Concert Roundup - Wednesday, 11/18/15
for Joe Vig's Pop Explosion on
http://bostonfreeradio.com 1 pm - 3 pm
Nov. 18, 2015 radio show
Ronnie Spector at TCAN November 19, 2015
Ronettes on Jimi Hendrix's Earth Blues
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W054gK7oPo0
http://www.allmusic.com/album/dangerous-1976-1987-mw0000055936
Ronnie Spector at TCAN on Thursday night 11/19/15 AllMusic Review by Joe Viglione [-]
http://www.allmusic.com/album/siren-mw0000850407
There are many extraordinary things about Ronnie Spector's Siren album. It was conceived and produced by the legendary Genya Ravan (aka Goldie Zelcowicz) of one of the first all-girl bands, Goldie & the Gingerbreads. It has a street feel much like Ronnie Spector's solo concerts over the years. Members of Johnny Thunders' Heartbreakers, the Dead Boys, and Mink DeVille must have been honored to appear on this, and the musical integrity and heart is there, for sure. The problem here was the timing. The new wave was just cresting with Willie Alexander, producer/singer Genya Ravan, Ian Hunter, Mink DeVille, the Shirts, and so many others releasing substantial records that mainstream radio turned its back on. And here's the classic '60s voice which ruled on Top 40 for five hit records in
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Ronnie Spector 11/19/15 at TCAN in Natick AllMusic Review by Joe Viglione [-]
Here's her cousin, Nedra Ross of The Ronettes
http://www.allmusic.com/album/full-circle-mw0000892548
Full Circle is a difficult album by Nedra Ross, formerly of the Ronettes. On one hand, she gave up show business for the Lord, yet show business is the biggest selling point here -- the information about Ross' time with the legendary girl group, a reprint of an article from the November 1968 Ebony magazine, a photo of Ross with Ronette Estelle Bennett and Beatles John Lennon and George Harrison, a reprint of the "Be My Baby" disc label -- all on the inner sleeve. If the Lord is displeased with the borderline deceptive advertising, He may be less pleased with the music inside, as Ross and her producer/husband Scott create an album with less inspiration than her God-given talents deserve. "Gonna Keep My Mind (Stayed on You" is a funky Chaka Khan-type tune with religious overtones.
RONNIE SPECTOR BIO
Ronnie Spector's Bio - originally on AMG
Sat, 2 Nov 2002 12:13:31 -0800 (PST)
From:"Joey Viglione"
RONNIE SPECTOR Biography
Ronnie Spector's stardom effectively began when "Be My Baby" exploded on radio at summer's end in 1963. Her voice could cut through the quagmire of eventual husband Phil Spector's wall of sound with a unique timbre and charm that has made her a revered figure among pop musicians and a cult heroine adored by the underground rockers. Born in Spanish Harlem to Louis and Beatrice Bennett, Veronica had the distinction of being the girl her historic band would be named after. It's an important point often lost in the shuffle of rock history. The group was not called the Estellettes after sister Estelle Bennett nor titled The Nedrettes for cousin Nedra Ross, and not even the Spectorettes for the man who overshadowed the work of all the acts he produced, there was only one name possible and that was The Ronettes. Ronnie released a three hundred page plus biography in 1990, Be My Baby: How I Survived Mascara, Miniskirts, and Madness or My Life As A Fabulous Ronette. Co-written with Vince Waldren it gives the world her story from her point of view.
Her autobiography says that Phil Spector wanted to call her Veronica but that she was given the name Ronnie Spector by John Lennon and George Harrison in 1971, convincing their mutual producer it was a better stage name. Thus, the singer was given a moniker that has stayed with her in the decades following the hits that made her famous, but a name not associated with those hits. An artist like Cat Stevens can change his name to Yusuf Islam, but d.j.s still refer to that performer by his former title, while "Be My Baby" has become "Ronnie Spector's tune", the name change appropriate and
fitting as she, like Tina Turner and The Righteous Brothers, were able to step out of the omnipotent shadow of producer Phil. Her musical work on Colpix and Dimension records before Phil Spector produced his future wife, the five Top 40
hits and fabulous Christmas recordings that made her a household name, and her relationship prior to her 1968 marriage to the record producer which kept her from
participating in the 1966 final tour by The Beatles, are all essential elements of her story, but it is Ronnie Spector's attitude and voice that took that all important genre known as "Girl Groups" to another level, to a higher level. There were The Chiffons and The Shangri-Las and The Shirelles}, The Toys, The Jelly Beans and The Marvelettes, but Ronnie Spector was the first (a few months before The Supremes ) to carve an identity that made the lead singer synonymous with her band.
The Supremes, and Diana Ross especially, owe much to Ronnie's stance and persona. Yes, Goldie & The Gingerbreads were issuing that subtle angst in Europe but without someone like Phil Spector's guidance to bring them to the transistor radios of America they remained cult heroines. The eventual teaming of Genya Ravan a.k.a. Goldie of The Gingerbreads as the producer of Ronnie for 1980's underground classic Siren lp made that disc as vital historically as it was musically. Veronica said of Ravan in her book "Genya was a strong producer who knew what she wanted, just like Phil."
