It seems that every week lately I've posted songs in memory. Today it is in memory of Estelle Bennett.
"NEW YORK (AP) — Estelle Bennett, one of the Ronettes, the singing trio whose 1963 hit "Be My Baby" epitomized the famed "wall of sound" technique of its producer, Phil Spector, has died at her home in Englewood, N.J. She was 67.
The Ronettes were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007; its Web site hails the group as "the premier act of the girl group era." Among their admirers were the Beatles and the Rolling Stones; their exotic hairstyles and makeup are aped by Amy Winehouse.
The Ronettes — sisters Veronica "Ronnie" and Estelle Bennett and their cousin Nedra Talley — signed with Spector's Philles Records in 1963.
Their recording of "Be My Baby" hit No. 2 on Billboard magazine's pop music chart that year. Among their other hits were "Walkin' in the Rain" and "Baby I Love You."
They also did a memorable version of "Sleigh Ride" that appeared on Spector's "A Christmas Gift for You" album. Their last Philles single was "I Can Hear Music" in 1966.
'They could sing all their way right through a wall of sound,' Keith Richards of the Stones said as the Ronettes were inducted into the rock hall. 'They didn't need anything. They touched my heart right there and then and they touch it still.'"
MP3 File
yousendit
Monday, February 16, 2009
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8 comments:
I have loved the Ronettes forever!
I was so very sad to hear the news. You may want to check out Roni's website. It is very interesting.
Thanks for posting the commentary as well as a big lasting favorite song of mine. In my memory, I can see the boyfriend of the time and I listening to this.
Linda,
I too have loved The Ronettes since I first heard them. Thanks on the website. I'll give it a gander.
Spector had already produced 7 chart hits when he auditioned The Ronettes for his Philles record label. The Ronettes were :Veronica (Ronnie) Bennett, her sister Estelle Bennett and their cousin Nedra Talley. Phil fell in love with Veronica's voice and immediately went about signing the group to Philles. The trio was under contract with Colpix Records who had issued a few singles and a album which did not chart. With the help of Veronica and Estelle's mother, who simply called the company and got Colpix to release the Ronettes from their contract, Phil immediately signed the Ronettes to Philles at the end of March. He had the group record a Jeff Barry-Ellie Greenwich song called "Why Don't They Let Us Fall In Love," but Spector decided not to release it in favor of another Barry-Greenwich composition, "Be My Baby." The single (Philles 116) entered the charts at the end of August and became the biggest hit and only Top 10 for The Ronettes.
Bennet was the only Ronette to sing on this. Phil Spector rehearsed her for weeks, and had her do 42 takes before he got the sound he wanted. hil Spector got a songwriting credit on this along with Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich. In an interview on National Public Radio (NPR), Bennet said she felt the song was inspired by her budding romance with Spector.As part of her divorce settlement with Phil Spector, Ronnie Spector is not allowed to perform this on TV.
And a bit more trivia:
The B-side of this single was a throwaway instrumental called "Tedesco And Pitman," which was named after two members of The Wrecking Crew, who were the musicians Spector used. Spector made sure the B-sides of his singles were garbage so there was no doubt what song should be played.
Ronnie Spector sang parts of this on Eddie Money's "Take Me Home Tonight" in 1986. She also appeared in the video. Money's biggest hit, he introduced Bennet's part with the line "Just like Ronnie sang..."
A pre-famous Cher sang backup vocals. Sonny Bono worked for Phil Spector as a promotion man. He was dating Cher and introduced her to Phil, who then used her as backup on several recordings including "Da Do Ron Ron" and "Be My Baby."
A version by Andy Kim hit US #17 in 1970. John Lennon also did a cover.
Brian Wilson wrote an answer song to this called "Don't Worry Baby." Ronnie covered it in 1999 on She Talks To Rainbows. This is Brian Wilson's favorite ever record. He says of this in Q Magazine's 1001 Best songs Ever: "This is a special one for me. What a great sound, the Wall of Sound. Boy, first heard this on the car radio and I had to pull off the road, I couldn't believe it. The choruses blew me away; the strings are the melody of love. It has the promise to make the world better."
sblake,
As always, you add so much knowledge about the songs. I thank you for making Coffee an interesting place.
Sad indeed.
As a teenager I grew up with the sound of the 60's girl groups always on my turntable.
I was, and still am, a Shangri-Las fan first and forever - but the Ronettes were certainly another of my favourites.
I don't mind getting old myself, but it doesn't seem right that our peers with talent seem to fall like leaves every so often.
RIP Estelle. xx
Ozzy,
It does seem that every few days one of my musical icons had died. I loved the Ronettes and the other girl groups and still remember the words to all their songs. It is getting so I hate to read parts of the paper.
This is sad news. To this day, I think about how the car radio would crackle to life as the volume got cranked, listening to this song. Some songs always did, and always will, sound better through those cheap speakers. God bless her, and those who've provided us so much joy as we sang along. If there's a Rock and Roll Heaven...
Dan,
I hate it when music disappears.My mother's music is seldom played any more. I remember it because I heard it played often while I was growing up, and it stuck. We are still here to keep our music alive, the folk, the sixties rock, and our kids grew up hearing the music. It stuck. Soon we will be gone and so will our mother's music. It is just as horrible when the singers of those songs die.
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