Da Doo Ron Ron
April 1963
Da Doo Ron Ron is the title of a hit the U.S. girl group The Crystals, which evolved into the million-seller in 1963.
Genesis
Phil Spector's first inclusion in the Gold Star Studios as part of its characteristic wall of sound was on July 13, 1962 He's A Rebel by the Crystals. You should be a model for a large number of nearly identical productions.
The melody of Da Doo Ron Ron was based on a piano riff, the Arnold Goland had developed during an improvisation phase in his living room. However, it was not registered as a co-author, but for the title on the B-side. The text was composed within 2 days in Spector's office, his friend and promoter Bill Walsh had the idea of starting couplets " I met him on a Monday and my heart stood still / Someone told me that his name what Bill. " These lines based on a similar refrain of the group Da Doo and included very similar lines of text. The title itself is a nonsense phrase that had initially provided as a filling for even planned missing text passages the composer Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich, to a meaningful passage was found. Spector asked this preliminary passage in the foreground, so that not too solemn text superimposed on a massive music production. It is the music producer Spector ie not behind the text, but the wall of sound.
Together with Then He Kissed Me Da Doo Ron Ron the first song, the Greenwich / Barry was co-written by Spector had. They were followed by a variety of other compositions. Spector emerged formally also as a co-writer on this title, but he limited his role in the function of a " steering wheel " when he completed the text ideas, riffs and melody lines. The text had enough hooks for a hit.
Recording
The recordings to Do Doo Ron Ron took place in March 1963 in the Gold Star Studios with Dolores " La La " Brooks as the lead singer instead of Darlene Love under the working title Will You Walk me home instead. Perfectionist Spector had Brooks record 30 takes, until he was satisfied. The background voices came from the Blossoms ( with Darlene Love ) and Cher. From the Wrecking Crew worked as a studio musician Tommy Tedesco (guitar), Carol Kaye ( bass), Don Randi ( piano ), Steve "Teenage " Douglas ( baritone sax solo ) and Hal Blaine (drums) with. Spector turned in his Wall of Sound music productions at Goldstar Studio at always the same production scheme. First, he left the studio musicians of the Wrecking Crew practice for hours before he asked sound engineer Larry Levine to put the tape. Then the music recording (" backing track ") with the three -track Ampex 350 was created. In Da Doo Ron Ron was - different than usual - the bass drum added by overdubbing. The piano tremolos are part of the identity of the song, striking were the extensive swirl of drummer Hal Blaine. Arranger Jack Nitzsche coordinated the recordings. The piece had the fastest pace of all songs ever produced by Spector. Larry Levine had to quietly announce a total of 29 takes, which the song to the tried most sessions of Spector heard. The final mix presented a polished sound with reverb that gives rise to its own echo.
Publication and success
The single Da Doo Ron Ron ( When He Walked Me Home) / Git 'it ( Philles 112) came in April 1963, the market and was the sixth single of the group. It arrived on 27 April 1963 in the U.S. pop singles chart and reached there on June 8, 1963 Rank 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United Kingdom, the song came up on rank 5, he was Worldwide sold one million copies. The previously published He's A Rebel was a number -one hit and undoubtedly the most famous hit of the Crystals.
Cover versions
First, two French versions were published under the title Da dou ron ron (French text: But Georges ), from Frank Alamo (July 1963) and Johnny Hallyday (27 September 1963). This was followed by Ted Herold ( August 1963, # 22; German text: Charly Niessen / Claudius Alzner ), Billy J. Kramer & the Dakotas ( December 1963 ), Carpenters (1 May 1973) and Grumble ( German Single, 1973). The Who considered it on their double album Quadrophenia (19 October 1973). Other cover versions published by Sylvie Vartan (1974 ), Shaun Cassidy ( March 1977 ) resulted in the song the first time at rank 1 on the U.S. hit parade, and The Donnas (1996). Cover info lists a total of 49 versions.
The original was awarded a BMI Award. In 2004, the song was performed on rank 114 of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list of the magazine Rolling Stone.