The Righteous Brothers Album: “Best of Righteous Brothers”

This was an impulse purchase, and like other reviewers I've been regretting my haste. Not only would my fellow reviewers have saved me the eight bucks I spent on this, I have an excellent source that would have warned me as well. I have a copy of Pat Downey's THE GOLDEN AGE OF TOP 40 MUSIC ON COMPACT DISC. It's already failry dated (it was published in 1992), but here's what it has to say about UNCHAINED MELODY (Curb 77381):

"Unchained Melody": This is a rerecoding.

"You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'": This is the original. [At least the book SAYS it is, but it obviously is not!]

"(You're My) Soul and Inspiration": It does not say it is a rerecording, but it notes that it is 15 seconds longer than either the original 45 or LP version. [However, it should be noted that it says this longer version also appears on the Verve VERY BEST OF and Rhino ANTHOLOGY collections as well.]

"Ebb Tide": This is a rerecording.

"Just Once in My Life": This is a rerecording.

Bottom line? These are certainly competent renditions of some of The Righteous Brothers biggest hits. However, if you're looking for the originals, save your money and look elsewhere.

This is why we need Amazon.com reviews. Another reviewer notes that these are not originals versions. That is reason enough not to make this purchase.

For my money the Righteous Brothers Anthology (a two-disc collection) has all the Brothers that we need. It has each hit, and much much more, remastered from original tapes. Back in The Day, the Brothers were mandatory for those parties in the basement when it was time to quit jumping around and do some serious grinding! Their Anthology has every great and near great song they did.

I think that someone determined recently that "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" was the most frequently played song in rock music over the past twenty years. If not, it should have been. Bill Medley's bass is about a dozen octaves below anything ever heard before or since. What a masterpiece! Legend has it that Phil Spector (who produced it) put the time stamp on the '45 versions at 2:55 because radio stations would not have played it if they knew it was 3:47. What a sneaky genius.

"Unchained Melody" was revived by the movie Ghost. Even better than that (to me)is "For Once in My Life". Classic begging, as Bobby and Bill vocally vie back and forth for the affection of the unidentified woman they both obviously covet. Also included as a pleasant surprise is Bill Medley's interesting and passionate social commentary,"Brown Eyed Woman", written for his not so secret passion, Darlene Love.

These songs are a set of timeless classics. Put on the Anthology on before you propose, and it will improve your odds of success.

I can remember hearing the Righteous Brothers on 45 RPM records for the first time when I was a young teen. When I hear "Unchained Melody" (a great performance of this song was heard in the movie Ghost), I think of the love of my life and smile...it brings memories of when we were last together and then I smile, knowing he will be here with me again. "(You're My) Soul and Inspiration"( smiled and sung along when I heard it in the movie Top Gun) tells of how much someone means to you. "Ebb Tide" tells of lovers meeting and holding each other.

This CD is full of romantic songs that will bring smiles, tears and laughter from the heart. I enjoy this CD a lot. Bill Medley and Bobby Hatfield's songs and music are timeless, romantic and classic rock n roll that will live on for many years to come. Their songs, even though they are over four decades old, are still finding there way into movies, radio stations, and music stores across America.

As usual Bill Medley carries on while Bobby Hatfield is weak.

I was expecting original recordings of these songs. Imagine my

disappointment when I realized after the first song that these

were recordings done recently. Bobby Hatfield's voice is so

off it is sad to listen.

Some of the songs are a bit teeny boperish...but I love the entire CD. Their version of GEORGIA ON MY MIND is my all time favorite.