Presenting the Fabulous Ronettes Featuring Veronica
Encyclopedia
Presenting the Fabulous Ronettes Featuring Veronica is an album
by the girl group
The Ronettes
, produced by Phil Spector
, Philles
4006 (mono), and 4006S (stereo), released in 1964. It peaked at #96 on the Top Pop Albums
chart.
The debut album by the group, it includes the hit singles "Be My Baby
" (US #2), "Walking in the Rain
" (US #23), "Baby, I Love You
" (US #24), "Do I Love You?" (US #34), and "The Best Part of Breakin' Up" (US #39). The track "So Young" had been released as a single credited to Veronica
, a.k.a. Ronnie Bennett, although the other Ronettes, Estelle Bennett
and Nedra Talley
, appear on the record.
Nine of the tracks appear on the Spector box set, Back to Mono (1958–1969), the omissions being "How Does It Feel?", "Chapel of Love
", and the Ray Charles
cover, "What'd I Say?". The album is long out of print, as of June of 2007 never having been issued on compact disc
. Original vinyl copies change hands for hundreds of dollars.
There has been, however, a re-issue on vinyl in 1975 on the Phil Spector International
label (Super 2307 003 - in stereo). Featuring no bonus-tracks and extensive liner notes by New Musical Express author Roy Carr
, it was Vol. 1 of the six volume "Phil Spector Wall of Sound" re-issue series.
The songs "Be My Baby" and "Walking in the Rain" are ranked #22 and #266, respectively, on Rolling Stone
magazine's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time
. The album ranked #427 on the Rolling Stone list of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time
. "Walking in the Rain" received a Grammy in 1965 for Best Sound Effects for its special effects of a rainstorm.
LP album
The LP, or long-playing microgroove record, is a format for phonograph records, an analog sound storage medium. Introduced by Columbia Records in 1948, it was soon adopted as a new standard by the entire record industry...
by the girl group
Girl group
A girl group is a popular music act featuring several young female singers who generally harmonise together.Girl groups emerged in the late 1950s as groups of young singers teamed up with behind-the-scenes songwriters and music producers to create hit singles, often featuring glossy production...
The Ronettes
The Ronettes
The Ronettes were a 1960s girl group from New York City, best known for their work with producer Phil Spector. The group consisted of lead singer Veronica Bennett ; her older sister, Estelle Bennett; and their cousin Nedra Talley...
, produced by Phil Spector
Phil Spector
Phillip Harvey "Phil" Spector is an American record producer and songwriter, later known for his conviction in the murder of actress Lana Clarkson....
, Philles
Philles Records
Philles Records was a record label formed in 1961 by Phil Spector and Lester Sill, the label taking its name from a hybrid of their first names. Initially, the label was distributed by Jamie/Guyden in Philadelphia...
4006 (mono), and 4006S (stereo), released in 1964. It peaked at #96 on the Top Pop Albums
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
chart.
The debut album by the group, it includes the hit singles "Be My Baby
Be My Baby
"Be My Baby" is a 1963 single written by Phil Spector, Jeff Barry, and Ellie Greenwich, performed by The Ronettes and produced by Spector. When released as a single, the song reached #2 on the U.S. Billboard Pop Singles Chart and #4 on the UK's Record Retailer...
" (US #2), "Walking in the Rain
Walking in the Rain (The Ronettes song)
"Walking in the Rain" is a song written by Barry Mann, Phil Spector, and Cynthia Weil and was recorded by The Ronettes in 1964. The song reached #23 on The Billboard Hot 100 in 1964. The song also reached #28 on the R&B Singles chart in 1965. The song is the only Phil Spector produced song to win...
" (US #23), "Baby, I Love You
Baby, I Love You
"Baby, I Love You" is a pop song written by Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich, and Phil Spector, produced by Spector, and originally recorded in 1963 by The Ronettes...
" (US #24), "Do I Love You?" (US #34), and "The Best Part of Breakin' Up" (US #39). The track "So Young" had been released as a single credited to Veronica
Ronnie Spector
Veronica Yvette "Ronnie" Spector is an American rock and roll and popular music vocalist, and was the lead singer of the 1960s hit-making girl group, The Ronettes, who were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007. She is known as the "original bad girl of rock and roll."-Personal...
