Song of the Day: 'All I Want' (Four Scores)

 

Well, I'm not sure if any of you enjoyed my week of homophonic Songs of the Day. (I know I did!) But I thought I would end it with a multi-decade number, featuring four great songs by four discrete artists. 

1970s: Featured on Joni Mitchell's "Blue"; later covered by Natalie Merchant

1980s: Featured on Echo and the Bunnymen's "Heaven Up Here"

1990s: Featured on the Lightning Seeds' "Cloudcuckooland"; and later covered by Susanna Hoffs

2000s: Featured on Ronnie Spector's "The Last of the Rock Stars." RIP.  

Song of the Day: 'Dangerous' by Ronnie Spector (Featuring Susanna Hoffs)

Saddened to hear about the death of Ronnie Spector at 78. Cancer has taken yet another great one, but her once-in-a-lifetime voice will live on for eternity. If life were fair then Ronnie would have had a Tina Turner-size comeback, having endured a similarly traumatic marriage to another psychotic music man. But instead she had to settle for a brief moment in the sun again with a few "oh oh oh"s on Eddie Money's "Take Me Home Tonight," which for a moment reminded the world how special she was.

Today's pick is from her comeback album right after her Money shot. Although the aptly titled "Unfinished Business" tanked, it did add to her resume 10 more songs, including this should've-been hit featuring another girl band singer gone solo. Rest in peace, Veronica Bennett. xo

Song of the Day: 'It's Christmas Once Again' by Ronnie Spector

 

With B.B. King's concert venue in Times Square long closed, it's been a number of years since I've been able to see Ronnie Spector's Christmas Party. To help fill void, here's one of the show's annual highlights, her cover of Frankie Lymon's holiday gem from 1957. Lymon, who along with his backup group the Teenagers had a smash with "Why Do Fools Fall in Love," was a childhood friend and inspiration of the Ronettes singer. Tragically, he died of a heroin overdose at 25 back in 1968, something I could see haunts Ronnie all these years later.

Ronnie told the Wall Street Journal she loved Christmas as a child in Spanish Harlem, but admitted it caused her worry and confusion. "I'd go to Gimbels, Alexander's and Bloomingdale's and see all these Santas," she recounted. "I got so upset. How could there be more than one Santa?" She also took note that her family's apartment building lacked a chimney to allow Santa entry to the family's home. "My father said, 'Butchie' -- he called me Butchie -- 'Butchie, he's coming down the fire escape.'" Don't believe it? Ronnie recounts the story during a spoken interlude on her song "It's the Time (Happy Holidays)."

Ronnie Delivers the Spirit of Christmas

Another great time at Ronnie Spector's annual Christmas Party at B.B. King in Times Square. Last night, however, was made even more special by the inclusion of Michael's godmother, Janet, and her son Frank. Ever since I first took Michael to see the lead Ronette some 10 years ago he has been saying how much he would love it if he could Janet there. His aunt was the quintessential '60s girl -- teased beehive, knee-high boots, convertible Cadillac El Dorado and the radio ALWAYS blasting the latest Top 40 hits. He knew she's love seeing Ronnie after all these years, and despite an afternoon fall on her son's front porch and a long haul from Long Island, the night ended up going off without a hitch. Everyone had a great time -- so much so, in fact, that Michael's sister Rosie got teary-eyed at the sight of her brother being so happy. I felt the same way.

Song of the Day: 'Be My Baby' by the 'Ronettes'

The one where Belinda Carlisle and Grace Slick were fill-in Ronettes on HBO's "Legendary Ladies of Rock 'n' Roll." (Kudos to Grace for being willing to stand next to B.C. at the height of her beauty!)

'The Girls' Room' Premieres on Sirius/XM Radio

See how many of my sweet spots this press release hits:

SiriusXM’s Ron Bennington interviewed Ronnie Spector today (March 22) on SiriusXM’s "The Ron & Fez Show." Spector talked about SiriusXM’s new all-girl band channel, ‘The Girls’ Room,’ her upcoming one-woman show ‘Beyond the Beehive’ and why she won’t watch HBO’s film "Phil Spector," based on her legendary music producer ex-husband’s life.

Select quotes:

On HBO’s Phil Spector movie: Ronnie Spector: “…everybody knows about…my ex-husband’s HBO movie Phil Spector…I was going to watch it. Then I found out I was in it and I was like, ‘Aaahhh!’...[it stars] Al Pacino, and Helen Mirren is one of his…[defense]…lawyers. And every time he hears my name [in the movie], he goes into a rage…I am not going to see that movie.” 

 Ronnie also talked about “Beyond the Beehive,” her upcoming New York City one-woman show (May 6 & 7), in which she touches on the difficulties she experienced in her career and her personal life:  

Ronnie Spector: “…[singing] it’s like a dream come true…every time I say a sentence, I sing about it and the audience goes crazy. They laugh and they cry and they make me cry too because it’s so emotional.” 

