He's a Rebel

Last updated
"He's a Rebel"
He's a rebel.jpg
Single by the Blossoms with Bobby Sheen
from the album He's a Rebel
B-side "I Love You Eddie"
ReleasedAugust 1962
RecordedJuly 12, 1962 [1]
Studio Gold Star Studios [2]
Genre Pop [3]
Length2:31
Label Philles
106
Songwriter Gene Pitney
Producer Phil Spector
The Blossoms with Bobby Sheen singles chronology
"He Hit Me (And It Felt Like a Kiss)"
(1962)		"He's a Rebel"
(1962)		"He's Sure the Boy I Love"
(1962)
Audio sample
He's a Rebel

"He's a Rebel" is a song written by Gene Pitney that was recorded in 1962 by two different artists. The first one recorded was by Vikki Carr, while the second, more successful version was recorded by the girl group the Blossoms with tenor Bobby Sheen added on harmony, and Blossoms singer Darlene Love singing lead. Produced by Phil Spector, the Blossoms' version was issued in August as a single credited to the Crystals, which topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart in November 1962. It was Spector's second chart-topper after "To Know Him Is to Love Him" (1958).

Contents

Working through Liberty Records, Carr recorded her version and released it on September 22, 1962. [4] Competing directly with the notional Crystals single, Carr's version missed the US Hot 100, only reaching number 115, [4] but it found an audience in Australia where it peaked at number 3. [5]

As a Liberty A&R producer for a brief period, Spector heard Carr's disc being prepared for release and determined to make his own version, and more quickly. Spector wanted to record the song with the Crystals, a proven group under his management, but after they refused to fly from Brooklyn to Los Angeles, Spector put together the Blossoms session at Gold Star in Hollywood and speedily released the single on his own Philles Records in August under the Crystals name. [1] Once it had became a hit, the actual Crystals had to learn the song to sing it at their concerts.

In 2004, "He's a Rebel" was ranked No. 263 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. [6] Billboard named the song No. 31 on its list of 100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time. [7] Also in 2004, the 1962 release of "He's a Rebel" credited to the Crystals was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. [8]

History

The song is about a girl in love with a young man who spurns society's conventions. Despite his being misunderstood by others, the singer claims he is sweet and faithful and vows to be the same towards him. Steve Douglas performs a saxophone solo during the song's bridge. The piano riff at the beginning was contributed by Al DeLory.

Pitney wrote "He's a Rebel" for the Shirelles, but they declined. Spector learned Vikki Carr was to record it for Liberty Records as her debut, and wanted his own version on sale first. [9] The Crystals were touring on the east coast of the US at the time, so Spector had the Blossoms, a Los Angeles group, record the track with the agreement that the record would still be credited to the Crystals. [10] Mary Thomas of the Crystals recalled that "our mouths fell open" when she and her groupmates heard a disc jockey announce "the new Crystals song." [11] The quintet was then obliged to add "He's a Rebel" to their live repertoire, even though lead singer Barbara Alston could not mimic Blossoms lead singer Darlene Love. For that reason, 15-year-old Dolores "LaLa" Brooks became the lead singer the following year with the follow-up "Then He Kissed Me".

"He's a Rebel" was released in late August 1962, with the B-side "I Love You Eddie." On November 3, "He's a Rebel" reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. [12] The number two song was Pitney's "Only Love Can Break a Heart", giving him (as a songwriter or performer) the two top-selling singles in the U.S. [12] In the United Kingdom, "He's a Rebel" peaked at No. 19. [13]

The song and its recording was featured in a fictionalized recreation in the 2018 movie Bad Times at the El Royale . The character of Darleen Sweet was based on singer Darlene Love and the character Buddy Sunday was meant to represent producer Phil Spector.

Personnel

Chart history

References

  1. 1 2 Warner, Jay (2006). American Singing Groups – A History From 1940 to Today. Bloomsbury Academic. p. 79. ISBN   9780634099786.
  2. ↑ Bergsman, Steve (2023). What a Difference a Day Makes – Women Who Conquered 1950s Music. University Press of Mississippi. p. 1936. ISBN   9781496848963.
  3. ↑ Breihan, Tom (May 7, 2018). "The Number Ones: The Crystals' "He's A Rebel"". Stereogum . Retrieved June 10, 2023. It's a minor pop-music miracle, and so many more would follow.
  4. 1 2 Whitburn, Joel (1982). Joel Whitburn's Bubbling under the hot 100, 1959-1981. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research. p. 28. ISBN   978-0-8982-0047-8.
  5. ↑ Kent, David (2005). Australian Chart Book 1940–1969. Turramurra, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book Pty Ltd. ISBN   0-646-44439-5.
  6. ↑ "The RS 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". RollingStone.com. Retrieved 2008-06-19.[ dead link ]
  7. ↑ "100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time: Critics' Picks". Billboard. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  8. ↑ "Hall of Fame Artists". GRAMMY.com. Retrieved 2025-09-10.
  9. ↑ Bronson, Fred (2003). The Billboard Book of Number One Hits. Billboard Books. p. 119. ISBN   978-0-8230-7677-2.
  10. ↑ Browne, David (2013-06-20). "Darlene Love: Let Love Rule". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2020-12-18.
  11. ↑ Ribowsky, Mark (2000). He's a Rebel: Phil Spector--Rock and Roll's Legendary Producer. Cooper Square Press. p. 144. ISBN   978-1-4616-6103-0.
  12. 1 2 Billboard Music Week Hot 100", Billboard . November 3, 1962. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
  13. ↑ "He's a Rebel (song by The Crystals)". Music VF, US & UK hits charts. Retrieved 2020-12-18.
  14. ↑ Hartman, Kent (2012). The Wrecking Crew . St. Martin’s Griffin. pp.  49-51. ISBN   978-1-250-03046-7.
  15. ↑ Phil Spector: Back to MONO (1958–1969) ABKCO Records, 1991, liner notes
  16. ↑ CHUM Hit Parade, October 29, 1962
  17. ↑ Flavour of New Zealand, 27 December 1962
  18. ↑ "Chart History of He's a Rebel". Officialcharts.com.
  19. ↑ Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990 - ISBN   0-89820-089-X
  20. ↑ "Cash Box Top 100 Singles, November 10, 1962". Archived from the original on October 10, 2012. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
  21. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (1999). Pop Annual. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. ISBN   0-89820-142-X.
  22. ↑ Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 29, 1962
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