Discoteca Imaginaria: the Complicated Legacy of Phil Spector
10.03.23
While the global pandemic may have put a damper on our adventures in clubbing, music still has the power to transport us to places unknown. For now, the greatest club on earth may exist in our imagination – Discoteca Imaginaria. Each episode takes listeners to the scenes, clubs, regions and technology that have shaped our sonic history.
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On April 13th 2009, a jury found Phil Spector guilty of murdering actress Lana Clarkson. This conviction marked the dramatic end of a tumultuous career that spawned an entirely new recording technique in pop music. Clarkson was unfortunately just one of many victims of Spector’s obsession with power and control over women. Girl groups like The Ronettes and The Crystals, who sang many of his iconic early hits, were exploited for his personal gain with unfavorable contracts and uncredited performances. His former wife Ronnie Spector was even held captive in his mansion, only escaping an abusive marriage by running away barefoot. But Phil Spector is just one of many examples of art originating from a sinister person, when we must separate art from the artist. Instead, we can celebrate the other people, often women of color, who played an equally important role in developing his wall of sound.
Tracklist:
Jack Nitsche – Do Doo Ron RonThe Teddy Bears – To Know Him Is To Love Him The Crystals – There’s No Other Like My Baby The Paris Sisters – I Love How You Love Me Interview with Phil Spector, October 1965 The Ronettes – I Want a Boy Gene Pitney – Every Breath I Take The Crystals – He Hit Me (It Felt Like a Kiss) Interview with Ronnie Spector, 1985 The Ronettes – Be My Baby The Treasures – Hold Me Tight The Drifters – On Broadway Da Doo Run Run Documentary, 1983 The Crystals – Do Doo Ron Ron Bob B. Soxx & The Blue Jeans – Zip-a-De-Doo-Dah Dixie Cups – Chapel of Love All You Need Is Love Ep 9 “Good Times: Rhythm and Blues”, iTV 1977 Ike & Tina Turner – River Deep – Mountain High The Righteous Brothers – You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling Sonny Charles And The Checkmates Ltd. – Black Pearl Entertainment Tonight on Ronnie Spector, 1998 The Ronettes – Baby, I Love You Beach Boys – I Can Hear Music (Track & Backing Vocals) George Harrison – What Is Life John Lennon – Remember Dion – (He’s Got) The Whole World In His Hands Interview with Leonard Cohen, 1985 Leonard Cohen – Paper Thin Hotel Harry Nilsson – River Deep, Mountain High Yoko Ono – Nobody Sees Me Like You Do Interview with John Lennon, RKO Radio 1974 John Lennon – Be My Baby Ronnie Spector – Try Some, Buy Some Rachel Sweet – Then He Kissed Me/Be My Baby Interview with The Ramones, 1982 Ramones – Baby, I Love You Wavves – Mickey Mouse Richard Swift – Would You? Dirty Beaches – True Blue Grizzly Bear – He Hit Me Interview with Amy Winehouse, iTV 2007 Amy Winehouse – To Know Him Is To Love Him Shannon & The Clams – Ozma The Morning Benders – He’s a Rebel Phil Spector’s arrest, NBC News, 2003 The Crystals – Then He Kissed Me
