Crystals, The - Uptown Lyrics

Oh those...castenettes!

A beautiful song. One of my favorites.

These acts were crushed by the 'British Invasion' and it is such a shame but oh my gosh the production and the artists! This what the 'limeys could never replicate!

Few groups at the most survived the British Invasion. Some observers have noted that US teenagers were growing tired of singles-oriented pop acts by mid 1960. The Crystals were fortunate to have Phil Spector as their record producer with his "Wall of Sound" instrumental backing. Though he did not treat his female groups well when it came to money. Still this recording of "Uptown" is a great example of making an ordinary song sound great. The Brits had their style of music, and as you said, nothing like this.

@60s70sTheBest All true 'cept they (UK) didn't have 'soul' and they knew it.

@Rusoviet Tovarich Yeah, that too. Thanks.

Just heard this on Golden Years Radio . net and all the 60's music that gets played takes me back to the good old days when I had a rock band called The Presidents. Our recording for Decca in 1965 was lost for 53 years and just released in June 2018 and Golden Years has included it in the playlist. Got the old band back together and made a video so it's me 78 miming to me singing 25 - great fun and who knows we might trend : -) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjcKGcM0Rtc

Great piece of personal history. Great cover on the song back then. It has the flavor of The Dave Clark Five, The Beatles (who really liked the song by what I have read), and maybe some Rockabilly. Yeah, let's hope you trend. Thank you for sharing.

Thanks and It'd be so great if you could post this on the actual video.  Best wishesRobin

" ........ he don't get no breaks and he takes what they have to give , cause he's got to live ." 
I love the beat Dick , I gave it a ten , great to cha cha to .

Tommy Tedesco on acoustic guitar

@60s70sTheBest yes. I should have added that. What a gifted musician and a great sense of humor too!!

@JOHNWLOUCKS Phil Spector made this song sound great (like many others) with his "Wall of Sound" philosophy using The Wrecking Crew musicians, so I assumed Tedesco was a member. Sounds like you knew him personally. The great Glen Campbell was also a member.

@60s70sTheBest I wish I had know Tommy. He was from Buffalo, ny originally. Just think of all those musicians crowded into Gold Star studios doing those Spector songs live. Phillip could drive the musicians crazy, of course, Phillip was crazy anyway. They would have 4 or 5 guitar players, two bassists, three keyboard players and so on. But, they kept making hit after hit. So many great musicians and it seems monthly we lose another one of them.

@JOHNWLOUCKS I'm sure the Crew would have used everything including the kitchen sink if they could work it into a song. Unfortunately, as time moves on so do they. At least the music they created will live on. Thanks for the info.

@60s70sTheBest They did use everything and almost a kitchen sink. When they recorded Huston with Dino, Hal used an ashtray for that ding ding sound. I think that story is in the WC movie. Take care.

This group was so good and their music -- we luved dancing to it ---- too bad they had such stupid greedy men running the music stream -- and let some of the greatest singers go----- What a damn shame.

Probably all female vocal groups were taken advantage of during that era. Little or even no royalties was the norm. In fact The Crystals felt that their producer Phil Spector withheld royalty money that was owed to them. Those days are gone, but their wonderful songs continue to live on.

They don't make any good music anymore. Late 50's, 60 were the best.

Yes indeed.

Someone recommended I come here, from another Crystals video "He's A Rebel". Listen to or watch them sing that one if you haven't heard it yet. You're welcome! (: I love The Crystals and their music, this is great 🎶

everybody ran to Phi Spector for help. That includes the Beatles, the Beach Boys. Think the Crystals are forgotten? Check out Then He Kissed Me with 28 million views. this one happens to be my favorite partly because certain memories it brings back but its a beauty.

Beautiful vocals by the group (highschoolers), and you can tell there is a lead singer. You're 100% right this song is a beauty, and Spector new how to make a song sound great. Thanks for the additional info as well.

Great song for dancing.

Thanks for the comment.

Barbara Alston and the Crystals at their best.

Well said.

love this so much-makes me feel good :)

I like the "Latin/Spanish" guitar start, and it reminds this BIC (Bronx Irish Catholic) who grew up in "'Da Bronx" with Hispanics, black, Italians, blacks that it was and very much today is "still all good! "

That's the way it should be.

Written by the great Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann. So superior to music today in every way -- the vocals, the melodies, the story lines, the production, the emotion. So grateful these treasures of musical greatness have been preserved!

A great combination all the way around. Great comment as well.

Thanks, so kind of you.

