Dead Souls

[Jinsai]

Phil Spector was a monster, but there is no denying he created some of the best songs of the 1960's.

Yes, and no doubt his production style really is part of this amazing time capsule there, especially with some of the "philosophical" approaches he had towards using a music studio "as an instrument." I would argue though, that this was a foregone conclusion, other people were employing it as such, and he just got the accolade for that and his wall of sound approach. It all sounds awesome in a dated way that is definitely lost. The music still would have been made though, and in some cases, better. Let it Be (naked) is a weird album. It removes all of Phil Spector's dramatic embellishments and is in general a rawer sounding album. Is it "better" though? I don't know... but is it incredibly different? Not really.

[MrLobster]

[allegro]

and even before he finally pulled the trigger, he loved to flash his piece out over the lanes. He pulled a gun on several women, on bands that he was producing... just was a flagrantly abusive person on an astonishing level. By the way, the woman he murdered was somebody he had never met until three hours prior to impulse-killing her.

Have you seen the John Lennon documentary on Netflix, “ John & Yoko: Above Us Only Sky?” (which is mostly about the making of the Lennon / Plastic Ono Band album, “Imagine”)?

Spector’s total assholery is on full display (includes berating Lennon), and only Yoko is seemingly able to cut through Spector’s bullshit and maintain some semblance of control over the end result.

Dee Dee Ramone on the Ramones working with Phil Spector:

“I like beauty to be instant. Not to be labored over, I don’t like music to be a hustle. I think we can just go into a studio and do it and not be frustrated. Phil seemed to be frustrated with us… He wasn’t the most friendly guy I’ve ever met. He tried to be friendly but then he had his guns on him and he wouldn’t let me out of his house for a couple of days.“

Johnny Ramone:

“The opening chord to our song 'Rock N Roll High School,' he spent 12 hours sitting there and listening to the same chord over and over again I mean it’s just not worth it. I mean nobody else could hear the difference. The chord came out sounding okay, but 12 hours worth ain’t really worth it you know?”

[onthewall2983]

Tom Cruise was almost going to play him in a movie. That would've been something.

[GulDukat]

Tom Cruise was almost going to play him in a movie. That would've been something.

I can actually see that.