8 Tracks >/< Little symphonies with The Teddy Bears, Connie Francis, The Righteous Brothers, The Ronettes, The Rolling Stones, The Beach Boys and The Blossoms | Phil Spector, 1958-1966

The Teddy Bears

Phil Spector with three friends from high school, Marshall Leib, Sandy Nelson, and Annette Kleinbard, formed a group, the Teddy Bears.

In 1958 Phil Spector penned their million seller hit, “To Know Him Is To Love Him” which is actually about his father who committed suicide, on April 20, 1949, when Spector was only nine.

While recording the Teddy Bears’ album, Spector had met Lester Sill, a former promotion man. In 1960, Sill arranged for Spector to work as an apprentice to Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller in New York.

Spector quickly learned how to use a studio and found his true calling as a record producer.

Connie Francis, 1962

“Second Hand Love” is a song written by Phil Spector and Hank Hunter and performed by Connie Francis, reaching #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1962.

Phil Spector and The Righteous Brothers

“Just Once in My Life” is a song written by Gerry Goffin, Carole King and Phil Spector. The Righteous Brothers released their version as a single in April 1965 as the follow-up to “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin'”. Their second release on the Philles record label.

Ray Avery – The Ronettes with Phil Spector, Gold Star Studios, L.A., CA, 1963

Phil Spector, Mick Jagger, Brian Jones, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts, Bill Wyman,
Gene Pitney, 1964

Phil Spector contributed to the recording sessions of The Rolling Stones debut studio album in 1964 and he is referred as “Uncle Phil”. “Tell Me (You’re Coming Back)” is the first A-side single written by Jagger/Richards to be released.

The Termites was a 60’s Girl Group formed by the sisters Rita and Tina Layzell, hailed from Waltham Abbey in Essex. Their backing band included Terry Comer who later enjoyed success as a founding member of Ace.

Ray Avery – Phil Spector in the studio with Brian Wilson, Mike Love and Bobby Hatfield, 1965

Brian Wilson originally wrote “Don’t Hurt My Little Sister” for the Ronettes and submitted the song to Phil Spector for his approval. Phil Spector unilaterally revamped the song into “Things Are Changing (For The Better).” That’s as close as Brian and Phil ever came to working together.

This song was recorded as part of a campaign to “correct the inequality in employment opportunities between whites and minorities including blacks in the U.S.” Only a few thousand copies were dispersed to radio DJs at the time. It is backed with a Crystal’s demo called Please Be My Boyfriend.

Also:
Persons [ ] Little symphonies for the kids | Phil Spector, 1939-2021
Be My Baby | Ronnie Spector & The Ronettes, 1962-1967