The Righteous Brothers version Unchained Melody

1 righteous brothers version

1.1 recording
1.2 re-recording , re-release
1.3 reception
1.4 charts
1.5 certifications

the righteous brothers version

the best-known version of unchained melody recorded duo righteous brothers philles records in 1965. lead vocal performed solo bobby hatfield, later recorded other versions of song credited solely him. according singing partner bill medley, had agreed 1 solo piece each per album. both wanted unchained melody fourth album, hatfield won coin toss.

unchained melody released b side of single hung on follow-up single once in life . however, hung on failed interest radio djs instead chose play b side unchained melody . according medley, producer phil spector, deliberately place throwaway song wasn t meant played on b side, incensed djs chose play b side , started calling radio stations them stop playing unchained melody . however, failed, , song reached no. 4 on billboard hot 100 chart , no. 14 in uk in 1965.

recording

there uncertainty on produced song spector took credit producer on many tracks , b sides produced medley. however, medley, had produced duo before signed spector , philles, consistently stated produced recording. spector interested in producing singles , unchained melody intended album cut. medley said: phil came me , asked me produce righteous brothers albums because have taken long , have cost money. medley s account, spector claimed production credit after supplanted hung on hit. copies of single did not credit producer unchained melody , credited spector producer of original single hung on . later pressings of single credited spector producer.

hatfield made change song during recording sessions. hatfield recorded couple of takes of song written, returned later session, changing melody need love line in final verse, , sang higher instead. hatfield said take better, medley replied: no, can t. medley played wurlitzer piano on song , noted if knew gonna hit have brought in better piano player.

re-recording , re-release

unchained melody reappeared on billboard charts in 1990 after righteous brothers recording used in box office blockbuster film ghost. 2 versions charted in year – original , new recording. according medley, interested in having original recording released due renewed interest in song, told there licensing issues. although hatfield no longer in same condition vocally when first recorded song, decided re-record song curb records. re-recorded version released both cassette single , vinyl single. received minimal airplay recorded excellent sales, peaking @ number 19. re-recorded version certified platinum riaa on january 10, 1991, , received grammy award nomination.

the 1965 original righteous brothers recording reissued oldies-reissue label eric records, under licensing polydor records (which had acquired rights years earlier). original version received lot of airplay, , topped u.s. adult contemporary chart 2 weeks in 1990. however, sales minimal in since available 45 rpm single , song peaked @ no. 13 based largely on airplay. 8 weeks, both versions on billboard hot 100 simultaneously , righteous brothers became first act have 2 versions of same songs in top 20 @ same time. re-released song reached number 1 in uk stayed 4 weeks, becoming uk s top selling single of 1990. of 2017, has sold 1.17 million copies. 1990 reissue reached number 1 in australia, austria, ireland, netherlands, , new zealand.

due success of re-recording, righteous brothers re-recorded other songs , released them part of budget-priced cd compilation curb records. original recordings, polydor had licensed cd rights rhino records premium-priced 1989 compilation of righteous brothers hits various labels; later in 1990, issued own regular-priced righteous brothers greatest hits cd included recording.

reception

the righteous brothers cover of unchained melody considered definitive version of song. hatfield s vocal in particular highly praised; has been described powerful, full of romantic hunger, yet ethereal, , vocal tour de force , although re-recording noted fudging bit on highest notes . production of original recording has been described epic , , hatfield s emotion-packed tenor soaring stratospheric heights, s record designed reduce separated 1 loved pile of mush .