Philles Records

Philles Records was a record label formed in 1961 by Phil Spector and Lester Sill, the label taking its name from a hybrid of their first names. Initially, the label was distributed by Jamie/Guyden in Philadelphia. In 1962, Spector purchased Sill's stock to become sole owner, at a mere 21 years of age America's youngest label chief.

The label issued twelve albums over the course of its existence, but with the exception of A Christmas Gift for You, the focus was always on the single. By most accounts, 39 singles were issued on the label. However, Philles 125 is a reissue of Philles 119, with the B-side "Winter Wonderland" substituted for the original flipside, "Harry and Milt Meet Hal B." This, and many other flipsides, were deliberately undistinguished instrumentals, which were intended to focus attention on the A-sides. At first they were credited to the A-side artists, later to the 'Phil Spector Group'. Also, most discographies, including the one in the Back to Mono booklet, list two items with catalogue number Philles 123: "Stumble And Fall" by Darlene Love was withdrawn (but both stock and promos exist) and replaced with "Walking in the Rain" by The Ronettes. Despite the prior claim that Philles 134, 135, and 136 were not released in the United States, promo and regular stock copies of all three exist, as well as the withdrawn Darlene Love single listed above. The withdrawn "(Let's Dance) The Screw" by The Crystals only exists as promo copies.

All singles were produced by Spector, with five exceptions: Philles 101, 103, and 104 were produced by Sill prior to his departure from the company; Philles 133 by Jeff Barry, and Philles 134 by Bob Crewe. None of the non-Spector productions charted, while every one of Spector's productions made the charts in the U.S., with the exceptions of Philles 132, one of the two Philles 123's, the withdrawn Philles 105, and the holiday single both times. Eighteen Philles records made the Top 40, the label topping the charts twice with Philles 106 in 1962, and again with Philles 124 in 1965.

The label ceased operations in 1967, and Spector did not return to production work for another two years. The Philles catalog is now owned by EMI Music Publishing, with Sony Music Entertainment's Legacy Recordings division handling distribution rights for the Philles catalog through a new licensing deal which was finalized in September 2009.[1] Prior to this deal, the Philles reissues were handled by ABKCO Records.

Notable artists

• The Crystals
• Darlene Love
• Bob B. Soxx & the Blue Jeans
• The Ronettes
• The Righteous Brothers
• Ike and Tina Turner

Singles discography

Albums discography

++Only a few copies of the album were pressed, and covers never made, before it was canceled by Philles. This LP was released on A&M Records in 1969.

See also

• List of record labels