Speaking to the BBC in 1979 for his Star Special, Bowie picked his favourite songs ever, and one was 1971’s ‘Try Some, Buy Some’. Originally written by former Beatle George Harrison, it was intended to be released as part of a Ronnie Spector album from the Liverpool band’s label, Apple Records, but the record never came to fruition. Harrison eventually recorded his version for his 1973 album Living in the Material World, and in 2003 Bowie released a rendition on 2003’s Reality. However, Spector’s version is the definitive one.
Of the track, Bowie revealed that it was the one that made him “fall in love” with the work of Ronnie Spector: “Here’s a song that made me fall in love with the singer. Absolutely incredible. My heart went straight out to her. It was produced by Phil Spector. I may be wrong, but I think it’s the last single that he ever made because he was so depressed that it didn’t do anything, that nobody bought it. Which is quite ironic really, because the title is ‘Try Some, Buy Some’. It’s by his ex wife, Ronnie Spector.” (read the full article on Faroutmag.)
Keith Richards Recalls Ronnie Spector (Phil Spector chasing me around with a shotgun).
Ronnie Spector died last January of cancer. She was 78 - The hard-edged yet tremulous voice soared on the Ronettes’ girl-group hits of the early ‘60s, Ronnie Spector: The first time Keith and Mick came to America, they weren’t successful, they slept on my mother’s living room floor up in Spanish Harlem. They had no money, and my mom would get up in the morning and make them bacon and eggs, and Keith would always say, “Thank you, Mrs. Bennett.” And then I took them to see James Brown at the Apollo, and that’s what made them so determined. Those guys went home and came back superstars.
Steve Van Zandt on How Ronnie Spector Saved Springsteen's E Street Band
Ronnie Spector died January 12th at the age of 78. “We all fell in love with that voice,” says Van Zandt, who produced a 1977 single with Spector fronting the E Street Band.