“The Girls’ Room,” which launched today, is a limited-run channel airing on SiriusXM channel 17 featuring music by all-girl bands spanning the ‘50s, ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s including: The Ronettes, The Shangri-Las, The Supremes, The Go-Go’s, Bananarama, The Angels, Martha & the Vandellas, The Dixie Cups, The Bangles and The Chiffons, as well as female solo artists who had the “Girl Group sound.” “The Girls’ Room” will run through Monday, March 25 at 3:00 am ET. "The Ron & Fez Show" airs weekdays from 11:00 am – 3:00 pm ET on SiriusXM’s "The Opie & Anthony Channel" (Sirius 206/XM 105).

'Baby' Love or, Somewhere Linda McCartney's Cringing in Her Grave

  Here are the recently unvaulted isolated vocal tracks from the Ronettes' "Baby, I Love You," the group's sorely underappreciated follow-up to "Be My Baby." Like many songs by the group, Ronnie is the only Ronette featured -- part of the reason Phil Spector insisted the "group" didn't deserve induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (that, and because he's a psychotic asshole). The girls had been booked to tour with Dick Clark's Caravan of Stars, so Phil sent the other two members, Estelle Bennett and Nedra Talley, plus Ronnie's cousin Elaine in her place, while Ronnie recorded this song back in California. In the girls' absence, the other vocals were provided by none other than Darlene Love and Cher! Sadly, it stalled at No. 24 on the charts -- but was later a Top 10 smash for Andy Kim in 1969 (my mom had the album!).

Song of the Day: 'Don't Worry Baby' by Ronnie Spector

  I never got around to blogging about seeing Ronnie Spector's "Beyond the Beehive," a cabaret show the head Ronette performed over the summer at City Winery, very much in the vein of Darlene Love's "Portrait of a Singer," which dazzled audiences (including me) at the Bottom Line back in the mid-90s. "Beyond the Beehive" covers the Ronettes' rise to fame, and all of the gory details that came after. Ronnie, now 69, relied heavily on a iPad script perched on a mike stand, but the words are all hers, from the early days when she and sister Estelle and cousin Nedra were mistaken for dancers at the Peppermint Lounge -- they went along with it! -- to having the Rolling Stones open for them back in the day (it really seems to tickle her!), to Brian Wilson writing a follow-up single to "Be My Baby," which he believed was the best pop song of all time. The show reveals little that we didn't already learn in Ronnie's 1992 autobiography, save for getting to see lots of wonderful rare archive footage. But one thing is clear: Wilson's gift, "Don't Worry Baby," would have been the perfect song for the Ronettes to record, if Ronnie's future husband -- and future convicted murderer -- Phil Spector hadn't been too jealous and controlling to allow his muse to accept it. She finally recorded it some 30 years later, and it was well worth the wait.

Ronnie Spector: It's Christmas Once Again

Despite Michael's being horribly under the weather -- and the asshole drunk standing behind us who wouldn't shut the fuck up -- we had a wonderfully festive time at Ronnie Spector's Best Christmas Party Ever last night at B.B. King's in Times Square. Ronnie sounded like she was a little under the weather too -- and her stamina lessens each year -- but it's hard not to smile as she makes her way through a dozen of the songs that defined the '60s and the holiday season, including "Frosty the Snowman" and "Sleigh Ride" from her ex-husband's legendary Christmas album, "(The Best Part of) Breaking Up," "You, Baby," "Walking in the Rain" and "Be My Baby," arguably the best pop song of all time. (Amy Winehouse, Rolling Stones and Joey Ramone numbers were also on the menu.) Also, hardcore fans will want to note that this was the first time I heard her perform Ray Charles' "What'd I Say," which appeared on the Ronettes' sole LP, "Presenting the Fabulous Ronettes Featuring Veronica." After completing the rather raucous number, Ronnie gasped for air before saying, "Wow, I wasn't sure I still had that in me," followed by one of her trademark laughs! 

Song of the Day: 'Back to Black' by Ronnie Spector

The fabulous Ronette pays tribute to the late Amy Winehouse in this dancey cover produced by the legendary Richard Gottehrer (Angels, Blondie, Go-Go's). Purchase HERE. Proceeds from the single will be donated to Daytop Village, a NYC-based substance abuse center handpicked by Spector herself.

