The Crystals | Uptown

Family Average: 6/7

Look below and see what the family had to say.

It’s darn near impossible to feel any negative energy while listening to this album. It is even harder not to bop your feet back and forth. What we have here is an apex of the 60’s girl group rock-and-roll phenomena. Guided by the talented murderous Phil Spector the girls are a particularly fascinating group to me mostly due to the rich balance of talent and controversy. Their track “He Hit Me (And It Felt Like a Kiss written by Carol King)” made people rightfully uncomfortable. Today their music has taken on a new context for people who are not aware of the whole history. This seems to be built more on kitch and novelty. Still through rotating lineups, and all the troubles they still made some of the best darn tunes this fella has ever heard. 

5/7

There’s something about early ‘60s girl groups that just does the heart good. The minute you hear that flamenco-kind of guitar lick with the swelling chorus of ladies, your toes will be tapping, your hips will be swinging, and you’re gonna feel the need to blast this track with all of your lady friends. I don’t know…There’s just something so dang wholesome about this track. It makes me smile and want to drink a malted milkshake or an egg cream. Just give me a poodle skirt already.

5/7 

One of the major girl groups of the 1960s, the Crystals are NYC based and undeniably influential. Sweet yet powerful vocals. “There’s No Other Like My Baby” with those harmonies, oh my, that’s a standout. The US in the early 60s, what a different world, so many rules and restraints to portray this “innocence” to counteract all the wrong going on in society, but hints of rebellion came out subtly in the lyrics.

5/7

Groups like this created the soundtrack of my childhood, literally! Songs like these, following that killer, (pun intended) Phil Spector produced formula that obviously brought us hit after hit on our transistor AM radio! Love the harmonies and polished vocals. Thank you for this luscious trip down memory lane.

7/7

Phil Spector produced a recognizable sound which many others have tried to duplicate, but there is nothing like the original. The Crystals are one such girl group that he produced in the 1960’s, he helped to define their sound, with harmonies, string sections and even a little flamingo guitar work. You can’t help yourself from snapping your fingers and singing along. 

6/7