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The Teddy Bears

For the Swedish band, see Teddybears (band). For other uses, see Teddy bear (disambiguation).
The Teddy Bears
The Teddy Bears, circa 1958. Clockwise from top: Carol Connors, Marshall Leib, and Phil Spector.
The Teddy Bears, circa 1958. Clockwise from top: Carol Connors, Marshall Leib, and Phil Spector.
Background information
OriginLos Angeles, California, United States
GenresPop
Years active1957–1960
LabelsDoré, Imperial
Past members

The Teddy Bears were an American pop music group. They were record producer Phil Spector's first vocal group.[1]

History

Following graduation from Fairfax High School in Los Angeles, California, Phil Spector became obsessed with "To Know Him Is to Love Him", a song he had written for his group, the Teddy Bears. After a hasty audition at Era Records, which offered to finance a studio session, the Teddy Bears – Phil Spector, Marshall Leib, Harvey Goldstein (who left the group early on), lead singer Annette Kleinbard,[2] and last-minute recruit, drummer Sandy Nelson – recorded the song at Gold Star Studios at a cost of $75. Released on Era's Doré label in August 1958, it took two months before "To Know Him Is to Love Him" began to get airplay. The title was inscribed on Spector's father's tombstone, as "To Know Him Was To Love Him".

It went on to become a global hit. The record stayed in the Billboard Hot 100 for 23 weeks, in the Top Ten for 11 of those weeks, and commanded the number 1 chart position for three weeks. It also reached number 2 in the UK Singles Chart. It sold over two and a half million copies, and was awarded a gold disc by the RIAA.[3] At 19 years old, Spector had written, arranged, played, sung, and produced the best-selling record in the country.[2] Although subsequent releases by the Teddy Bears on the Imperial label were well-recorded soft pop, they did not sell, and within a year of the debut, Spector disbanded the group.[1] Their demise was hastened by Kleinbard being seriously injured in 1960 in a car accident.[1]

Spector was not the only Teddy Bear who went on to a music career after the group broke up. Annette Kleinbard continued to write and record songs, and changed her name to Carol Connors.[1] Among her credits are the Rip Chords hit "Hey Little Cobra", and the Academy Awards nominated Rocky theme song, "Gonna Fly Now", co-written with Ayn Robbins. Leib joined the Hollywood Argyles, played guitar on some of Duane Eddy's records and produced material recorded by the Everly Brothers amongst others.[1]

Discography

Studio album

  • The Teddy Bears Sing! (1959)

Singles

Title Year Label Peak chart positions Album
US
Hot 		US
CB 		US
RW 		US
R&B 		UK
"To Know Him Is to Love Him"
b/w "Don't You Worry My Little Pet" 		1958 Doré 1 1 1 10 2 Non-album single
"Oh, Why?"
b/w "I Don't Need You Anymore" 		1959 Imperial 91
98 		53 50 — — The Teddy Bears Sing!
"If You Only Knew (The Love I Have For You)"
b/w "You Said Goodbye" (from The Teddy Bears Sing!) 		— — — — — Non-album singles
"Wonderful, Lovable You"
b/w "Till You'll Be Mine" 		Doré — — 108 — —
"Don't Go Away"
b/w "Seven Lonely Days" 		Imperial — — — — — The Teddy Bears Sing!
"—" denotes release did not chart.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Colin Larkin, ed. (1997). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music (Concise ed.). Virgin Books. p. 1166. ISBN 1-85227-745-9.
  2. ^ a b Tobler, John (1992). NME Rock 'N' Roll Years (1st ed.). London: Reed International Books Ltd. p. 61. CN 5585.
  3. ^ Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 108. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
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