The Teddy Bears
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]
History[]
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.
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]
Discography[]
- Studio album
- The Teddy Bears Sing! (Imperial Lp-9067; 1959)
Track listing:
- 1. Oh Why (Phil Spector) – 2:27
- 2. Unchained Melody (Alex North; Hy Zaret) – 2:17
- 3. My Foolish Heart (Ned Washington; Victor Young) – 2:19
- 4. You Said Goodbye (Spector) – 1:56
- 5. True Love (Cole Porter) – 2:00
- 6. Little Things Mean a Lot (Carl Stutz; Edith Linderman) – 2:27
- 7. I Don't Need You Anymore (Spector) – 2:40
- 8. Tammy (from the Universal Studios release Tammy and the Bachelor; Jay Livingston; Ray Evans) – 2:06
- 9. Long Ago and Far Away (Ira Gershwin; Jerome Kern) – 2:03
- 10. Don't Go Away (Spector) – 2:23
- 11. If I Give My Heart to You (Al Jacobs; Jimmie Crane; Jimmy Brewster) – 1:57
- 12. Seven Lonely Days (Alden Shuman; Earl Shuman; Marshall Brown) – 1:56
- Singles
1958
- "To Know Him is to Love Him", b/w "Don't You Worry My Little Pet"
- "If You Only Knew (The Love I Have for You)", b/w "You Said Goodbye"
1959
- "Oh Why", b/w "I Don't Need You Anymore"
- "Don't Go Away", b/w "Seven Lonely Days"
1960
- "Wonderful Lovable You", b/w "Till You'll Be Mine"
References[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d e Colin Larkin, ed. (1997). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music (Concise ed.). Virgin Books. p. 1166. ISBN 1-85227-745-9.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Tobler, John (1992). NME Rock 'N' Roll Years (1st ed.). London: Reed International Books Ltd. p. 61. CN 5585.
- ^ Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 108. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
External links[]
- American pop music groups
- Doré Records artists
- Era Records artists
- Imperial Records artists
- Musical groups established in 1958
- Musical groups disestablished in 1959
- Musical groups from Los Angeles
- Phil Spector
- 1958 establishments in California