For the next upload, I've decided to offer Phil Spector's Flips and Rarities. This is not a perfect compilation by any means; some of the songs have no Spector involvement whatsoever (though some of these soundalikes, such as Lesley Gore's "To Know Him Is To Love Him," are indeed really cool). But the whole set is worth it for such wonderful Spector productions as Gene Pitney's "Dream for Sale" and "Mr. Robin" by The Spectors Three. And on top of it all, you get the legendary kiss-off "The Screw." What mono-head could ask for more?
Certainly this is an unauthorized CD compilation of rare 1960s tracks that Phil Spector had something to do with, as either producer, songwriter, or even artist. There's no label (though there is a catalog), but it certainly does exist, and was, as of 2001, available for sale at specialized record stores with extremely deep stock. Just because Spector was involved in a record didn't necessarily mean it was good, and the merits of this 30-song anthology are extremely erratic, though there are some undoubted high points. Most of these are run-of-the-mill early-'60s tracks that weren't hits for a reason: The songs were trivial and not that hot. And most of them don't have an identifiably Spectoresque sound, in part because on several of them he was only involved as a songwriter, in part because some of them predate his true Wall of Sound techniques. Some of these cuts are good, or at least okay, like Gene Pitney's "Dream for Sale" (which actually isn't too rare), Bonnie & the Treasures' "Home of the Brave," April Stevens' breathy "Why Can't a Boy and Girl Just Stay in Love" (which Spector co-wrote with Nino Tempo), Johnny Nash's "World of Tears," and Veronica's "Why Don't They Let Us Fall in Love" (which is actually Ronnie Spector of the Ronettes). Sonny Charles & the Checkmates "Black Pearl" is very good, and was a pretty big hit in 1969, but why it's included here isn't too clear, as it's been officially released as part of Spector's Back to Mono box. There are also items that fall into the novelty realm, like the guitar instrumental "Bumbershoot" that Phil Spector cut under the alias Phil Harvey, and the ridiculous Crystals B-side "The Screw (Let's Dance)," a throwaway track interrupted by poker-faced admonitions to "do the screw" (spoken by Spector's lawyer). Overall this is interesting to acquire for dedicated Spector enthusiasts, but the utter lack of liner notes (though at least there are songwriting credits) is a major strike against its value. There are no clues as to why some tracks, like Santo & Johnny's "Spanish Harlem," are considered to have any Spector associations whatsoever. The sound quality is pretty good, but the tracks have almost certainly (sometimes quite audibly so) been taken from vinyl records rather than master tapes.
I Idolize You-Ike And Tina Turner
Black Pearl-Sonny Charles And Checkmates
Dream For Sale-Gene Pitney
Some Of Your Loving-Johnny Nash
World Of Tears-Johnny Nash
When You Dance-Billy Storm
Spanish Harlem-Santo And Johnny
Mr Robin-Spectors 3
Some Of Your Lovin-Emil O Conner
I Love You Betty-Terry Day
That`s All Right Baby-Gary Crosby
Yes I Love You-Paris Sisters
That's What Girls Are For-Timothy Hay
Where Can You Be-Tony And Joe
Raincoat In The River-Sammy Turner
To Know Him Is To Love Him-Lesley Gore
Be My Girl-Ray Peterson
Unchained Melody-Blackwells
Oh Why-Teddy Bears
Home Of The Brave-Bonnie and the Treasures
Why Can`t A Bpy And Girl Just Stay In Love-April Stevens
Why Don`t They Let Us Fall In Love-Veronica
The Screw-Crystals
Bumbershoot-Phil Harvey
Woman In Love-Ronettes
Quiet Guy-Darlene Love
Here It Comes And Here I Go-Jeri Bo Keno
Puddin N Tain-Alleycats
Dream For Sale-Joey Paige
I'm So Happy-Ducanes
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=8ZA08WBP
Thanks to Tom Sawyer
