And…speaking of producers…

Phil Spector
The Very Best of Phil Spector 1961-1966
Sony Legacy
www.legacyrecordings.com

The Crystals
The Very Best of The Crystals
Sony Legacy
www.legacyrecordings.com

Darlene Love
The Very Best of Darlene Love
Sony Legacy
www.legacy recordings.com

The Ronettes
The Very Best of The Ronettes
Sony Legacy
www.legacyrecordings.com
By George W. Harris

One of the biggest complaints about jazz is that, “it all sounds the
same” to the uninitiated. Believe it or not, that was said about rock
and roll during its infant stage (the question of if it ever grew up is
a topic for another time). One of the producers that had the vision
and talent to turn quaint pop ditties into almost operatic novellas was
Phil Spector. He devised a way to make each 2-3 minute song turn into a
dramatic story in its own right with his “wall of sound” that made the
material custom fit for the ears of a radio, thereby transforming the
music experience from the living room to either the front seat of the car, or your local radio while tanning at the beach.
The Very Best Of Phil Spector has 19 of his most famous singles from
the early sixties. Tunes like The Righteous Brothers’ “You’ve Lost That
Lovin’ Feeling” have an epic feel to them, as does the tornado
intensity of Tina Turners’ “River Deep Mountain High.” Girl groups were
the thing for Spector, and he made The Ronettes and The Crystals
household names with anthems such as the infectious “Da Doo Ron Ron”
and “Be My Baby.” Nostalgia is present, but so are the presentation of
some fabulous voices in a sonic environment that is unbeatable. If you
get just one of these discs, this is the one.

The Very Best of The Crystals features classics like “He’s A Rebel” and
“Then He Kissed Me” delivered by the rich vocals of Barbara Alston and
Darlene Love. The sound of the piano on the former, and the incessant
guitar riff and percussion on the latter demonstrate how a producer can
use a molehill of playing and turn it into a mountain of effect.
Alston’s voice precedes the soulful sound of the likes of Diana Ross,
exuding more innocence than other singers would deliver. A trip to a
different world.

The Very Best of Darlene Love includes here stint with The Crystals,
The Blossoms, Bob B. Soxx and her own solo career. Her work with
Spector on the iconic “He’s A Rebel” and her reunion with him on the
1974 “Lord, If You’re A Woman” sandwiches post Spector material
arranged by Jack Nitzche such as the sublime “(Today I Met) The Boy I’m
Gonna Marry” and “Not Too Young To Get Married.” Who writes about the
ideal of marriage anymore? Definitely a missing genre! Wonderful vocals
by a presently overlooked charmer who’s in the Rock Hall Of Fame.

Last, but not least, is The Very Best of The Ronettes featuring the
gorgeous voice of Ronnie Spector on tunes like the everlasting “Be My
Baby.” Her understated vocals on “Baby I Love You” is perfectly
contrasted with her alluring “Uh Ohs” which are as climactic as any
Verdi Aria. Yes, along with Wagner and Russolino, it’s hard to separate
the personal life from the artist, but Phil Spector definitely made his
mark in the studio, and many ears are better for it. Can any jazz
producers around today do something similar?