Phil Spector was a record producer who created a unique way to record music. He was also one of the most successful producers in history.
However, his career was not without its issues. As a result, Spector was often in and out of jail. He was also known for his erratic behavior, as well as a tendency to play Russian roulette with women’s lives.
The Crystals
The Crystals were a major influence on Spector’s Wall of Sound production style, which he used to great effect in producing a number of classic hits. Their first single, “There’s No Other Like My Baby,” was released in September 1961 and went to number 20 on the charts.
But their biggest hit was “He’s a Rebel,” a song written by Gene Pitney that had been on Liberty Records before Spector recorded it at Gold Star Studios. He had hired Darlene Love of the Blossoms to sing lead on the record and it quickly rose to number one.
The next song credited to the group, “Let’s Dance the Screw,” is a rare exception to Spector’s Wall of Sound approach. It was a nearly six-minute song that featured simple instrumentation and repetitive lyrics, and Spector himself intoning “Dance the Screw” many times in a deadpan monotone.
The Righteous Brothers
The Righteous Brothers were a duo of white performers who became successful under Spector’s supervision. Their songs sounded like a cross between a choir and a street gang, and they could make you forget the color of their skin.
But as with the Crystals, the relationship between Spector and Hatfield and Medley deteriorated over royalty earnings and management decisions. They left Verve in 1968.
During this period, Spector cultivated a reputation for being a mercurial genius, who was known to be unhinged. He once told a reporter that he would sit in a room for two hours in total darkness and then, when he opened the door, he would be greeted by light.
In the early 1970s, Hatfield and Medley reunited under the Righteous Brothers name. They recorded a number of minor hits on Haven Records, but never again achieved success.
Tina Turner
Tina Turner is one of the world’s most iconic female rock stars, a sultry singer whose sexy legs and time-tested beauty helped her become an international superstar. She made history by becoming the first Black artist to sell 100 million records worldwide and is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Her sultry voice and her incredible legs were her trademarks, but her story is more than just a tale of rock ‘n’ roll. She also acted in films Tommy, Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome and Last Action Hero, and her 1993 biopic What’s Love Got to Do with It brought her to audiences around the world.
Tina’s career began in the 1950s when she joined musician Ike Turner to form the Ike & Tina Turner Revue. They achieved popular acclaim for their live performances and recordings, including the number five hit “Proud Mary.”
The Beatles
Before the Beatles became one of the world’s most successful bands, they were simply four teenagers from Liverpool. Never could they have imagined that their music would influence the way people look, dress and talk.
Their mixture of rock-n-roll, skiffle, blues, country and soul music influenced a wide range of music styles. By the time they broke up in 1970, the band had evolved into a multi-genre, cross-style pop group with a distinct sound and distinctive vocals.
Despite all their success, the band’s members soon found themselves battling for control of the group. The tensions escalated into personal disputes, aggravated by the pressure of symbolizing a generation’s dreams and the stress of millions of dollars at stake.
Spector, who orchestrated what came to be known as “the wall of sound,” was a producer who thrived on destroying his opponents. Ultimately, he was sentenced to 19 years to life in prison for the murder of actress Lana Clarkson.
