A little Love for a legend

It's hard for me to be objective about this story. Any of the artists whose records were produced by Phil Spector back in the day should be accorded the highest respect, because they made some of the greatest records of all time.

The fact that Phil Spector was a complete schnook and, later, a convicted murderer, stains his reputation, but just listening to the music he made with people such as Darlene Love, The Ronettes, The Crystals, Bob B. Soxx and the Blue Jeans and many others takes me to a world of musical bliss.  Just listen to songs like "He's A Rebel" and "Today I Met The Boy I'm Gonna Marry" and see what I mean, in case you don't go back that far.

Darlene Love today is 78 and known for these great songs from the early 60s,  for being on David Letterman's Christmas show every year to sing her holiday classic from Spector's multi-artist "Christmas Gift To You" album, "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)," and for acting in movies such as the Lethal Weapon series (she was Roger's wife).

So, knowing all this, you understand that Darlene Love didn't just come rolling in here on a head of cabbage. She is a beloved, respected show business veteran, and of course, if you were the capitalists who run the New York Stock Exchange, you would be honored to have her sing that holiday tune at your tree-lighting ceremony this year.

And somehow you would expect her to do it for free. And drive herself on down to Wall Street for the honor of playing for a room full of Uncle Scrooge McDucks.

Darlene is right to say she feels disrespected by the NYSE. She agreed to sing for free, but requested a ride to the event because she lives an hour away in Rockland County, NY.

The New York POST reported "the marketing director said they’re not allowed to compensate talent for performance, travel, hotel, [but that they] may be able to get an exception for $500 to cover a portion of her car.” The paper went on to say that they “said she should do it for exposure.”

Love told the paper, “At this stage of my career, I don’t need any more exposure — just respect.” She added, “My time and value is worth more than $500 to hang out at the NYSE for seven hours for free with a bunch of millionaire stock brokers. They can at least cover my travel expenses. This is insulting!"

I know this is the oldest dodge in the world: expecting musicians and other performers to come and do what they have trained and practiced to do for years (in Love's case, for decades!) so that they can get "exposure."  Well, guess what, you greedy slimeballs! Exposure does not pay the electric bill, does not put food on the table or gas in the car.

People always tell me I should have more respect for the men and women who spend their days trying to squeeze another nickel out of other people. It's never going to happen, and I hope that these loudmouth vulgarian galoots either pay up or have to wind up having Iggy Azalea at their show.