He's a Rebel (album)

He's a Rebel is a compilation album released in 1963 by Phil Spector, credited to The Crystals. The album is primarily notable for its title track, "He's a Rebel," which was a number one hit in the United States and is generally considered one of Phil Spector's most iconic productions.

While attributed to The Crystals, the song "He's a Rebel" was actually recorded by The Blossoms, featuring Darlene Love on lead vocals. Spector used The Blossoms due to his desire to quickly release a version of the song before Vikki Carr, who had also recorded it. He falsely credited the record to The Crystals, who were on tour at the time.

The He's a Rebel album features a mix of songs credited to The Crystals, including both tracks genuinely performed by the group and tracks recorded by Darlene Love and The Blossoms. This practice was common for Spector during this period, where he prioritized hits over accurately representing the artist's contributions on albums. The album’s other tracks include previously released singles and album cuts.

The album's commercial success was largely driven by the popularity of the title track. It helped solidify Phil Spector's reputation as a hitmaker and is considered an important example of the Wall of Sound production technique.