And there's a WHOLE heap of 'em comin' your way ...
So get comfortable!!!
We have received LOTS of COMMENTS to our PHIL SPECTOR Series. I've invited STEVE KNUETTEL (SLK47) to respond to a few of these, too, since HE's the expert who did all the work to put this great series together!!! (Watch for HIS comments in MAROON.)
re: GENERAL SPECTOR COMMENTS:
I have been reading the comments section and feel compelled to add my $ 0.02.
I agree with Pttibg and others. You know how those who watch sports without deep feelings always say, “well, it’s just a game,” I think it may be time for some of us to say, “it’s just a record.’ Ever since I first heard UPTOWN by The Crystals, I knew there was something special about that record, or the sound of that record, or the singers, or something. I did not realize it was the producer … heck I was 14, I didn’t know from Shinola about the music business. Phil Spector has had an interesting life to say the least. I have never met him. I have no idea what goes on his head, but I do know this … in the 60’s, that son of a gun (assuming no pun intended - kk) produced a unique sound that branded his symphonies for the kiddies with a trademark quality that still stands today. He is as much a genius as Brian Wilson, as Ellie Greenwich and Jeff Barry, Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, and Carole King and Gerry Goffin. Shouldn’t we separate the music these people made, from their personal life? I am not crazy about all of Brian Wilson’s life, but it does not change how I feel when I hear Good Vibrations.
Bob Mayben
>>>"I hope the readers gain an appreciation for Phil’s work and contribution to Rock & Roll rather than an opinion that he is the reclusive crazy gun totting egocentric murderous kook that tabloids portray." Steve (SLK47)
Phil Spector is both a musical genius and a reclusive egocentric kook, but if you have a true appreciation of music, these two sides of Spector are easy to keep separated. Kent, your timing could not be more perfect .... I am almost finished reading "Tearing Down the Wall of Sound - The Rise and Fall of Phil Spector" by Mick Brown. My dear friends Redhed and Torch sent this book to me and its great. Its objectively written and contains much about the early Sixties music that I did not know. I am looking forward to reading your series.
Rich
Pffft! Ask Jerry Lee Lewis about the public's "memory"... I shall always be in awe of Phil Spector's production prowess, as can be heard on my favorite George Harrison song, "What Is Life."
Vaguememory
Fact is, it sounds like SPECTOR WAS, in fact, a crazy gun toting maniac ... going all the way back to way back when!!! SO many artists have come forward with stories of PHIL pulling a gun out in the studio ... it's reportedly why JOHN LENNON stopped working with him. (How ironic then that LENNON would later be gunned down himself by a crazed fan!) WHAT IS LIFE is a GREAT track ... and one of the ones we featured during this series. (kk)
Out of curiosity, I drove by Spector's house last year. He lives about 3 miles from my g/f.
gem
Magnificent!
Mike
Another outstanding piece of work, Kent! Great job!
It was certainly a great read. I look forward to what you have up your sleeve next!
Ciao!
Doc
No doubt about it, Phil Spector was a production genius. It's too bad he couldn't transfer some of that genius to his private life or singing, those both suck.
Dube
My mother worked as a legal secretary for Louis Nizer's office, Phil's lawyers. My mother was the secretary to Louis Nizer's partner, last name Phillips (I can't recall his first name.) One day, my mother came home from work and told us that Phil Spector and John Lennon were supposed to have a meeting with Mr. Phillips; after all, he was their representative. Phil Spector was so paranoid, that he told Mr. Phillips that he didn't want him in the meeting and it was just he and John. He was afraid that Mr. Phillips would give away "secrets." What it was about Phil Spector is that whatever the media was saying about him, i.e., that he was a nut, paranoid, etc., he believed them and became what they were saying about him. That's according to my cousin.
Arlene
Hey Kent,
This series is the way to start a morning. This is even better than swim suit models on the Today Show! Since Be My Baby is my all time favorite song, I read every line of this piece for entertainment and then again for education. Thank you for a wonderful experience.
Bobaloo
More kudos to STEVE KNUETTEL on a job well done! (Although it WOULD have been nice if he dressed it up a little bit with swim suit models along the way.) kk
Hi Kent,
Having been a Phil Spector fan since the 60s, I have been reading your series with great interest. Thanks also for the music, some of which I have never heard before. How about a series on the UK’s top producer, The Legendary Joe Meek, (sometimes known as the British Phil Spector) I understand he is getting popular in the USA, Having known Joe and worked with him, I can honestly say, his story and music would make a great feature.
