He came out of his self-imposed exile for a series of records in the '70s, including the Beatles' swan song Let It Be, which he pieced together from live tracks. He also added a monstrous orchestral backing to Paul McCartney's "The Long and Winding Road." Keeping to former-Beatles, Spector lent his texture to George Harrison's finest, All Things Must Pass, and worked with John Lennon on the classics Plastic Ono Band and Imagine.

In retrospect, Leonard Cohen's Death of a Lady's Man from '77 is pricelessly charming. Spector wrote the music - in a classic late-'50s/early-'60s pop style - for Cohen's languid tales of torn romance, and Cohen responded with his best singing. Listening to it today, it's great to hear Cohen outside of his usual spare settings.

Spector also produced the Ramones epic End of the Century - their best-selling studio album - and in keeping with the Spector tradition, one that fans of the band either love or hate. The album made explicit the connection between early-'60s pop rock and the punk band's psyche, and holds up as both a Ramones and a Spector classic: Spector's idiosyncrasies never overwhelm the roar of "Chinese Rock" or 'Rock 'N' Roll High School," and the Spectorish "Do You Remember Rock 'N' Roll Radio" rollicks with just the right retro touches. The band's remake of the Ronette's "Baby I Love You" is as touching as it is fun.

Spector has remained in seclusion for most of the last 20 years. Darlene Love won a back-royalty judgment against Spector in '97.

UPDATE
More on the case:

Spector, 62, whose "wall of sound" technique transformed 1960s pop music, was freed Monday night after posting $1 million bond. He had been arrested before dawn after the body of 40-year-old Lana Clarkson was found, Los Angeles County sheriff's Deputy Richard Westin said.

Clarkson was believed to have been a TV and film actress. Authorities wouldn't comment on her occupation or what her relationship was to Spector.

Los Angeles County sheriff's Lt. Daniel Rosenberg said Clarkson was found in the foyer of the mansion, which is 15 miles northeast of Los Angeles. He said deputies found the weapon used in the slaying but declined to say where in the house it was located. [AP]

March (2001) .... Dr. Ellen Taylor
Love in Paris (1997) .... Woman at Fashion Show
... aka 9 1/2 Weeks II (1997)
... aka Another 9 1/2 Weeks (1997) (video title)
... aka Another Nine & a Half Weeks (1997) (USA)
... aka Love in Paris (1997) (France)
Vice Girls (1996) .... Jan Cooper
Barbarian Queen II: The Empress Strikes Back (1992) .... Princess Athalia
Haunting of Morella, The (1990) .... Coel
Wizards of the Lost Kingdom II (1988) .... Amathea
Amazon Women on the Moon (1987) .... Alpha Beta (segment "Amazon Women on the Moon")
... aka Cheeseburger Film Sandwich (1987)
Barbarian Queen (1985) .... Amethea
... aka Queen of the Naked Steel (1985)
... aka Reina salvaje (1985) (Argentina)
Blind Date (1984) .... Rachel
... aka Deadly Seduction (1984)
Deathstalker (1984) .... Kaira
... aka Cazador de la muerte, El (1984) (Argentina)
Scarface (1983) .... Woman at Babylon Club
Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982) .... Mrs. Vargas [Internet Movie Database]