"He's a Rebel" | ||||
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Single by the Crystals | ||||
from the album He's a Rebel | ||||
B-side | "I Love You Eddie" | |||
Released | August 1962 | |||
Genre | Pop[1] | |||
Length | 2:31 | |||
Label | Philles 106 | |||
Songwriter(s) | Gene Pitney | |||
Producer(s) | Phil Spector | |||
The Crystals singles chronology | ||||
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Audio sample | ||||
He's a Rebel |
"He's a Rebel" is a song written by Gene Pitney that was originally recorded by Vikki Carr and by the girl group the Blossoms. Produced by Phil Spector, the Blossoms' version was issued as a single credited to the Crystals, which topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart in November 1962. It was Spector's second chart-topper after "To Know Him Is to Love Him" (1958).
In 2004, "He's a Rebel" was ranked No. 263 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.[2] Billboard named the song No. 31 on its list of 100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time.[3]
Also in 2004, the 1962 release of "He's a Rebel" on Philles Records by The Crystals was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.[4]
It's a minor pop-music miracle, and so many more would follow.