Pop Music
The song “Be My Baby” by The Ronettes is a record that was part of pioneering a new sound. “Be My Baby” is credited to legendary songwriters Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich and Phil Spector. The latter produced the song and released it on his label Philles Records. Spector’s “wall of sound” that he was developing in the early 1960s incorporates dense layers of instruments from the tiniest bell to the biggest rumble plus echo effects. “Be My Baby” includes The Ronettes, a trio from Washington Heights in New York City. They were Veronica (Ronnie) Bennett, who became Ronnie Spector, her sister Estelle Bennett, and their cousin Nedra Talley. The song was recorded at Gold Star Studios in Los Angeles and also included Don Randi (piano), Hal Blaine (drums ), Frank Capp ( drums), Al de Lory (keyboards), Bill Pitman (guitar), Ray Pohlman (bass), and Tommy Tedesco (guitar). There are additional backup vocals from Darlene Love and Cher, who worked with Phil Spector at the time. In 1963, the song reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #4 on the R&B chart.
There have been numerous covers (including Brian Wilson, Linda Ronstadt, the Bay City Rollers, Blue Oyster Cut, Maroon 5, and Tommy Roe). The song has been featued in the films Mean Streets and Dirty Dancing as well as on TV on Moonlighting and The Wonder Years. One other bit of trivia is that Eddie Money’s “Take Me Home Tonight” has Ronnie Spector singing “Be my little baby” when the song says, “Just like Ronnie sang…”
4 Comments
Sorry, but I couldn’t get song to play. What was I doing incorrectly? Another song GREAT for inclusion in your recordings is sung by Lee Andrews & the Hearts, titled ” On a night like Tonight”
Hi. What device are you coming in on (that is, computer, mobile, tablet? I always test them, but ya never know. It should just be a click on the area of the record player to start and stop the song. Please let me know if it works. Thank you for the suggestion. Love Lee Andrews & The Hearts. After today, the song goes into the jukebox. That should be a click on the jukebox and a click on the song.
very interesting. thanks. didn’t know about Hal Blaine, Darlene Love, Cher, etc. being part of the production.
true divas one of a kind ladies