Some of the most popular songs — Carole King’s “It’s Too Late,” Warren Zevon’s “Werewolves of London,” Jackson Browne’s “Running on Empty,” Stevie Nicks’ “Edge of Seventeen,” Jimmy Buffett’s “Volcano,” Don Henley’s “All She Wants to Do Is Dance” and so many more — were written, produced, or performed by session musicians Danny “Kootch” Kortchmar (guitar), Leland “Lee” Sklar (bass), Waddy Wachtel (guitar) and Russ Kunkel (drums).
The fantastic new documentary, “Immediate Family,” directed by Denny Tedesco (“The Wrecking Crew”) has these four friends sitting around and reflecting on their lives, careers and the music they made together. Tedesco nimbly assembles a who’s who of rock including King, Browne, Nicks and Henley, as well as James Taylor, Linda Ronstadt, Keith Richards, Phil Collins, Neil Young, Lyle Lovett and many others to provide comments and anecdotes on these session musicians. (Waddy’s recollections about visiting a strip club in Wheeling, WV, with Linda Ronstadt is especially amusing.)
