(299) PHIL SPECTOR - PHILLES RECORDS

Because Phil Spector started out as a music producer, recording in New York City where I met him, and then moved to Los Angeles, where I still sat and talked to him at a deli once in a while, people don't realize that though he had an uncle in New York who gave him a lucky break, he was born and raised in Los Angeles, and from the time of his lucky break until he succeeded he worked, worked, worked.

In the early 1960's Phil was working not only for himself but for various other lables, including Liberty Records, as a producer, and as contracted.

Who could turn work down?

Not even Phil Spector.

He's famous (and infamous) now but then he was one more producer, until he developed a recording technique that relied on his own ear, as much as playing with the equipment. It was called THE WALL OF SOUND, and it was the hottest sound going, at least through 1963.

Phil Spector formed his own label with Lester Sills, Philles Records, and one of his prime objectives was to record a "girl group" called The Crystals, who had a couple hits on that label.

Darlene Love, who was with the Blossoms, a background group, who I also hired to work with me many times, was also on the scene then.

We feel fortunate to have found this video of Phil Spector in the studio with the Crystals and Darlene Love...this little video gives you some idea of the equipment we were working with then...

THANKS TO A YOUTUBER!