Keep up the good work!
David Peters
I would LOVE to do a series on MEEK ... in fact, it's come up a FEW times now over the years ... if we can get a few of our readers to pool their efforts, I think that it might make for an interesting follow-up to our SPECTOR piece somewhere down the line. (kk)
[EDITOR’s NOTE: It never happened … but I STILL think it would make for an interesting series. -kk]
That would be way cool. Someone once wrote that "Joe Meek is a cross between Ed Wood and Phil Spector." Suzanne
I am happy to place the ball in BOTH of your courts ... I think a follow-up series of sorts spotlighting the career of JOE MEEK would be a GREAT FORGOTTEN HITS Series. Keep me posted! (kk)
Hello Kent.
Since our last email, I've been obsessing about
Joe Meek (again). I have a bunch of his stuff on cd (recovered some stuff
I lost). I got some books about him. He's such an interesting
person that I still want to know more, ya know?
Anyway, I don't know if
you read this. I got it from Wikipedia. Here's the link, btw:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Meek
"In 2005 a stage play, Telstar, based on his life starred Con O'Neill as Meek and Linda Robson as his landlady.[6] It is now being made into a film starring Kevin Spacey, Nick Moran and Martine McCutcheon with O'Neill reprising his stage role.
Documentary
An independent American documentary, A Life In The Death Of Joe Meek is currently being edited for release in 2008. The production, which began shooting in 2003, includes over 60 interviews with Meek's family, close friends, associates, musicians and pop culture movers and shakers such as Alex Kapranos, Keith Strickland, Edwyn Collins, Liam Watson, Huw Bunford and Simon Napier-Bell."
David
Hey, if KEVIN SPACEY is making the movie, maybe we can tie our FH piece into the release of the film (like we did with the BOBBY DARIN Series!!!) That'd be kinda cool! (kk)
>>>The flip side of the record was another instrumental called Brother Julius named after a hamburger stand near the Gold Star studio. (I recently read that "Brother Julius" ... the title of one of Phil's throw away b-sides ... was named after a guy who had a shoe shine stand near the studio. Prior to that I had always heard that Brother Julius ran a hamburger stand near the studio.) Steve (SLK47)
I wonder if the “Brother Julius” hamburger stand referred to was actually one of the franchised “Orange Julius” fruit drink stands that dot Southern California.
Gary Theroux
Great series. I didn't know about Phil producing that great Timi Yuro record.
With Phil's production and Gene Pitney's soaring vocals, Every Breath I Take is simply an amazing record.
Mark The Shark
I think this is one of those series where EVERYBODY's going to learn SOMETHING!!! The GENE PITNEY track received a TREMENDOUSLY positive response ... yet when it was originally released it stopped at #42 in BILLBOARD and #34 in CASH BOX. (kk)
I absolutely love Gene Pitney's voice in that
song! This is too cool! Thank you.
BritInvLvr
Hey Kent!
I have a promo copy of "Ringo, I Love You" by Bonnie Jo Mason (Cher'), backed with an instrumental, "Beatle Blues". I love Ringo - it's a cute song, and I miss Cher's old way of singing. I love her but I miss her kind of flat way of singing, without all the histrionics. I have a few of her Imperial 45's (Needles and Pins, All I Really Want to Do) I had her eponymous (spelled wrong, I'm sure) Imperial album, which had "Alfie" and "Sunny." It's great to listen to them with headphones, because you can hear mistakes made during recording (false vocal starts, etc.) Plus, her old recordings were engineered so badly. A few years ago, her Imperial stuff was re-released and rebalanced, so they were supposed to sound better.
I really love Phil Spector's sound, and his singles always sound so great. I want to pick up "Back To Mono" someday.
As for his nutso behavior now, anyone who knew him at any time and saw his behavior could have stepped forward to help him. But, it's SO cool for artists (especially men) to have eccentric behavior. It builds up their legend. Maybe some people did try to help him. It's just too bad such a talent had to become such a headcase.
"Be My Baby" is just fantastic! So are his Xmas songs.
