Restoration of Phil Spector's Catalog Brings 4 New Collections

The 50th anniversary of the Philles Records label (1961-2011) has arrived. The long-range campaign promise announced in 2009 by Legacy Recordings and EMI Music Publishing, to dig deep into the rich catalog of Phil Spector's 'Wall Of Sound' on Philles, moves ahead with four newly-compiled albums. The quartet of titles will be available at all physical and digital retail outlets starting February 22nd through Phil Spector Records/ Legacy, a division of SONY MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT:

• DA DOO RON RON; THE VERY BEST OF THE CRYSTALS, 18 tracks including "There's No Other (Like My Baby)," "He Hit Me (It Felt Like A Kiss)," "He's A Rebel," "He's Sure the Boy I Love," "Da Doo Ron Ron," and "Then He Kissed Me," with numerous B-sides and rarities, plus the previously unreleased "Woman In Love (With You)";
• BE MY BABY: THE VERY BEST OF THE RONETTES, 18 tracks including "Be My Baby," "Baby, I Love You,' "(The Best Part Of) Breakin' Up," "Do I Love You?," "Walking In The Rain," and "I Can Hear Music," with numerous B-sides and rarities, bonus solo tracks by Veronica (aka Ronnie Spector), plus the 1969 A&M single "You Came, You Saw, You Conquered";
• THE SOUND OF LOVE: THE VERY BEST OF Darlene Love, 17 tracks, her first comprehensive multi-label collectionever, including her own "(Today I Met) The Boy I'm Gonna Marry," "Wait 'Til My Bobby Gets Home," and "A Fine, Fine Boy," plus examples of her work as lead singer with the Blossoms (in 1958 on Capitol Records, and later in 1965 on Reprise), the Crystals, and Bob B. Soxx and The Blue Jeans ("Why Do Lovers Break Each Others Hearts?," "Not Too Young To Get Married");
• WALL OF SOUND: THE VERY BEST OF Phil Spector 1961-1966, 17 tracks covering a cross-section of the top-charted A-side Philles hits from 1961 to '66 by the Crystals, the Ronettes, Darlene Love, Bob B. Soxx and The Blue Jeans, plus special bonus tracks from the Righteous Brothers ("You've Lost ThaT Loving Feeling") and Ike & Tina Turner ("River Deep, Mountain High").

With a phenomenal string of hit records by the Ronettes (2007 inductees into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame), Darlene Love (set for 2011 induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame), the Crystals, Bob B. Soxx and The Blue Jeans, the Righteous Brothers (2003 inductees into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame), and for a moment in time, Ike & Tina Turner (1991 Inductees into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame), the genius of Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame producer Phil Spector lit up singles charts in the U.S. and abroad throughout the 1960s. At the height of productivity at Philles Records, a new smash was hitting the racks virtually every month or two - an unprecedented track record then and now.

The upcoming album releases coincide with two special premieres scheduled for nationwide PBS pledge-drive events in February: Rock, Pop, and Doo Wop featuring Ronnie Spector of the Ronettes and La La Brooks of the Crystals; and The Concert Of Love starring Darlene Love (recently issued on DVD).

To understand the impact of Phil Spector's studio creations, consider the first big two-year breakthrough of Philles Records releases, starting with the Crystals' "There's No Other (Like My Baby)" in November 1961 (Philles 100) and "He's a Rebel" in September 1962 (Philles 106).
Virtually every single on the label became a bonafide hit over the next year or so: "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah" by Bob B. Soxx & the Blue Jeans (Philles 107, November 1962), "He's Sure the Boy I Love" by the Crystals (Philles 109, December 1962), "Why Do Lovers Break Each Others Hearts?" by Bob B. Soxx & the Blue Jeans (Philles 110, February 1963), "(Today I Met) The Boy I'm Gonna Marry" by Darlene Love (Philles 111, April 1963), "Da Doo Ron Ron" by the Crystals (Philles 112, April 1963), "Not Too Young to Get Married" by Bob B. Soxx & the Blue Jeans (Philles 113, June 1963), "Wait 'Til My Bobby Gets Home" by Darlene Love (Philles 114, July 1963), "Then He Kissed Me" by the Crystals (Philles 115, August 1963), "Be My Baby" by the Ronettes (Philles 116, August 1963), "A Fine, Fine Boy" by Darlene Love (Philles 117, October 1963), "Baby I Love You" by the Ronettes (Philles 118, December 1963), and Darlene Love's "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" (Philles 119, November 1963). (The majority of these - including all the Ronettes and Darlene Love sides - were Ellie Greenwich/ Jeff Barry/Phil Spector compositions.)

Nearly a half-century later, the lion's share of those hits continue to enthrall a new generation of listeners. From hitmakers like Katy Perry to auteur producers like Bruno Mars, the influence of Spector's 'Wall Of Sound' continues to resonate.

One annual reminder has always been A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector, the 1963 LP whose tracks saturate the radio airwaves every year at holiday time: Darlene Love's "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" and "White Christmas," the Crystals' "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town," the Ronettes' "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" and "Sleigh Ride" ("Ring-a-ling-a-ling-a / ding-dong-ding"), and all the rest of Spector's rockin' Christmas classics. That Christmas album now has a permanent home in Sony Music's Legacy catalog, which released a newly-remastered version in October 2009.

Adding credence to the four new collections are their accompanying new liner notes essays: Lenny Kaye, veteran rock-writer/critic and long-time guitarist/producer and songwriter of the Patti Smith Group, covers the Ronettes; Sheryl Farber, three-time Grammy-nominated producer, writer and on-line radio host covers the Crystals; and Jim Bessman, veteran Billboard columnist and annotator of many Legacy releases, covers Darlene Love and the broad scope contained in the Phil Spector collection.

"There may be no pop music more iconic than 'Be My Baby' or 'Da Do Ron Ron'," said Adam Block, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Legacy Recordings, at the time of the announcement of the licensing agreement with EMI Music Publishing in 2009. "The 'Wall of Sound' is embedded in our musical DNA, the craft of these recordings, the quality of the songwriting and the power of the productions have established a standard that continues to inspire artists and musicians. The style, attitude and voices of great artists like Ronnie Spector and Darlene Love remain a presence in pop culture. We are delighted to be bringing these records to a whole new generation."

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