by Steve Matteo | appeared April 30, 2025 – The Vinyl District
Ever since the late ’50s/early ’60s pop music explosion, session or studio musicians were integral to recording. Whether they be backing singers, soloists, part of such illustrious posses as the famed Wrecking Crew, or the musicians who were the heart and soul of the Motown sound, these formerly somewhat anonymous players have been given their due over the years in books and in such movies as Standing in the Shadows of Motown from 2002, The Wrecking Crew from 2008, and 20 Feet from Stardom from 2013.
For anyone who has followed the birth and evolution in particular of British rock, from the singles-based British Invasion or album-based ’70s, one name stands out for those who read liner notes: British pianist Nicky Hopkins. In 2011 the book And on Piano …Nicky Hopkins: The Extraordinary Life of Rock’s Greatest Session Man by Julian Dawson was published. The book came many years after Hopkins passed away in 1994 at the age of 50. That book did a lot to recognize what an important musical artist he was and solidified his place in rock music history.
A new film entitled The Session Man: Nicky Hopkins is sure to bring his legacy alive for even more fans of great British and in some cases even American music. The film was directed by Mike Treen who has primarily worked in television. The timing is just right as it was just announced that Hopkins will be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with the “Musical Excellence Award.”
This is a perfectly crafted musical doc and includes a star-studded cast of interviewees with whom Hopkins worked. There are interviews with Keith Richards, Bill Wyman, Peter Frampton, Nils Lofgren, Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady, Jim Keltner, Terry Reid, Chuck Leavell, Graham Parker, P.P. Arnold, Harry Shearer from Spinal Tap, and record producers Glynn Johns, Shel Talmy, and Chris Kimsey, among many others. There’s also an audio interview with Pete Townshend and a previously filmed interview with Mick Jagger.
Narrated by the legendary Bob Harris, the early part of the film lays the groundwork for the explosive and fertile ’60s London pop, blues, and R&B scene. This time was when Hopkins was able to establish himself as one of the most in-demand session musicians. He played on countless records for many artists and was so highly regarded that he played on numerous singles and albums for The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Who, and The Kinks. He would go on to also play on singles and albums for all four Beatles.
And those sessions are only the tip of the iceberg. He also recorded with Jeff Beck, Rod Stewart, Joe Cocker, Art Garfunkel, Cat Stevens, Carly Simon, Harry Nilsson, and Joe Walsh, among hundreds of others. Hopkins also spent some time in the late ’60s and ’70s playing with the cream of the San Francisco musical artists, including being part of the Jefferson Airplane’s set at Woodstock, recording with the Steve Miller Band, and briefly being a member of the Quicksilver Messenger Service.
He recorded the one-off, cult-fave Jamming with Edward, the result of a jam session from a 1968 Rolling Stones session with Ry Cooder, Mick Jagger, Bill Wyman, and Charlie Watts, released in 1972. Hopkins released three solo albums: The Revolutionary Piano of Nicky Hopkins in 1968, the classic The Tin Man Was a Dreamer in 1973, and No More Changes in 1975.
The film also deals with some of the hardships Hopkins endured, including a nearly lifelong battle with Crohn’s Disease and, for a ten-year period, heavy alcohol and drug problems. Throughout the documentary everyone spoke glowingly about what a sweet guy Hopkins was and how his musicianship was simply unmatched. His second wife Moira is a grounding presence throughout the film who provides endearing insights into just what a gentle soul he was and how beloved he was to the musicians who played with him.
This is a must-see music doc and catnip for fans of British rock from the ’60s and ’70s.
- #SteveMatteo * #SessionMan * #MikeTreen * #GoldenAgeMusicCollectables
