Showing posts with label Phil Spector. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Phil Spector. Show all posts
Tuesday
Friday
Leonard Cohen
Death of a Ladies' Man - 1977
Toward the end of the 1970s, the careers of Leonard Cohen and Phil Spector were headed in opposite trajectories. Cohen rode high on a five album creative streak that had begun with his debut LP nine years previous, and Spector was spiraling down a well of drink, drugs, bizarre behavior and a string of albums that, while brilliant, were so polarizing that labels often had to be sweet talked into putting them out. Naturally, their great summit of 1977 was one that continues to divide, challenge and amaze. But as Spector put it, midway through their three-week songwriting binge that resulted in 15 new tracks, there's no denying that this is some "great fucking music." Discussing Cohen's contribution here is almost pointless, since the man's ability to craft a lyric and turn a phrase is sickeningly consistent - and aside from Spector's obvious influence on stripping a few layers of subtlety here and there and adding a touch of tasteful schmaltz to the choruses, Death of a Ladies' Man only continues the hot streak. It shouldn't be a surprise then, that the real magic of this record lies in Spector's typically over the top production. If his records of the classic era were Wall of Sound, the noise he creates here pours in through tunnels and waves, with his wrecking crew of the mid 60s reprising their role with some added syrupy 70s grandeur and a layer of echo so thick that it practically becomes an instrument in itself. It's worth noting that Bob Dylan and Allen Ginsberg drop by to lend their voices to the raucous "Don't Go Home With Your Hard-On" - a raveup that nearly disrupts the flow, but as a testament to the strength of this record, hardly creates a ripple. Unquestionably weird, but bruised and lovely all the same, this LP must be heard to be believed.
Toward the end of the 1970s, the careers of Leonard Cohen and Phil Spector were headed in opposite trajectories. Cohen rode high on a five album creative streak that had begun with his debut LP nine years previous, and Spector was spiraling down a well of drink, drugs, bizarre behavior and a string of albums that, while brilliant, were so polarizing that labels often had to be sweet talked into putting them out. Naturally, their great summit of 1977 was one that continues to divide, challenge and amaze. But as Spector put it, midway through their three-week songwriting binge that resulted in 15 new tracks, there's no denying that this is some "great fucking music." Discussing Cohen's contribution here is almost pointless, since the man's ability to craft a lyric and turn a phrase is sickeningly consistent - and aside from Spector's obvious influence on stripping a few layers of subtlety here and there and adding a touch of tasteful schmaltz to the choruses, Death of a Ladies' Man only continues the hot streak. It shouldn't be a surprise then, that the real magic of this record lies in Spector's typically over the top production. If his records of the classic era were Wall of Sound, the noise he creates here pours in through tunnels and waves, with his wrecking crew of the mid 60s reprising their role with some added syrupy 70s grandeur and a layer of echo so thick that it practically becomes an instrument in itself. It's worth noting that Bob Dylan and Allen Ginsberg drop by to lend their voices to the raucous "Don't Go Home With Your Hard-On" - a raveup that nearly disrupts the flow, but as a testament to the strength of this record, hardly creates a ripple. Unquestionably weird, but bruised and lovely all the same, this LP must be heard to be believed.Wednesday
Dion
Born To Be With You - 1975
The story behind this album is mythical. After years without a hit between them, Phil Spector enlists Dion to create a comeback album that would relaunch the careers of both men. From the liner notes: Arriving at the "Tycoon of Teen's" Los Angeles mansion, Dion found himself in a room lit only by one light bulb. Phil was dipping in and out of the shadows and speaking at the pace of a man posessed by demons "only you know what you have been through, only you know where you have been to, there's better things you're gonna get into, and I'm gonna be there too." Booking his famed Gold Star recording studio and enlisting a crew of musicians that included ten guitarists, two bassists, two drummers, choirs, eight horns and a full string section, Spector created an ocean of sound and Dion's voice soared above it. The title track alone is worth the price of admission, but the highlight of this set is the Spector-penned "Only You Know"; morphing from a molasses dipped "Be My Baby" into a gut wrenching ballad with one of the greatest verse to chorus transitions of all time. By the end of the grueling sessions, Dion's response to the album was surprisingly negative, and after sitting on the LP for over a year, he and his label settled for releasing it in the UK only. To this day, despite having being hailed by Pete Townshend and Jason Pierce of Spiritualized (among many many others) as a work of genius, it has never been released in the US.
The story behind this album is mythical. After years without a hit between them, Phil Spector enlists Dion to create a comeback album that would relaunch the careers of both men. From the liner notes: Arriving at the "Tycoon of Teen's" Los Angeles mansion, Dion found himself in a room lit only by one light bulb. Phil was dipping in and out of the shadows and speaking at the pace of a man posessed by demons "only you know what you have been through, only you know where you have been to, there's better things you're gonna get into, and I'm gonna be there too." Booking his famed Gold Star recording studio and enlisting a crew of musicians that included ten guitarists, two bassists, two drummers, choirs, eight horns and a full string section, Spector created an ocean of sound and Dion's voice soared above it. The title track alone is worth the price of admission, but the highlight of this set is the Spector-penned "Only You Know"; morphing from a molasses dipped "Be My Baby" into a gut wrenching ballad with one of the greatest verse to chorus transitions of all time. By the end of the grueling sessions, Dion's response to the album was surprisingly negative, and after sitting on the LP for over a year, he and his label settled for releasing it in the UK only. To this day, despite having being hailed by Pete Townshend and Jason Pierce of Spiritualized (among many many others) as a work of genius, it has never been released in the US.
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