Ed Pond
We featured the BONNIE JO MASON track as part of our series ... as well as a couple of CHER's SOLO tunes produced by PHIL SPECTOR in the '70's. BACK TO MONO is cheaper now than it's EVER been ... as a 4-CD Box Set, I've seen it advertised for UNDER $20 ... so NOW is DEFINITELY the time to get it ... no real music collection is complete without it! (kk)
When Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil were asked at one point about writing "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" with Phil Spector, there was an awkward silence for a few seconds. Then Cynthia cleared things up by explaining that Phil never really wrote but instead “inspired.” That’s one way of fudging the fact that Spector came to claim credit on a lot of music he did not compose. I think the way he dealt with Lester Sill says a great deal about Spectorian ethics.
Phil was actually stumped for a name for the group that recorded "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah." A friend of his, Cashbox editor Ira Howard, suggested something associated with teenage clothing and when asked “like what,” came up with “Bobby socks or something.” He then clarified his idea by saying, “Bob B. Soxx & the Blue Jeans” and Phil liked it.
I happened to be with Howard at a Songwriters Hall of Fame dinner several years ago in which Spector acknowledged that Howard came up with the name. In fact, Phil’s first words upon spotting Ira after many years, grinned and blurted out, “Bob B. Soxx & the Blue Jeans!” They then had a very happy reunion.
Among other things, Ira Howard also wrote a song called “The Rari,” which another friend, Bobby Darin, demoed. Decades after Darin’s death, Ira was putting together a career compilation album on Darin for Reader’s Digest Music when I suggested he throw in my favorite Darin B side, “Bullmoose” (the flip of “Dream Lover.”) Howard had never heard it until I brought in a copy from home and played it in his office. Stunned, he then pulled out his worn demo of “The Rari” and played it for me. With slightly different lyrics, it was exactly the same song!
Gary Theroux
Man, would I LOVE to hear a copy of that demo of THE RARI!!! ESPECIALLY since we ran our month-long BOBBY DARIN Series (which, by the way, I ALSO anticipate rerunning before the end of the year ... just TOO much demand for it for me NOT to run it again!!!) kk
UPDATE: The complete Bobby Darin series is now permanently posted on the Forgotten Hits Website:
http://forgottenhits.com/the_bobby_darin_story
Unfortunately, I do not have a copy of “The Rari.”
In fact, as far as I know, the only copy in existence is the very worn lacquer that Ira Howard owns. Howard sometimes wrote under pseudonyms – I assume to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest because he was involved in ranking the singles on Cashbox’s assorted charts. One thing he did write that I know of (again, under an assumed name) was The Singing Belles’ “Someone Loves You Joe” (Madison 126), which reached #53 in Cashbox in 1960. For that one, he simply wrote new lyrics to the public domain camp song “Kumbaya."
Gary Theroux
That's OK ... BOBBY DARIN himself got away with "rewriting" a couple of the standards along the way, too! (LOL) kk
Hello again, Kent,
I'm like Pavlov's dog when it comes to the history lessons you provide.
I'm speaking now of the Phil Spector feature. I am impressed with the academic abilities of the man that put this together for us. It takes a dedication such as you have. I am impressed with so many on your list who contribute in an intelligent and constructive manner. Some people find something good and dedicate time to finding something wrong with it and they show arrogance when they find it. I appreciate the input from list members that make valuable statements that contribute to the accuracy and completion of the piece. Forgotten Hits just keeps getting better! You are the BEST.
Pat Fogel
I'm enjoying the Spector series quite a bit. I've never heard the song "Puddin n Tain" til now. I do remember an episode of Andy Griffith in which Barney makes a reference to the song. Somebody asks Barney what his name is and Barney replies "Puddin Tain ... ask me again and I'll tell ya the same." Thanks to FH, I now know what the hell he was talking about!
Mike
>>>“My boy ... he’s a fine, fine, super-fine boy”, “A Fine Fine Boy” Steve (SLK47)
Bruce Springsteen used to sing and dance to this in his stage show during his earlier days ... It is a feel good song .... I loved Bruce's version. This song helped me get into Darlene Love and recognize her great voice and talent. After seeing Bruce, I went out and purchased this song and played it a lot ...
Thanks for bringing back some good memories, Kent!!!
Blossmwrld
Did Phil Spector produce I Got You Babe for Sonny & Cher? If he didn't, who did? Thanks.
