Immediate Family
Director: Denny Tedesco Run Time: 100 min. Release Year: 2022
Starring: David Crosby, Jackson Browne, Lou Adler, Peter Asher, Phil Collins
If you listen to 1970s pop music, you’ve undoubtedly heard these guys play, but do you know their names? This documentary highlights five talented men—Danny, Leland, Rus, Waddy, and Steve— who shunned the spotlight for themselves yet enjoyed decades of success as session musicians on iconic tracks. Interviewees include their collaborators James Taylor, Don Henley, Lyle Lovett, Jackson Browne, Phil Collins, Carole King, Stevie Nicks, Keith Richards, Steve Jordan, and dozens more who take us behind the scenes on the songs that shaped an era.
“This film is a window into the lives of my musical brothers, whose gold standard is to make sure that every song they play on comes out even better than the songwriter imagined. Now they’re doing that for their own songs, and this film tells their story beautifully.” – Carole King
“A wonderful and fascinating encomium to the unsung heroes of the music of the 70s and so much more. I was thrilled to watch my favourite musicians (and dearest friends) celebrated for their musical brilliance, their prodigious influence and creativity – and for how much fun we all had (and, by the way, continue to have!)”. – Peter Asher
“Waddy and I sometimes, I think we’re the same person, except from California and New York, because we are like two sides of a coin and that’s why we have been working together for so long I think. Because I would never want anybody else to be my musical director, or my lead guitarist, because Waddy makes me feel safe and always has in any situation, no matter how frightening the situation, as long as he’s standing next to me, I know I’m safe.” – Stevie Nicks
“One of the things about the comradery was the knowledge of what it’s like to make music together and to collaborate. on something like that. Like put down a tune and everybody work together as a sort of team or a community on this tune. It’s a bond, it’s such a special thing to be able to do. “The creative input of these session guys cannot be overstated. It can’t be overstated. I mean it just can’t be overstated.” — James Taylor
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