THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

127-Ronettes-Be My Baby.

1963-Number 4 single.

Best Bit-At 0.38. Those rather lovely Ronettes are offering an irresistible three kisses for everyone you give them, sounds good to me.

The Ronettes were made up of the sisters Veronica, and Estelle Bennett, (1941-2009) and their cousin Nedra Talley, both Veronica (Ronnie) and Nedra were born in New York City, while Estelle was born in New Jersey, United States, Veronica who would marry Phil Spector in 1968, but divorce in 1974, is best known as Ronnie Spector (1943-2022.) Initially starting out as ‘The Darling Sisters’ in 1957 with other family members, they then became ‘Ronnie and the Ronettes, before settling on ‘Ronettes in early 1962. The Ronettes remained active until 1967, having issued one studio Album,’Presenting the Fabulous Ronettes’ in 1964, and 17 singles between 1961-1974, seven of which reached the Billboard Hot 100 top 40 in America, with this song charting the highest at Number 2, while in the UK four of their songs have made the top 40, with this song being the most successful.

‘Be My Baby’ was co-written by Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich (1940-2009) (see also best songs 820-331-262 and 192) who were married at the time, as often was the case Phil Spector (1939-2021) (see also best songs 820-782-737-262-192-91 and 20) would insist on his name being added to the writing credits. ‘Be My Baby’ is considered to be Phil Spector’s most critically acclaimed work, and was one the first songs to use his groundbreaking ‘Wall of Sound’ production (see also best songs 262.) The only member of the Ronettes to perform on ‘Be My Baby’ was Ronnie who overdubbed her vocals after the backing track had been painstakingly put together by Phil Spector who was a perfectionist. Some of the musicians who were brought in to record the song included the legendary drummer Hal Blaine (1929-2019) (see also best songs 978-811-672-527-426-202-110 and 71) who is thought to have performed on approximately 6,000 singles, which include 150 top 10 Billboard hits, 40 of which went to Number 1. The backing singers on ‘Be My Baby’ included Sonny Bono, (1935-1998) and Cher, (see also best songs 672) who was making her recording debut. ‘Be My Baby’s’ opening drumbeat has become iconic, and has been pinched by many others to use on their records, but according to Hal Blaine,’That famous drum intro was an accident. I was supposed to play the snare on the second beat as well as the fourth, but I dropped a stick. Being the faker I was in those days, I left the mistake in and it became ‘Bum-ba-bum-BOOM!’ And soon everyone wanted that beat.’

It is a well known fact that Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys (see also best songs 930-811-180 and 74) was profoundly inspired when first hearing ‘Be My Baby’, and has always stated that it is his favourite song, he has said,’This is a special one for me, what a great sound, boy, first heard this on the car radio and I had to pull off the road, I couldn’t believe it. The chorus blew me away, the strings are the melody of love. It has the promise to make the world better.’

‘The night we met I knew I needed you so, and if I had the chance I’d never let you go. So won’t you say you love me, I’ll make you so proud of me, we’ll make ’em turn their heads every place we go.’