Al
SONNY produced that one all by himself. As a direct disciple of PHIL SPECTOR, he learned quite a lot from the master, wouldn't ya say?!?!?! (kk)
>>>Phi-Dan 5007 – George McCannon III – “You Can’t Grow Peaches On A Cherry Tree” / “Seven Million People”
Steve (SLK47)
The
above release came out on a label called Fun 45, which was nationally
distributed by Masters Releasing and Steve Brodie of Buffalo, NY. I worked for
that company the following year and we had a lot of copies of that single in
our warehouse. This record was played
extensively in the early summer of 1965 by Joey Reynolds and other disc Jockeys
of WKBW. My copy is a while promo copy on Fun 45. This artist appeared
also on Parkway in 1963 with "Lana" (the Roy Orbison song) and
"Look For the Rainbow" on Tower in the fall of 1965.
Clay Pasternack
Perhaps this was another case of multiple labels leasing and distributing the same master??? (kk)
I really don't know - could be. I don't have any other information on this one - other than the information on the label - which gives no production credits (but it is definitely not a Spector production). I did find George listed in Jerry Osborne's Price guide. He lists records by McCannon on Bell, Fun 45, Mercury, Parkway, Phi-Dan and Tower between 1962 and 1968 - with the Phi-Dan being the most pricey in the $15-20 range. Maybe Jerry knows something more. Sorry I can't provide more information.
Steve (SLK47)
I sent a copy of this email exchange to JERRY OSBORNE but haven't heard anything back. Maybe when he sees it here again, he'll give us HIS take on this record. (kk)
I read somewhere (I don’t know where) that Clark Weber was writing a book and it was supposed to come out last November. I guess that didn’t happen. Is he writing a book? If not, he’s someone who should! Someone needs to document the Chicago/Midwest radio and music scene. All the Chi-town stations and jocks (WLS / WCFL / WJJD / WYNR / WIND), music labels: Vee Jay, USA, Mercury and more and the groups: Ides of March, Cryan’ Shames, Buckinghams, Spanky & Our Gang, Shadows of Knight, New Colony Six, and the jocks involved, like Clark Weber, Larry Lujack, Joel Sebastian, Program Directors like John Rook. There is so much to document! Other lesser cities already have books. Chicago is long overdue. Philadelphia is another city that could use written documentation on their music scene with it being the hometown to Cameo/Parkway, Swan, Jamie, Chancellor and more.
Tony Waitekus
He sure IS writing a book ... and it's scheduled to be released this summer!!! In fact, we've got a WORLDWIDE EXCLUSIVE, thanks to CLARK WEBER, "Sneak Peeking" us a look at what he had to say about the legendary PHIL SPECTOR!!! Check It Out in the email below!!! (kk)
Hi Kent;
I’ve enjoyed reading your Spector stories. In my upcoming book on Chicago Rock & Roll which is due out this coming summer, I tell the story of “Pistol Packing” Phil” and his visits to my office at WLS. I think we all agree that Phil is one strange puppy! Bright but strange!
Clark Weber
Sneak peek us a paragraph or two!!! (Hey, if nothing else it'll help to drum up some interest in your book PRE-publication!!! I, for one, can't WAIT to read it!!!) Thanks, CLARK! (kk)
HERE COMES YET ANOTHER FORGOTTEN HITS EXCLUSIVE ...
A SNEAK PEEK AT CLARK WEBER's NEW BOOK!!!
Here's an excerpt from Chapter Seven of my new book tentatively titled “Clark Weber’s The Rise and Fall of AM Rock Radio,” due out this summer:
“One of the more bizarre people who occasionally walked into my WLS office with his record promotion man, Danny Davis in tow, was a New York record producer that used to give me the creeps.
I knew him as a bright and arrogant 21 year old who had an incredible string of hit records under his belt. The fact that he knew his craft well was defined by the fact that he had several million selling records under his name. His name on the record credits didn’t necessarily mean a hit, but I knew it was a quality effort and well worth listening to for possible air play. Unknowns like the Teddy Bears, the Crystals, the Ronettes and the Righteous Brothers became known under this guy’s guidance. He would add echo effect, dub and redub over great lyric lines and suddenly the record world took notice. He couldn’t have weighed more than 120 lbs soaking wet with a stringy hairdo that one time hung down to his shoulders and the next time I saw him it was an “Afro” that looked like he had backed into an electric wall socket. I recall that he wore the latest in British footwear called “Fruit Boots” … high quality leather shoes with pointed toes and lifts to give him the appearance of being taller. This guy could not sit still! We would talk about the world of hit music and where the trends were going … meanwhile, he’s moving all around the room. What made the scene downright creepy was the fact that he wore a holstered snub nosed 38 revolver on his right hip. He made no effort to keep it concealed; it was out in the open for one and all to see. He claimed that because he was in a lot of bad areas auditioning singers that he needed the protection and had a license to carry the gun. You can imagine the cops that stopped him and asked for his permit and he reveled in those stops. I grew up with firearms as my Dad was a detective on the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Department but there was something about this record producer and his love affair for a weapon that was very unsettling. Years later, this same guy had more than his share of trouble because of a gun and is currently on trial for murder in California charged with shooting to death his girlfriend. His name, Phil Spector.” Clark Weber
GREAT stuff!!! Thanks, CLARK ... and PLEASE keep us posted as we get closer to the release date!
