This afternoon legendary record producer Phil Spector was found guilty at the conclusion of his trial for the second degree murder of Lana Clarkson in February, 2003. Above all the whole affair is obviously a horrific and tragic story, and would be regardless of who was responsible. But Spector’s conviction also raises the question of how it will affect his legacy. Will we ever again be able to hear his music without thinking of the crime he perpetrated? Should we be listening to his music at all? You may not think this is a question that concerns you. Most people could only name, at best, a handful of hits he produced, notably the Righteous Brothers’ "You’ve Lost That Loving Feelin’" and "Unchained Melody" and "River Deep, Mountain High" by Ike and Tina Turner. However, Spector in his ’60s and ’70s heyday was extremely prolific and worked with Leonard Cohen, the Ramones and even, later, the "Trio" country supergroup of Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt and Dolly Parton. He also substantially tinkered with the Beatles’ troubled Let It Be album and, following the dissolution of the Fab Four, worked with both George Harrison and John Lennon.
So should we stop listening to Lennon’s "Imagine" or Harrison’s "My Sweet Lord" or "The Long and Winding Road" just because Spector had a hand in their creation? Or is this a case where someone’s art can be separated from their crime?
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I can separate the music from the crime but I am also thankful that there is finally justice for Lana Clarkson and her mother who has suffered watching her daughter’s murderer reamin free for 6 years.
the question is not should we be listening to his music. King David was a killer and people still read the Psalms. the question that should be(and won’t be) asked is how a man widely known as a nut obtain a firearm? what “well regulated militia” did he belong to? There are more gun deaths per year in the USA than there were at 911. unfortunately, the gun nuts have a very powerful lobby. which is why we can all look forward to waking tomorrow to news about innocents killed by guns…either accidently or purposely.
I am also glad that justice was served, but dude, Johan, this is no place for your bigotry. Go somewhere else and indulge yourself.
Oh, and by the way, if you hate Jews so much, why the heck are you using Yiddish?
Beatles’ last song was some prophecy. Spector will have many years singing it to Bubba.
Something in the way she knows,
And all I have to do is think of her.
Something in the things she shows me.
I don’t want to leave her now.
You know I believe and how.
I thought Spector’s lawyer put on an objectionable defense and trashed the victim. He acted like a whiny brat and a sore loser at the press conference.
But justice was served. Spector never called 911. Never showed any concern for Lana.
Thank goodness he is finally behind bars.
I thought Spector’s lawyer put on an objectionable defense and trashed the victim. He acted like a whiny brat and a sore loser at the press conference.
But justice was served. Spector never called 911. Never showed any concern for Lana.
Thank goodness he is finally behind bars.
Spectors musical legacy will live on, of course. But that legacy is now tainted by his horrible crime, and he has no one to blame but himself.
It’s about time Los Angeles got a spine and convicted a guilty celebrity. Finally, thank you!
I couldn’t be more thrilled about a verdict. I have followed this case since 03, and Phil Spector tried to buy 6 years of freedom, perverting justice, and now will spend at least 18 years locked away from society.
My deepest thanks to the prosecutors and the fabulous jury. They are heroes and put an end to a truly psychopathic cruel demonic man.
I agree that Spector’s defense was disgraceful. To blaspheme the memory of this murdered woman, trashing her after she was killed, makes the offense far worse. Defense attorneys have a difficult job, but, Doron Weinberg crossed the line with his lies, conduct, and I hope he can live with the evil he made a pact with. He also has to stand before the Lord one day. Saying he was only doing his job won’t cut it, anymore than Nazis using that excuse. There was no need to trash a murdered woman, blaming her for her own murder.
Well, some would argue we should have all stopped listening to the album version of “The Long and Winding Road” once the “Anthology III” came out, with the stipped-down version that McCartney preferred … or even after we purchased the “Naked” album.
I didn’t know Spector had a hand in “My Sweet Lord.” I’d be interested to know if the girl-group god ever realized it’s troubles with “She’s So Fine.”
I’ve been reading about Spector terrorizing women for more than 30 years and it’s great to see him finally face justice. When I hear the songs he produced I don’t think about him, I think about the musicians who actually played and sang on the songs. I’ll give him credit for adding extra parts and slapping a sh**load of reverb on the tracks.
The only thing shocking is that it took two trials to finally nail this obviously unstable nut-job. I would’ve found him guilty on his hair alone.
Gee, you think the Clarksons will vanish into obscurity now that “Justice for Lana” has been acheived? Or will they try to get rich, press on with civil cases, write books, become cable news guests, etc.? Oh, I think we all know the answer to that!
Don’t go home with an elderly, intoxicated man in a sad attempt to bring back your b-movie career. Please. She was a porno actress looking to cash in. Enough with the bad guy/good girl nonsense.