He's Sure the Boy I Love

"He's Sure the Boy I Love" is a 1962 single by The Crystals. The song was originally recorded by The Blossoms but credited to The Crystals.

"He's Sure the Boy I Love"
Single by The Crystals
from the album He's a Rebel
B-side"Walkin' Along (La La La)"
Released1962 (1962)
StudioGold Star Studios, Los Angeles
GenreRock
Length2:17
LabelPhilles
Songwriter(s)Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil
Producer(s)Phil Spector
The Crystals singles chronology
"He's a Rebel"
(1962)		 "He's Sure the Boy I Love"
(1962)		 "Da Doo Ron Ron"
(1963)

Background

In 1962, The Blossoms recorded "He's a Rebel" with Phil Spector. Instead of crediting the song to The Blossoms, Spector released the song under The Crystals without informing the group while they were on tour.[1] After "He's A Rebel" became a hit song, Spector brought The Blossoms back to record "He's Sure the Boy I Love."[2]

Recording and release

While The Crystals were on tour, Darlene Love of the Blossoms was asked by Phil Spector to record "He's Sure the Boy I Love". After being discredited from "He's A Rebel", Love urged Spector to give her a royalty contract with a rate of three cents per record.[3] The track was recorded at Gold Star Studios in Los Angeles in November 1962. The Wrecking Crew played a Jack Nitzsche arrangement, Larry Levine was the engineer.[4]

"He's Sure the Boy I Love" was featured on The Crystals re-released album He's a Rebel and replaced a prior track of theirs that had originally appeared on Twist Uptown.[5] The song was released on Philles Records 109.

Controversy

After discovering that Spector had once again discredited The Blossoms from their recording and given their song to The Crystals, Patsy Wright got into a confrontation with Spector.[6] Similarly, The Crystals were angry at Spector for having them sing another song on tour that was not theirs. Cynthia Weil, who co-wrote the song with her husband Barry Mann was unware that Darlene Love had sung on the track.[7] To sound like Love, lead singer of the Crystals La La Brooks rehearsed the introduction of "He's Sure the Boy I Love" in a Californian accent.[5]

Reception

Billboard magazine called "He's Sure the Boy I Love" a successful song that had a "rousing ork backing".[8]

Chart performance

In February 1963, the song peaked at #18 on the Hot R&B Singles[9] and #11 on the Billboard Hot 100.[10]

In 1990, "He's Sure the Boy I Love" was featured in the movie Goodfellas during the infamous "shinebox" scene.[11] It also appeared in Bad Times at the El Royale in 2018.

References
  1. Gaar, Gillian G. (2002). She's a Rebel: The History of Women in Rock and Roll (Expanded 2nd ed.). Seal Press. pp. 42–43. ISBN 1580050786. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
  2. Clemente, John (2013). Girl Groups: Fabulous Females Who Rocked The World. AuthorHouse. pp. 39–40. ISBN 9781477276334. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
  3. O'Brien, Lucy (2002). She Bop II: The Definitive History of Women in Rock, Pop and Soul (2nd ed.). Continuum. pp. 70-71. ISBN 9780826472083. Retrieved 30 July 2017.
  4. Phil Spector: Back To Mono 1958 - 1969, 4 CD box set, All Mother Bertha Music, 1991, liner notes
  5. Clemente 2013, p. 142.
  6. Brown, Mick (2012). Tearing Down The Wall of Sound: The Rise And Fall of Phil Spector (Reprint ed.). A&C Black. ISBN 978-1408819500. Retrieved 31 July 2017.
  7. Browne, David (June 20, 2013). "Darlene Love: Let Love Rule". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2020-12-18.
  8. "Singles Review". Billboard. 22 December 1962. p. 19. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  9. "Hot R&B Singles". Billboard. 9 February 1963. p. 16. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  10. "The Hot 100". Billboard. 16 February 1963. p. 20. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  11. Reay, Pauline (2004). Music in Film: Soundtracks and Synergy. Wallflower Press. p. 52. ISBN 1903364655. Retrieved 31 July 2017.
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