Early Years 1961-62

Ronettes | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 10, 1992)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Rhino / Wea
• ASIN: B0000032G6
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #208,441 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. He Did It

2. Silhouettes

3. Good Girls

4. Memory

5. You Bet I Would

6. I'm Gonna Quit While I'm Ahead

7. I'm on the Wagon

8. Recipe for Love

9. My Guiding Angel

10. I Want a Boy

11. What's So Sweet About Sweet Sixteen?

Editorial Reviews

This CD is an out of print collectible! It is the original 1991 Rhino release. Catalog R2-70524. There is a punch hole through the UPC and the booklet.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars More Brill than Phil, but brilliant still, November 20, 2000

By 

David P. Johnson (Council Bluffs, IA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Early Years 1961-62 (Audio CD)

This is basically a reissue of a 1965 Colpix LP originally put out to capitalize on the success The Ronettes were enjoying with Phil Spector (later to be Veronica's husband), consisting of pre-Spector single releases with a distictively different sound, feel and mood to them than Phil's legendary "Wall Of Sound" masterpieces. But don't let that throw you, Ronettes fans. This CD is rivaled only by The Paris Sisters' knockout 1966 Reprise LP as the greatest non-Spector production by a Spector-shaped girl group. The cuts are Brill Building ballads and powerhouse rock featuring some amazing string and keyboard work to which the girls adapt their vocalization perfectly. My personal favorites: "I Want A Boy", "Memory", "He Did It", "I'm Gonna Quit While I'm Ahead" and a gorgeous cover version of "Silhouettes". I also like a couple of the others here, but I'm not particularly crazy about "Recipe For Love" (I think it's the lyrics, but that's just my opinion). The only difference between the CD and the old vinyl disc is the inclusion here of an alternate version of "You Bet I Would" as the original source tape was lost. Overall, this is a must-own for anyone who loves The Ronettes and is open to hearing them with a different--but equally amazing--sound. Plus, this CD reissue is a lot easier to obtain than the vinyl disc of yore...which is more than likely scarce and pricey in any condition these days!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Early Years are Wonderful, March 13, 2007

By 

G. Carter "gcmusiclover" (Temple Hills, maryland United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Early Years 1961-62 (Audio CD)

The Early Years is a good slice of the early girl group sound and The Ronettes deliver the goods, since these are not the 'Wall of Sound' type of arrangements, like the other reviewer says do not overlook this collection, a great version of 'Silhouettes', the country\doo-wop 'Memory', the fun 'Good Girls' & 'Recipe For Love', and others, this is a must for collectors' of girl groups and the Ronettes fans who want more Ronnie, Estelle & Nedra.

2.0 out of 5 stars Skip this one and get Spector hits, June 22, 2011

By 

Sasha "lampic" (at sea...sailing somewhere) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Early Years 1961-62 (Audio CD)

Pre-Spector recordings showing that girls really needed better material and inspired producer next time around.
it is common now to throw mud at Phil Spector but the guy was genius and his magic touch made all the difference. Almost all of his singers (with few exceptions,like Ike & Tina Turner) were not known before he started working with them and Ronettes were just one of the many names from the list of hopeful wannabies.

Ronnie had appealing,sexy voice and and it's (almost) fun to hear her in this sub--par material,without earthquake going on around her. One cannot really hear other girls as Ronnie is front and center,and as for musicians,well to me it all sounds like demo anyway. Everything sounds like demo compared to Phil Spector!

What is truly fascinating is how bad these material is - even Supremes debut album had more depth - gimmicks,clichés,derivative ideas... you name it,it's here. Even girls squeaks have already been done (much better) by The Tammys. From historical perspective,it is interesting to hear Ronettes the way they were as "diamonds in rough" but from music standpoint this was just awful because there is nothing here that hasn't already been recorded by everybody else + songs themselves are offensive in their simpleness.
Girl-group era had a lot of inspired highlights,but this is not one of them.