The Wrecking Crew grabbed all the notoriety in the 60s when it came to ace West Coast session players on a multitude of hit records. The Section, a loose collection of aces that often brought their expertise to singer-songwriter material, followed them in the 70s. Key members included (but weren’t limited to) guitarist Danny “Kootch” Kortchmar, keyboardist Craig Doerge, bassist Leland Sklar, and drummer Russ Kunkel.
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Because they were an unofficial group for most of that time, you can trace The Section’s impact on countless records from that era. We narrowed it down to five classic albums that wouldn’t have been the same without them.
‘Tapestry’ by Carole King (1971)
This album came to define the singer-songwriter movement of the 70s. But it doesn’t just sound like a lone woman with an acoustic guitar or piano. The record is lush and filled with instrumental flourishes. Danny Kortchmar had been in a band with King when she first moved to California to try and record her own songs. He remained a huge part of her recording entourage when she struck out on her own for her solo work, including on Tapestry. Russ Kunkel chipped in on drums. That makes this one of the earliest incarnations of The Section on a hit record.
‘Don’t Cry Now’ by Linda Ronstadt (1973)
Ronstadt hadn’t yet reached the point where she was churning out hit singles with regularity at this point. That would come when she started adding in some crowd-pleasing covers to court radio. But Don’t Cry Now is notable in that several key members of The Section play together on two tracks. Craig Doerge, Leland Sklar, and Russ Kunkel all play on covers of Neil Young’s “I Believe In You” and Randy Newman’s “Sail Away.” One other key connection: Ronstadt’s producer and manager, Peter Asher, who would often utilize The Section on albums he produced.
‘Gorilla’ by James Taylor (1975)
Danny Kortchmar and Russ Kunkel had appeared on Sweet Baby James, Taylor’s breakthrough solo album in 1970. But the impact of The Section can be felt much more acutely on this highly successful record by Taylor. Kortchmar, Kunkel, and Leland Sklar all play on several tracks on Gorilla. On top of that, there are only two tracks on the record where all three appear together. Those two tracks are “Mexico” and “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)”, which also happen to be the two hit singles. The smooth, yet propulsive, interplay between the three men on these songs can’t be understated.
‘Running On Empty’ by Jackson Browne (1977)
Perhaps the pinnacle of The Section’s work together. Running On Empty displayed both their studio precision and concert potency. Browne has the nifty idea to record an album of original songs on the road, some on stage, others backstage, or even in hotel rooms. And he essentially does so with Doerge, Kunkel, Sklar, and Kortchmar as his backing band, along with frequent Browne collaborator (and auxiliary Section member) David Lindley. From the heft they bring to the title track to the tenderness they offer on ballads like “Love Needs A Heart”, these players rise to every challenge.
‘Excitable Boy’ by Warren Zevon (1978)
Zevon had used a few unofficial Section members (David Lindley, Waddy Wachtel) on his self-titled 1976 album. That record reestablished his career. For the follow-up, Excitable Boy, released in 1978, Danny Kortchmar and Russ Kunkel were both heavily involved, while Leland Sklar also plays bass on a few tracks. You can hear the classic rhythm section of Sklar and Kunkel locking in on the churning “Johnny Strikes Up The Band.” Kunkel’s martial stomp also goes a long way in giving “Roland The Headless Thompson Gunner” its haunting feel.
Photo by Ian Dickson/Shutterstock
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