Top 10 Ronettes Songs — ClassicRockHistory.com

6 min readDec 1, 2020

Ronettes Songs Photo: GAC-General Artists Corporation-management, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

ClassicRockHistory.com presents the Top 10 Songs from the Fabulous Ronettes. Listening back to all these great songs made us wonder why we aren’t still listening to them every day. You will wonder the same thing after flipping through these great songs we have listed here. Interestingly the majority of all these great Ronettes songs came from one studio album. In fact, The Ronettes only recorded one studio album during their legendary 1960s period. Of course, there were many singles released throughout their career which led to record companies releasing tons of compilation albums. However, that one studio album entitled Presenting the Fabulous Ronettes Featuring Veronica showcased all the group’s biggest hit singles of their career.

The Ronettes were a New York City group. The group was formed by sisters Veronica and Estelle Bennett and their cousin Nedra Talley. Veronica Bennett would later change her name to Ronnie Spector after marrying famed producer Phil Spector. The Bennett sisters and Nedra were signed in the early 1960s to Colpix Records. After releasing a series of singles that did not do well on the charts, the Ronettes signed a production deal with Phil Spector in 1963. The pairing of the brilliant producer and the talented Ronettes resulted in one of the great rock and roll success stories of the 1960s. With Phil Spector, the Ronettes kept releasing huge hit singles. The Ronettes proved to be so popular in 1964, they had the Rolling Stones serve as their opening act on their UK Tour.

In 1966, The Ronettes opened for the Beatles who were the biggest band in the world at the time, on their way to also being the greatest band of all time. However, Phil Spector did not want Ronnie Spector to do the Beatles tour. Eventually Phil Spector would look to keep Ronnie Spector out of the spotlight and isolated at home for the next several years as the Ronettes would break up and it would all come to an end. Eventually Ronnie Spector filed for divorce in the early 1970s and embarked on a solo career.

Our Top 10 Ronettes songs list looks to present some of the groups best songs that helped inspire countless musical artists and brought great joy to music fans. When Phil Spector first heard Veronica Bennett ( Ronnie Spector) sing, he jumped up and said “that’s the voice I have been looking for.” What a moment that must have been. That voice is presented in the next ten songs…..

# 10 — I’m Gonna Quit While I’m Ahead

We open up our Top 10 Ronettes songs list with one of the early singles they released at the start of their career. The song “I’m Gonna Quit While I’m Ahead,” was released on Colpix Records in 1962. The song did not chart. The song would later appear on the compilation album The Ronettes (Featuring Veronica) issued in 1965.

# 9 — (The Best Part Of) Breakin’ Up

Continuing with our Top 10 Ronettes songs we turn to one of their biggest hits and most loved songs they ever released. The recording of “(The Best Part Of) Breakin’ Up,” was released in 1964. The song proved to be the Ronettes third straight top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. Backing vocals on the song included vocals by the great duo Sonny & Cher. The song was written by Phil Spector, Pete Andreoli and Vince Poncia. Even if you were not a music fan, you knew this melody, because the song was used in a very successful Folgers Coffee advertising campaign that read “The Best Part of Waking up, is Folgers in your cup.

# 8 — You Came, You Saw, You Conquered

While this one may not have been as popular as some of the group’s other big hits, its stands as one of our favorites. The song was released in 1969. “You Came, You Saw, You Conquered,” was released as a single only. It peaked at number 108 on the Billboard Mainstream Music Charts. It also stands as the Ronettes’ last single to make it on the Billboard music charts.

# 7 — Is This What I Get For Loving You?

“ Is This What I Get For Loving You?” was another “single only,” release issued in 1965. This great slow ballad presented a different side of the Ronettes singing the blues with such heartfelt passion. “ Is This What I Get For Loving You?” was written by Phil Spector and the great songwriting team of Carole King and Gerry Goffin

# 6 — I Can Hear Music

At number six on our top 10 Ronettes songs list we present the great Ronettes song “ I Can Hear Music.” The song was released as a non album track single “ I Can Hear Music “ was written by Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich and Phil Spector. The song just broke the Billboard Top 100 peaking at number 100.

# 5 — Do I Love You

“Do I Love You?” was the Ronettes fourth straight top 40 single released between the years 1963 and 1964. “Do I Love You?” was issued as a single in June of 1964. The song was also covered later on by Jay And The Americans.

# 4 — Sleigh Ride / I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Clause

It’s rare that we put a group’s Christmas songs on their top 10 lists, but these two recordings stand as one of the all time best productions of these classic Christmas Songs. Both of them are so good that we could not decide between the two so we ended up with a tie and have presented both of them below. Ther were released on the great Phil Spector Christmas LP A Christmas Gift For You.

# 3 — Walking In The Rain

These next three songs on this top 10 Ronettes list are three of the most influential songs in classic rock history. “Walking In The Rain,” was the fifth straight top 40 hit for The Ronettes in 1964. It was one of their highest charting songs peaking at number 23 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was written by Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil and Phil Spector.

# 2 — Baby I Love You

The fabulous Ronettes song “Baby I Love You,” was the group’s second straight top 40 single in 1963. The song was released on the group’s only studio album entitled Presenting the Fabulous Ronettes Featuring Veronica. The Phil Spector “Wall Of Sound,” hits you on the opening beat on this one. Its like a rock and roll marching band parade that’s coming to get you and making everything alright. Come on, tell me that you feel the same………

# 1 — Be My Baby

Ladies and Gentleman, rock and roll history was made on the day this song was recorded. One of the all time great classic rock history songs is presented in the 2.40 minute clip below. “ Be My Baby “ was the biggest hit of the Ronettes career. The song peaked at number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. But chart success in 1963 is only a small part of the story. Hal Blaine who played drums on the track probably did not realize at the time how iconic his drum beat would become. This was a song that inspired a generation of songwriters, musicians and producers to elevate their game to compete with all the greatness that surrounded this amazing piece of music

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