Philles Records Lyrics Trivia Quiz

Answer: Be My Baby

"Be My Baby" was written by Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich and Phil Spector, and the Ronettes had a number two hit on the Billboard Hot 100 with it in 1963. The song was also a hit for Andy Kim in 1970. Hal Blaine's opening drum line to the song has been copied by dozens of different artists, from the Beach Boys to the Jesus & Mary Chain to R.E.M.

Answer: You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'

Although Philles only produced two records that reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100, "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" by the Righteous Brothers not only was one of the two but also received the most radio airplay of any recording during the 20th century.

Not bad for a song that wasn't recorded until 1965, when the century was almost two-thirds over. The song was written by Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil and Phil Spector, and the lead vocal is sung by baritone Bill Medley, with his partner, tenor Bobby Hatfield, only joining in on the chorus and at the end.

Answer: Da Doo Ron Ron

"Da Doo Ron Ron", written by Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich and Phil Spector, was a Billboard Hot 100 number three hit in 1963 for the Crystals. Fourteen years later, a cover version by teen star Shaun Cassidy reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100.

Answer: He's a Rebel

Although "He's a Rebel" (written by pop star Gene Pitney) was credited to the Crystals, it was actually sung by the L.A. girl group The Blossoms (Darlene Love, Fanita Barrett and Gloria Jones). After this single reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100, Love was signed to Philles as a solo artist.

Answer: River Deep, Mountain High

Although the idea of only owning one doll may seem like it belongs in a song about poverty (such as the three incorrect choices), this Spector-Barry-Greenwich love song continued with: "Now I love you just the way I loved that rag doll, but only now my love has grown." American radio programmers considered "River Deep, Mountain High" to be "too black" for pop or Top 40 radio but "too white" for soul or R&B radio, and it was a stunning flop at the time, reaching only number 88, although it reached number two in England. Now, however, it is considered a classic; in 2004, "Rolling Stone" rated it at number 33 on its list of the "500 greatest songs of all time."

Answer: Chapel of Love

Phil Spector delayed the release of "Chapel of Love" on Philles because he wasn't sure which of his artists should be allowed to release it. Both Darlene Love and the Ronettes recorded it, but neither version was issued. Months went by. Finally, Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich, who were being pressured for a song by Don Kirshner, recorded a cover version with a non-Philles act, the Dixie Cups.

Although Spector then finally released the Ronettes' version on Philles, the Dixie Cups single went straight to number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.

Answer: Unchained Melody

"Unchained Melody", originally a movie theme from the 1950s, was the Righteous Brothers' third straight Billboard top-ten record in less than a year after their move to Philles. The song later had another lengthy run on the charts after being featured as the love theme in the 1990 movie "Ghost". Because Bill Medley of the Righteous Brothers was the producer of this recording, it is sung almost exclusively by his partner, Bobby Hatfield.

Answer: Puddin' n' Tain

The Alley Cats were managed by Lou Adler, and Phil Spector produced the single of "Puddin' n' Tain" for them in 1963. This was the only act that Spector produced for Philles that he did not also manage. The other three choices were also Spector-linked novelties. "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah" was an Oscar-winning Disney song that became a major hit on Philles for Bob B. Soxx and the Blue Jeans; "Lt. Colonel Bogey's Parade" was a Philles flop produced by Spector's original partner Lester Sill; and "Bumbershoot" was a pre-Philles guitar instrumental performed by "Phil Harvey" (actually Phil himself, as his real name is Harvey Philip Spector).

Answer: Then He Kissed Me

The Crystals' 1963 version of "Then He Kissed Me" became an instant classic and peaked at number six on the Billboard Hot 100. However, Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys, who often played as a backing musician in Spector's sessions, felt that the song should be sung by a male singer and had his group record a gender-reversed version ("Then I Kissed Her") on its 1965 album, "Summer Days (and Summer Nights)", which became a hit in Europe.

Answer: Just Once in My Life

"Just Once in My Life" (Philles 127) by the Righteous Brothers was the first Philles single written by Carole King and Gerry Goffin (along with Phil Spector) since the controversial "He Hit Me (It Felt Like a Kiss)" (Philles 105) by the Crystals had to be withdrawn three years earlier. It became the second of five straight Righteous Brothers singles to reach the Billboard Top Ten.