The Essential Phil Spector

It’s a testament to his record-producing genius (and business savvy) that collections are assembled under Phil Spector’s name instead of the groups and singers he worked with. But Spector was such a major force in the music world and such a focused visionary that there’s no better way to enjoy the music of the artists he produced. This collection starts with his first notable work, on The Teddy Bears’ “To Know Him Is To Love Him,” and cruises through such highlights as Ben E. King’s “Spanish Harlem” and Gene Pitney’s “Every Breath I Take” before focusing on the acts most associated with his name: The Crystals, Darlene Love, The Ronettes, and eventually The Righteous Brothers, whose “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’,” “Ebb Tide,” and “Unchained Melody” are among the most ear-popping hits of any era. Spector’s trademark Wall of Sound, where the pianos, guitars, bass, and drums were corralled into one seamless and impenetrable gestalt, remains one of pop music’s most singular achievements.