Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Joe Meek is often lazily dubbed "the English Phil Spector"; but despite the shared characteristics of their personal lives (independent spirit, short temper, paranoid psychosis, doomed recourse to gunplay), in the arena which defined their existences – music – they were poles apart.
Spector believed bigger was better, cramming phalanxes of pianists and guitarists into the studio to play identical parts in a Wall of Sound; whereas, hidebound by economics, Meek was forced to use his wits and technical genius to realise his visions. Accordingly, Spector's records are grandiose exercises in playing to the gallery, while Meek's are more solipsistic innovations. Meek was an inventor, Spector a mere arranger. Sadly, this soundtrack neglects to include anything from Meek's bonkers 1959 "outer space music fantasy" I Hear A New World, on which his talents were unleashed including the hits that built his reputation: John Leyton's haunting "Johnny Remember Me", The Honeycombs' stomper "Have I The Right", The Tornados' globe-orbiting success "Telstar", and raw rockers from Screaming Lord Sutch, Gene Vincent and Billy Fury, and a few too many tracks by Meek's beloved Heinz – an indication, perhaps, of the film's priorities.
Download this: 'Telstar', 'Have I The Right', 'Johnny Remember Me', 'Jack The Ripper', 'Be-Bop-A-Lula', 'Just Like Eddie'
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments