The Teddy Bears | |
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| Background information | |
| Origin | Los Angeles, California, United States |
| Genres | Pop |
| Years active | 1957–1960 |
| Labels | Doré, Imperial |
| Past members |
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The Teddy Bears were an American pop music group. They were record producer Phil Spector's first vocal group. [1]
Following graduation from Fairfax High School in Los Angeles, California, Phil Spector became obsessed with "To Know Him Is to Love Him", a song he had written for his group, the Teddy Bears. After a hasty audition at Era Records, which offered to finance a studio session, the Teddy Bears – Phil Spector, Marshall Leib, Harvey Goldstein (who left the group early on), lead singer Annette Kleinbard, [2] and last-minute recruit, drummer Sandy Nelson – recorded the song at Gold Star Studios at a cost of $75. Released on Era's Doré label in August 1958, it took two months before "To Know Him Is to Love Him" began to get airplay. The title was inscribed on Spector's father's tombstone, as "To Know Him Was To Love Him".
It went on to become a global hit. The record stayed in the Billboard Hot 100 for 23 weeks, in the Top Ten for 11 of those weeks, and commanded the number 1 chart position for three weeks. It also reached number 2 in the UK Singles Chart. It sold over two and a half million copies, and was awarded a gold disc by the RIAA. [3] At 19 years old, Spector had written, arranged, played, sung, and produced the best-selling record in the country. [2] Although subsequent releases by the Teddy Bears on the Imperial label were well-recorded soft pop, they did not sell, and within a year of the debut, Spector disbanded the group. [1] Their demise was hastened by Kleinbard being seriously injured in 1960 in a car accident. [1]
Spector was not the only Teddy Bear who went on to a career after the group broke up. Harvey Goldstein became a certified public accountant. Annette Kleinbard continued to write and record songs, and changed her name to Carol Connors. [1] Among her credits are the Rip Chords hit "Hey Little Cobra", and the Academy Awards nominated Rocky theme song, "Gonna Fly Now", co-written with Ayn Robbins. Leib joined the Hollywood Argyles, played guitar on some of Duane Eddy's records and produced material recorded by the Everly Brothers amongst others. [1]
| Year | Title | Label | Peak chart positions | Album | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | US | US | US | UK | ||||
| 1958 | "To Know Him Is to Love Him" | Doré | 1 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 2 | Non-album single |
| 1959 | "Oh, Why?" b/w "I Don't Need You Anymore" | Imperial | 91 98 | 53 — | 50 — | — | — | The Teddy Bears Sing! |
| "If You Only Knew (The Love I Have For You)" b/w "You Said Goodbye" (from The Teddy Bears Sing!) | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album singles | ||
| "Wonderful, Lovable You" b/w "Till You'll Be Mine" | Doré | — | — | 108 | — | — | ||
| "Don't Go Away" b/w "Seven Lonely Days" | Imperial | — | — | — | — | — | The Teddy Bears Sing! | |
| "—" denotes release did not chart. | ||||||||
The Righteous Brothers are an American musical duo originally formed by Bill Medley and Bobby Hatfield but now comprising Medley and Bucky Heard. Medley formed the group with Hatfield in 1963. They had first performed together in 1962 in the Los Angeles area as part of a five-member group called the Paramours, and adopted the name The Righteous Brothers when they became a duo. Their most active recording period was in the 1960s and '70s, and, after several years inactive as a duo, Hatfield and Medley reunited in 1981 and continued to perform until Hatfield's death in 2003. The term "blue-eyed soul" is thought to have first been coined by Philadelphia radio DJ Georgie Woods in 1964 when describing the duo's music.
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"To Know Him Is to Love Him" is a song written by Phil Spector, inspired by words on his father's tombstone, "To Know Him Was to Love Him." It was first recorded by the only vocal group of which he was a member, the Teddy Bears. Their recording spent three weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1958, while reaching No. 2 on the UK's New Musical Express chart. Peter & Gordon and Bobby Vinton later had hits with the song, with its title and lyrics changed to "To Know You Is to Love You". In 1987, the song was resurrected by Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt, and Emmylou Harris, whose Trio recording topped the U.S. country singles chart.
"He's a Rebel" is a song written by Gene Pitney that was originally recorded by Vikki Carr and by the girl group the Blossoms. Produced by Phil Spector, the Blossoms' version was issued 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).
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Harvey Phillip Spector was an American record producer and songwriter best known for his innovative recording practices and entrepreneurship in the 1960s and his two trials and conviction for murder in the 2000s. Spector developed the Wall of Sound, a production style that is characterized for its diffusion of tone colors and dense orchestral sound, which he described as a "Wagnerian" approach to rock and roll. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in pop music history and one of the most successful producers of the 1960s.
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Marshall Leib was an American singer and one of the original members of The Teddy Bears. Leib and his high school friend, producer Phil Spector, formed the trio. Leib performed background harmony vocals on the Teddy Bears hit "To Know Him Is to Love Him", which became the number one song in the United States in 1958. It had since been covered by numerous artists such as Dolly Parton and Amy Winehouse.
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"Don't You Worry My Little Pet" is a song written by Phil Spector for the American pop quartet the Teddy Bears, of which he was a member. It was released in September 1958 as the B-side of the group's "To Know Him Is to Love Him", which topped the Billboard Hot 100.
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