  

Chip Duckett's Birthday Wishes

Be My Rock Lobster: With Fred Schneider and Ronnie Spector

Here are some photos from last night at Rm. Fifty5, where Scooter and I helped legendary promoter Chip Duckett celebrate his birthday, along with an eclectic bunch of artists, musicians, celebrities and fan boys (try to figure out which category I proudly boast membership in!). We didn't remember the name of the lounge but Scooter thought he remembered the address, so when we saw a place that looked "right," we walked in. The first thing we saw after getting past the doorman was a huge poof of dark hair and matching dark sunglasses seated in the corner surrounded by a group of gay guys: Ronnie Spector, in the flesh and waving at us! As we furiously tried to find a place to stash our coats, Scooter noticed Fred Schneider of the B-52's standing to our right -- "Are you ready to pounce?" my friend asked -- and we knew I we were in the right place. (Who else but Chip is friends with Ronnie Spector and Fred Schneider?)

The birthday boy flanked by Daryl and me

The coat check was "for another party" (um, OK), so we just threw them on a chair and started to look for Chip when we ran into my friend Daryl, through whom I first met the birthday boy years ago at a Bananarama CD signing at one of Daryl's stores. As we were scoping out Ronnie -- I was concerned she might come early and then leave after wishing her friend well -- I noticed one of the gay guys sitting with her WAS Chip, so I immediately ran over to wish him a happy birthday.

At the exact moment Chip was introducing me to Ronnie -- she was warm and friendly and I was ALL TEETH and inexplicably started singing "You, Baby" to her (she's pretty out there, so joined in without missing a beat!) -- Fred Schneider came over to say hi to the head Ronette, which prompted a fury of photographers to descend upon our once-intimate group.

After they got all the photos -- naturally, Robin Bird was hovering around the action too! -- I was able to get a bunch of photos with Fred and Ronnie. When the flashes stopped going off, I asked Fred if it was true that the B-52's were going on tour with the Go-Go's this summer. He said no, but that they were doing some shows with them (I guess there's a difference!), then I tried to pick up on my "Mesopotamia" lost tracks conversation I think I started with him a decade ago. He seemed a lot more "on" it this time -- or did I imagine the other conversation completely? -- although he said there was really only one other track (the one I now have called "Adios Descondido"), which he said, "wasn't very good." He said it was originally less serious and had a different name. I forget what -- instead of "Goodbye Stranger" in Spanish, it was something like "Goodbye Red Rhinoceros" or something more comical -- but I'll ask him to clarify the next time I run into him. (He confirmed he lives on my street in Chelsea although he joked that now that we've met, I'll probably never see him again!)

Later, Chip introduced me to a wonderful couple, Hope and Susie, a writer/director/producer and a Broadway actress, respectively. Hope filled me on her current project -- a Twitter soap opera called "The P@ssionate and the Privileged" -- while Susie gave us the low-down on life on the Great White Way. We talked a long time -- we love 'em -- and then all agreed we needed to go home and get to bed.

Fred and Scooter

As we exited, Scooter -- who won't admit to being the fanboy that I am -- suddenly told me he wanted to get a photo with Fred. He turned around and the next thing I knew, he had his hood on and these sunglasses (I know Chip has an eclectic group of friends, but is he BFFs with Ted Kaczynski too?), then he tapped Fred on the shoulder. Fred was equally good-spirited and posed for a couple (I accidentally hit the lock button on Scooter's Blackberry -- oops), and then Scooter -- not realizing I had already brought up the whole "lost tracks of 'Mesopotamia'" topic -- launched into the whole thing again. Fred didn't miss a beat and seemed sort of circumspect about his whole career. While he thought it was cool that we liked "Mesopotamia" so much -- he isn't really, saying he only had two songs on it so seems as "removed" from the record as a member of the band could possibly be -- he said he'll pretty much do "whatever" makes people happy at this point.

We then said our goodbyes and headed home -- with just a brief stop at the bodega for Zingers (raspberry coconut for Scooter, vanilla for me) -- and both agreed it was a great party for a great man who is one of the most generous people I have met in my dozen-plus years in New York City. The only way the night could have been better was if Scootie and I had gotten our snacks at a Circle K.

Music Box: Dusty Springfield

One of my fondest memories from the late '80s was the resurgence of three female music legends, Ronnie Spector, Liza Minnelli and Dusty Springfield. While Ronnie refurbished her signature song to make a winning duet with Eddie Money, Liza and Dusty were even more fortunate, each collaborating with Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe of the Pet Shop Boys. While Liza's "Results" received enormous publicity, Dusty's 1990 comeback album, "Reputation," didn't even get released in America until many years later, despite the enormous success of "What Have I Done to Deserve This?" with the Boys in '87. (Might the lack of success of Ronnie's "Unfinished Business" have played a role in this?)

