August 26, 2009 07:00 PM
C&L's Late Nite Music Club: Ellie Greenwich RIP
Ellie Greenwich, a songwriting giant with a catalog envied and respected by tunesmiths the world over, died this morning at 69 of a heartattack.
Greenwich co-wrote some of the best known songs of the early sixties, including "And Then He Kissed Me", "Da Doo Ron Ron", and of course "Leader of the Pack". The girl-group sound owes at least as much to Greenwich for songs as it does to Phil Spector.
I can't do a post about Ellie Greenwich without including what is in my opinion the silliest cover song ever recorded: Twisted Sister's version of "Leader of the Pack", which is of course sung from the perspective of the leader of the pack, rather than the girl who must leave him. Yes, quite misguided, but a clear illustration of her reach. RIP.
All the hair metal fans in their Camaros began to think the band was a joke.
Twisted Sister's best appearance was in Pee-Wee's Big Adventure...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noRsEfB6gE4
Sad to hear of her death. Greenwich's songs were so much a part of growing up in the 60s.
She was a very talented lady indeed.
fanfare for the common man
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xzf0rvQa4Mc
abraham, martin and john
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPdYViBu0is&fe...
Thanks for those great songs in memory of Ted.
btw, thanks also for posting (a while ago) the choir music at BO's swearing-in ceremony. I used to sing in choirs when I was a kid. We had a British choirmaster once who laughed at the way we sang "water" and, frankly, we were all quite offended when she did so. She taught us to sing "woo-tah" and, ya know, she was right! It did sound much better!
:)
Baby, I Love You
Don't try to confuse the issue with half-truths and gorilla dust.
Thanks, Andy!
It's So Wonderful
Don't try to confuse the issue with half-truths and gorilla dust.
Doo Wah Diddy Diddy
Don't try to confuse the issue with half-truths and gorilla dust.
Niki Hoeky
Don't try to confuse the issue with half-truths and gorilla dust.
"Niki Hoeky" was penned by Jim Ford, Lolly Vegas and Pat Vegas.
I Can Hear Music
Don't try to confuse the issue with half-truths and gorilla dust.
and the video is a real treat. Mike Love ... LOL! What was going on there? He musta been doing some good drugs.
Thanks, Andy. I enjoyed that very much!
Everything I've linked tonight (except Rocket 88) was co-written by Ms. G.
And I loathe Mike Love. Good pipes, but a real ass. I loved it when Brian Wilson released his SMiLE album a few years back: He dropped the handful of words Love sang on the original Beach Boys version of Good Vibrations, so Love's name wasn't on the credits of the later version of the song.
BTW, if I've never mentioned it before, run out and get a copy of Wilson's SMiLE. It's a great, great album.
Don't try to confuse the issue with half-truths and gorilla dust.
I love BB music and, of course, anything by EG.
Good for Brian Wilson for sticking it to him!
Be My Baby
Baby I Love You
Both songs are by Ellie Greenwich
River Deep, Mountain High
Don't try to confuse the issue with half-truths and gorilla dust.
Rocket 88
Don't try to confuse the issue with half-truths and gorilla dust.
HARRY NILSSON
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JU1IMXe8EkI&fe...
More Ellie Greenwich songs
Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) Best rock'n roll Christmas song ever.
Little Boy Nice song by Ellie but overproduced by Phil Spector. Even so, La La Brooks singing on it still makes me feel like I am 16 years old again.
Tommy James And The Shondells original 45 rpm.
Ellie Greenwich RIP
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQcjTP9RTiY
Neil Diamond- Hanky Panky
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzYNKxY0Pk0&fe...
those is the ronettes!
If you're referring to the Da Do Ron Ron video, those are indeed the Crystals, with La La Brooks on lead vocal.
It's easy to be confused unless you are a hard core fan. The Crystals and Ronettes recorded some of the same song titles. Both the Crystals and Ronettes songs feature the Phil Spector "Wall of Sound" with Jack Nitzsche arrangements and the same musicians and backup singers.
Many years ago (actually decades) former spouse dropped He's A Rebel album, breaking the edge. In my best and dedicated work on the fledgling internet I searched and searched to find a replacement album. I talked to record company execs in California, and many collectors around the U.S. The best I could find was a mounted, autographed album cover with record in the office of a record company exec in CA - for $300. That was in the late '90's. It was not playable because of the signatures.
I am still looking for one, but now for myself.
You can down load it here!
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss?url=search-...
Or save this to your hard drive!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqEWpb9GEms
He's a Rebel (written by Gene Pitney, actually) being my all-time favorite song. The Crystals and the Ronettes were my favorite girl groups, and gotta hand it to crazy ol' Phil, he knew how to take a song and blow it through the universe like few others.
RIP, Ellie. Da-do-ron-ron, hon.
all their albums actually...
Glad THAT phase of my life is over...yikes!
RIP Ellie
Also deceased this week: James E. Carter, of the Flamingos and the Dells.
The Flamingos' powerhouse of musical erotica, I Only Have Eyes For You", probably was single-handedly responsible for the fact that 1957 was the single largest birth year for Boomers. Get the original, with all the echo-chamber special effects, and test-drive it some moonlit night with your significant other.
Of course, Earth Angel, Oh What a Night, and Stay in My Cornerweren't bad either, as mainstream doo-wop.
I wouldn't credit The Flamingos for that '57 peak at all: Their version of the 1934 song was a hit in 1959.
Maybe you can credit them for a few extra births in 1960...
Don't try to confuse the issue with half-truths and gorilla dust.
of that Swedish rap group Movits...
I gotta tell ya folks...very impressive...
I highly recommend their new album.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnaeImQ0TSg
on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFkc2gbShTY
Another all-time fave. I'm actually not surprised to think it may have been spectacularly responsible for baby-making. It's so damned gorgeous. I think of dancing in darkened, steamy basements at parties with high school boys to this. Sigh.
write that?
is a popular song by composer Harry Warren and lyricist Al Dubin, written in 1934 for the film Dames where it was introduced by Dick Powell and Ruby Keeler.
RIP Ellie Greenwich. What a talent. There was a video that came out in the '80's called "Girl Groups" in which she plays a big part (along with Leiber and Stoller, Roni Spector, Darlene Love, and others.) Check it out if you can find a copy. Very entertaining and informative.
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