Phil Spector - On The Wall of Sound

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Did John Lennon ever ask you about your Wall of Sound, sound?

I was the first to be granted an in-depth interview with Phil Spector in thirty years. He did it for my film: Strawberry Fields Keeping the Spirit of John Lennon Alive. The interview was four-hours long, and shot in the living room of Phillip's Pyrenees Castle, on February 14, 2007. I thank William Gazecki for filming this interview, and I especially thank my late girlfriend Sarah Ford, who was the invaluable Associate Producer of Strawberry Fields.

Strawberry Fields
Keeping the Spirit of John Lennon Alive
Producer | Writer | Director Mark R. Elsis
https://StrawberryFields.net

"Phil Spector is the greatest Rock n' Roll producer ever."
Mark R. Elsis

The Beatles, brought Phil Spector to England. While producing John Lennon's hit solo single "Instant Karma!", which went to number 3, Spector was invited by Lennon and George Harrison to take on the task of turning the Beatles' abandoned Get Back recording sessions into a usable album. He went to work, using many of his production techniques, making significant changes to the arrangements and sound of some songs.

The resulting album, Let It Be, was a massive commercial success and topped the US and UK charts. The album also yielded the number 1 US single, "The Long and Winding Road."

John Lennon and George Harrison were satisfied with the results, and Let It Be led to Phil Spector co-producing albums with both ex-Beatles. For Harrison's multiplatinum album All Things Must Pass (number 1, 1970), Spector provided a cathedral-like sonic ambience, complete with ornate orchestrations and gospel-like choirs. The LP yielded two major hits: "My Sweet Lord" (number 1) and "What Is Life" (number 10).

That same year, Spector co-produced John Lennon's Plastic Ono Band (number 6) album. In 1971, Spector was named director of A&R for Apple Records. He held the post for only a year, but during that time he co-produced the single "Power to the People" with John Lennon (number 11), as well as Lennon's chart-topping album, Imagine. The album's title track hit number 3.

With Harrison, Spector co-produced "Bangla Desh" (number 23). That same year Spector recorded the music for the number 1 triple album The Concert For Bangladesh. The album later won the "Album of the Year" award at the 1972 Grammys. Despite being recorded live, Spector used up to 44 microphones simultaneously to create his trademark Wall of Sound.

John Lennon retained Phil Spector for the 1971 Christmas single "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" and the 1972 album, Some Time In New York City. Similar to the unusual pattern of success that Spector's A Christmas Gift for You from Philles Records experienced, "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" also stalled in sales upon its initial release, only later to become a fixture on radio station playlists around Christmas. In 1973, Spector participated in the recording sessions for what would be Lennon's Rock 'n' Roll album (number 6).