100 Greatest Songs of the 60’s #93 The Crystals – Then He Kissed Me

Released: 1963

Sooner or later – and this won’t be the only time on this countdown – the shadow of Harvey Phillip Spector will appear amongst this pantheon of the decade’s greatest sounds. There isn’t enough time or space to tell his story and that also isn’t the purpose here; that ultimately bad people can make great art should never though be in contention, or a surprise.

The first act signed to the Pilles label he co-founded Lester Sill, The Crystals had already delivered to it a string of Brill Building written hits – the exception being the subsequently disowned, Carole King co-penned He Hit Me (And It Felt Like A Kiss). But Spector’s behaviour as an impresario who answered only to himself had already caused tensions between him and the group, who also revolved personnel on a regular basis, sometimes as a direct result, sometimes not.

Despite the backstories, Then He Kissed Me was everything working together in harmonious lockstep, with Jack Nitzsche’s arrangement walling guitar, percussion and strings, all ushered in at the intoxicating speed young love develops. From kiss to the altar in much less than three minutes, it was a touchable fantasy played out to a backdrop of musical perfection. Falls from pedestals would come much, much later.