“All art constantly aspires towards the condition of music” – Walter Parker, 1888
American pop trio The Ronettes, comprising Veronica Bennett (later Ronnie Spector), Nedra Talley and Estelle Bennett, UK, 21st October 1964. (Photo by Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
The Ronettes were fabulous. Their smash hit Be My Baby never fails to please. In the eyes of many, including the Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson, Be My Baby is the greatest pop song of all time.
And there is Walking in the Rain, Why Don’t They Let Us Fall in Love and the majestic declaration Baby I Love You.
Combined with Phil Spector echoes, reverberating instruments and “wall of sound” technique The Ronettes sounded terrific. But, then, Estelle Bennet, her sister Ronnie and their cousin Nedra Talley could sing.
When asked ‘If you could go back in time, where would you go?’, Amy Winehouse replied: “To the 60s and I’d go out with the Ronettes.” Vocally Winehouse would have held her own in their company.
And you hear just how great they were on his this track of their isolated vocals on Be My Baby.
Turn up the volume.
This is just fantastic:
The Rolling Stones 1969: Listen To Mary Clayton’s Awesome Isolated Vocal From Gimme Shelter
Listen To Marvin Gaye’s Isolated I Heard It Through The Grapevine Vocals (1967)
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