Their first single on Spector's Philles label, the majestic 'Be My Baby' defined the girl group sound as Spector constructed a cavernous accompaniment around Ronnie's plaintive, nasal voice. The single reached the top 5 in the US and UK before being succeeded by the equally worthwile 'Baby I Love You', another top 20 entrant in both countries. The producer's infatuation with Ronnie (the couple were later married) resulted in some of his finest work being reserved for her and although ensuing singles, including 'The Best Part Of Breaking Up', 'Walking In The Rain' (both 1964) and 'Is This What I Get For Loving You' (1965), failed to emulate the Ronettes' early succes, they are among the finest pop singles of all time.
The group's career was shelved during spector's mid-60's 'retirement', but they emerged in 1969 with 'You Came, You Saw, You conquered'. Credited to 'The Ronettes Featuring The Voice Of Veronica', this excelent single was nonetheless commercially moribund and Ronnie's aspirations were again sublimated. She separated from Spector in 1973 and joined Buddah Records, founding a new group with vocalist Denise Edwards and Chip Fields. Ronnie And The Ronettes made their debut that year with 'Lover, Lover', before changing their name to Ronnie Spector And The Ronettes for 'I Wish I Never Saw The Sunshine', an impassioned remake of a song recorded by the original line-up, but which remained unissued until 1976. The group's name was then dropped as it lead singer persued her solo ambitions.