He's Sure the Boy I Love
| "He's Sure the Boy I Love" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by The Crystals | ||||
| from the album He's a Rebel | ||||
| B-side | "Walkin' Along (La La La)" | |||
| Released | 1962 | |||
| Studio | Gold Star Studios, Los Angeles | |||
| Genre | Rock[1] | |||
| Length | 2:17 | |||
| Label | Philles | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil | |||
| Producer(s) | Phil Spector | |||
| The Crystals singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"He's Sure the Boy I Love" is a 1962 single by The Crystals. It was originally recorded by The Blossoms but credited to The Crystals. On the Billboard charts in 1963, "He's Sure the Boy I Love" peaked at No.11 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No.18 on the Hot R&B Singles.
Background
[edit]In 1962, The Blossoms recorded "He's a Rebel" with Phil Spector. Instead of crediting the song to The Blossoms, Spector released the song under The Crystals without informing the group while they were on tour.[2] After "He's A Rebel" became a hit song, Spector brought The Blossoms back to record "He's Sure the Boy I Love".[3]
Recording and release
[edit]While The Crystals were on tour, Darlene Love of the Blossoms was asked by Phil Spector to record "He's Sure the Boy I Love". After being discredited from "He's A Rebel", Love urged Spector to give her a royalty contract with a rate of three cents per record.[4] The track was recorded at Gold Star Studios in Los Angeles in November 1962. The Wrecking Crew played a Jack Nitzsche arrangement, Larry Levine was the engineer.[5]
"He's Sure the Boy I Love" was featured on The Crystals re-released album He's a Rebel and replaced a prior track of theirs that had originally appeared on Twist Uptown.[6] The song was released on Philles Records 109.
Controversy
[edit]After discovering that Spector had once again discredited The Blossoms from their recording and given their song to The Crystals, Darlene Love got into a confrontation with Spector.[7] Similarly, The Crystals were angry at Spector for having them sing another song on tour that was not theirs. Cynthia Weil, who co-wrote the song with her husband Barry Mann was unaware that Darlene Love had sung on the track.[8] To sound like Love, lead singer of the Crystals La La Brooks rehearsed the introduction of "He's Sure the Boy I Love" in a Californian accent.[6]
Reception
[edit]Billboard magazine called "He's Sure the Boy I Love" a successful song that had a "rousing ork backing".[9] Cash Box described it as a "change-of-pace’r...[that] finds the gals in top rockin’ mashed potatoes form" and has a "terrific Jack Nitzsche arrangement.."[10]
Chart performance
[edit]In February 1963, the song peaked at No.18 on the Hot R&B Singles[11] and No.11 on the Billboard Hot 100.[12]
References
[edit]- ^ Molanphy, Chris (May 18, 2024). "Be My Baby Baby Baby Edition". Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia (Podcast). Slate. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
- ^ Gaar, Gillian G. (2002). She's a Rebel: The History of Women in Rock and Roll (Expanded 2nd ed.). Seal Press. pp. 42–43. ISBN 1580050786. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
- ^ Clemente, John (2013). Girl Groups: Fabulous Females Who Rocked The World. AuthorHouse. pp. 39–40. ISBN 9781477276334. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
- ^ O'Brien, Lucy (2002). She Bop II: The Definitive History of Women in Rock, Pop and Soul (2nd ed.). Continuum. pp. 70-71. ISBN 9780826472083. Retrieved 30 July 2017.
- ^ Phil Spector: Back To Mono 1958 - 1969, 4 CD box set, All Mother Bertha Music, 1991, liner notes
- ^ a b Clemente 2013, p. 142.
- ^ Brown, Mick (2012). Tearing Down The Wall of Sound: The Rise And Fall of Phil Spector (Reprint ed.). A&C Black. ISBN 978-1408819500. Retrieved 31 July 2017.
- ^ Browne, David (June 20, 2013). "Darlene Love: Let Love Rule". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2020-12-18.
- ^ "Singles Review". Billboard. 22 December 1962. p. 19. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
- ^ "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. December 22, 1963. p. 10. Retrieved 2022-02-04.
- ^ "Hot R&B Singles". Billboard. 9 February 1963. p. 16. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
- ^ "The Hot 100". Billboard. 16 February 1963. p. 20. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
