The Section (band)

Last updated

The Section was a US instrumental rock/jazz fusion band formed in the early 1970s by guitarist Danny Kortchmar, keyboardist Craig Doerge, bassist Leland Sklar, and drummer Russ Kunkel. Other musicians associated with the group include multi-instrumentalist David Lindley and guitarist Waddy Wachtel. They are best known for both studio and stage work in support of some of the best selling singer-songwriters and solo singers of that decade. Their frequent appearances on the records of artists signed to Asylum Records made them the label's de facto house band. Their close association with the singer-songwriter and soft rock genres of the 1970s also led to their alternate moniker of "The Mellow Mafia". [1]

They appeared together and individually on such albums as Carole King's best selling/record breaking, 1971's "Album of the Year," Tapestry ; James Taylor's 1970 hit album, Sweet Baby James and many other albums by Linda Ronstadt, Crosby & Nash, Jackson Browne, Warren Zevon and others. They also performed as the back-up band on many of their tours. Other musicians who did not belong to the discrete 1972–1977 band but frequently performed in other permutations of the ensemble (such as Browne's Running on Empty -era touring band) were Mighty Jitters bassist Tim Drummond and David Lindley. [1] Fork It Over (1977), the group's final album, featured guest appearances from Taylor and David Crosby alongside other session luminaries of the era, including percussionist Joe Lala, saxophonist David Sanborn, trumpeter Chuck Findley and multi-instrumentalist Jim Horn.

One or more of them can be heard on the most popular tracks from the 1970s: King's "It's Too Late" and "Sweet Seasons"; Taylor's "You've Got a Friend" and his remake of "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)"; Browne's "Doctor, My Eyes" and "Rock Me on the Water"; Ronstadt's "Poor Poor Pitiful Me"; Joni Mitchell's "Carey"; Crosby, Stills & Nash's "Shadow Captain" and "Just a Song Before I Go"; and entire albums by Taylor ( JT , Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon ), King ( Rhymes & Reasons , Thoroughbred ), Ronstadt ( Don't Cry Now , Mad Love ), Crosby & Nash ( Graham Nash David Crosby , Wind on the Water ) and Browne ( Running on Empty , Hold Out ). [1]

By the 1980s, the group stopped working together collectively, although as individuals they continued to play prominent roles in the studio and on tour with many of the most popular acts of the decade, including Phil Collins, who collaborated with Sklar frequently starting with 1985's No Jacket Required album and subsequent tour, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, whose albums Daylight Again and American Dream feature keyboard work and songwriting by Doerge, Stevie Nicks, whose debut solo album Bella Donna features guitar work from Wachtel, who continues to work with her as her musical director, Bob Seger, who frequently collaborated with Kunkel beginning with 1982's The Distance album following the departure of David Teegarden, and Don Henley, who used Kortchmar's writing skills and musicianship on numerous instruments on his I Can't Stand Still and Building the Perfect Beast albums.

Beside their supporting work for other musicians, The Section released three albums of their own, consisting of mostly instrumental music that was an amalgam of rock, pop, jazz, and jazz fusion.

The Section was inducted into the TEC Awards Hall of Fame in 2018. [2] [3] [4]

In 2018, three members of The Section formed a group called The Immediate Family, consisting of Danny Kortchmar on guitar and vocals, Leland Sklar on bass, and Russ Kunkel on drums and backing vocals. They were joined by Waddy Wachtel and Steve Postell on guitars and vocals. The group has toured Japan and released a number of recordings. Their first U.S. single, "Cruel Twist", was released in 2020. [5] Their first full length U.S. release, the self-titled album The Immediate Family, debuted on August 27, 2021. [6]

Discography

Related Research Articles

<i>Excitable Boy</i> 1978 studio album by Warren Zevon

Excitable Boy is the third studio album by American musician Warren Zevon. The album was released on January 18, 1978, by Asylum Records. It includes the single "Werewolves of London", which reached No. 21 and remained in the American Top 40 for six weeks. The album brought Zevon to commercial attention and remains the best-selling album of his career, having been certified platinum by the RIAA and reaching the top ten on the US Billboard 200. A remastered and expanded edition was released in 2007.

<i>The Best of James Taylor</i> 2003 greatest hits album by James Taylor

The Best of James Taylor is the fourth compilation album by American singer-songwriter James Taylor released by Warner Bros. Records in 2003. The same album was released in Europe as You've Got a Friend: The Best of James Taylor.

<i>Ill Sleep When Im Dead (An Anthology)</i> 1996 compilation album by Warren Zevon

I'll Sleep When I'm Dead (An Anthology) is a two-disc compilation album by American singer-songwriter Warren Zevon, released on Rhino Records in 1996. It spans his career from his eponymous debut album on Asylum Records to date of release, ignoring his disowned initial album from 1969, Wanted Dead or Alive. It contains tracks from all ten of his albums released during this period, and includes contributions to soundtracks and his one-off album with members of R.E.M., Hindu Love Gods.

