Be my baby A memoir

Originally published in 1990, this memoir includes a November 2021 postscript, written just months before Spector's death in January 2022. Her story spans from the late 1950s to the 1980s. Inclined to perform from a young age and sparked by Frankie Lymon's music, Spector formed the Ronettes with her sister Estelle and cousin Nedra. Her rise in the NYC music scene during the early 1960s occurred at storied venues such as Harlem's Apollo Theater and Brooklyn's Fox Theatre. She details sharing the stage with the Beatles and Rolling Stones as an opening act and the long-term friendships she developed with band members, John Lennon and Keith Richards respectively. Spector recounts her abusive relationship, marriage, and divorce with Phil Spector, with added commentary on his 2009 murder conviction in her postscript. Fellow New Yorker, actress Rosie Perez (White Men Can't Jump; The Flight Attendant) narrates with honesty, capturing the singer's bubbly personality and positivity. VERDICT The only new information included in this revised edition is the postscript. Spector's memoir will appeal to music aficionados, NYC historians, and true crime fans curious for a glimpse into the life of Phil Spector prior to his murder trial.--Kym Goering

The lead singer of the Ronettes and former wife of producer Phil Spector recounts her roller-coaster career and emotionally abusive marriage. Born in Spanish Harlem in 1943, Veronica Bennett always loved to sing. As teens, she, her sister, and her cousin met a small-time agent who got them work playing bar mitzvahs. He introduced them to a producer, and they made a record. It bombed, but the three put on matching yellow dresses, stuffed their bras, and went to New York's hottest club; by the time the night was over, they had a regular gig as dancers. Then they started dancing at the Brooklyn Fox rock-and-roll revue, where they performed alongside the Shirelles, the Supremes, Marvin Gaye, and others. In 1963, Phil Spector agreed to audition them; he signed them because he loved Ronnie's voice. As the group rehearsed, Phil and Ronnie became involved. "Be My Baby" became their first and biggest hit. The group toured England, where they made friends with the Beatles (Ronnie flirted with John, but stayed true to Phil). But trouble started when Ronnie and Phil got a mansion in Beverly Hills. Phil was fiercely possessive. He convinced her not to open for the Beatles. He yelled at her, then hired servants to watch her every move. Marriage didn't help. He preferred to keep her at home than to record with her, and she became so bored she drank all the time. Finally, she left him and tried to relaunch her career, but she was often drunk. Then, however, she met a sane and gentle man, quit drinking, and had two babies. Spector's portrait of the energy of the early Sixties music scene is fascinating. Although she doesn't explicitly discuss the girl group phenomenon, what really comes across is how completely she ceded control--first to her mother, then to her various producers--especially her husband. A lively, illuminating read, then, for fans of the period or for anyone interested in the power politics of the music business. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.