re: HOW 'BOUT ... :
Of course keep me on the list no matter what it is. : )
I hope you will add "When I Saw You" and "I'm So Young" by the Ronettes. Those were two very good tunes.
CPass
WOW that is amazing - those are two good songs.
Steve (SLK47)
Then I'm sure we can sneak it at least ONE of them, right??? (kk)
You mentioned in a recent issue you were going to do a Phil Spector series. One of the things that amazes his fans (me included) is the large volume of excellent unreleased material he did in the 60s. Attached is the Ronettes version of "Girls Can Tell," a song he recorded at least two versions with two groups during the Philles era but did not issue either one. Later, Jeff Barry, the co-writer, recorded the song with The Dixie Cups (who had a hit with another unissued Spector song, Chapel Of Love) and Girls Can Tell was used as a B side. However, none of the later versions hold a candle to the original Ronettes version.
Give a
listen and see what you think.
Paul Urbahns
Radcliff, Ky
We featured a couple of the unreleased versions of CHAPEL OF LOVE during our series ... no reason why we can't spotlight GIRLS CAN TELL here in the COMMENTS PAGE! (Here's a few words from STEVE KNUETTEL on this track):
WOW - I'm impressed that someone even knew the Dixie Cups’ versions of the song and that the Ronettes (and Crystals) also recorded it. There must be at least one other Spector freak on the FH list. It warms my heart. :-)
Just for the record, the Crystals' is my favorite version, then the Ronettes, and then the Dixie Cups. I think both of the Spector versions use the same backing track with the main difference being Ronnie's unique voice. That reminds me, we could do an entire section or two with some great non-Spector Ronettes and Ronnie Spector tracks after the regular Spector series. I am really looking forward to the series and the comments it generates.
All my best,
Steve
Well, you're reading the FIRST batch of them right now!!! All-in-all, a job VERY well done!!! (kk)
I hope you put together a list of Spector style songs. The new Bruce Springsteen LP contains a dandy of a song titled "Your Own Worst Enemy" that is full of Spector touches. Bruce Spizer
Before this series even started, STEVE suggested that we could probably do TWO MORE WEEKS of SPECTOR sound-alike or influenced songs ... perhaps as a FOLLOW-UP to this piece when all is said and done ... in fact, if you guys LIKE that idea, send in YOUR suggestions now as to which songs you'd like to see us feature. That'll give STEVE some time to put together his commentary on each selection. (kk)
As we have discussed, we could do an entire series on Spector sound-alikes. I'm game if you are. The best place to start would be the book "Collecting Phil Spector" by Fitzpatrick / Fogerty which has a section listing over 600 soundalike records. Also, the two CDs I mention later in the series on ACE CDs "Phil's Spectre" and "Phil's Spectre II". Steve (SLK47)
re: THE TEDDY BEARS:
Kent,
Check out Carol Connors ... she wrote "Hey Little Cobra" and also was the female singer of The Teddy Bears. She and I were great friends when I was in the Rip Chords - we even wrote a song together ("Santa's Got a Cobra"). I really like her. I'm sure she has a website ... maybe you can even get her email address this way and let her know about your Phil Spector Series.
