What exactly was the “wall of sound” technique and why was it so important for music?

Question

I read the wikipedia page on it and im still confused on how it is made and what exactly was so good about it. Im not familiar with music production but ive seen people mention Spector and how he contributed to music and the “wall of sound” is always something i see people mention. But i never know what exactly that is

In: 248

Answer 1

Here’s Elvis Presley’s #1 hit from 1957, [All Shook Up](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkxFvoMSsZ4), from a contemporary vinyl. Here’s [My Prayer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDlcqhlzDqQ) from the Platters, most played song from 1956. And here’s [Rock Around the Clock](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbYiGR0YAAk) by Bill Haley and the Comets, from 1955.

Okay, now in 1958, Phil Spector pioneered the ‘Wall of Sound’ production technique with [Don’t You Worry, My Little Pet](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pd3NU8A1Jws) by the Teddy Bears, and probably the most iconic song featuring Phil Spector’s ‘Wall of Sound’ approach, [You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOnYY9Mw2Fg) by the Righteous Brothers.

If you listen to them carefully, you’ll quickly *feel* the difference in how much more “busy” the backing of the songs are, where earlier rock hits tended to be just a clean recording of what the act’s regular touring band would have recorded. With ‘Wall of Sound’ there is never a moment, never a space between each note where there’s nothing going on. There’s always some instrument or vocals carrying the piece, in between the recording’s major notes.

The thing is, the appeal of ‘wall of sound’ technique has tended to fluctuate over time in terms of popularity. Bands trying to carry off a minimalist, punk, or retro sound will often abandon it, so as to lend their works a different type of intensity. So acts like The Proclaimers with [I’m Gonna Be](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbNlMtqrYS0), or Fugazi with [Waiting Room](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMOAXm94VWo), or Billy Joel with [It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eAQa4MOGkE), or Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats with [S.O.B.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1iAYhQsQhSY) will affect that less produced, more primal band sound.