Unchained Melody: Bobby Hatfield live performance. {The Andy Williams Show}- Episode #4.5 Episode aired: Monday, Oct 25, 1965: Robert Lee Hatfield (August 10, 1940 - November 5, 2003) Bobby Hatfield, who had a higher countertenor voice ( in this performance his range is an incredible: D3 to G5 sharp) to Bill Medley’s, William Thomas Medley (born September 19, 1940) baritone, sang lead on this track. It was his idea to record it, since Medley and Hatfield each sang a song as a solo vocalist on their albums. As Medley tells it, Hatfield knew the song well, and was a big fan of the Roy Hamilton and Al Hibbler versions of the song. Sadly, on Nov. 5, 2003 Hatfield died of a heart attack in a Michigan hotel room just prior to a Righteous Brothers performance, apparently in his sleep at age 63. The Righteous Brothers version was , oddly enough a huge hit because it was recorded merely as a filler song for their fourth album, not for release as a single. Philles Records owner/producer Phil Spector considered it album filler and released it as a B-side. The single had "Unchained Melody," with no producer credit on the label, as the flip B-side to writers Gerry Goffin and Carole King's "Hung on You," but many DJs preferred "Unchained Melody" and played that one instead. This infuriated Spector, who subsequently left no doubt (actually calling DJs telling them to play “Hung On You” not “Unchained Melody “) as to which side of his Philles single was the A-side. The famous climax of this song where Bobby Hatfield sings the high "I need your love" line wasn't how the song was written. In an interview with Bill Medley, he explained that Hatfield did two takes of the song, then left. He would often reconsider his performance and come back later to change it, and that's what he did on this track, returning to ask Medley to make an edit. This was no easy task, since with a maximum of four tracks to work with, you had to record over part of the original take, but Medley accommodated and Hatfield delivered that soaring vocal line. Said Medley: "I punched that in and before he left he said, 'No, I can do it better. ’And I said, 'No, you can't!’ [Medley Laughs] And I think it's a big part of that song." This was released on Philles Records, Phil Spector's label. Spector, known for his "Wall Of Sound" technique, did not produce this - Bill Medley did! In a 2007 statement to the Forgotten Hits newsletter, Medley said: "You have to remember that I was producing our stuff before Phil Spector... I mean I produced 'Little Latin Lupe Lu,' 'My Babe' and all that stuff. Then when we went with Phil, Phil asked me if I would produce the albums because it was too time consuming for him to produce the entire albums. So he was going to do the singles and I would do the album. And so that's how that happened and that's how I produced 'Unchained Melody,' which Phil Spector apparently now takes credit for. He can have the credit. And I'm not a producer. I know how to produce. But it's obviously not a Spector production. 'Unchained Melody' was never intended to be the single... it was produced to be on the album. It was put on the B-side of a Phil Spector single 'Hung On You' but the minute it was released 'Unchained Melody' just went through the roof." Hatfield’s rendition of “Unchained Melody” although not the original, is the ‘gold standard’. Also: Bobby Hatfield live performance of “Unchained Melody “ on the TV show “Shindig” ua-cam.com/video/xIIvXYo5INo/v-deo.htmlsi=OmBVdie7xz-GPuIh In 1955, three versions of the song (by Les Baxter, Al Hibbler, and Roy Hamilton) charted in the Billboard top 10 in the United States, and four versions (by Al Hibbler, Les Baxter, Jimmy Young, and Liberace) appeared in the top 20 in the United Kingdom simultaneously, a record for any song. The song continued to chart in the 21st century, and it was the only song to reach number one with four different recordings in the United Kingdom
This was actually from an old movie and was sung by a prisoner in the movie. It has been covered by many. This version was used in the Demi Moore and Patrick Swayze movie Ghost in the pottery making scene. Bobby sure was a talented signer as is Bill who is still doing tours.
He wasn't the first to record this song; I think there were 3 before him but Bobby Hatfield's version was the standard used by others who recorded the song after him. He put his stamp on it and then punctuated it.
Beautiful reaction. Hard to believe from watching this that Bobby threw up before these performances from stage fright. Sadly cocaine abuse contributed to his death
Bobby Hatfield was one of the greatest singers ever. Its said this incredible song was recorded by 600 artists to me this is the best version ever!!!
Wow… I am sure this is really the best version 💯
Bobby still melts girls in their chair from the grave...amazing...
I guess he still does 💯👍🏽☺️
Shivers every time, beautiful
Oh yes!👍🏽
Unchained Melody is the ladies kryptonite. But it gets to everyone, a beautiful song.
Totally agree 👍🏽
Classic masterpiece!!!
Absolutely 👍🏽
This tune,"If I Can Dream" by Elvis and "Don't Stop Believing" by Journey with Steve Perry are pretty hard to beat for live performances!
Oh really, I’ll check them out
It was a TV audience and they were probably told not to make noise until the applause sign came on.
