Description
Although it was assembled quickly in 1963 to take advantage of the chart success of its eponymous title anthem, the Crystals second album is a near-perfect summation of this seminal girl groups effortless appeal and the surging majesty of Spectors production genius. Between the groups winsome vocals, the massed muscle of Spectors legendary studio band the Wrecking Crew, and the stellar songwriting of such Brill Building pros as Carole King, Gerry Goffin, Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil and Doc Pomus, Hes A Rebel is one of the most beloved items in the Philles Records catalogue.
While most listeners didnt know it at the time, the Gene Pitney-penned Hes A Rebel was actually recorded by Darlene Love and her studio group the Blossoms, and released under the Crystals name. Love also takes the lead on the effervescent hit Hes Sure the Boy I Love. Under any name, however, these are among the most thrilling items in the Spector canon.
Along with such memorable early Crystals classics as Uptown, Theres No Other (Like My Baby) and Oh Yeah, Maybe Baby, Hes A Rebel also features the controversial Goffin/King composition He Hit Me (It Felt Like A Kiss). Originally released as a single in 1962, the songs emotionally raw subject matter scared off radio programmers, and Spector quickly had it withdrawn from release. In the years since, the song has gained near-mythical status, and its inclusion here is a handy reminder of the power of Spectors singular artistry.
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