Beatle's Ex-Producer Phil Spector Demonic
Spector was a millionaire at the age of twenty-one. Within three years Spector had twenty consecutive hits, including the Crystal's "Da Doo Ron Ron," "Then He Kissed Me," and "He's Sure the Boy I Love"; The Ronettes, "Be My Baby," "Baby I Love You," (The Best Part of) Breakin' Up," and "Walking in the Rain"; Darlene Love's "(Today I Met) the Boy I'm Gonna Marry" and "Wait 'til My Bobby Gets Home". He took on the white, blue-eyed, soul singing Righteous Brothers and produced "You Lost That Lovin' Feeling" in 1965. Up to this point, things went well. However, starting in 1966, things simply went from bad to worse until he was basically washed up by 1970.
Spector and The Beatles
Originally called "Get Back" it the Beatles attempt to have a record and film of how the band records and creates songs. It was the brainchild of Paul and the others went along grudgingly. The film, retitled, Let It Be, when watched now shows not how they record songs but of their break-up. All very unintentional at the time. It is a somber, sad event that is a documentary really. John and Paul bicker constantly about songs, about having Yoko or Linda at the closed sessions, having a film crew record everything, egos. At one point, both John and George walk out of the studio after an exchange of words. There are moments that show the band in total sync, and you can tell they truly loved one another as brothers, but they grew up, seeking different highs and directions. It originally was done for American TV, a hour long show, however, none of the networks wanted it. So, years later, they released as a movie, Let It Be. It came and went in a flash this was in 1969.
The recordings now on Get Back Lp are the best of those sessions. Lennon later called them, "shit". McCartney and Lennon did produce some good songs, as did George, like: I Me Mine, Long and Winding Road, Two of Us. The record was produced by Lennon's friend, Phil Spector, none of the other Beatles wanted him, yet John prevailed. Spector took the tapes and created a more polished LP from the hundreds of songs and takes. He added symphonic and choral backgrounds to The Long and Winding Road, which some think is far better than just Paul and the piano (Paul was so angry, that just a few years ago, he released the the Beatles Naked CD, the recordings from this in their original form), Spector also added a rocker piece to the very end of Get Back (the song) that really is motiviating and it was from one of the early takes, yet one Paul found offensive (why?, I have no clue). There was so much controversy about Spector being a "Beatles" producer instead of the George Martin, the others filed a lawsuit. It was a mess.
Get Back was released as Let It Be, but after the final Beatle's LP, Abbey Road, even though it had been recorded long before it.
John Lennon and Phil hooked up again in 1973-6, doing many of John's old rock standard faves and created a rock n' roll LP, which was blah. Some of the outtakes from those sessions were among the best like, Slipping and Sliding, Bring It on Home.
Spector and the Murder Trail
Fast forward to the present. Spector is charged with murder of a 40 yr old woman, Lana Clarkson, six years ago at his home. Spector, 69, has been in trial for five months where Spector, at the hands of the prosecutor, has been hammering away about how Spector was a demonic maniac playing russian roulette with women. A mistrial was requested and denied. The defense claims that Lana killed herself, a wannabe starlet not making it, was depressed. The DA alleges Spector was drunk and pulled a gun on her, as other women have claimed Spector did to them when the women refused to have sex or a relationship with him. Spector confessed to a chauffeur immediately afterwards. Blood stains were also on Spector. Testimony paint him as womanize and tormentor when they do not cooperate, using his VIP status and money when he can. Evidence shows bruises on her body that indicate someone resisting, Spector's DNA was found on her breast and evidence in her mouth that Spector had shoved a gun barrel into her mouth.
Spector can receive 18 yrs in prision for 2nd degree murder or involuntary manslaughter (no premeditation, it was a reckless dangerous action) of only 2-4 years in prison.