Best,
Bob Rush
That would be GREAT if CAROL would talk to us about the EARLY days of working with SPECTOR. Ironically, I received an email from MITCH SCHECTER from THE RIPS, too, offering to put her in contact with us ... and, I contacted PRESTON RITTER, former drummer for THE ELECTRIC PRUNES, who just happens to be VERY good friends with SANDY NELSON, another one of SPECTOR's earliest cohorts. It would TRULY be enlightening to hear what PHIL was like back in the EARLY days ... before anybody even knew who he was (or what he'd become!!!) And thanks for reminding me about SANTA'S GOT A COBRA ... damn, I should have featured that one during our onslaught of Christmas tunes last month!!! We'll have to dig it out NEXT year for sure ... great tune! (kk)
Thanks! (You've heard it? It's pretty cool.) I actually spoke with Carrol Shelby on the phone a few times to make sure got the details correct. My first car song wasn't accurate - Al Jardine told me, "You can't do that, Bobby! certain parts won't fit!" What do I know? Jewish guys have a hard enough time getting to the car wash! : )
Bob
Hi Kent ...
Great series on Phil Spector.
I wanted to mention to you that I am close friends with Carol Connors (Annette in "The Teddy Bears".) I've sent her the first installment of the Phil Spector series, and have offered to put her in touch with you. We'll see what happens.
I just wanted to let you know that she will be reading the first installment.
After "The Teddy Bears," Carol went on to write the first Rip Chords hit, "Hey Little Cobra," as well as the Theme from "Rocky" along with Bill Conti. She has also written a new song that will be on our upcoming Rip Chords CD in the Spring of 2008. And ... she co-wrote our Christmas Song, "Santa's Got A Cobra," with former Rip Chord Bob Rush, which was on our last CD. She's a wonderful lady who I love dearly.
More later ...
Your Friend ...
Mitch Schecter/ The Rip Chords
This is just WAY too cool ... thanks, MITCH ... we're hoping to snag a comment or two from both CAROL AND SANDY NELSON about what it was like working with PHIL SPECTOR back in the EARLY days! (kk)
>>>CAROL CONNORS has agreed to do an interview with FORGOTTEN HITS (kk)
Too cool about Carol Connors doing an interview with Forgotten Hits!!! There is more information on Carol on the Spectropop website. Check it out here Carol Connors
Steve (SLK47)
Yeah ... now I just gotta get things together on MY end and actually CALL her!!! (lol) kk
Kent,
Sandy Nelson has a lot of Phil Spector stories. One of Phil's first music gigs (if not the very first) was as the guitarist in one of Sandy's first bands. But a lot of Sandy's stories about Spector are not complimentary. Sandy says he was prone to violence and waving guns in people's faces all the way back before he ever made a recording. Sandy also knew Spector's mother. Sandy has told me on numerous occasions that he always thought Phil Spector was at the very least, "not normal" and at worst, flat crazy. I guess there's a fine line (or none at all, sometimes) between genius and insanity. When I finally get over to visit Sandy, I'll ask him if he wants to share anything on the early days with Phil Spector. He was interacting with Spector before most of the rest of the world even knew Phil Spector existed.
I'm looking forward to giving Sandy all the nice compliments from the readers of FH. I know he will be deeply touched when he reads them.
Preston Ritter
Thanks, PRESTON, I appreciate it! (So I guess our earlier "gun-toting maniac" label isn't that far off the mark after all, is it?!?!?) kk
LOL - we all know he is a "gun toting maniac", but I chose to stay away from that stuff as much as possible and focus on the music - rather than the bashing. Steve (SLK47)
>>>I would appreciate the correct spelling of my last name. (Russ Titelman)
WOW !!! - Russ on the FH list - that is just way too cool! And how embarrassing for me to misspell his last name - not once but twice. I am so ashamed. Russ, please forgive me. (I know how it feels to see your last name misspelled. Ahem, Kent - it's Knuettel not Kneuttel. Did you do that just to get back at me for butchering Russ's name?). Now I supposed I'll never be able to talk him into giving me that acetate for my collection - sigh!
Steve (SLK47)
It's funny 'cause I've checked the spelling EVERY time I've sent out your SPECTOR Series ... but didn't today ... after I hit the "send" button and then read my OWN copy of FORGOTTEN HITS, I noticed that it was misspelled and thought it fittingly ironic in a comedic sort of way!!! (LOL) kk
And, speaking of RUSS TITELMAN, just IMAGINE the contributions he could make to FORGOTTEN HITS ... this guy's been involved with EVERYBODY in the music business!!! Don't believe me??? Check out this link that STEVE KNUETTEL just sent me (which also features a SPECTROPOP Interview with RUSS)!!!
I don't know if you've read this or not - but you definitely should - Russ did a hell of a lot more than I realized - a great guy to have on the list indeed - could be an incredible contributor and help get FH a lot more exposure - let me know what you think after you've had a chance to read it all. And to think how I butchered his name - I am sooooooooooooo ashamed.