RIP Barbara Ann Alston :(

R.I.P. Barbara Alston - her daughters reported her death today, from Flu and Respiratory Ailments. She was mistakingly listed in a book some years ago as having died in 1992. She actually wrote a book (autobiography) in 2007.

Thank you for the info.

You're welcome.

RIP Barbara Alston

RIP Barbara...so sad 😢

This is such a cool song! Fun fact: this song was inspiration for the song Downtown in the musical little shop of horrors, and one of the urchins is actually names crystal :)

Cool song it is. Great info & thanks for sharing.

beautiful beautiful beautiful ahh absolutely ahh beautiful Love this so much love it love love them because they are definitely ahh beautiful as well what lovely sounding voices should sound like a great group of angels singing so wonderfully blessed and gifted beauty this never ever gets old not ever bless you girls bless you all I love you so so very much stay golden like the purest of honey sweetness well peace everyone😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂.

The Crystals in the photo consisted of, left to right: Barbara Alston, who sand lead on the 1st 2 singles,"There's No Other" & "Uptown"; Mary Thomas, La La Brooks who sang lead on all the releases beginning with "Da Doo Ron Ron" in 1963; Pattie Wright & Dee Dee Kennibrew. It is now known Darlene Love sang lead on both "He's a Rebel" & "He's Sure the Boy I Love" with back-up vocals by her group The Blossoms.

Thanks for the additional info.

Always willing to share the info I have with others who may not know the "behind the scenes" stories. The story of why Darlene Love and the Blossoms were billed as The Crystals is very interesting. It says more about Phil Spector than the talents of either The Crystals or The Blossoms. There are many similarities between Spector and our current leader of the USA. I'll leave it at that. A genius in the recording studio but lacked in "people skills".

The Blossoms also sang the "Batman" TV show theme.

love the Crystals and their songs !!!

Not sout, but an excellent song with lyrics that are as relevant today as back then.

Que bueno

I WAS VERY SCARED, VERY AFRAID WHEN I LISTENED TO THIS SONG IN 1962 ON THE CAR RADIO. I ALWAYS CRIED. TODAY I LOVE THIS SONG AS AN ADULT. FAN SAN ANTONIO TEXAS

One song that made the hair on my arms stand up when I first heard it was the original theme song from the movie Halloween. And I was an adult then. It still gives me the willies.

SAME!!!! I try to watch that movie again....can't do it. LOL! It's all about that music!
Cheri B.

It has a very dramatic opening.....I was 10....and I loved that drama!

There are some songs that are intricate, with fine detail in the notes- many classical works fit that description.

There are also songs with powerful notes and changes that move a listener's soul.

This work is both at the same time - quite an achievement.

Eloquently said.

sadly this was another girl group who never made much money from all the recordings they did. written by one of the Brille Building songwriting teams.

The Crystals were one of the best back then. You're right, girl group talent was taken advantage of in those days, and after expenses, there really wasn't anything left to pocket. Brille Building husband and wife song-writing team Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil did this one.

Beautiful old song. The discrimination that inspired it is still very current tho. Come on America, do better.

Another great oldie💙🎼🎤

back in da day Phil Spector a great producer of all time in the 60's

Yes he was. He made the recordings many groups and performers sound great.

Lois Weiss yes before he went evil and became a megalomaniac and a murderer

@Tarl Denmark Spector had been seriously mentally ill most of his life. But if someone refuses to get help or even recognize he/she has serious mental problems, their problems continue to escalate.
Especially people with a lot of money. Can't force them to do anything.

But he contributed something special to music. That can't be taken away from him. Really a sad story and a sad life. I wish that woman had never gone to his house with him that night. RIP

The wall of sound is like a deep well of sound with tremendous depth/layering. You just keep finding more

+ferociousgumby It worked extremely well.

I still would like someone to distinguish the "Wall of Sound" with what other producers were doing at the time? Weren't many of Motown's hits, particularly Diana Ross and the Supremes and the Temptation songs also layered and deep? How about what Bert Bacharach was doing? I just don't understand the difference(s)??? Can someone clue this non-musician in?

@PalaniRides Go to Wikipedia.org and look up "wall of sound". It explains it all. Also follow the link within about "The Wrecking Crew".

that's him

Interesting how the meaning of "uptown" and "downtown" has changed over the years. When this song was made, "uptown" was the low-rent district. Today "uptown" means just the opposite (as in "Uptown Girl.")

+Deborah Dessaso You are so right.

