Ronnie Spector's "Try Some, Buy Some" is the last great Phil Spector recording. Or I should say the last bit of greatness on vinyl with Spector's participation. He co-produced the 45 rpm single with George Harrison, who also wrote the song. Must credit the arrangement of the song to John Barham, who with Harrison had/has a deep interest in Indian music. Spector is normally a collaborative artist, but one wonders how he really felt giving co-credit to another producer, even though that person wrote the song. The same goes for John Lennon/Yoko. Nevertheless "Try Some, Buy Some" is not only a great Spector sounding disc but one of Harrison's best songs. His version on "Living in the Material World" is totally fabulous as well. David Bowie's version is great too.
It's very much the sound of Harrison at the time. Either he was swept up by the idea of a classic Spector wall of sound - especially in his first proper solo (song orientated) album "All Things Must Pass." An album that I have a hard time relistening due that the production makes the material sound lifeless and stiff. On the other hand, the Spector touch is fantastic on "Try Some, Buy Some." Harrison was very much in tune with the orchestration of his voice fighting out with the amazing amount of strings, horns, and whatever there was in the studio at the time. A beautiful melody, but Ronnie Spector's take, is the best, just due to the strength of her fantastic voice. One can also imagine the horrible existence of Ronnie at the time of this recording, with respect to her marriage to Spector.
Not the easiest record to find, but this is a fantastic single. The B-side is "Tandoori Chicken, written by Harrison and Spector, and it's a great throwaway song that's perfect for the b-side of things.
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