happened To Me" (1996)
(features "The Chanukah Song")
"What's Your Name" (1997)
"The Waterboy" (1998)

Leo Sayer:
"Leo Sayer" (1978)
"The Show Must Go On: Anthology" (1996)

Bob Segar:
"The Distance" (1990)
"The Fire Inside" (1991)

Feargal Sharkey: "Feargal Sharkey"

Glenn Shorrock: "Villain Of The Peace" (1982)

Shrieve/Beal: "Big Picture" (1989)

J.D. Souther:
"Black Rose" (1976)
"You're Only Lonely" (1979)
"Home By Dawn" (1984)

Spinal Tap: "Break Like The Wind" (1992)

Bruce Springsteen: "One Step Up/Two Steps Back: The Songs Of Bruce Springsteen" (1997)

Ringo Starr:
"Old Wave" (1983)
"Time Takes Time" (1992)

Stealin' Horses
"Stealin' Horses" (1988)

Van Stephenson: "Suspicious Heart" (1986)

John Stewart:
"Wingless Angels" (1973)
"Cannons In The Rain/Wingless Angels" (2000)

Rod Stewart: "Vagabond Heart" (1991)

James Taylor:
"In The Pocket" (1976), (1990)
"Flag" (1979)
"Dad Loves His Work" (1981)
"JT/Flag/Dad Loves His Work boxed set" (1995)
"Greatest Hits-Volume2,"(2000)

Hunter S. Thompson: "Fear & Loathing In Las Vegas" (1996)

George Thorogood: "Rockin' My Life Away" (1997)

Tito & Tarantula: "Tarantism" (1997)

Tufano & Giammerese: "The Other Side" (1977)

Dwight Twilley: "Xxi" (1996)

Bonnie Tyler: "Bitterblue" (2000)

"Various Artists:" "No Nukes" (1980)
Recorded at Madison Square Garden, September 19-23, 1979.

"Various Artists:" "Grammy Nominees" (1998)

Waddy Wachtel: "Unfinished Business"
The title seems apt-hopefully there will be more added to this cd. It's clearly an album that reflects much of Waddy's vast road experiences-there are definite flavors of the Everly Brothers beautiful harmonizing, Brian Wilson's amazing command of lyrics and cords, and also a bit of Wachtel's powerful rocking sound. Tracks include:
1-Wadraga (4:21) (Mid-eastern flavored, very contagious!)
2-Told You (3:37)
3-One More Time or Two (4:20)
4-The Offering (3:10)
5-Gone U R (3:50)
6-Crossfire (3:18)

Waddy also did a 45 (single) called "You're The One," released by Anthem, a subsidiary of Polygram, released around the same time as Buckingham Nicks.

Tom Waits: "Bone Machine" (1992)

Joe Walsh and Waddy both lived in the same area in NYC (although Joe wasn't born there)-and have known each other for a long time. Waddy has been on tour with Joe Walsh. One great Joe Walsh website has information about the Australia tour from 1985. Here is a link, complete with pictures, from that tour: http://www.nysse.com/jw/
Wendy Waldman:
"The Main Refrain" (1976)
"Love Is The Only Goal: Best Of" (1996)

Joe Walsh:
"You Bought It-You Name It" (1983)
"The Confessor" (1985)
"Ordinary Average Guy" (1991)
"Greatest Hits: Little Did He Know" (1997)

Bob Weir (of the Grateful Dead): "Heaven Help The Fool" (1978)

Bob Weir and Ratdog: "Evening Moods" 2000

Robbie Williams: "Escapology" (2002)

The Wilsons: "The Wilsons" (1997) - a collaboration of Carnie, Wendy and Brian Wilson

Brian Wilson:
"I Just Wasn't Made For These Times" (1995) (soundtrack)
Fans of the Beach Boys, Brian Wilson, and Carnie & Wendy's music, will definitely want to get:

"Brian Wilson: 'I Just Wasn't Made For These Times,'" DVD (1995):
The DVD features the Beach Boys, Brian Wilson's family, with commentary from Mr. Tom Petty, David Crosby, Graham Nash, Linda Ronstadt, Randy Newman, Danny Hutton, Benmont Tench, Lindsey Buckingham-and Waddy Wachtel, playing guitar. The DVD is an amazing documentary of the life of Brian Wilson, done in B&W.

Ron Wood: "1234" (1981)
You can find Waddy playing on the song "She Never Told Me," (acoustic guitar).

Warren Zevon:
"Warren Zevon" (1976)
"Excitable Boy" (1978)
"Bad Luck Streak In Dancing School" (1980)
"The Envoy" (1982)
"Quiet Normal Life: The Best of Warren Zevon" (1986)
"Sentimental Hygiene" (1987)
"Learning To Flinch" (1993)
"I'll Sleep When I'm Dead-An Anthology" (1996) (Includes the song "Reconsider Me")
"Transverse City" (1989)
"Mr. Bad Example" (1991)

Waddy wrote several songs with Warren Zevon-among them are: "Nighttime In The Switching Yard," and "Werewolves Of London." On Warren's "Cry Baby" album Waddy co-wrote "Doin' Time For Bein' Young." Zevon & Wachtel can also be spotted in the credits of "Things To Do In Denver When You're Dead."

The song "Werewolves Of London," from Warren Zevon's Excitable Boyalbum, also includes familiar desperados John McVie and Mick Fleetwood. (In fact, look for Mick, John, Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham's appearances on The Best Of Warren Zevon.) Warren and Waddy have been friends since the early days of their careers. The following discussion about "Werewolves Of London" is excerpted from Steve Roeser's terrific Goldmine interview with Warren Zevon:

Goldmine: You all contributed to the lyrics?

