Ellie Greenwich Has Passed Away

[LeeDempsey]

Ellie Greenwich, co-writer of "I Can Hear Music", "And Then I Kissed Her", and Brian's favorite song "Be My Baby", has passed away.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090826/ap_on_en_mu/us_obit_greenwich

Here's a list of Ellie's songs that were covered by the Beach Boys

And Then I Kissed Her
Be My Baby (released by Mike Love; unreleased BB version)
Chapel of Love
Da Doo Ron Ron (released by Mike Love; unreleased BB version)
I Can Hear Music
River Deep, Mountain High (unreleased BB version)
Why Don't They Let Us Fall In Love (unreleased BB version)

RIP Ellie.

Lee

[Surfer Joe]

That's horrible, shocking news.  She was a tremendous talent, and a great, great back-up singer, too.  More great songs than you could list; I think she also co-wrote "Maybe I Know" for Leslie Gore and the greatest girl group song ever- "Don't Ever Leave Me", for Connie Francis.   I e-mailed her years ago and asked about that song and kidded her about a reunion of the Raindrops, her group with Jeff Barry. No dice, she said.  Here's the Raindrops' best song, with apologies for the quality:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObNMp6Uf86A&feature=related

Here's "Maybe I Know":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9UomHul178

I even have a solo album of hers from the sixties. She's someone I would have loved to meet.

RIP Ellie Greenwich....too young.

[Steve Mayo]

terrible news....rip ellie

loved her and barry's 60's work. another '60's icon gone...my memories of my youth are being ripped out of me...

i love "i can hear music", probably my favorite beach boy song.

[Nicole]

Just heard about this, it's awful Rest in peace!

Can you believe what a year this has been?

[Surfer Joe]

From her website, in a series of messages to friends-

*To the phenomenal BRIAN WILSON. What you did for me at BB Kings on August 19, was one of the highlights of my career. It was totally unexpected, and was greatly appreciated. I will always remember the feeling. Thanks Brian. I Love You.

Wish we knew the story.

[Eric Aniversario]

From her website, in a series of messages to friends-

*To the phenomenal BRIAN WILSON. What you did for me at BB Kings on August 19, was one of the highlights of my career. It was totally unexpected, and was greatly appreciated. I will always remember the feeling. Thanks Brian. I Love You.

Wish we knew the story.

Wow, August 19th of this year?  She was active till the end.  I'd like to know what Brian did too.

[Surfer Joe]

Eric, I wondered, too- no way to tell if it's from this year.

[mtaber]

Greenwich had a hand in a phenomenol number of great songs...

[Wirestone]

That message was likely from 2002 -- here's the link to the page in Eric's setlist archive:

http://members.tripod.com/~fun_fun_fun/8-19-02a.html

[Aegir]

What a setlist!

[Chris Brown]

Wow, this is very sad news indeed.  So many wonderful songs she helped compose.  RIP.

[Jay]

Brian and his band actually did The Night Was So Young? Why the hell don't we get great setlists like that now? Ok, back to the original subject. Sorry. 

[The Heartical Don]

R.I.P. Ellie -

at another website, there's an ironic comment that is usually applied to the not-so-talented who passed away: 'one of the greats'.

But this time, it is 110% true and heartfelt: she was one of the greats.

[Eric Aniversario]

That message was likely from 2002 -- here's the link to the page in Eric's setlist archive:

http://members.tripod.com/~fun_fun_fun/8-19-02a.html

Oh...it even says what Brian did for Ellie that night.  The answer was right on my own website all along.

[LittleSurferGirl]

RIP Ellie, such a talented person!

[donald]

terrible news....rip ellie

loved her and barry's 60's work. another '60's icon gone...my memories of my youth are being ripped out of me...

i love "i can hear music", probably my favorite beach boy song.

I feel the same.   Very sad to hear this.   I loved to watch and listen to Ellie whenever she performed or interviewed.  The real heart of the Brill Building talent and certainly the absolute heart and soul, even house mother/big sis  of the Girl Group era.

Read, if you will, a book titled the Bomp and Briliance of the Brill Building, Magic in the Air.

Last night on Letterman, Ronnie Spector joined Paul Schaffer in a tribute......sweet, but too often interrupted by irellevant guests and such as the top ten list.

NPR, Fresh Air with Terry Gross is airing a tribute and a rerun of an interview with Ellie today.

Steve, it runs on Ohio NPR at 1:00 pm athens, but if you miss it its on WV NPR 89.9 at 7:00 pm this evening.

I remember riding my bike when this music was new, clutching a small 2 transistor radio between my hand and the handle grip, with Be My Baby blasting for all the little radio would do.  I was "crusin"!  This weekend I'll listen to it on CD as I cruise in my 64 convertible.

[Pretty Funky]

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2009/08/thoughts-on-ellie-greenwich.html

I love this!

Beach Boy Mike Love liked to tell people that Wilson once had a jukebox in his house, and that no matter which of 100 selections you pushed, “Be My Baby” was the only song that came out.  It sounded unlikely, but when I put the question to Wilson, he said it was absolutely true.

[Chris Brown]

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2009/08/thoughts-on-ellie-greenwich.html

I love this!

Beach Boy Mike Love liked to tell people that Wilson once had a jukebox in his house, and that no matter which of 100 selections you pushed, “Be My Baby” was the only song that came out.  It sounded unlikely, but when I put the question to Wilson, he said it was absolutely true.

I never doubted that story, but it was cool to see Brian confirming it.  Nothing surprises me when it comes to Brian's obsession with that song!