Phil Spector, the trailblazing record producer and creator of pop’s “wall of sound”, whose career was later tarnished when he was convicted of murdering actress Lana Clarkson, has died at the age of 81.
According to TMZ, Spector died on Saturday from COVID-19 related complications.
Spector is widely considered one of the most influential producers in music history. In 1961, at the age of 22, Spector co-founded Phillies Records. Over the next several years, the label would release a number of No. 10 singles all helmed by Spector — including Darlene Love’s “He’s a Rebel”, The Ronettes’ “Be My Baby”, and The Righteous Brothers’ “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’” and “Unchained Melody”. In 1966, Spector signed Ike and Ina Turner to Phillies Records’ roster, but after the duo’s early material failed to achieve similar commercial success Spector became disillusioned by the recording industry and ended the label.
In 1969, Spector was invited by Beatles manager Allen Klein to produce John Lennon’s single “Instant Karma”. He was then asked to salvage The Beatles’ then-abandoned album Let It Be. Spector chose to omit “Don’t Let Me Down” in favor of “Across the Universe” and also applied orchestral and choir overdubs to four tracks. Though Paul McCartney was angered by the changes, Lennon and Harrison ultimately signed off on Spector’s version of album and it was released in 1970 to universal acclaim.
Also that year, Spector helmed Harrison’s solo album All Things Must Pass and Lennon’s Plastic Ono Band. The next year saw him produce Lennon’s Imagine as well as his solo single “Power to the People”. He was also charged with recording Harrison’s The Concert for Bangladesh, which later won Album of the Year at the Grammys.
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