Wild news out of L.A. It's been reported that legendary,reculsive genius Phil Spector has been taken into police custody about the homicide of a woman in his L.A. mansion. I'd assume most of you know of him by his "Wall Of Sound" production skills and writing hits for Ike & Tina Turner, Sonny&Cher, and of course The Ronettes. Spector was WAY ahead of his time as far as his talents as and arranger and producer. Oddly he worked in "mono" nearly excusively in his prime.

Brian Wilson idolised Spector and watched him work the console when ever he could. As recently as last summer Wilson commented that meeting Spector was one of the best moments of his life.

Spector also assembled a group of the best studio musicians in L.A. The "Wrecking Crew" included drummers Hal Blaine, and Jim Gordon, bassist Carole Kaye, guitarists Glen Campbell (yep the Rhinestone Cowboy is a brilliant guiar player) and Tommy Tedescho. Brian Wilson used these players on the pop masterpiece "Pet Sounds" and on what arguably is the most infamous un-released album of all time, the ill fated "Smile".

Ironically, just last week Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and the estates of both John Lennon and George Harrison agreed to re-release "Let It Be" as they originally recorded it. Spector added his "Wall Of Sound" to the song while the band were not in the studio, and it ended up being the version that is on the "Let It Be" album,and single. McCartney has been furious about this for nearly 31 years and in my own opinion the would sound remarkably better without the "syrupy" strings and arrangments that were added without consulting The Beatles.

Regards, Kyle