#422 The Ronettes - Presenting the Fabulous Ronettes (1964)
MUSIC HISTORY WRITTEN BY HEAD WRITER DJ MORTY COYLE:
Released in November of 1964 and produced by Phil Spector this collection of previously released singles with some new recordings is the debut and only studio album by the American girl group.
Though it only went to number 96 it’s a solid and influential album.
The multi-racial, Spanish Harlem, New York trio of Veronica or Ronnie Bennett, her older sister Estelle and their cousin Nedra Talley had been singing in harmony together since they were kids.
In fact their singing family act originally included Nedra’s sisters Elaine and Diane and their male cousin Ira.
But after a 1957 performance at an amateur night at The Apollo Theater in New York Ira froze up and couldn’t sing his part of Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers’ "Why Do Fools Fall in Love", so Ronnie took over and gained the confidence to front the group.
Ira, Elaine, and Diane were out and Ronnie, Estelle, and Nedra started earnestly taking vocal lessons twice a week and began calling themselves the Darling Sisters before changing it to Ronnie and the Relatives.
In 1961 after playing local parties and dances they got a deal with Colpix Records and put out a few singles that went nowhere.
Then a break happened when the underage girls tried sneaking into New York’s hip Peppermint Club. They were mistaken for dancers and brought onstage behind the house band but when the mic got passed to Ronnie she belted out some Ray Charles and they got the job of dancers with some singing.
From there they changed their name to The Ronettes, put out a few more ignored singles, got another high profile, regular, New York club gig as dancers before becoming back-up singers, and then began performing as themselves.
And with their evolution came their wildly iconic onstage look of overdrawn eye make-up and huge, teased-up hairdos.
By 1963 they were done being unsuccessful with Colpix Records so Estelle called up producer Phil Spector to ask to audition for his “Philles” label.
Phil agreed and after he heard their a cappella version of "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" he jumped up from his seat and shouted, "That's it! That's it! That's the voice I've been looking for!"
Although he only wanted Ronnie, her mom said they only came as a group so Phil signed The Ronettes to his label.
After recording one single that Spector wouldn’t release he put out their next four songs… and credited them to the popular vocal group The Crystals.
But then they recorded one of many Phil wrote with Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich called, “Be My Baby.” It went to number 2 and established their career.
In between touring over the next year Spector would have them recording many songs while choosing which to release and which to hold back.
They continued to put out singles and tour but despite their early popularity Spector’s insecurity with being outshined and his likely infatuation with Ronnie and fear of losing her kept him from allowing The Ronettes to really grow with their contemporaries.
He even kept Ronnie from playing with The Ronettes during their tour with The Beatles.
In 1967 after years of declining popularity they called it quits. Soon after each Ronette got settled down or married, most notably Ronnie to Phil Spector.
After years isolated with Phil where he barely let her record she finally left him in 1972 and attempted to form a new Ronettes after Estelle and Edra passed.
Between some more career revivals and lawsuits against Spector Ronnie finally found some success in the ‘80s especially when she joined Eddie Money on his 1986 hit, “Take Me Home Tonight.”
In 2007 after years of being eligible but blocked by Ronnie’s vengeful ex-husband, Phil Spector they were finally inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame during his murder trial.
Sadly her sister Estelle passed away in 2009.
But the influence of The Ronettes has been huge, from a ton of girl groups, Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys, Bruce Springsteen, and Billy Joel, as well as in the fashion and image of Amy Winehouse.