The Ronettes - Be My Baby
Phil Spector is nuts and was just convicted of second degree murder today. He proved to be nuts all the way back when he was the producer of The Ronettes and married the lead singer Ronnie. His insanity can best be shown through this passage from Wikipedia.
By her own account, he kept her a near-prisoner and limited her opportunities to pursue her musical ambitions. In her autobiography, she said that he would force her to watch the film Citizen Kane to remind her she would be nothing without him. Spector’s domineering attitude led to the dissolution of their marriage. Bennett was forbidden to speak to the Rolling Stones or tour with the Beatles, for fear of infidelity. Bennett claims Spector showed her a gold coffin with a glass top in his basement, promising to kill and display her should she leave him. During Spector’s reclusive period in the late 1960s, he reportedly kept his wife locked inside their mansion. She claimed he also hid her shoes to dissuade her from walking outside, and kept the house dark because he didn’t want anyone to see his balding head. Spector’s son later claimed that he was kept locked in his room, with a pot in the corner to be used as a toilet. Ronnie Spector did leave the producer and filed for divorce in 1972. She wrote a book about her experiences, and said years later, “I can only say that when I left in the early 1970s, I knew that if I didn’t leave at that time, I was going to die there” [3]. She and Spector separated in 1973 and divorced one year later.
One thing you cannot take away from him though is that his production concept, The Wall of Sound, was innovative and influential to popular music and will be forever. ‘Be My Baby’ is a perfect example of this production technique with it’s huge sound. It is a classic 60s song and an all-time favorite of mine.
The night we met
I knew I needed you so
And if I ever had the chance
I’d never let you go
So won’t you say you love me
I’ll make you so proud of me
We’ll make ‘em turn their heads
Every place we go
So won’t you please
(chorus)
Be my, be my baby
Be my little baby
My one and only baby
Say you’ll be my darling
Be my, be my baby
Be my baby now
My one and only baby
I’ll make you happy, baby
just wait and see
For every kiss you give me
I’ll give you three
Oh, since the day I saw you
I have been waiting for you
You know I will adore you
Till eternity so won’t you please
CHORUS
