He’s A Rebel

…Weil’s “Uptown” and Pitney’s “He’s a Rebel” for the Crystals. Producer Phil Spector was perhaps the Brill Building’s biggest customer as well as a frequent collaborator. He worked variously with Greenwich and Barry, Goffin and King, and Mann and Weil to cowrite material for the Crystals, the Ronettes, the…

In 1962 the single “He’s a Rebel” reached number one on the pop charts, and, although the song was credited to the Crystals, Spector brought in singer Darlene Love of the Blossoms to record the lead vocals. The following year, with La La Brooks as their lead vocalist, the…

…Nelson in 1961) and “He’s a Rebel” (recorded by the Crystals in 1962).

…to record songs like “He’s a Rebel” that were credited to the group. The Crystals then found themselves fronting songs they had not recorded. Although royalty disputes were endemic in the industry at the time, girl groups were often treated the worst. Motown boss Berry Gordy, Jr., also ruthlessly…