Da Doo Ron Ron (1963) (1977)

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By: The Crystals, a girl group produced by Phil Spector (born Harvey Phillip Spector December 26, 1940 in The Bronx, New York.)

The Crystals' previous singles, "He's A Rebel" and "He's Sure The Boy I Love," were not actually recorded by any of the Crystals, but by the Blossoms (with Blossom member Darlene Love on lead vocal). However, as the owner of the Crystals' name and, Phil Spector had the right to record anything and label it as "The Crystals".

For "Da Doo Ron Ron" Spector had Love record the lead vocal in Los Angeles, CA. Love had received session fees for her previous work with Spector, but after singing on this, she asked to be signed to an artist's contract. In response, Spector erased Love's vocal and flew in the Crystals' actual lead singer Dolores "LaLa" Brooks from New York to record the lead vocal.

When this was recorded in 1963, Dolores "LaLa" Brooks was only 15 years old. The backup vocals were provided by the Blossoms, Darlene Love, Cher, and (legend has it) Sonny Bono. Bono was a record producer and songwriter at the time and knew Phil Spector.

"Da Doo Ron Ron" features Spector's signature "Wall Of Sound" production, with lavish orchestration including cello, oboe and sleigh bells. A perfect example of what Spector called "little symphonies for the kids."

John Lennon modeled his 16th-note rhythm guitar playing on the Beatles' "All My Loving" on "Da Doo Ron Ron".

In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine ranked "Da Doo Ron Ron" at #114 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

Chart position: #3 (US), #5 (UK).

The Top Ten Songs: July 8, 1963 (US Billboard Hot 100).

1. "It's My Party" (Lesley Gore)
2. "Sukiyaki" (Kyu Sakamoto) 
3. "Da Doo Ron Ron" (Crystals)
4. "I Love You Because" (Al Martino)
5. "You Can't Sit Down" (Dovells)
6. "Two Faces Have I" (Lou Christie)
7. "If You Wanna Be Happy" (Jimmy Soul)
8. "Still" (Bill Anderson)
9. "Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days of Summer" (Nat King Cole)
10. "Surfin' U.S.A." (Beach Boys)

Written by: Jeff Barry (born Joel Adelberg April 3, 1938, in Brooklyn, New York,) Ellie Greenwich (born Eleanor Louise Greenwich October 23, 1940 in Brooklyn, New York,) and Phil Spector.

The refrain of "Da Doo Ron Ron" came from nonsense syllables they stuck in as space filler.

The husband-and-wife team of Barry and Greenwich were one of the most successful songwriting duos of the 1960s, writing/co-writing such songs as "Baby I Love You", "Be My Baby", "Chapel Of Love", "Do Wah Diddy Diddy", "Hanky Panky", "I Can Hear Music", "Leader of the Pack", "Maybe I Know", "Montego Bay", "Then He Kissed Me", "River Deep, Mountain High", and many more.



Also by: Shaun Cassidy (son of actress Shirley Jones and half-brother of David Cassidy.) His version reached #1 (US, 1977). He was only 19 at the time, and it was his very first single.

It was also recorded by the Carpenters; Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas; Jack Nitzsche; The Raindrops; The Searchers.


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He's A Rebel (1962)

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• The Crystals - He's A Rebel (MP3)

By: The Crystals.

They also had hits with "There's No Other (Like My Baby)," (US #20,) "He's Sure the Boy I Love" (US #11,) "Da Doo Ron Ron" (US #3, UK #5,) and "Then He Kissed Me" (US #6, UK #2.)

In truth, The Crystals did not sing on "He's A Rebel." A 21-year old Phil Spector (born Harvey Phillip Spector December 26, 1940 in The Bronx, New York) was working in Los Angeles when heard the demo of this song.

Spector quickly assembled a group of musicians, singer Darlene Love (born Darlene Wright July 26, 1938, in Los Angeles, CA) and her group the Blossoms to record under the "Crystals" name. Legend has it that the real Crystals, based in Brooklyn, were not able to travel to Los Angeles fast enough to suit the LA-based Spector, who wanted to release it before anyone else had a chance to have a hit with it.

