MENU TOP Who were the session musicians on their first hit single?
The first session for “Mr. Tambourine Man” was too important to leave to the musical skills of this fledgling band. Terry Melcher the producer (Doris Day’s son) hired the hit-making “Wrecking Crew” to play the band track for the song. Hal Blaine on drums, Larry Knechtel on Bass Jerry Cole, and Bill Pitman on electric guitar, Leon Russell on electric piano. Jim McGuinn was the only Byrd allowed to play on the session. He played his Rickenbacker electric 12-string. (See contract) After the first single, the Byrds played on all their own tracks.
