EXCLUSIVE: Ronnie Spector talks about the Beatles - and the Ronettes

      Ronnie Spector (Photo by Debra Greenfield)

(Note: This interview was arranged thanks to Mark Lapidos of the Fest For Beatles Fans and Judy Ferri. Ronnie Spector will be appearing at the Fest for Beatle Fans in Chicago Aug. 15-17.  More information on the Fest is at the bottom of the page.)

Q:  According to the book "Beatles Undercover," when Phil Spector came over to Apple Records, one of the conditions of him joining the label was that Apple sign you to a recording contract and the label issue an album produced by George Harrison and Phil. But only the single "Try Some, Buy Some"/"Tandoori Chicken" was released and several tracks remain unreleased, including "You," "I Love Him Like I Love My Very Life" and "Lovely La-De-Day." Is that information (about the album) true? What do you remember about the sessions?

Ronnie Spector: Working with George in the studio was a lot of fun. He was an old friend. We were thrilled to see each other again. Then when John came in for "Tandoori Chicken," he sort of took over the session and made it into a big party. Unfortunately, we never got the chance to finish what we had started.

Q: George Harrison and Ringo Starr were involved with your recording sessions. How were they to work with?

Ronnie Spector: See above for first part of the question. As for Ringo, I wasn't there when they were cutting the rhythm track.

Q: Have you met John Lennon or Paul McCartney and what are your impressions of them?

Ronnie Spector: Yes. I've met both of them, but John and I immediately connected and hung out in England together in the 60's and I showed them around New York on their first trip. In the 70's, John also hooked me up with Jimmy Iovine, his engineer at the time, who put me in touch with Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, who I ended up recording and touring with. John and I were very close and he also recorded a version of "Be My Baby."

Q. You weren't able to tour with the Ronettes when they supported the Beatles. You regret that now?

Ronnie Spector: No. I don't regret it as I had nothing to do with that decision.

Q: "Be My Baby" still sounds so immensely powerful 47 years later. Could you tell when you were recording it how great it would turn out to be?

Ronnie Spector: No, I couldn't tell that, but I remember the first time I ever heard the record after I recorded it was when Dick Clark played it on "American Bandstand." He introduced it saying this next song was going to be the smash of the year and it turned out to be "Be My Baby."

Q: What Ronettes song is your favorite? Any anecdotes or memories about "Do I Love You?," "Walking in the Rain" or "The Best Part of Breaking Up"?

Ronnie Spector: "Walking In The Rain" is my favorite because it was a more mature emotional recording then my previous records. I really felt I was developing as an artist after recording it plus I did the vocal in just one take.

(Other guests at the Chicago Fest include Greg Hawkes, Earl Slick, Mark and Brett Hudson, Steve Holley, Bruce Spizer and "Beatle Brunch" host Joe Johnson.  More information on tickets and the Fest can be found at the Fest website.)