Steve (SLK47)
I LOVE THE BEACH BOYS connection ... and THE MONKEES, too (especially since our BOYCE AND HART Series is next!!!)
And, speaking of THE BEACH BOYS ... and BRIAN WILSON ...
re: BRIAN WILSON:
I'm not quite sure where I read this, but I recall reading about Brian Wilson writing down the lyrics for "Don't Worry Baby" after hearing Phil Spector's "Be My Baby" by the Ronettes. Brian had offered the song up to Phil Spector only to have it denied that it would be a hit. Brian, as we know, eventually recorded it for himself with the Beach Boys and the rest is history. I hope I'm not real off this story.. ?
Bob
- Bolingbrook
BRIAN WILSON has often cited BE MY
BABY as the Greatest Record Ever Made and there is NO question that he was
GREATLY influenced by PHIL SPECTOR's style, even using many of the same
musicians and recording studios that SPECTOR did, trying to recapture or
emulate that "feel." I'm not
so sure about DON'T WORRY BABY ... I believe that BRIAN DID offer SPECTOR a few
tunes but I'm not sure that DON'T WORRY BABY was one of them. THE BEACH
BOYS ultimately recorded their own versions of SPECTOR tunes like I CAN HEAR
MUSIC and THEN I KISSED HER. I asked FRANNIE (who's an even bigger BRIAN
WILSON / BEACH BOYS fan than I am ... and that's pretty big!!!) if SHE recalled
anything specifically about DON'T WORRY BABY. Her immediate reaction was
"I think that may be right" and, within SECONDS, she pulled out the
EXACT quotes from BRIAN WILSON's self-penned (well, actually ghost-written)
biography WOULDN'T IT BE NICE: MY OWN STORY ... which recounts the
following tale:
One afternoon we were driving around in my new aquamarine Grand Prix when the DJ spun a brand new Phil Spector-produced platter, The Ronettes singing "Be My Baby." I had to pull over. "Oh my God!" I exclaimed, "This is great! It's the best song I've ever heard." Marilyn didn't know what to make of me. I really lost my head during the chorus. Listening intently, I was amazed by what I heard. The melody line remained constant but the three chords kept changing around it. I started slapping the steering wheel, it was so unbelievable. Why hadn't I ever thought of something like that? Would I ever be able to think of something similar? "What'd you think?" Marilyn asked when it finished. "It blew my mind, that's what I thought," I said. "I mean, Holy Shit! I can't do that. Not that great. Not ever." "Don't worry, baby," she said, rubbing my neck. "You will. You'll do something that great." I didn't know if any amount of encouragement could convince me otherwise. I immediately bought ten copies of "Be My Baby" and played them incessantly. I learned every note, every sound, the pulse of every groove. Finally, I called lyricist Roger Christian and told him I had an idea. He met me one afternoon at my parents' house where, in one of our last collaborations, we wrote a lush ballad whose title and chorus came directly from Marilyn's comforting words, "Don't Worry, Baby." I knew the song was a smash before we finished writing it. "I got an idea," I said. "Let's give it to Phil Spector and he can do it as a follow-up to 'Be My Baby.'" I was second-guessing myself; I didn't really mean it and waited for Roger to talk me out of it, hoping he would. "You're sure?" he asked. "It's a damn good song, Brian, and you might regret it." "Okay, I'll keep it," I said, my voice rising to the occasion. "I bet I can do this song with The Beach Boys as good as Phil Spector." Maybe better.
- Brian Wilson
So while there's a connection of sorts, BRIAN never actually GAVE the song to SPECTOR ... nor did SPECTOR turn the song down. BRIAN goes on to explain in the next chapter how he first met PHIL SPECTOR at GOLD STAR STUDIOS when PHIL was making his infamous Christmas Album. BRIAN was too scared to even speak to him, short of calling him a genius. WILSON remembers that they never even looked each other in the eye. Fascinating reading for anyone on the list interested in learning more about these two studio legends. (Thanks, Honey!!!) kk
HI KENT,
THIS IS TERRIFIC. I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THE PHIL SPECTOR SERIES AS I HAVE BEEN A SPECTOR BUFF FOREVER. I REMEMBER PURCHASING BACK TO MONO THE DAY IT CAME OUT AND HAVE READ ALMOST EVERY BOOK I COULD FIND ABOUT SPECTOR AND THE BRILL BUILDING ERA. SAY WHAT YOU WANT ABOUT HIS PERSONAL LIFE, BUT HE WAS A PERFECT FIT FOR HIS ERA.
