Phil Spector's Christmas Gift For You - Album Review

Описание: Watch the unedited version on Patreon:   / jtcurtis  
The 1963 Christmas Album from Phil Spector "A Christmas Gift For You" featuring The Ronettes, The Crystals, Darlene Love & The Blossoms and Bob B. Soxx & the Blue Jeans, all backed up by The Wrecking Crew. Standout tracks include Ronnie Spector singing Frosty the Snowman and Sleigh Ride, The Crystals' Santa Claus is Comin' to Town (which inspired Bruce Springsteen to do his own version) and the iconic original Christmas song Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) featuring Darlene Love. ‪@ramblingnick‬, ‪@AshRoseMusic‬ and a surprise guest join in.

#philspector #christmas #christmasmusic #historyofrock #christmassongs

Phil Spector was a pioneer in 60s production, known for his Wall of Sound, layering pianos, drums, percussion, guitars, electric and standup bass and a lush orchestra. After writing the number one hit “To Know Him Is to Love Him” in 1958, Phil formed Philles Records. The Crystals were one of his first bands to score hits, though their first collaboration “He’s a Rebel” did not actually feature their voices. Darlene Love (then Darlene Wright) sang the lead vocal with The Blossoms, her own girl group, while credit went to The Crystals. Nevertheless, the song went to #1 on the billboard charts. Dolores "LaLa" Brooks would usurp the lead vocals from Barbara Alston and eventually sing a lead herself on the 1963 hit Da Doo Ron Ron, which had been promised to Darlene Love. Bob B. Soxx & the Blue Jeans, featuring Blossoms Darlene Love and Fanita James backing up Bobby Sheen, collaborated on a cover of Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah. In 1963, Spector scored again producing The Ronettes, who sang the #2 hit Be My Baby. By the end of the year, Phil put together a full LP with his roster of artists called A Christmas Gift for You. Other songs include standards such as White Christmas, The Bells of St. Mary, It’s a Marshmallow World, I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus (later a hit for the Jackson 5) Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, Winter Wonderland, Here Comes Santa Claus and Silent Night. The album’s release was complicated by the death of President John F. Kennedy and Phil pulled the album. Over the years, its popularity grew and grew until Phil eventually re-released it on The Beatles label Apple Records (he has produced the 1970 version of Let it Be along with John Lennon’s Imagine and George Harrison’s All Things Must Pass). The re-released Christmas album was a success and continues to be spun to this day. Phil Spector’s abusive behavior would unfortunately mar his image. In 2003 he murdered actress Lana Clarkson and died in prison in 2021.