Back To Mono

Spector had a sense of power, an intensity that Wilson strove for but could never match, although I think Wilson's arrangements were much more thoughtfully inventive. But put it in context, pre-Beatles, he had a crapload of hits, and many of the non-hits are pretty amazing as well, see above, or Under the Moon of Love. But credit where credit is due, he owes a lot to Lieber and Stoller, for their songs and their arrangements.

http://www.bmi.com/awards/1999/images/philspector.gif

Look carefully. Look at the pose, the pretension implied in the stance. Look how he takes for granted that he's a rock god. I said on another thread that he's rock's Julius Caesar, and I'll stick by that assessment. In Caesar's time, his powerless Senators became bitter and turned on him. Spector instead had to deal with an angry harem. In a perfect world, all the women Spector had oppressed would rise up at once and stab him to death. Kind of the nightmare version of that scene in 8 1/2.

http://www.worksongs.com/spector3.jpg

don't worry, this happens to me (and most everyone else, i bet) pretty much every time i buy something that i have unreasonably high expectations for. i wouldn't dismiss it after one listen: the tracks you mentioned may be the stuff that leaps out, but there's lots of overlooked stuff on "back to mono": it's one of my desert island picks (assuming box sets are allowed), easily. the lead vocal on "to know him is to love him" may be the single most spine-tingling vocal in all of rock.

um, what exactly do people rate of his BESIDES the hits and the Xmas album? it's a bit like saying "the beatles are really overrated aside from revolver, rubber soul, the white album and abbey road."

May - have you started the transformation of your bathroom yet?

I've said it before and I'll say it again: 'Death of a Ladies Man'

http://www.amazon.com/Back-Mono-1958-1969-Phil-Spector/dp/B000003BDM/sr=1-1/qid=1158877824/ref=sr_1_1/102-2242124-1592914?ie=UTF8&s=music

(Mono is a pub in Glasgow with a record shop attached to it, making it the pub of choice for several ILXors)

Been listening to this all night. Such an amazing collection. Every time I listen, I swear, I find something new that I love. Was just intoxicated by The Ronettes' Born to Be Together.

This collection is amazing. I don't understand why all these ILM fuckers aren't all over it.

Made a huge chunk of my lastfm charts for ages

the bass on this is MENTAL quiet innit? i mean i know it's the 60s and it's mono and shiz but still. try turning the bass up you get almost nothing on say Da Do Ron Ron.

this box sounds fine to my ears, but was wondering if the more recent philles box set was an improvement? at this point, the back to mono thing is 20 years old? older?

i copied this set from a friend in college and it just sat around my house for years before I actually gave it my time. wow, did it blow my mind! every song is like a universe unto itself.

There's no space for bass in the mix. Too full of universe.

back to mono released in 1991 i think. funny: the price of this thing dropped to like $5 new when spector was up on murder charges. when he went to jail, it was out of print and worth a bundle. now i guess it's been superseded by other collections. would probably buy a _complete_ philles set but i guess i have most of that stuff on boots. honestly a lot of the b-sides are forgettable instruments. the more i think about this guy he's kind of a one-trick pony but what a great trick.

hmmmm http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B000003BDM/ref=dp_olp_new?ie=UTF8&condition=new

they are expensive on amazon, but if you read the descriptions, they are almost all mint condition, shrink-wrapped in original case