Caught up with this documentary last night and what a strange man this guy is. I had always known that he was difficult to work with etc., but think that most genius's must be and yes he had it tough as a kid but he has never reconciled his problems and insecurities. In fact they have manifested even further the older he gets.

In particular his treatment of people is unforgivable and the most touching part of the docu was when his adopted sons were speaking. Gary particular moved me, he seems too controlled, in fact too subdued - perhaps this is the only way he can get through a day but when they took him back to the house he grew up in with Spector [and what a perfect name] he cried. What about his demons?

He also treated his singers badly, discarding them like empty match boxes when he had got what he wants. He was one of the few who changed the face of music with his 'wall of sound', I love it, it's a magical, warm, big sound and he has produced one of the best Christmas albuns ever.

"SONGS THAT LAST THREE MINUTES AND FOREVER.

Phil Spector brought a grand, ennobling passion to the teen love song. His 'wall of sound' moved both bodies and hearts - launching what may be the most personal and stylistically unified series of mulit-artist recordings in pop history. That Phil Spector's hits will live on in the digital age is cause for celebration."

- Kurt Loder, Rolling Stones

http://www.philspector.com/#

Or should I say Music-Abuse. I have often rambled on about where music is played and where it should not. Well this one is a dilly. Just come back from a weeks holiday with my partners family in Spain. they took us to a small town just outside Castellon, Valencia. To a sightseeing venue called St Josef which boasts Europes longest underwater caves.

For a small fee we clambered into a small, blue boat with a single skipper who gently pushed us along, gondola style. The water was smooth, the caves fascinating and well lit BUT on a loop system they played a piece of Spanish guitar music. It was quite a nice piece but by the 10th time I had heard it I want to swim out as fast as I could. The caves were full of atmosphere and with the music off we would have hear the gentle drip, drip echoing from the stalletites and the gentle drift of the boat.

Who even thought of cabling and secreting white speakers in such a natural surrounding is beyond me - they need hoisting up to the top of the caves and left dangling for eternity.

if you have any horror stories in simliar vein, tell me.

Having a week with family in Spain so have revved up my ipod to keep me going [as well as Michael Palins Diaries to browse through].

Loaded 3 Diana Krall CD's and just about to load the new Harry Coonick Jnr My New Orleans and Sister Rosetta Tharpe's The Gospel of the Blues which I have to review for hospital radio. Got a bit of a train journey in the middle of the week so will do reviews and blog upon return.

Have downloaded the following this wek:
3 Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings tracks, check her out, Amy Winehouse before Amy Winehouse if you know what I mean. Not retro but the real things from a few years ago.
Down In Mexico by The Coasters - heard it in a Tarrantino interview as he uses it in his latest films, not really into his films but he does know his music and picks the coolest tracks.
Don't Break My Heart - UB40 Because I heard it on the radio and loved it when it came out.
Bleeding Love - Leona Lewis, great ballad and sung really well.

Thats' it, keep listening to stuff as it's important. I'll be back refreshed and with plenty to blog.