The arrangement was unusually dense for the period, with two bass players, two guitarists, and an almost martial beat. The song dramatically jumps to a higher key for the chorus, remaining in that key for the rest of the song. It was the record that elevated Spector into an industry phenomenon, also blueprinting the "Wall of Sound" for which he is lauded.

On July 3, 1965, "He's A Rebel" was performed by the Crystals on the music variety TV show Shivaree, with Dolores "LaLa" Brooks lip-syncing Darlene Love's original vocal.

In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine ranked "He's A Rebel" at #236 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

Chart position: #1 (US), #19 (UK).

"He's A Rebel" was the Crystals' only US #1 hit.

It was #1 for 2 weeks in November 1962. It was preceded at #1 by "Monster Mash" (Bobby "Boris" Pickett and the Crypt-Kickers) and succeeded by "Big Girls Don't Cry" (The Four Seasons.)

The Top Ten Songs: November 3, 1962 (US Billboard).

1. "He's A Rebel" (Crystals)
2. "Only Love Can Break A Heart" (Gene Pitney)
3. "Do You Love Me" (Contours)
4. "Monster Mash" (Bobby "Boris" Pickett and the Crypt Kickers)
5. "All Alone Am I" (Brenda Lee)
6. "Big Girls Don't Cry" (Four Seasons)
7. "Gina" (Johnny Mathis)
8. "Limbo Rock" (Chubby Checker)
9. "Next Door To An Angel" (Neil Sedaka)
10. "Return To Sender" (Elvis Presley)

Written by: Gene Pitney (born February 17, 1940 in Hartford, Connecticut, died April 5, 2006 in Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom.)

Gene Pitney charted more than 20 Top 40 singles in the 1960s. He also wrote "Hello Mary Lou" (Ricky Nelson) and "Rubber Ball" (Bobby Vee). In 2002, Pitney was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Pitney’s biggest hit, the Burt Bacharach/Hal David-penned "Only Love Can Break A Heart," reached #2. It was, ironically, kept from #1 by this song, which he himself had written.

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• The Crystals - He's A Rebel (MP3)

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Then He Kissed Me (1963)

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• The Crystals - Then He Kissed Me (MP3)
• The Beach Boys - Then I Kissed Her (MP3)

By: The Crystals, a girl group produced by Phil Spector (born Harvey Phillip Spector December 26, 1940 in The Bronx, New York.)

The lead vocal was sung by Dolores "LaLa" Brooks (born June 20, 1947 in Brooklyn, NY.) When "Then He Kissed Me" was recorded in 1963, Brooks was only 15 years old — and had never been kissed.

Chart position: #6 (US), #3 (UK).

This was the Crystals' last US Top 40 hit.

The Top Ten Songs: September 28, 1963 (US Billboard Hot 100).

1. "Blue Velvet" (Bobby Vinton)
2. "Sally Go 'Round The Roses" (Jaynetts)
3. "Be My Baby" (Ronettes)
4. "(Love Is Like A) Heat Wave" (Martha and the Vandellas)
5. "My Boyfriend's Back" (Angels) 
6. "Then He Kissed Me" (Crystals)
7. "Wonderful! Wonderful!" (Tymes)
8. "Mickey's Monkey" (Smokey Robinson and the Miracles)
9. "Cry Baby" (Garnet Mimms and the Enchanters)
10. "If I Had A Hammer" (Trini Lopez)

Written by: Jeff Barry (born Joel Adelberg April 3, 1938, in Brooklyn, New York,) Ellie Greenwich (born Eleanor Louise Greenwich October 23, 1940 in Brooklyn, New York,) and Phil Spector.

The husband-and-wife team of Barry and Greenwich were one of the most successful songwriting duos of the 1960s, writing or co-writing such songs as "Baby I Love You," "Be My Baby," "Chapel Of Love," "Da Doo Ron Ron," "Do Wah Diddy Diddy," "Hanky Panky," "I Can Hear Music," "Leader of the Pack," "Maybe I Know," "Montego Bay," "River Deep, Mountain High", and many more.

Also by: The Beach Boys, whose version, titled "Then I Kissed Her", reached #4 in the UK in 1967.

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• The Crystals - Then He Kissed Me (MP3)
• The Beach Boys - Then I Kissed Her (MP3)