The Most-Played Song of the Century<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ve Lost That Lovin\u2019 Feeling\u201d holds the title of the most-played song of the century on American radio, with over eight million spins. The opening line, \u201cYou never close your eyes anymore when I kiss your lips,\u201d hints at a growing darkness and a sense of encroaching doom. Over the song\u2019s not-quite-four-minute duration, a whisper transforms into a storm.<\/p>\n
Bill Medley and Bobby Hatfield<\/p>\n
In the song, Bill Medley\u2019s deep baritone voice fills the air, creating an astonishing piece of music. The song is a widescreen ballad that captures teenage emotions with the operatic grandeur that such feelings demand. Medley and his fellow Righteous Brother, Bobby Hatfield, were Southern Californian kids singing blue-eyed soul in different bands before joining forces. They recorded a few minor hits on a smaller label before Phil Spector saw them opening for the Ronettes at San Francisco\u2019s Cow Palace and signed them to his Phillies label.<\/p>\n
Crafting a Timeless Classic<\/p>\n
Songwriters Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil tried to write the Righteous Brothers a ballad like the Four Tops\u2019 \u201cBaby I Need Your Loving.\u201d Then, Phil Spector poured everything he had into the recording, turning it into one of his definitive statements. Spector, along with the Righteous Brothers and the legendary session musicians in the Wrecking Crew, spent days perfecting the song in the studio.<\/p>\n
Spector made the musicians wear headphones\u2014a new concept at the time\u2014so they could hear the echo he was adding. (A young Cher was among the backing singers.) He layered their performances over and over, creating a sound that was huge and overwhelming. Spector spent tens of thousands of dollars on the recording and later spoke about the stress of wondering whether people would understand the song.<\/p>\n
Reactions to the Recording<\/p>\n
Initially, some listeners didn\u2019t get it. Some even wondered if they were playing the song at the wrong speed. The Righteous Brothers themselves weren\u2019t entirely comfortable with the song, as it was a significant departure from the barrelhouse R&B they had been recording.<\/p>\n
Bobby Hatfield was upset that his voice didn\u2019t appear until the chorus. He asked Spector what he was supposed to do while Medley was singing. Spector replied, \u201cYou can go directly to the bank.\u201d He used every trick in the book to ensure the song got airtime, even lying about the running time on the record\u2019s label. Spector reasoned that radio programmers might hesitate to play a song that was 3:45 long, so he listed it as 3:05 instead.<\/p>\n
Becoming a Hit<\/p>\n
Despite the initial confusion, people eventually got it. George Martin produced a rival version of \u201cYou\u2019ve Lost That Lovin\u2019 Feeling\u201d for British singer Cilla Black. As that version climbed the UK charts, the Rolling Stones\u2019 manager, Andrew Loog Oldham, placed a full-page ad in Melody Maker, calling the Righteous Brothers\u2019 version the \u201clast word in Tomorrow\u2019s sound Today.\u201d By the year 2000, it was recognized as the most-played song on American radio.<\/p>\n
Listening to it now, it\u2019s hard to imagine anyone not getting it. The song sweeps you up like a wave, with swooshing reverb serving the feeling of being adrift and unable to hold off heartbreak. Producers would later find cleaner ways to achieve orchestral sweep, but the bridge\u2014\u201cWe had a love! A love! A love you don\u2019t find every day! So don\u2019t! Don\u2019t! Don\u2019t! Don\u2019t let it slip away!\u201d\u2014remains close to pop-music perfection.<\/p>\n
One fan declared: \u201cThe harmonies, the presentation, and the quality of this video. One of the best on YouTube. To this day, no group has equaled the Righteous Brothers. They were and remain the best.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Legacy of the Righteous Brothers<\/p>\n
Following the massive success of \u201cYou\u2019ve Lost That Lovin\u2019 Feeling,\u201d the Righteous Brothers released another iconic single, \u201cUnchained Melody,\u201d in 1965. Of the hundreds of covers made since then, their version, with Bobby Hatfield\u2019s solo, became the jukebox standard for the late 20th century. Hatfield changed the melody, and many subsequent covers are based on his rendition.<\/p>\n
Your Thoughts?<\/p>\n
Now, watch this fantastic performance of one of the most played songs in music history. I\u2019d love to hear what you think in the comments below. Would you like to see more of the Righteous Brothers?
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