The greatest legend that played camco (along with rogers) in the 60s-

A lot of what people think is, Dennis Wilson, is really, Hal Blaine.

Credit where credit is due...

John

DENNIS DID PLAY ON THE RECORDS!!! Hal played on some and Dennis played on some- if you believe otherwise you obviously don't have your facts strait!

Kook - Dennis was a writer and lead singer on many BB's hits, but the drummer on the recordings is, Hal Blaine. Don't be so quick to snap at someone to get their facts straight... until you get your own facts straight.

Check the discography, drum credits on the recorded stuff goes to Hal Blaine. Dennis mostly played in shows/live situations. Dennis's role as a drummer, was more like, Mickey Dolenz from the Monkees, in that he learned to play drums for live shows, not because he started out as a drummer. I love the BB's, I grew up listening to that stuff, but that great drum sound was, Hal Blaine, not Dennis Wilson. The guy you should be praising is, Hal. Dennis on drums (like Mickey Dolenz,) was just 'window dressing'.

John

Don't forget Doug Clifford of CCR. He wasn't an endorser but he played Camco drums and they can even be seen on the front of the album cover for Cosmos Factory. IMO the greatest Camco player in the 60's was Nick Ceroli of Herb Albert & The Tijuna Brass. Heck he even had a kit named after him, The Nick Ceroli Outfit which was a 20/12/14 5x14 in burgundy sparkle! Although don't seek out his sound on record as he didn't record on any of the records.

But probably the greatest Camco player / endorser ever would have to be Jeff Porcaro!

Mel Brown...

The first 4 Beach Boys albums (Surfin Safari, Surfin USA, Surfer Girl, Little Deuce Coupe) Dennis played on; Brian wasn't using the "wrecking crew" yet. The late 60s thru the '71 Surf's Up album, the Love You album- all Dennis! Hal Blaine played drums on sessions in '64 thru Pet Sounds and Smile.

Anyone know the color of Dennis Wilson's Camco's? Obviously a moire. More than one color maybe? Seems to be very little information out there, whereas with Ringo there is at least piles of speculation if not a completely accurate record. (At least few still think he had an oyster blue kit)

And..... where can I get those facts on where he was drumming on a record and where he wasn't. I've listened pretty carefully. Some do sound considerably below the threshold you'd expect from a pro like Blaine. I would have guessed Wilson was playing on some of the early stuff up through at least Surfin Safari, and his stage rendition of Shutdown certainly is in the same groove as that on the recording.

A friend of mine owned these drums for awhile. Last I saw of them was at Donn Bennetts shop in Seattle. I saw Mel Brown setting up at a jazz festival I played at last week. I was playing at the same time but my wife stopped in to hear the band and said they sounded great. Mel was playing an Allegra bop kit.

Those pics of Mel's set are from a 2001 exhibit and provided by Donn.