He's Sure the Boy I Love

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"He's Sure the Boy I Love"
Single by The Crystals
from the album He's a Rebel
B-side""
Released1962
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)

"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. On the Billboard charts in 1963, "He's Sure the Boy I Love" peaked at #11 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #18 on the Hot R&B Singles.

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, Darlene Love 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 unaware 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]

Popular culture[]

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. ^ Jump up to: a b 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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