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)"
Released1962
StudioGold Star Studios, Los Angeles
GenreRock[1]
Length2:17
LabelPhilles
Songwriter(s)Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil
Producer(s)Phil Spector
The Crystals singles chronology
"He's a Rebel"
(1962) 		"He's Sure the Boy I Love"
(1962) 		"Da Doo Ron Ron"
(1963)

"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]
  1. ^ Molanphy, Chris (May 18, 2024). "Be My Baby Baby Baby Edition". Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia (Podcast). Slate. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ Clemente, John (2013). Girl Groups: Fabulous Females Who Rocked The World. AuthorHouse. pp. 39–40. ISBN 9781477276334. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ Phil Spector: Back To Mono 1958 - 1969, 4 CD box set, All Mother Bertha Music, 1991, liner notes
  6. ^ a b Clemente 2013, p. 142.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ Browne, David (June 20, 2013). "Darlene Love: Let Love Rule". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2020-12-18.
  9. ^ "Singles Review". Billboard. 22 December 1962. p. 19. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  10. ^ "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. December 22, 1963. p. 10. Retrieved 2022-02-04.
  11. ^ "Hot R&B Singles". Billboard. 9 February 1963. p. 16. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  12. ^ "The Hot 100". Billboard. 16 February 1963. p. 20. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=He%27s_Sure_the_Boy_I_Love&oldid=1234127120"