Unchained Melody (The Righteous Brothers)

Undoubtedly the most popular version was recorded by the Righteous Brothers in 1965.

Unchained Melody by The Righteous Brothers is one of the most requested love songs on radios of the world. This song didn’t start out like most people think. Check out how Unchained Melody was born…

Unchained Melody first appeared in the 1955 movie Unchained, starring former football player Elroy Hirsch. The movie takes place in a prison, and the song was written to reflect the mood of the prisoners waiting for time to pass.

Alex North wrote the music, Hy Zaret wrote the lyrics, and Todd Duncan sang the movie version. Duncan later became a popular vocal instructor. When the movie came out, an orchestral version by Les Baxter was released along with a version by Al Hibbler. Baxter’s version hit number one on the charts, while Hibbler’s version hit number 3.

The Righteous Brothers recorded the song and it became a big hit, but it was released as a B-side on the single Hung on You. Phil Spector produced both songs. A lot of DJ’s preferred to flip the single and play Unchained Melody instead, which infuriated Phil Spector, who wanted the A-side Hung on You featured instead. The Righteous Brothers’ Bobby Hatfield sang the lead on this timeless classic. Bobby died in 2003 of a heart attack at the age of 63.

The Righteous Brothers were the musical duo of Bill Medley and Bobby Hatfield. They recorded from 1963 through 1975, and continued to perform until Hatfield's death in 2003. Their emotive vocal stylings were sometimes dubbed "blue-eyed soul".

Medley and Hatfield both possessed exceptional vocal talent, with range, control and tone that helped them create a strong and distinctive duet sound and also to perform as soloists. Medley sang the low parts with his deep, soulful bass, with Hatfield taking the higher register vocals with his soaring tenor.

They adopted their name in 1962 while performing together in the Los Angeles area as part of a five-member group called The Paramours, which featured John Wimber, one of the founders of the Vineyard Movement, on keyboards. At the end of one particular performance, an African-American Marine in the audience shouted, "That was righteous, brothers!",  prompting the pair to adopt the name when they embarked on a career as a duo.

By: Shahen Gasparyan