<i>Lawyers in Love</i> 1983 studio album by Jackson Browne

Lawyers in Love is the seventh album by American singer-songwriter Jackson Browne, released in 1983 by Asylum Records. It was Browne's fourth straight Top 10 album and stayed on the charts for 33 weeks, peaking at No. 8 on the Billboard 200. Out of eight tracks, four were released as singles. The title song reached No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was accompanied by one of Browne's first music videos released on MTV.

Daniel "Danny Kootch" Kortchmar is an American guitarist, session musician, producer and songwriter. Kortchmar's work with singer-songwriters such as Linda Ronstadt, James Taylor, David Crosby, Carole King, David Cassidy, Graham Nash, Neil Young, Steve Perry, and Carly Simon helped define the signature sound of the singer-songwriter era of the 1970s. Jackson Browne and Don Henley have recorded many songs written or co-written by Kortchmar, and Kortchmar was Henley's songwriting and producing partner in the 1980s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waddy Wachtel</span> American musician

Robert "Waddy" Wachtel is an American musician, composer and record producer, most notable for his guitar work. Wachtel has worked as session musician for other artists such as Linda Ronstadt, Beth Hart, Stevie Nicks, Kim Carnes, Randy Newman, Keith Richards, The Rolling Stones, Jon Bon Jovi, James Taylor, Iggy Pop, Warren Zevon, Bryan Ferry, Michael Sweet, Jackson Browne, Karla Bonoff, and Andrew Gold, both in the studio and live.

<i>Daylight Again</i> 1982 studio album by Crosby, Stills & Nash

Daylight Again is the fourth studio album by Crosby, Stills & Nash, and their third studio album in the trio configuration. It peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard 200 albums chart, the final time the band made the top ten before the death of David Crosby in 2023. Three singles were released from the album, all making the Billboard Hot 100: "Wasted on the Way" peaked at No. 9, "Southern Cross" at No. 18, and "Too Much Love to Hide" at No. 69. The album was certified platinum by the RIAA with sales of 1,850,000.

<i>Oh Yes I Can</i> 1989 studio album by David Crosby

Oh Yes I Can is the second solo studio album by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young member David Crosby. It was released on January 23, 1989, 18 years on from his previous solo release, If I Could Only Remember My Name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leland Sklar</span> American bassist (born 1947)

Leland Bruce Sklar is an American bassist and session musician. Sklar rose to prominence as a member of James Taylor's backing band, which coalesced into a group in its own right, The Section, which supported so many of Asylum Records' artists that they became known as Asylum's de facto house band, as those artists became iconic singer-songwriters of the 1970s.

Russell Kunkel is an American drummer who has worked as a session musician with many popular artists, including Bill Withers,Jackson Browne, Joni Mitchell, Jimmy Buffett, Harry Chapin, Rita Coolidge, Neil Diamond, Bob Dylan, Cass Elliot, Dan Fogelberg, Glenn Frey, Art Garfunkel, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Carole King, Lyle Lovett, Reba McEntire, Stevie Nicks, Linda Ronstadt, Bob Seger, Carly Simon, Stephen Stills, James Taylor, Joe Walsh, Steve Winwood, Neil Young, and Warren Zevon. He was the studio and touring drummer for Crosby & Nash in the 1970s, and has played on all four of their studio albums.

<i>Graham Nash David Crosby</i> 1972 studio album by Crosby & Nash

Graham Nash David Crosby is the first album by Crosby & Nash, the partnership of David Crosby and Graham Nash, released on Atlantic Records in 1972, catalog SD 7220. It peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 albums chart, and a single taken from the album, "Immigration Man", peaked at No. 36 on the Billboard Hot 100 on June 17 and 24, 1972. It was certified gold by the RIAA, and it was dedicated to Joni Mitchell, as "to Miss Mitchell".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crosby & Nash</span> Musical duo

Crosby & Nash were a musical duo that maintained a separate career in addition to the solo endeavors of David Crosby and Graham Nash, and separate from the larger aggregate of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. Crosby and Nash performed and recorded regularly during the 1970s, issuing five albums including three of original studio material. After the more or less permanent reformation of Crosby, Stills & Nash in 1976, the duo continued to play sporadic concerts from the 1980s through the second decade of the 21st century, issuing another studio album in 2004 and going on an extended concert tour in 2011.

<i>Wind on the Water</i> 1975 studio album by Crosby & Nash

Wind on the Water is the second album by Crosby & Nash, released on ABC Records in 1975. Cassette and 8-track tape versions of the album were distributed by Atlantic Records, to which Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young were signed. It peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard 200 album chart and was certified gold by the RIAA. Three singles were released from the album, "Carry Me", "Take the Money and Run", and "Love Work Out", of which only the first charted, peaking at No. 52 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.

<i>Whistling Down the Wire</i> 1976 studio album by Crosby & Nash

Whistling Down the Wire is the third album by Crosby & Nash, released on ABC Records in 1976, the second of the duo's three-album deal with ABC Records. Cassette and 8-track tape versions of the album were distributed by Atlantic Records, to which Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young were signed. It peaked at No. 26 on the Billboard 200 album chart and was certified gold by the RIAA. Two singles were released from the album, "Out of the Darkness" and "Spotlight," of which only the first charted on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at #89.

