Ronnie Spector was already a star with The Ronettes when Phil Spector launched his new label with her first solo single under the name ‘Veronica’.

This glorious doo-wop ballad marks a series of little landmarks. It was the first release on Phil Spector’s eponymous label, and the first solo single by “Veronica” – better known as Ronnie Spector.

Sadly, it was withdrawn from sale within days of its release in April 1964 due to legal action, making an original copy a valuable collector’s item today.

Produced by Spector and arranged by Jack Nitzsche (listed on the credits as Jack “Specs” Nitzsche), it’s a cover of an older tune by a doo-wop group called The Students. It went on to be covered by The Beach Boys on their 1965 album Today.

Veronica’s version – retitled So Young, and with the gender changed in the lyrics – became the first release on Spector’s new label, Phil Spector Records, though it was withdrawn from sale on 6 May after threats of legal action.

Written by a certain William Henry “Prez” Tyus Jr while he was still in high school in Cincinatti, Ohio, ‘I’m So Young’ was first recorded by a local doo-wop group called D’Italians, who changed their name The Students for the release in 1958.

Their disc lists the publisher as Vance Music, a company owned by Melvin Herman, who ran distribution companies in Indiana, but when the song reappeared on Spector’s label the publisher was listed on promo copies ‘Dumb Music.’

Perhaps that was Spector’s idea of a joke; but probably not to Herman or his lawyers.