The Phil Spector Trial: We Watch Court TV So You Don't Have To (06/06)

WHAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY? Detective Mark Lillienfeld, who fronted the LAPD's investigation into Lana Clarkson's alleged murder, took the stand. What followed was Court TV's version of MTV Cribs, as the jury took a painstakingly detailed tour of Phil Spector's mock castle. The jury also heard the laborious introduction into evidence of every artifact from the crime scene, including the murder weapon. Spector was especially active in court today; he abandoned his trademark slouch for more alert posture, and showed interest in every exhibit.

IS THIS GOOD OR BAD FOR SPECTOR? Lillienfeld's first day on the stand didn't tip the scales in either direction.

HAIR AND WARDROBE UPDATE: Spector wore a breezy chalk white jacket with a cerulean collared shirt.

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Song Stories

“Help Me”

Joni Mitchell | 1974

Joni Mitchell wrote and recorded this song for her album Court and Spark, but she had to switch from her regular band to make the song sound exactly the way she wanted. "I had attempted to play my music with rock & roll players," she told Rolling Stone. "They’d laugh, 'Awww, isn't that cute? She's trying to teach us how to play.'" Mitchell switched to a jazz band, Tom Scott’s L.A. Express, and scored the biggest hit of her career in the process.

More Song Stories entries »

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