+60s70sTheBest thanks

Well as I recall, that depends on where you lived. In NYC, then and now, upper Manhattan was the high rent district and the haven of the super-rich owners. But "uptown" also meant the place Duke Ellington's song was about: "Take the A-Train" which went way uptown to Harlem. Since the songwriters (Bill Mann and his spouse, Cynthia Weil) were Brooklyn, NY natives (which is where the subway A-train starts), I kind of think, that's what the writers had in mind (i.e., Harlem). While vestiges of gentrification are creeping into Harlem, it's not uptown Manhattan yet. Uptown Manhattan is I think the place where Billy Joel's (born in the Bronx, NYC) "Uptown Girl" was from.

These Ladies were so good and so innocent looking , great shows and very sexy way back then ! Brooklyn Fox in 60s Murray the K's R&R Revues in Brooklyn Paramount !

+The Wizard of Rock and Roll They were good. Thanks you Wizard for the great comment. I subscribed to your channel.

+60s70sTheBest thx , Of the 50s & 60s groups I have seen almost every group but 2 in my Playlist of my Favorite Doo-Wop Groups !

Yes, Murray Kaufman and submarine race watchers 1010 WINS New York and I found out later that both Murray the K and Phil Spector lived just a hop skip and a jump from where I grew up in Connecticut...
cheers

Produced by the originator of the Wall of Sound production method and the greatest Rock n' Roll producer ever, Phil Spector.

Yes, two sides of the coin. A mastermind in the music world on one, and a convicted murderer on the other.

he did but sadly he was one of those people who riped off his girl groups .

It is called capitalism.

A genius at music but a complete failure as a human being.

True but he did rip them off and didn't pay them!

Why wasn't this the backdrop for a violent scene in a Scorsese film?

+starchores It would probably work--maybe he can find a spot for it in his next film; doesn't even have to be a violent scene.

I should start my day with this song. Don't know why, just gives me a positive outlook. Great song from a great time before the world changed in so many ways.

@Edmund Daley Great comment.

I think it actually got to #2 in May '62.

@Nextaxpro E R Rocky Yes it was 1962 when the song was released instead of 1961. However, sources I have checked show it reaching #13 the same year.

In Spfld, taxachusetts, reached #2 first week of May, '62.  Hard to believe, I know.  Didn't beat out the #1, which was "I Love You'.

@Nextaxpro E R Rocky Makes sense. I started thinking it may have been a regional or local chart where it hit #2 which is not unusual.

One of the greatest songs to come out in the Golden year 1962 - I Love You, The Lion Sleeps Tonight, Air Travel,  Nancy's Minuet, When My Little Girl Is Smilin'  and a few more.

+Nextaxpro E R Rocky   Sorry, it wasn't Nancy's Minuet.  It was Cryin' in the Rain.   Lot more good ones too:  Why you Wanna Make Me Cry, Dream Baby, Runaway, Mashed Potato, the Twist, Casanova Brown, Poor Little Puppet,  Palisades Park and a lot more.

+Nextaxpro E R Rocky And the list keeps going on and on.

The hitz keep on comin right here on 570 AM the Good Guys

PERFECT EXAMPLE WHAT A WELL PRODUCED SONG SOUNDS LIKE ,NOT LIKE MOST OF THE GARBAGE THAT PASSES FOR MUSIC TODAY

Well Phil Spector was the Wagner of his day. Leiber and Stoller could never do something like this.

Thanks to the producer sure, but these women and their wonderful voices made the song to me (:

Terrific song, great orchestration - everything missing in today's "music"

Yes indeed!!

One of my all-time favorite female vocals of those years. He's A Rebel is another one. Gene Pitney was inspired by Uptown to write He's A Rebel.

i  listen to this every day   it takes me back to the 60's
 there  voice and the backup music is just so good
this is truly the 60's   i just luv this   thanks for  posting it

The Crystals were great and so is the song. Producer Phil Spector knew how to make the background music sound great as well.

Right on both accounts.

From 1961:

May be in England. In '62 in the States

just picked up this 45......nice song.

I agree, it's a cool song by a great female group.

+1956safari   Good point:  you can really make money if can afford to open an outlet and sell 45s from the 50s, early and mid-sixties.

Good point.

Definitely has that Spector sound. Although this song is one of my favorites, you rarely hear it. Reminds me of a time when I was "Uptown" in New York City. .Thanks

I listen to an oldies radio station and agree you rarely hear this song. It's a smooth song by The Crystals, and a Spector wall-of-sound special..

It seems popular "oldies" radio stations keep shifting what they call "oldies" in order to appeal to their listening audience. You rarely hear good doo-wop, and of course, great songs like this one.