Warren Zevon: Yeah, passing a line from each of us around. I remember certain lines and whose they are. I think most of the first verse was entirely Waddy. I thought it was pretty remarkable that he spontaneously delivered himself of this sort of Paul Simon-esque verse. No sooner had we told him we were "doing the Werewolves of London," than he said, "I saw a werewolf with a Chinese menu in his hand/Walking through the streets of Soho in the rain."

Goldmine: When you did the track with Waddy and Mick Fleetwood and John McVie, how many takes did you do?

Warren Zevon: Well, that [recorded track] was the last of several different ensembles that played it. And I don't remember how many we did, but I remember that Waddy said, "I think we're done." And Mick stood up and said, "We are never done!" But we played it before. We'd recorded it with different groups. And I remember the Jorge Calderon said, "I think you need a real band. Not like 'cats,' but a band." And I said, "Really? You mean like Buddy Rich?" [laughs] I remember that. And Jorge said, "No, I was thinking more like Fleetwood Mac. Let me call them." [laughs]

Goldmine: So, you were tight with all the Fleetwood Mac people?

Warren Zevon: No, I didn't know the other guys. We all knew Lindsey and Stevie. They were kind of in the Waddy circle. I had done a whole tour with Lindsey, too, a Don Everly solo tour.
(Roeser, Steve: Goldmine, August 18, 1995, Vol. 21, #17, Issue 393, "Warren Zevon: Left Jabs And Roundhouse Rights," (pages 16-24, 28-38, 80)

Warren Zevon wrote the beautiful song "Reconsider Me," that appears on Stevie Nick's Enchanted Boxed Set. In fact, Warren also did a single of "Reconsider Me" with several members of the his band (Warren's version: Roy Bittan, Mike Campbell, Craig Krampf, Tony Levin, Benmont Tench and Waddy Wachtel)-and with Don Henley singing backing vocals- appearing on Stevie Nicks'cover of the song.

Waddy as Producer (just a few listed here):

The Church:
"Starfish"
"Gold Afternoon Fix"
"Megalopolis"
"Under The Milky Way: The Best Of Church"

Brian Ferry: "The Bride Stripped Bare"

Keith Richards:
"Wicked As It Seems" (1994)
"Main Offender" (1992) (co-producer)

Various Artists: "Living In Oblivion, Vol.4"

Warren Zevon:
"Mr. Bad Example"
"I'll Sleep When I'm Dead"
"Best Of-Quiet Normal Life"

Jackson Browne: "I'm Alive"

"The Color Of Money" soundtrack (1986)

Cheech and Chong: "Up In Smoke"

Waddy's music appears on these motion pictures:
"Up In Smoke" soundtrack (1990)
"Crybaby" soundtrack (1990)
"Better Off Dead" soundtrack (1991)
"Grand Canyon" soundtrack (1992)
"The Big Picture" soundtrack (1992) "Things To Do In Denver When You're Dead" (1995)
"The Associate" soundtrack (1996)
"The Waterboy" soundtrack (1998)
(includes a song that Waddy co-wrote with Joe Walsh, called "New Year's Eve.")
"Happy Texas" soundtrack (1999)
"Hurlyburly" (1999)
Waddy As Musical Director and Arranger:
Adam Sandler: What The Hell Happened To Me

*Notes: Look for Jimmy Wachtel's work on these albums:

Karla Bonoff: "Wild Heart Of The Young"

Jackson Browne: "World In Motion," "Lives In The Balance," "Lawyers In Love," "Running On Empty"

Crosby, Stills & Nash: "Daylight Again," Live It Up"

Bob Dylan: "Good As I Been To You"

John Cougar Mellencamp: "Nothing Matters & What If It"

Louise Goffin: "Louise Goffin"

The Hollies: "What Goes Around (Bonus Track)"

David Lindley: "El Rayo-X," "Win This Record"

Stevie Nicks: "TimeSpace-the best of Stevie Nicks"

REO Speedwagon: "Ridin' The Storm Out"

J.D. Souther: "Black Rose," "You're Only Lonely"

Survivor: "When Seconds Count,"

Joe Walsh: "But Seriously Folks," "So What," "Barn Storm"

Warren Zevon: "Excitable Boy," "Bad Luck Streak In Dancing School," "Stand In The Fire"

And ironicly:
The Cowsills: "II x II"

Some links for those that wish to read on:

A fan's page:
http://members.tripod.com/~kechiros_world/Meinzenphotos.htm
This cool fan site has pictures of Waddy's early bandmates, "The Orphans"-and features Waddy in his short hair days.

Waddy Wachtel Articles on the Penguin:

Basch, Marty: Modern Recording & Music, November 1980, Vol. 6, No. 2, "Rick Marotta & Waddy Wachtel of Ronin," pages 54-58.

Bosso, Joseph: Guitar World, December 1988, Vol. 9, No. 11, "Kicking It Out With Keef: Waddy Wachtel on Talk Is Cheap", pages 68-69.

Fishell, Steve: Guitar Player, October 1979, Vol. 13, No. 10, "Waddy Wachtel, Rock Sideman, Pop Producer, Touring Guitarist", pages 20-28.

Kutina, Scott E.: International Musician and Recording World, February 1981, Volume 3, Number 2, "Waddy Wachtel," pages 30-32.

Simons, David: Musician, April 1999, Issue No. 245, "Sideman: Waddy Wachtel," page 14.

And one of my favorite sources of information:
Coombs, Patricia: Waddy And His Brother, Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Co, Inc., NY, 1963.