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
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