THE SPECTACULAR RISE AND FALL OF PHIL SPECTOR

 

This is one of those Mondays when I couldn't figure out what to say.  Some of you went to work, and found out you had this President's Day off.  Sure, President Joe Biden made an unprecedented visit to Kyiv, and that was noteworthy.  Our 98-year former president, Jimmy Carter, is resting reasonably well.

What else?  The weather is fine in much of the world, especially the USA.  This is also World Day of Social Justice, and Carnival Monday.  Think Mardi Gras.  

13 years ago I walked out of my hotel into downtown Munich and experienced an incredible celebration, called Fasching, which in most of southwest Germany is a kind of a one-day Mardi Gras celebrated today.  People are walking around drinking from full bottles of wine, and many are gaudily dressed.  Everything is tolerated by officials.  I also had one of my Best Lunches that day.

In the U.S. this is National Cherry Pie Day.  Also, National Love Your Pet Day.  Owners are encouraged to pamper them.  And how could you forget:  National Muffin Day.  Those who like blueberry muffins have their own day for them, July 11.  Some states like New York and Minnesota have a state muffin.

Ah, well, good a day as any to bring to focus the life of Harvey Phillip Spector, who is a year older than me.  Well, actually, he passed away in 2021.  So, anyway, in 1958 as a freshman at Stanford I fell in love with To Know Him is to Love Him by the Teddy Bears.  Spent three weeks at #1.  Until fairly recently, I had no idea what they looked like.  Now I know that Phil Spector (on the left in that photo) was a founding member and wrote the song.  He also played the guitar in that video.  My freshman roomie thought Him was God.  It was his father.

About Spector, he was born in the Bronx, moved to Los Angeles as a teenager, had that TKHITLH hit, then worked for Leiber and Stoller, a team which had more than 70 chart hits, including Hound Dog, Yakety Yak and Stand By Me.  Co-wrote with Lieber Spanish Harlem for Ben E. King.  At the age of 21 he started his own record company, the youngest ever at that point, and went on to produce a range of entertainment groups, including Ike & Tina Turner, the Crystals and the Ronettes, whose Be My Baby reached #2.

In 1965 produced  Righteous Brothers' You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin', which rose to #1.   In 1967 he was already showing signs of becoming a recluse, marrying Ronnie Bennett, (in the middle) lead singer of the Ronettes in 1968, and appearing as a drug dealer in Easy Rider the following year.  In her memoir, Bennett alleged that Spector imprisoned her in his California mansion and subject her to years of psychological torment.  He did not allow her to perform.  She finally escaped barefoot in 1972.  At their 1974 divorce settlement, she forfeited everything because Spector had threatened to have her killed if she didn't.

In the 70s he made a kind of comeback by producing the Beatles' Let It Be.  Also John Lennon's Imagine.  He was long known for creating the Wall of Sound, featuring multi-channel layering.  The triple album, Concert for Bangladesh with George Harrison used 44 microphones.

He became unreliable in the 70s from substance abuse and mental problems.  Adding to his misery, in 1974 he was seriously injured when his car crashed in Hollywood, throwing him through the windshield.  He was actually declared dead at the scene.  Received 300 stitches to his face and 4000 to the back of his head.  He later began to wear those outlandish wigs.

Worked erratically, many times carrying a gun, for which he was licensed.  Did in 1981 produce Yoko Ono's Season of Glass shortly after the death of John Lennon. For most of the period from the 80's into the early 2000s was in semi-retirement because he was going bonkers.  Maybe that link to his first song dedicated to his father had made an impression, for his dad had committed suicide when he was 9 years old.

In 2003 he shot actress Lana Clarkson in the mouth in his mansion.  He remained free on $1 million bail, with the murder trial delayed until 2007.  There was a mistrial.  There was a retrial in 2008, was judged guilty in 2009 and sentenced to 19 years in jail.

Was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989, but accepted the honor flanked by three beefy bodyguards, and mumbled a few incoherent words about President George Bush.  Stevie Van Zandt said Spector was a genius irredeemably conflicted.  He paved the way for art rock, and strongly influenced groups like the Beatles and Beach Boys.  Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys said Spector was the single most influential producer.  He makes a milestone whenever he goes into the studio.

Here is his last interview in 2008.  You probably saw photos of him.  Here he is in person.  A lot of his best songs included.  Other highlights:

  -  His role in Easy Rider.

  -  The 2013 film Phil Spector featured Al Pacino and Helen Mirren.  Rotten Tomatoes:  50/32.   

  -  He had #1 records in three decades, won a couple of Grammys and was ranked #2 by one source as the greatest record producer.  

What was wrong with him?  He was treated for bipolar disorder (manic depression), Parkinson's disease and lost the ability to speak while incarcerated.  Said to have died in 2021 of COVID-19.  He would have been eligible for parole in 2024.  

-