The late Phil Spector leaves behind a troubled (and troubling) legacy. If we can separate the artist from his art, Spector's work should rightly be acclaimed. His Wall Of Sound production and his painstaking pop vision created classics, classics, that will endure long after we've all lost that lovin' feeling upon this mortal plane. Hell, Spector would be a legend even if The Ronettes' "Be My Baby" had been his only record. From The Crystals to Ike and Tina Turner to The Beatles, John Lennon, The Ramones, and so many more, Phil Spector left a legacy of achievement. We can't even imagine how different, how poorer, the history of rockin' pop music would have been without him.
It's still difficult to mourn Spector. He was a prick. And he was a murderer.
I don't think about that when I hear the music. The pleasure of the records doesn't compensate for the sins of the producer. But the pleasure does exist independently. I won't be an apologist for Phil Spector, and I won't mourn him. Nor can I deny his importance in the history of this music I love.
After the news broke that this producer and convicted killer had passed, his ex-wife Ronnie Spector wrote:
"It's a sad day for music and a sad day for me.
When I was working with Phil Spector, watching him create in the recording studio, I knew I was working with the very best. He was in complete control, directing everyone. So much to love about those days.
Meeting him and falling in love was like a fairy tale.
The magical music we were able to make together, was inspired by our love. I loved him madly, and gave my heart and soul to him.
As I said many times when he was alive, he was a brilliant producer, but a lousy husband.
Unfortunately, Phil was not able to live and function outside of the studio.
Darkness set in, many lives were damaged.
I still smile whenever I hear the music we made together, and always will. The music will be forever."
We played just a few examples of that music on this week's show. We also celebrated the music of the late Sylvain Sylvain of The New York Dolls, and reveled in the glory of new, recent, and classic tracks by many of our fave raves. Music does not forgive sins. Nor does music itself commit sins. The music is innocent.
Even when its producer is not.
This is what rock 'n' roll radio sounded like on a Sunday night in Syracuse this week.
This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio with Dana & Carl airs Sunday nights from 9 to Midnight Eastern, on the air in Syracuse at SPARK! WSPJ 103.3 and 93.7 FM, and on the web at http://sparksyracuse.org/ You can read all about this show's long and weird history here: Boppin' The Whole Friggin' Planet (The History Of THIS IS ROCK 'N' ROLL RADIO). TAX DEDUCTIBLE DONATIONS are always welcome.
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Hey, Carl's writin' a book! The Greatest Record Ever Made! (Volume 1) will contain 165 essays about 165 songs, each one of 'em THE greatest record ever made. An infinite number of songs can each be the greatest record ever made, as long as they take turns. Updated initial information can be seen here, and you can see my weekly GREM! video rants in my Greatest Record Ever Made! YouTube playlist.
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