   It's a shame, because "Reputation" -- Dusty's first album in eight years and arguably her best since the 1960s -- is pure a pure delight. (The album fared pretty well in the UK, where it sold 60,000 copies in the first two weeks and charted two Top 20 singles, "In Private" and "Nothing Has Been Proved.") "In Private" was such a rousing dance anthem, in fact, it ended up becoming a huge dance-floor hit in the U.S., despite never being commercially released here. (It peaked at No. 14 on Billboard's Hot Dance Club Play chart in early 1990 -- and definitely got the crowd at Studio One going back in the day.) Equally good is the melodramatic title track -- which reeks of the Boys but was actually one of the songs they didn't produce or write -- that plays like the antidote to Olivia Newton-John's "The Rumor." Both videos are below -- like Liza, Dusty released an accompanying tape of videos from the album -- and I see iTunes has the 1997 reissue, "Reputation and Rarities" available at the nice price. Dusty's place in history is secure. But I'd like to think the Pet Shop Boys will someday be better appreciated for the geniuses they are. Works like "Results" and "Reputation" are wonderful supporting evidence.

 

Ronnie Spector's Christmas Party

We went to see Ronnie Spector on Saturday night at B.B. King. What a great time we had. Ronnie looked and sounded fabulous (she's 63 but still has the spirit of a kid) and put on a really fun show. Billed as her annual Christmas party, she does all of her classic songs from the Phil Spector Christmas album, as well as a couple of other holiday surprises. In addition, she does all of the Ronettes classics ("Baby I Love You," "Walking in the Rain," "(The Best Part of) Breakin' Up," "Be My Baby") plus some choice tracks from her horribly neglected solo career ("Say Goodbye to Hollywood") and two from her new CD (both of which were surprisingly good). Ronnie got in a few good jabs at her murderous nutty ex-husband, but I read that her current hubby of 25 years just had a liver transplant, so something tells me that's what's most on her mind these days. Here's wishing them well -- and thanks for a great night, Ronnie!

Check out the latest Ronnie news on her Web site here, including details of her new album, soon to be released stateside.

Previously: Ronnie Spector: "Tonight You're Mine, Baby"

Ronnie Spector: "Tonight You're Mine, Baby"

When I was a senior in high school I got a part-time job working at the local AMC movie theater. The job paid $3.35 an hour -- so when you factored in the costs of the transportation, the white dress shirt, the black polyester dress pants, and the black leather shoes, it probably would have been cheaper for my parents to continue to allow me to watch MTV all day and play tennis all night (it was 115 during the day, after all).

Despite this, I made a lot of friends and sometimes managed to have fun working there (well, except when that cotton candy display fell from the ceiling and knocked me unconscious behind the concession stand). But more than anything, it was the free movies that seemed to make the job worthwhile. With the exception of "Desperately Seeking Susan," I don't think I enjoyed one other movie that showed at Fiesta Village more than "Just One of the Guys." Shown endlessly on cable these days, there was something about the tale of Ralph Macchio Joyce Hyser as a cross-dressing high school journalist who lives in suburban Phoenix that I found so appealing. It helped that much of it was filmed in places I frequented (the prom was shot at the fake ocean wave park not far from my house, called Big Surf) and that one of my classmates had a small part in the movie (Dobson High's resident drama queen Anthony Galde played the Anthony Michael Hallish Ralph in the film, although when Tony rubbed it in my face talked about it in the yearbook the year before I was so jealous I could barely see straight, the film was known as "Lady's Man." That role should have been MINE!!!)

But the thing about the film that I liked best were the closing credits. When you worked as a usher, you learned exactly what time each film ended because it was your job to be waiting inside the theater to then spring the doors open and urge people out. When "Just One of the Guys" ended, suddenly these oh-so-familiar everything-but-the-kitchen-sink drums would begin clanging and soon the sweet sound of Ronnie Spector's voice would start singing "Tonight You're Mine, Baby," a nearly perfect '60s throwback written by the legendary producer Narada Michael Walden just for Ronnie (I think Ronnie's contractually obligated to only sing songs with the word "baby" in them.) That Paul Shaffer produced the track in a perfect Wall of Sound but you'd swear Ronnie's lunatic ex-husband was at the controls.

So yesterday I was reading The Daily News and noticed tickets had gone on sale for Ronnie's annual Christmas Party (I won't even get started about how wonderful her contributions to the Phil Spector Christmas album are), which got me surfing the Web looking for other Ronnie news. Sure enough I quickly came across a message board of obsessed fans who were desperately looking for that beautiful song from "Just One of the Guys"! Ronnie responded on one message board telling her fans that she too finds it horrible that "Tonight You're Mine, Baby" is out of print -- and that it was never issued on CD to the best of her knowledge (mine, either).

So for all of you fans out there, today I offer an early Christmas Gift for You: my very own homemade (not-so-perfect) vinyl transfer MP3 of that classic moment from 1965 1985, Miss Ronnie Spector singing "Tonight You're Mine, Baby." Enjoy ...

GOOGLE-AIDED UPDATE: Is my former schoolmate now spending his nights on Broadway?