A torrent of girl groups followed, among them Martha and the Vandellas, the Supremes, the Marvelettes, the Shirelles, the Ronettes, and the Orlons.  Bette Midler’s revival of “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” in 1973 reminded rock audiences of the Andrews Sisters, who had had the original hit with “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” during World War II.  More recently, the Spice Girls, TLC and Destiny’s Child (whence came Beyoncé) continued the tradition. 

*       *       *

Phil Spector perfected his renowned “Wall of Sound” technique while making girl group records, where massive amounts of music were recorded together with a subtle echo effect.  “Sleigh Ride” by the Ronettes and “Da Doo Ron Ron” by the Crystals are cited as being prime examples of this technique.  Phil Spector himself says that he reached his peak with the recording of “River Deep, Mountain High” by Ike and Tina Turner; George Harrison has called that song “a perfect record from start to finish”. 

(October 2013)

*       *       *

Their sound was heavily aligned with the girl group sound of the 1960’s; “Remember (Walking in the Sand)” by the Shangri-Las and “Baby, I Love You” by the Ronettes are songs that the Passengers frequently covered in their concerts.  But mostly they played their own songs. 

*       *       *

Greg Shaw was quoted as saying of Les Hell on Heels:  “I feel the same way that Phil Spector must have felt when he first saw the Ronettes.” 

(December 2013)