This song came out in a prison movie in 1955, and has been covered by many. Two versions by the Righteous Brothers were on the chart simultaneously when it was rereleased when it was in the movie "Ghost" The only time that's ever happened.

Hatfield won the coin toss to record the song over the other Righteous Brother, and they didn't think it would be a hit, so it was a B side song and Phil Spector didn't bother to produce it, so Bill Medley produced and played keyboards on it. He said if he had known how big of hit it was going to be, he'd have hired a better keyboard player.

This performance was live on the Andy Williams show in 1965, and is analyzed by "Wings of Pegusus" who says Bobby sings with a 20 note range. It really is an unbelievable live performance.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bj7k05JyHqs

Here is another analysis by an opera singer "The Charismatic Voice"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyXfCq1ix3g

Serendipity...I was just reading about Hatfield and Medley this morning. The closing theme song of the movie Major League (watched it yesterday) is "Most of all You" sung by Medley. GREAT song if you wanna do some belly-rubbin' with your lady.

I like the fact that this dude examines the singers from earlier times. He does analysis on another amazing vocalist - Julie Andrews.

I read somewhere awhile back that very very early on they entered a singing contest. After their number they were leaving the stage and a black group was going onto the stage when one of them said in passing "That was righteous brother!" Thus the name was born.

I was in Disneyland around 1970, walking down Main Street with my soon to be ex wife. Saw Bill Medley walking down the middle of the street and stopped and talked to him for a bit, shook his hand and found he was going to be performing at the Tomorrowland Terrace that night.

I went to see the show and he started off with saying that while walking down Main Street, he had been spotted and talked to by hundreds of people...then he said actually it was around 5 people...then he pointed to me and said that I was the only guy who had recognized him. Then he went on to perform.

Interestingly enough, there are perhaps 5 singers I can recognize on sight and he's one of them.

quote:

Originally posted by lastmanstanding:
I read somewhere awhile back that very very early on they entered a singing contest. After their number they were leaving the stage and a black group was going onto the stage when one of them said in passing "That was righteous brother!" Thus the name was born.

In another Righteous Brothers analysis by the same guy (Wings of Pegusus) he said early when they got together, they played at clubs near a military base, and that a fan there coined the name.

That song done by Bobby Hatfield is one of my all time favorites!!

And here it is

I know nothing about music or singing but that is really amazing. I watched part of the English guys analysis and and I get how it is one of those unforgettable events for those that understand these things.

I had a history teacher in high school that was a semi-profession singer and he once sang a song at a little show the school put on... no microphone or background music... I still remember being amazed that someone could project their voice so perfectly as he did.

So different from the original version from the movie
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=G11mDi_LXe8

Bobby Hatfield really had an amazing voice and technique.

That song has always been special to me. My grandfather died of a heart attack at age 54. Years later, when I was very young, the song came on the car radio, while riding with my grandmother. She told me in a wistful voice, that it always reminded her of him.

quote:

Originally posted by bald1:
And here it is





[FLASH_VIDEO]<iframe frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IYj2hex99gY" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>[/FLASH_VIDEO]

Thank you kindly!!

IMHO this is the best reaction to Unchained Melody I have seen. I had a chance to meet this young lady and when I mentioned this video tears came to her eyes.

It has been said whenever he sang Unchained Melody in concert you would hear the sound of a thousand panties hitting the floor.

quote:

Originally posted by Cliff:
IMHO this is the best reaction to Unchained Melody I have seen. I had a chance to meet this young lady and when I mentioned this video tears came to her eyes.

It has been said whenever he sang Unchained Melody in concert you would hear the sound of a thousand panties hitting the floor.

WOW! Thanks for sharing this. Amazing too that you have met her and raised this subject. Loved her comments about "serenaded by the gods" and "definitely didn't grow up in the best era, especially not for music."

Yes 1965, when this version was released, was indeed a good year. I graduated from HS that year.

And, being me, I must cajole you yet again about not having revealed your "velvet voice" to we mere mortal forumites!

quote:

Originally posted by bald1:

And, being me, I must cajole you yet again about not having revealed your "velvet voice" to we mere mortal forumites!

The man reveals all here: https://sigforum.com/eve/forum...320063194#1320063194

Thanks Cliff!