Wall of Hair: The Legacy of Phil Spector

The world loves celebrity. Here in America, we especially love the formulaic story of rise to fame through hard work and perseverance, and making success from meager beginnings. The only thing the world enjoys watching more than the rise of a star, is its inevitable fall. With the trial of Michael Jackson at a close, the media in the United States is in a blind panic. “Wacko Jacko” has been acquitted, and Robert Blake is out walking the streets again, a proposition that keeps many of us up at night. The folks that decide what’s going to be important to you have nothing left to report, especially in New Jersey. What celebrity court debacle will the nation fawn over for the next six months? Sure, Russell Crow will be going to court soon, but he’s already admitted to assault on The Late Show and will probably plead no contest, not much to report there. Phil Spector’s trial is scheduled to start soon, but who the hell knows who Phil Spector is?

The answer: You should.

It’s very likely that you don’t know who Phil Spector is, or if you recognize his name, don’t realize how fundamental he was in the shaping of American music, and by “American music,” I mean all music. Spector has been a huge figure in innovation of the music industry in the last thirty-five years, and has made millions developing recording technology and techniques, and has created some of the biggest names in music history, and the media can’t even justify following the proceedings of his murder trial.

Spector’s life, like most folks that fight the current in an industry as unforgiving as music, has been marred with turmoil and struggle, leaving him eccentric and, some would say, dangerous. If one examines the evidence, it becomes clear that Spector’s career, which peaked in 1970, can be said to have gone downhill in perfect ratio to the increasing circumference of his hair.




In 1958, and the age of 19, Phil’s first band, The Teddy Bears, release their million-selling hit, “To Know Him is to Love Him.” This was to be the beginning of an illustrious career in music, and as you can see, is marked with cute, short, wavy hair typical for the time. Phil and his hair are destined for big things.




Armed with the reputation garnished from the success of The Teddy Bears, and gifted with perfect pitch, I might add, Spector went on to his first independent production success in 1961 with “Pretty Little Angel Eyes” but Curtis Lee. That same year, before he even turned 21, Spector started his own label, Philles Records, with music great Lester Sill. With complete creative control, Spector went on to produce numerous hits from his tiny Gold Star Studio in Fontana, CA.




During this time, 1965-1969, Phil introduced names like The Ronnettes, The Crystals and many others, developing for the first time the concept of the “girl group.” Unfortunately, as you can see, his hair had started its journey skyward, marking the beginning of the end. The real breakthrough, however, was Spector’s “Wall of Sound” recording technique that used numerous musicians in the tiny studio playing orchestrated parts on top of one another, lending the recording a rich, dense sound that was especially enjoyable on jukeboxes of the day. The song usually credited with popularizing Spector’s technique of layering music was “You’ve Lost that Lovin’ Feeling” by The Righteous Brothers.




In 1970 both Phil and his hair exploded in terms of recognition, success and density. John Lennon, a great fan of Spector’s work, approached him that year and asked him to lend a hand in completing the abandoned recordings of the Beatles’ “Let it Be.” Already on the rocks, the relationship between Lennon and McCartney became even more strained after Spector completely reworked the album, and fundamentally changed McCartney’s “The Long and Winding Road,” applying his signature “Wall of Sound” techniques and added an entire orchestra to McCartney’s sparse piano ballad.




The 70’s and 80’s were tumultuous years for Phil and his hair. There were some significant gains, but also some real setbacks. His name was as well-known as it had ever been, but his eccentricity and need for complete control over the projects he produced gave him a reputation as a tyrant at the boards, and he was even said to have discharged a firearm in the studio while John Lennon was recording and forced Leonard Cohen to record “Death of a Ladies’ Man” at gunpoint. Despite these bizarre occurrences, this time was greeted with the success of albums he produced for John Lennon, George Harrison, The Ramones, Dusty Springfield, Harry Nilsson and The Beach Boys.




In the early 90’s, it seems Phil realized what a danger his hair had become and for the first time, he was trying to fight it. He had retreated into relative obscurity, probably brought on by the epic battle he had incited with the mass of tangles and curls that had nested on his head, bent on world domination. Unfortunately for us all, Phil was not to win this battle.





Holy fucking Christ on a crutch! I never knew it would get this bad. By now, the roots have sunk deep within his brain and he is no longer in control of his actions. He is utterly at the tender mecries of that horrible creature, coiled on top of his head, ready to strike at any moment at anyone who dares stand in its' way.

In February 2003, Harry Phillip Spector and his hair were arrested as part of the investigation into the murder of Lana Clarkson, an actress whose body was found in Spector’s home in Alhambra, California. It would seem Phil’s hair won the struggle that kept him for the public’s eye throughout the 90’s, and now we shall all suffer.

Phil Spector has been responsible for the success of acts like Tina Turner, Cher, Darlene Love, The Righteous Brothers and has greatly influenced musicians and producers like Brian Wilson and Bruce Springsteen. Spector’s imprint will always be felt in music, and the fact that most people are unaware of his legacy is unfortunate. So next time you pop in “Let it Be” and marvel at the genius of those four chaps from Liverpool, think about Phil and his life long battle with the maniacal tendencies of his hair, and how great success is always tainted with great struggle.