The case that PHIL SPECTOR has made a deep and permanent mark on pop music scarcely needs to be made. It's a given, as evidenced every time someone records a cover version of one of his classic songs or tries to duplicate his trademark Wall Of Sound in the studio. His legacy earned him an induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (in the 'non-performer' category) in the Hall's fourth year, and it's probably safe to say that he has greater name recognition, among musical cognoscenti and the general public alike, than any other record producer. In addition, his reputation as an eccentric recluse is almost as legendary as his indelible stamp on the world of rock.

Another measure of the impact he's had, on music in particular and on pop culture in general, is the number of times other artists have included references to him and his music in their own works and/or the packaging of same. This work is intended as a guide to such tributes, and is sorted by category.

In order to limit the scope of the project to a manageable size, I have chosen not to include cover versions of Spector songs. Parodies and answer records do qualify by virtue of the extent to which the lyrics are altered, although 'gender-switched' covers, consisting only of pronoun substitution, are not considered answer records for the purposes of this discussion.

Also not included here are the many faux-Spector productions that, with wildly varying degrees of success, have attempted through the years to capture his signature sound. Either of the above excluded categories would require an entire in-depth Web site unto itself, each with literally thousands of citations.

Part 1: HONORABLE MENTION
Songs about or including lyrical references to Phil Spector

Part 2: QUOTE UNQUOTE
Songs that include lyrics originally found in Spector records

Part 3: IT SAYS HERE . . .
The category for printed allusions to Spector

Part 4: FREE SAMPLES
Recordings that include actual segments of Spector discs

Part 5: YOU GET THE PICTURE?
Records packaged to look like Spector releases

Part 6: THE SINCEREST FORM OF FLATTERY
Releases that are in their very essence intended as tributes

Part 7: WHAT WAS THE QUESTION?
Answer records and parodies

Part 8: WHAT'S GOOD FOR THE GANDER
Recorded homages to Ronnie Spector, rather than Phil

Listings that qualify for more than one category are cross-referenced.

I enthusiastically solicit suggestions for additions that fall within the parameters outlined. Please e-mail me at spectorcollector@hotmail.com if you have or know of any, including as much detail as possible; your contribution will of course be credited. My thanks go to Yoshinori Otake, Keiko Kondo, Brian Korn, Douwe Nauta, Charles Ulrich, Peter Andreasen, John Fletcher, Ian Chapman, Phil Milstein, Phil Chapman and Mick Patrick for their invaluable assistance in the development and presentation of this material.

Note: label and catalog number information is for American releases unless stated otherwise.

PRESENTED FOR SPECTROPOP BY PHIL CHAPMAN AND MICK PATRICK