Phil Spector's Work
Phil Spector first made his impact on the music industry at age 17 in 1958, producing the song 'To Know Him is to Love Him' in a band called the Teddy Bears. He essentially constructed the entire song, playing all the instruments except the drums. This song would pave the way for more releases by the Teddy Bears, which eventually led them to being signed to the Imperial label.
It wasn't until he was 18 when he was contacted by long-time producer Lester Sill to co-write Ben E King's 'Spanish Harlem'. Sill and Spector would then form their own record label, Philles Records, to which Spector devoted the majority of his time and effort.
The label eventually created a hit, 'He's a Rebel', which reached number one on the charts. His newfound fame in the industry then gave him the opportunities to write multiple hits, such as 'Why Do Lovers Break Each Others' Hearts?', 'Da Doo Ron Ron' and 'Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)'.
Phil Spector continued writing throughout the '60s, but notably was given the task of producing songs for John Lennon, George Harrison and Yoko Ono in the early '70s. He also worked on Let it Be, stemming from scrapped recording sessions.
He went on to produce for esteemed artists such as Dion, Cher, Leonard Cohen and the Ramones (to name a few). His innovative approach and hard work throughout his career made him one of the most influential figures in pop music history.
Sources: https://www.songhall.org/profile/Phil_Spector
https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2021-01-18/phil-spector-producer-abusive-male-genius
Wall of Sound
The trademark 'Wall of Sound' was a producing method unique to Phil Spector. To achieve the 'Wall of Sound' he would layer sounds on top of each other, sometimes even with non-pop-centric instruments like strings, horns and other orchestral instruments. On top of this, he would add reverb and echo effects to make the instruments barely distinguishable from one another.
For this reason, views on the 'Wall of Sound' technique are very mixed, with some people preferring the toned-down, stripped-back sound (like heard in Let it Be - Naked) and others enjoying the wide, strong, orchestral sound (like heard in Let it Be). Spector described the sound as a 'Wagnerian approach to rock and roll' after Richard Wagner, a famed opera composer from Germany, due to the modern reinvention of the symphony-like sound.
Sources: https://www.reddit.com/r/Music/comments/uktbx3/can_someone_explain_exactly_what_the_wall_of/?rdt=58421
https://www.songhall.org/profile/Phil_Spector
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Wagner
What can we learn from Phil Specter?
First and foremost, his 'Wall of Sound' technique still stands relevant today, with it being used in songs like 'All I Want For Christmas Is You' and 'Holding out for a Hero'. With this in mind, using the 'Wall of Sound' technique by layering the instruments and adding reverb and echo could be useful in certain productions to give them a larger sound.
His use of compression was also very influential and can be used to create a more polished sound, where the dynamics are all brought to a similar level.
Sources: https://www.reddit.com/r/LetsTalkMusic/comments/l0l76x/lets_talk_phil_spector/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Song_recordings_with_Wall_of_Sound_arrangements
https://www.songhall.org/profile/Phil_Spector
To what extent can we separate the art from the artist?
The answer to this question is ambiguous: it depends who you ask.
On a Reddit thread, the general consensus seems to be that, as long as there is a clear separation between the two, you can separate the art from the artist. One user discusses Hugo Boss' affiliation with the Nazi Party, yet claims one can support his legacy without supporting his political stance and ideology.
This is relevant to Phil Spector as he is known for murdering actress Lana Clarkson in 2003, along with being abusive towards Ronnie Spector. In the final attached Reddit thread, many users acknowledge the flaws of his character, however they still respect his contributions to the music industry.
Personally, I believe that, as long as the art isn't supporting the artist's beliefs or disgraceful behaviour, it is possible to separate the art from the artist. Take Eric Clapton, for example, who despite his racist/xenophobic drunk outburst on stage in 1976, is still renowned for being one of the world's greatest guitar players in history - and while I don't support the man, I admire his contributions to blues rock and the part he played in developing the style.
All in all, I think we can still admire the work Phil Spector did to shape the sound of modern music without supporting who he was as a person.
Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/Stoicism/comments/143iv7x/should_we_separate_the_art_from_the_artist/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugo_Boss_(businessman)
https://news.sky.com/story/the-murderer-and-musical-genius-how-phil-spector-killed-actress-and-why-daughter-is-trying-to-clear-his-name-12741669
https://www.reddit.com/r/LetsTalkMusic/comments/l0l76x/lets_talk_phil_spector/
https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/eric-clapton-racist-outburst/
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