Answers from the Archive

15 questions answered in Hal's own words — the sessions, the stars, the stories behind the records. Ask your own at halblaine.com.

Elvis Presley

• Hal Blaine’s Drumming on “Can’t Help Falling in Love” “Can't Help Falling in Love”

Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass

• The First Record of the Year: Hal Blaine on “A Taste of Honey” “A Taste of Honey”

Mama Cass Elliott

• Hal Blaine’s Drumming on “Dream a Little Dream of Me” “Dream a Little Dream of Me”

Neil Diamond

• Hal Blaine and “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother” “He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother”
• Hal Blaine on Neil Diamond’s “Song Sung Blue” “Song Sung Blue”

Richard Harris

• The Epic Drumming Behind “MacArthur Park” “MacArthur Park”

Simon & Garfunkel

• Hal Blaine on Drums for “Bridge over Troubled Water” “Bridge over Troubled Water”

The Beach Boys

• Hal Blaine on Recording “Do You Remember” with The Beach Boys “Do You Remember”
• Hal Blaine’s Drumming on The Beach Boys’ “God Only Knows” “God Only Knows”
• Hal Blaine’s Drumming on “Good Vibrations” “Good Vibrations”

The Crystals

• Behind the Drums: The Crystals’ “He’s a Rebel” “Hes A Rebel”

The Mama's And The Papa's

• Hal Blaine on the Drums for “California Dreamin’” “California Dreamin'”

The Ronettes

• Hal Blaine’s Drumming on “Be My Baby” “Be My Baby”
• The Drums on The Ronettes’ “Walkin In The Rain” “Walkin In The Rain”

The Sandpipers

• Hal Blaine’s Drumming on “Guantanamera” “Guantanamera”