<i>The Best of Crosby & Nash</i> 1978 compilation album by Crosby & Nash

The Best of Crosby & Nash is a compilation album by Crosby & Nash released in 1978. It features tracks from the artists' solo albums as well as by the duo, although does not contain their biggest hit as a pair, "Immigration Man." Their final album on ABC Records, it is out of print, superseded in 2002 by a survey of their work for ABC released on compact disc.

<i>Carry On</i> (Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young album) 1991 compilation album by Crosby, Stills & Nash

Carry On is a compilation album by Crosby, Stills & Nash, issued on Atlantic Records in 1991, generally for the European and Australian markets. It is a two-disc sampler of their four-disc box set, CSN, released two months previously in the United States and the United Kingdom. It features material spanning 1968 through 1990 from their catalogue of recordings as a group in addition to selections from Crosby & Nash, Manassas, and their individual solo albums. It was reissued on 30 June 1998 on the WEA International record label. This compilation should not be confused with the Stephen Stills box set of the same name released in 2013.

Craig Doerge is an American keyboard player, session musician, songwriter, and record producer, best known for his keyboard work with Crosby Stills and Nash, James Taylor, and Jackson Browne.

<i>Life Goes On</i> (Paul Williams album) 1972 studio album by Paul Williams

Life Goes On is a studio album by Paul Williams, released in 1972.

"Only Love Is Real" is a song written and performed by Carole King. The song was included on her 1976 album, Thoroughbred. The single peaked at No. 28 in the Billboard Hot 100 and was King's fourth and final No. 1 on the Easy Listening chart, where it remained for one week in March 1976. It is ranked as the 40th biggest AC/Easy Listening hit of 1976.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rock Me on the Water</span> 1972 single by Jackson Browne

"Rock Me on the Water" is a song written and performed by American singer-songwriter Jackson Browne, released as the second single from his 1972 debut album, Jackson Browne, following the No. 7 success of Browne's debut single, "Doctor, My Eyes". Browne's version reached No. 48 on Billboard's September 23, 1972, Hot 100 chart, spending nine weeks on that chart after debuting at No. 73 on August 5, 1972. It was also released as a single in Canada, Germany and Japan, and as a promotional single in the United Kingdom.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Browne, David (April 11, 2013). "The Knights of Soft Rock". Rolling Stone . No. 1180. pp. 52–59, 70.
  2. ↑ The NAMM TEC Awards Hall of Fame - 2018 Inductee, tecawards.org, accessed October 7, 2021.
  3. ↑ 277. The Section Induction into the 2018 TEC Hall of Fame at NAMM, youtube.com, accessed October 7, 2021.
  4. ↑ The Section receive the 33rd Annual NAMM TEC Hall of Fame Award, youtube.com, accessed October 7, 2021.
  5. ↑ Browne, David (June 11, 2020). "The Immediate Family: James Taylor, Linda Ronstadt Session Vets Launch New Band". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
  6. ↑ Musician, Bass (August 27, 2021). "Out Now, The Immediate Family Self-titled Album!" (HTML). Bass Musician magazine. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
  7. ↑ The Section – The Section, allmusic.com, accessed October 7, 2021.
  8. ↑ The Section – The Section, discogs.com, accessed October 7, 2021.
  9. ↑ 106. The Section / The History of the Band, youtube.com, accessed October 8, 2021.
  10. ↑ 108. The Section & and bass SOLO, youtube.com, accessed April 13, 2022.
  11. ↑ 322. The Section / 3 songs, youtube.com, accessed April 13, 2022.
  12. ↑ 406. The Section revisited!!!!, youtube.com, accessed April 13, 2022.
  13. ↑ 925. The Section / 1st album, youtube.com, accessed April 13, 2022.
  14. ↑ 413. Sammy Hagar / The Section ... Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay, youtube.com, accessed October 8, 2021.
  15. ↑ The Section – Forward Motion, allmusic.com, accessed October 7, 2021.
  16. ↑ The Section – Forward Motion, discogs.com, accessed October 7, 2021.
  17. ↑ 108. The Section & and bass SOLO, youtube.com, accessed April 13, 2022.
  18. ↑ 726. The Section / Forward Motion, youtube.com, accessed October 8, 2021.
  19. ↑ 913. The Section (Forward Motion), youtube.com, accessed April 13, 2022.
  20. ↑ 914. The Section ( a bit more), youtube.com, accessed April 13, 2022.
  21. ↑ The Section – Fork It Over, allmusic.com, accessed October 7, 2021.
  22. ↑ The Section – Fork It Over, discogs.com, accessed October 7, 2021.
  23. ↑ 608. The Section / Fork it Over, youtube.com, accessed October 8, 2021.
  24. ↑ 896. The Section, youtube.com, accessed April 13, 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.