Oh, that makes sense
Mostly adults in the audience
It’s a classic !!!!
Yea, I agree 🥸
Beautiful would describe you!
Wow, thank you!🙏
Unchained Melody:
Bobby Hatfield live performance.
{The Andy Williams Show}-
Episode #4.5
Episode aired: Monday, Oct 25, 1965:
Robert Lee Hatfield (August 10, 1940 - November 5, 2003) Bobby Hatfield, who had a higher countertenor voice ( in this performance his range is an incredible: D3 to G5 sharp) to Bill Medley’s, William Thomas Medley (born September 19, 1940) baritone, sang lead on this track. It was his idea to record it, since Medley and Hatfield each sang a song as a solo vocalist on their albums.
As Medley tells it, Hatfield knew the song well, and was a big fan of the Roy Hamilton and Al Hibbler versions of the song.
Sadly, on Nov. 5, 2003 Hatfield died of a heart attack in a Michigan hotel room just prior to a Righteous Brothers performance, apparently in his sleep at age 63.
The Righteous Brothers version was , oddly enough a huge hit because it was recorded merely as a filler song for their fourth album, not for release as a single. Philles Records owner/producer Phil Spector considered it album filler and released it as a B-side. The single had "Unchained Melody," with no producer credit on the label, as the flip B-side to writers Gerry Goffin and Carole King's "Hung on You," but many DJs preferred "Unchained Melody" and played that one instead. This infuriated Spector, who subsequently left no doubt (actually calling DJs telling them to play “Hung On You” not “Unchained Melody “) as to which side of his Philles single was the A-side.
The famous climax of this song where Bobby Hatfield sings the high "I need your love" line wasn't how the song was written. In an interview with Bill Medley, he explained that Hatfield did two takes of the song, then left. He would often reconsider his performance and come back later to change it, and that's what he did on this track, returning to ask Medley to make an edit. This was no easy task, since with a maximum of four tracks to work with, you had to record over part of the original take, but Medley accommodated and Hatfield delivered that soaring vocal line. Said Medley: "I punched that in and before he left he said, 'No, I can do it better.
’And I said, 'No, you can't!’ [Medley Laughs] And I think it's a big part of that song."
This was released on Philles Records, Phil Spector's label. Spector, known for his "Wall Of Sound" technique, did not produce this - Bill Medley did! In a 2007 statement to the Forgotten Hits newsletter, Medley said: "You have to remember that I was producing our stuff before Phil Spector... I mean I produced 'Little Latin Lupe Lu,' 'My Babe' and all that stuff. Then when we went with Phil, Phil asked me if I would produce the albums because it was too time consuming for him to produce the entire albums. So he was going to do the singles and I would do the album. And so that's how that happened and that's how I produced 'Unchained Melody,'
which Phil Spector apparently now takes credit for. He can have the credit. And I'm not a producer.
I know how to produce. But it's obviously not a Spector production. 'Unchained Melody' was never intended to be the single... it was produced to be on the album. It was put on the B-side of a Phil Spector single 'Hung On You' but the minute it was released 'Unchained Melody' just went through the roof."
Hatfield’s rendition of “Unchained Melody” although not the original, is the ‘gold standard’.
Also:
Bobby Hatfield live performance of “Unchained Melody “ on the TV show “Shindig”
ua-cam.com/video/xIIvXYo5INo/v-deo.htmlsi=OmBVdie7xz-GPuIh
In 1955, three versions of the song (by Les Baxter, Al Hibbler, and Roy Hamilton) charted in the Billboard top 10 in the United States, and four versions (by Al Hibbler, Les Baxter, Jimmy Young, and Liberace) appeared in the top 20 in the United Kingdom simultaneously, a record for any song. The song continued to chart in the 21st century, and it was the only song to reach number one with four different recordings in the United Kingdom
Thanks for sharing this I appreciate
This was actually from an old movie and was sung by a prisoner in the movie. It has been covered by many. This version was used in the Demi Moore and Patrick Swayze movie Ghost in the pottery making scene. Bobby sure was a talented signer as is Bill who is still doing tours.
He absolutely delivered it so perfectly
He wasn't the first to record this song; I think there were 3 before him but Bobby Hatfield's version was the standard used by others who recorded the song after him. He put his stamp on it and then punctuated it.
Exactly! Haven’t heard the original and the other covers , but I really love this one
Another one that will "melt" you is Bill Medley's solo of "I Just Want to Make Love to You".
Okay. I’ll check that out
Misty Mountains - Peter Hollens feat. Tim Foust
Okay 👍🏽
Beautiful reaction. Hard to believe from watching this that Bobby threw up before these performances from stage fright. Sadly cocaine abuse contributed to his death
Oh, that’s so sad to hear, this was such a beautiful performance
There is a magnificent recent cover by Allie Sherlock and Cuan Durkin well worth checking out imo
Okay, I’ll check that out