Back to Mono (1958–1969)
Box set by Phil Spector
Released	November 12, 1991
Recorded	1958–1969
Genre	Orchestral pop,rhythm and blues
Length	206:12
Label	ABKCO
Producer	Phil Spector Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]

Back to Mono (1958–1969) is abox set that compiles tracks produced by the American record producerPhil Spector between 1958 and 1969. It was released in 1991 byABKCO. Initially avinyl album-sized package, the box contained a booklet with photographs, complete song lyrics, discographical information, and a reproduction of the essay on Spector byTom Wolfe, "The First Tycoon of Teen." The package also contained a small, round, red "Back to Mono" pin. In 2003, it was ranked number 64 onRolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

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Back to Mono surveys recordings leading up to and featuring theWall of Sound, Spector's famed production trademark. Starting with "He's A Rebel" on disc one, through "I'll Never Need More Than This" and including disc four, all of the musicalarrangements are byJack Nitzsche. The list of musicians contributing to the tracks number in the hundreds, but prominent among them areBrian Wilson,Hal Blaine,Sonny Bono,Red Callender,Glen Campbell,Al DeLory,Steve Douglas,Jim Gordon,Jim Horn,Carol Kaye,Barney Kessel,Larry Knechtel,Jay Migliori,Ray Pohlman,Don Randi,Lyle Ritz,Billy Strange,Tommy Tedesco,Bill Pitman, andNino Tempo.

The set collects everysingle produced by Spector and issued on thePhilles label, with the exception of Philles 132, "White Cliffs of Dover" byThe Righteous Brothers, which did not chart. Of the catalogue items Philles 100 through 136, the set omits: Philles 101, 103, and 104, produced by Spector's early business partner and label namesake,Lester Sill; Philles 133, produced byJeff Barry, although itsB-side produced by Spector, "When I Saw You," does appear; and Philles 134, produced byBob Crewe. Philles 105, withdrawn initially in 1962 owing to its controversial subject matter, has also been included. Both "Walking in the Rain" byThe Ronettes and "Stumble and Fall" byDarlene Love are listed in most discographies, including the box booklet, as Philles 123. The single "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)," initially released in 1963 as Philles 119, was re-released the following year as Philles 125 with a different B-side, and did not chart either year. Philles 134 through 136 were not released in theUnited States; however, there are DJ promo pressings of 136.

In addition to the Philles singles catalogue, the first three discs present Spector productions for other labels, various unreleased material, and twoalbum tracks fromPresenting the Fabulous Ronettes featuring Veronica, Philles 4006, and one fromRiver Deep - Mountain High,London HAU 8298 (unreleased Philles 4011). Spector created additional imprints for specific projects, such as thePhil Spector label to promote the solo career ofVeronica "Ronnie" Bennett ofthe Ronettes, the future Mrs. Spector. Some of those items also appear on these discs.

The fourth disc contains the entirety of theChristmas album released on the same day as theJFK assassination,A Christmas Gift for You, purportedly the only long-playing album from his Philles heyday that Spector worked on with the same intensity that he generally lavished on the singles. It peaked at No. 13 on the Christmas Albums chart in 1963, although a reissue in 1972 went to No. 6.

In 2003, the album was ranked No. 64 onRolling Stone magazine's list ofthe 500 greatest albums of all time (No. 65 on the revised 2012 list and No. 489 on the revised 2023 list).^[2][3][4] With the exception of an anthology of his productions for thegirl groupthe Paris Sisters,Back to Mono represents the totality of Spector's singles from this period in print, as of Spring, 2007.

All selections were produced by Phil Spector, except for "Spanish Harlem", which was produced byJerry Leiber and Mike Stoller.

Initially released as Philles 4005, November 22, 1963

• 1991 compilation albums
• Phil Spector
• ABKCO Records compilation albums
• Albums produced by Phil Spector
• Albums recorded at Gold Star Studios
• Orchestral pop albums

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