IT'S INTERESTING TO READ ABOUT HIS FAIRFAX HIGH SCHOOL DAYS BECAUSE MY PARENTS MOVED TO THE LA AREA IN DECEMBER, 1962, AND I ATTENDED FAIRFAX FOR 4 MONTHS, BEFORE WE CAME BACK HOME TO CHICAGO. I CAN PICTURE THAT NEIGHBORHOOD TO THIS VERY DAY AND I OFTEN THINK ABOUT HOW CLOSE I MAY HAVE COME TO BUMPING INTO THE LIKES OF PHIL SPECTOR AND BRIAN WILSON AND JAN BERRY. WE LIVED IN AN APARTMENT 1/2 BLOCK FROM SANTA MONICA BOULEVARD, WHICH WAS THE BORDER BETWEEN LOS ANGELES AND HOLLYWOOD. FUN TIMES FOR SURE AND I OFTEN WONDER HOW MY LIFE WOULD HAVE CHANGED IF WE STAYED ON THE WEST COAST.
GOHAWKSGO (MARK)
Greetings Kent, and Forgotten Hits list members.
Been under several deadlines here and unable to spend the time reading and responding to the Spector series. I decided to come in early this AM and get a few things done and, in the process, send off this brief "Spector" comment.
I have three very vivid memories of Phil. Two 'in-person' encounters and one even more intriguing. My first remembrance of Phil was at "Big Daddy" Tom Donahoe and Bobby Mitchell's KYA Radio (San Francisco) "appreciation show" in September, 1963. For all of you 'non' radio folks on the list, these were shows where record companies and/or artists agreed to work for a radio station for either 'expenses only' or a very low booking fee. In reality, it was a way for labels and artists to say "thank you" for airplay without appearing to be giving the station(s) or deejays payola. And, in reality, it was a 'win-win' for both radio and labels. Ticket prices were generally very low so many fans could afford to go and thus enhance the chance of the artists developing new fans and increased record sales.
Tom Donahue, a rightful member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame -- and 'the father of underground radio,' was virtually 'bigger than life.' This man was huge!! We're not talking just about his popularity with his loyal listeners, nor his power as a deejay and programmer, but he was a 'big' fellow:)
The show was held at the "Cow Palace" on the south side of San Francisco. The show featured The Beach Boys, Jan & Dean, The Ronettes, Dee Dee Sharp (her boyfriend, at the time, also showed up and recited poetry. His name was Cassius Clay!), Chuck Berry, Freddy Cannon, The Righteous Brothers and a little 13 year old singer by the name of Stevie Wonder!
There on stage, front and center, and decked out in a black tuxedo with an electric guitar strapped on, was the band leader, Phil Spector! It was a huge band … horns, rhythm section and all. The 'lead' guitarist was a fellow named Sylvester Stewart. Wonder what ever became of him?
The 'second' Phil Spector encounter was about a year later. DW (Dennis Wilson) and I were in Beau Gentry's, a classy men's clothing store that ironically was located next to Wallich's Music City and below Dot Records near the corner of Sunset Blvd. and North Vine Street. That's the store where The Beach Boys bought all those 'striped shirts' and white slacks. Denny and I are looking at all the latest inventory and a Rolls-Royce drives up to the front of the store. Two very large men get out of the front seat, open the back door and out steps Phil! Two body guards the size of Hulk Hogan and this little fellow! We walked over and said 'hi' but Phil was more the 'silent type' and a lengthy conversation was NOT had by all:)
The third Spector remembrance was at Brian's Bellagio Road home in Bel-Air. I'm guessing it was 1969. Brian invited me over the hear a few new songs he was working on. We're in his living room and he goes over to the stereo and puts on "Be My Baby." "I love this song, Fred, just listen to it." So, after the first spin, he puts it on again. Then, again. And, again. And, again. I bet BW played that record ten or fifteen times, maybe more. Each time cranking up the volume even more or dropping the needle to a part he particularly enjoyed and playing it again. It was a rare Brian Wilson/Phil Spector 'moment' and I'll remember it all my life.
Keep those stories comin,' Kent!
Fred Vail
Treasure Isle Recorders, Inc.
Nashville, TN
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