, a.k.a. Ronnie Bennett, although the other Ronettes, Estelle Bennett
Estelle Bennett
Estelle Bennett was a member of the girl group The Ronettes, along with her sister Ronnie Spector and cousin Nedra Talley....
and Nedra Talley
Nedra Talley
Nedra Talley, now Nedra Talley Ross , was a member of the girl group The Ronettes, along with her cousins Ronnie Spector and Estelle Bennett. She is of African-American, Native American and Puerto Rican descents...
, appear on the record.
Nine of the tracks appear on the Spector box set, Back to Mono (1958–1969), the omissions being "How Does It Feel?", "Chapel of Love
Chapel of Love
"Chapel of Love" is a song written by Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich and Phil Spector, and made famous by The Dixie Cups in 1964, spending three weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. There have also been many other versions of this song...
", and the Ray Charles
Ray Charles
Ray Charles Robinson , known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records...
cover, "What'd I Say?". The album is long out of print, as of June of 2007 never having been issued on compact disc
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
. Original vinyl copies change hands for hundreds of dollars.
There has been, however, a re-issue on vinyl in 1975 on the Phil Spector International
Phil Spector International
Phil Spector International was a record label operated between 1970 and 1980 by Malcolm Jones. It served as a reissue label for the catalogue of Phil Spector's Philles Records....
label (Super 2307 003 - in stereo). Featuring no bonus-tracks and extensive liner notes by New Musical Express author Roy Carr
Roy Carr
Roy Carr is an English music journalist. He joined the New Musical Express in the late 1960s and has edited NME, VOX and Melody Maker magazines...
, it was Vol. 1 of the six volume "Phil Spector Wall of Sound" re-issue series.
The songs "Be My Baby" and "Walking in the Rain" are ranked #22 and #266, respectively, on Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
magazine's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time
The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time
"The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time" was the cover story of a special issue of Rolling Stone, issue number 963, published December 9, 2004, a year after the magazine published its list of "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time"....
. The album ranked #427 on the Rolling Stone list of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time
The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time
"The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time" is the title of a 2003 special issue of American magazine Rolling Stone, and a related book published in 2005.Related news articles:...
. "Walking in the Rain" received a Grammy in 1965 for Best Sound Effects for its special effects of a rainstorm.
Side one
- "(Walking) In the Rain" (Cynthia WeilCynthia WeilCynthia Weil is a prominent American songwriter. She is famous for having written many songs together with her husband Barry Mann....
, Barry MannBarry MannBarry Mann is an American songwriter, and part of a successful songwriting partnership with his wife, Cynthia Weil.-Career:...
, Phil Spector) - 3:16 - "Do I Love You?" (Vini PonciaVini PonciaVini Poncia is an American musician, songwriter and record producer.In the 1960s, Poncia formed a songwriting team with Peter Anders. An album of songs co-written by these childhood friends The Anders & Poncia Album, was produced by Richard Perry and released in 1969...
, Pete Andreoli, Spector) – 2:50 - "So Young" (William Tyus) – 2:36
- "(The Best Part of) Breakin' Up" (Vini Poncia, Pete Andreoli, Spector) – 3:02
- "I Wonder" (Ellie GreenwichEllie GreenwichEleanor Louise "Ellie" Greenwich was an American pop music singer, songwriter, and record producer. She wrote or co-wrote "Be My Baby", "Christmas ", "Da Doo Ron Ron", "Leader of the Pack", "Do Wah Diddy Diddy", and "River Deep, Mountain High", among many others...
, Jeff Barry, Spector) – 2:51 - "What'd I Say?" (Ray CharlesRay CharlesRay Charles Robinson , known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records...
) – 4:40
Side two
- "Be My BabyBe My Baby"Be My Baby" is a 1963 single written by Phil Spector, Jeff Barry, and Ellie Greenwich, performed by The Ronettes and produced by Spector. When released as a single, the song reached #2 on the U.S. Billboard Pop Singles Chart and #4 on the UK's Record Retailer...
" (Greenwich, Barry, Spector) – 2:40 - "You, Baby" (Weil, Mann, Spector) – 2:56
- "Baby, I Love YouBaby, I Love You"Baby, I Love You" is a pop song written by Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich, and Phil Spector, produced by Spector, and originally recorded in 1963 by The Ronettes...
" (Greenwich, Barry, Spector) – 2:50 - "How Does It Feel?" (Poncia, Andreoli, Spector) – 2:40
- "When I Saw You" (Spector) – 2:43
- "Chapel of LoveChapel of Love"Chapel of Love" is a song written by Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich and Phil Spector, and made famous by The Dixie Cups in 1964, spending three weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. There have also been many other versions of this song...
" (Greenwich, Barry, Spector) –