Da Doo Ron Ron
| Da Doo Ron Ron | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| The Crystals | |
| publication | April 1963 |
| length | 2:18 |
| Genre (s) | pop |
| Author (s) |
Phil Spector Jeff Barry Ellie Greenwich |
| Label | Philles Records |
Da Doo Ron Ron is the title of a hit by the US girl group The Crystals , which became a million seller in 1963 .
History of origin
Phil Spector's first recording at Gold Star Studios as part of his signature Wall of Sound was He's a Rebel by the Crystals on July 13, 1962 . It was to become a model for a large number of almost identical productions.
The melody of Da Doo Ron Ron was based on a piano riff that Arnold Goland had developed during an improvisation phase in his living room. He was not registered as a co-author, but on the title on the B-side. The text was composed in Spector's office within 2 days, his friend and promoter Bill Walsh had the idea of the opening couplet "I met him on a Monday and my heart stood still / Someone told me that his name was Bill." These lines was based on a similar chorus from the Da Doos group and had very similar lines of text. The title itself is a nonsense phrase that the composers Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich initially intended as a filling for missing text passages that were planned until a meaningful passage was found. Spector placed this preliminary passage in the foreground, so that a text that was too solemn would not overlay the massive music production. For the music producer Spector, it's not about the text, but about the wall of sound behind it.
Along with Then He Kissed Me , Da Doo Ron Ron was the first song Greenwich / Barry wrote with Spector. They were followed by a variety of other compositions. Spector also appears formally as a co-composer for this title, but he limited his role to the function of a “steering wheel” when he completed the text ideas, riffs and melodies. The text had enough hooklines for a hit.
admission
The recordings for Do Doo Ron Ron took place in March 1963 at Gold Star Studios with Dolores "La La" Brooks as lead singer instead of Darlene Love under the working title Will You Walk me Home . Perfectionist Spector had Brooks record 30 takes until he was satisfied. The background voices came from the Blossoms (with Darlene Love ) and Cher . Of The Wrecking Crew worked as a studio musician Tommy Tedesco (guitar), Carol Kaye (bass), Don Randi (piano), Steve "Teenage" Douglas (baritone sax solo) and Blaine Hal with (drums). Spector always used the same production scheme for his Wall of Sound music productions at Gold Star Studio. First, he let the Wrecking Crew's studio musicians practice for hours before asking sound engineer Larry Levine to turn on the tape. Then the music recording ( "backing track" ) was created with the 3-track Ampex 350. At Da Doo Ron Ron - unlike usual - the bass drum was added by overdubbing . The piano tremolos are part of the identity of the song, and the extensive vortex by drummer Hal Blaine was also striking . Arranger Jack Nitzsche coordinated the recordings. The piece had the fastest tempo of any song Spector has ever produced. Larry Levine had to announce 29 takes in a calm voice, making the song one of Spector's most tried sessions. The final mix presented a sound honed with reverberation , which creates its own echo.
Publication and Success
The single Da Doo Ron Ron (When He Walked Me Home) / Git 'it ( Philles 112) came out in April 1963 and was the group's sixth single. It made it to the US pop hit parade on April 27, 1963, and reached number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 on June 8, 1963 . In the UK , the song came in 5th. Worldwide it was sold a million times. The previously released He's a Rebel was a number one hit and arguably the Crystals' most famous hit.
Cover versions
Initially, two French versions appeared under the title Da dou ron ron (French text: Georges Aber), by Frank Alamo (July 1963) and Johnny Hallyday (September 27, 1963). This was followed by Ted Herold (August 1963, # 22; German text: Charly Niessen / Claudius Alzner), Billy J. Kramer & the Dakotas (December 1963), Carpenters (May 1, 1973) and Grumble (German single, 1973). The Who included him on their double LP Quadrophenia (October 19, 1973). Further cover versions were published by Anneke Grönloh in Dutch and Malaysian (1963), Suzie (1969, also in a German version with Niessen's text), Sylvie Vartan (1974), Shaun Cassidy (March 1977) led the song to first place in the US Hit Parade, and The Donnas (1996). Coverinfo lists a total of 49 versions.
The original was awarded a BMI award. In 2004, the song was listed at number 114 on Rolling Stone magazine's The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list .
Individual evidence
- ^ Richard Williams, Phil Spector: Out of His Head , 1989, p. 64.
- ↑ Mark Ribovski, He's a Rebel , 1989, pp 147th
- ^ A b Mick Brown, Tearing Down The Wall of Sound: The Rise and Fall of Phil Spector , 2012, p. 129.
- ^ Lewis Grossberger, Turn That Down! , 2005, p. 41.
- ↑ Ellie Greenwich , The Telegraph, August 27, 2009.
- ↑ Song facts about Do Doo Ron Ron
- ↑ Michael Campbell / James Brody, Rock And Roll: An Introduction , 2008, p. 136.
- ^ Richard Williams, Phil Spector: Out of His Head , 2003, p. 74.
- ↑ Mojo Magazine, November 2011.
- ↑ Classic Tracks: The Ronettes “Be My Baby” , Sound on Sound, April 2007.
- ↑ Michael Campbell / James Brody, Rock And Roll: An Introduction , 2008, p. 142.
- ^ Joseph Murrells, Million Selling Records , 1985, p. 174.
- ↑ Single information at Discogs.com