Phil Spector: Sound of the Sixties (Tempo: A Rowman & Littlefield Music Series on Rock, Pop, and Culture)

Phil Spector is a musician, songwriter and producer whose musical ability and visionary foresight as a producer charted the future of popular music and culture of the late 20th century. He revolutionized recording processes and re-shaped the business and marketing approach of the music industry. While he raised the bar for other musicians and producers to follow and gave a voice to groups struggling to achieve equality during the 60s, Spector was, however, a complex character whose need for control brought much damage and confusion into the lives of those around him as well as into his own career and life. Phil Spector: Sound of the Sixties follows the ups and downs of Spector's career as an entrepreneur and businessman, technical wizard and musical visionary, record label master and collaborator with the biggest bands of the age. Spector left an indelible mark on American pop music, creating an iconic soundtrack that still attracts new listeners today. --Kingsley Abbott, editor of Little Symphonies: A Phil Spector Reader Introduction: Between Elvis and the Beatles Timeline To know him is to love him: the formative years There's no other: entrepreneur and businessman Tomorrow's sound today: technical wizard and musical visionary Pocket symphonies for the kids: teenagers He's a rebel: feminism and civil rights He hit me: control and power You've lost that lovin' feelin': collective consciousness versus ego consciousness He's sure the boy I love: mentor and protégés Get back: master and servant End of the century: decline and fall Conclusion: Spector: the genius that the geniuses go to. Musician, songwriter, and producer-- Spector's musical ability and visionary foresight charted the future of popular music and culture of the late twentieth century. He reshaped the business and marketing sides of the music industry, while revolutionizing the recording processes. Yet Spector's need for control brought much damage and confusion into the life of those around him-- and into his own career and life. MacLeod follows the ups and downs of Spector's career. MacLeod explores Phil Spector’s rise and fall as a musician, songwriter, and producer whose musical ability and visionary foresight radically influenced popular music and culture of the 20th century. Spector’s legendary wall of sound became a hallmark of 1960’s pop music and contributed to the success of bands like the Beach Boys and the Beatles.