But Ronnie also indicated that she didn't like the new wave/underground rock direction Genya put her in. However, in another testament to Ravan's industry insight, the sound which the former singer of Ten Wheel Drive also gave to The Dead Boys and her own Urban Desire album was at and on the cutting edge, finding the audience Ronnie has played to for over two decades after the Siren album was released. That alternative rock crowd embraced her as more than a princess, as the Queen of the Underground. When she performs the tune Billy Joel wrote in her honor, "Say Goodbye To Hollywood}, she rocks with the best of them. When Joey Ramone produced her She Talks To Rainbows EP featuring Johnny Thunders' "You Can't Put Your Arm Around A Memory" and "Don't Worry Baby", the tune Brian Wilson wrote before Billy Joel was inspired by The Ronettes, it verifies conclusively that Genya Ravan had insight to the market that would embrace girl group pioneers.
On records with The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Alice Cooper, Eddy Money, and so many others, included in film soundtracks to Good Fellas, Mean Streets, Just One Of The Guys, Quadrophenia and many more, Ronnie Spector's influence and sound continues to have a positive ripple effect throughout the music industry.
Here's her cousin, Nedra Ross of The Ronettes
http://www.allmusic.com/album/full-circle-mw0000892548
Full Circle is a difficult album by Nedra Ross, formerly of the Ronettes. On one hand, she gave up show business for the Lord, yet show business is the biggest selling point here -- the information about Ross' time with the legendary girl group, a reprint of an article from the November 1968 Ebony magazine, a photo of Ross with Ronette Estelle Bennett and Beatles John Lennon and George Harrison, a reprint of the "Be My Baby" disc label -- all on the inner sleeve. If the Lord is displeased with the borderline deceptive advertising, He may be less pleased with the music inside, as Ross and her producer/husband Scott create an album with less inspiration than her God-given talents deserve. "Gonna Keep My Mind (Stayed on You" is a funky Chaka Khan-type tune with religious overtones.
RONNIE SPECTOR BIO
Ronnie Spector's Bio - originally on AMG
Sat, 2 Nov 2002 12:13:31 -0800 (PST)
From:"Joey Viglione"
RONNIE SPECTOR Biography
Ronnie Spector's stardom effectively began when "Be My Baby" exploded on radio at summer's end in 1963. Her voice could cut through the quagmire of eventual husband Phil Spector's wall of sound with a unique timbre and charm that has made her a revered figure among pop musicians and a cult heroine adored by the underground rockers. Born in Spanish Harlem to Louis and Beatrice Bennett, Veronica had the distinction of being the girl her historic band would be named after. It's an important point often lost in the shuffle of rock history. The group was not called the Estellettes after sister Estelle Bennett nor titled The Nedrettes for cousin Nedra Ross, and not even the Spectorettes for the man who overshadowed the work of all the acts he produced, there was only one name possible and that was The Ronettes. Ronnie released a three hundred page plus biography in 1990, Be My Baby: How I Survived Mascara, Miniskirts, and Madness or My Life As A Fabulous Ronette. Co-written with Vince Waldren it gives the world her story from her point of view.
Her autobiography says that Phil Spector wanted to call her Veronica but that she was given the name Ronnie Spector by John Lennon and George Harrison in 1971, convincing their mutual producer it was a better stage name. Thus, the singer was given a moniker that has stayed with her in the decades following the hits that made her famous, but a name not associated with those hits. An artist like Cat Stevens can change his name to Yusuf Islam, but d.j.s still refer to that performer by his former title, while "Be My Baby" has become "Ronnie Spector's tune", the name change appropriate and
fitting as she, like Tina Turner and The Righteous Brothers, were able to step out of the omnipotent shadow of producer Phil. Her musical work on Colpix and Dimension records before Phil Spector produced his future wife, the five Top 40
hits and fabulous Christmas recordings that made her a household name, and her relationship prior to her 1968 marriage to the record producer which kept her from
participating in the 1966 final tour by The Beatles, are all essential elements of her story, but it is Ronnie Spector's attitude and voice that took that all important genre known as "Girl Groups" to another level, to a higher level. There were The Chiffons and The Shangri-Las and The Shirelles}, The Toys, The Jelly Beans and The Marvelettes, but Ronnie Spector was the first (a few months before The Supremes ) to carve an identity that made the lead singer synonymous with her band.
The Supremes, and Diana Ross especially, owe much to Ronnie's stance and persona. Yes, Goldie & The Gingerbreads were issuing that subtle angst in Europe but without someone like Phil Spector's guidance to bring them to the transistor radios of America they remained cult heroines. The eventual teaming of Genya Ravan a.k.a. Goldie of The Gingerbreads as the producer of Ronnie for 1980's underground classic Siren lp made that disc as vital historically as it was musically. Veronica said of Ravan in her book "Genya was a strong producer who knew what she wanted, just like Phil."
But Ronnie also indicated that she didn't like the new wave/underground rock direction Genya put her in. However, in another testament to Ravan's industry insight, the sound which the former singer of Ten Wheel Drive also gave to The Dead Boys and her own Urban Desire album was at and on the cutting edge, finding the audience Ronnie has played to for over two decades after the Siren album was released. That alternative rock crowd embraced her as more than a princess, as the Queen of the Underground. When she performs the tune Billy Joel wrote in her honor, "Say Goodbye To Hollywood}, she rocks with the best of them. When Joey Ramone produced her She Talks To Rainbows EP featuring Johnny Thunders' "You Can't Put Your Arm Around A Memory" and "Don't Worry Baby", the tune Brian Wilson wrote before Billy Joel was inspired by The Ronettes, it verifies conclusively that Genya Ravan had insight to the market that would embrace girl group pioneers.
On records with The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Alice Cooper, Eddy Money, and so many others, included in film soundtracks to Good Fellas, Mean Streets, Just One Of The Guys, Quadrophenia and many more, Ronnie Spector's influence and sound continues to have a positive ripple effect throughout the music industry.
