These guys weren't only singers, they were artists. An artist will make you feel how he wants you to feel no matter what mood you are in. And that's what this guy does. That performance was amazing.
OMG....the late Bobby Hatfield! I was 15 years old when I watched him sing this beautiful song on the Andy Williams show in 1965. He sang his heart out on this song. He owns it. No auto tune, just pure raw talent. RIP Bobby! We miss hearing your beautiful voice! 💖💖💖
Bobby's rendition of this song is the ultament goal of any singer to reach. Remember one very important thing about how he sings this song, it's sung unassisted by an army of sound techs. That's his real singing voice.
He performed it on an episode of '"The Andy Williams Show", a popular variety show of the time, hosted by a singer named Andy Williams , whose show was aimed mainly at older adults and was in no way, shape or form a "teen" show. But the guy obviously knew talent when he saw it, and as you can see, his audience did, too.
I guess what most singers don't keep in mind, is that every sound that comes out of their mouth is part of the song and should be treated that way. THIS guy knew that.
I sang this song for my girlfriend one night, while I was making dinner for her. I hadn't planned on it or anything, its just that her kitchen had amazing acoustics, and I like to sing when I cook. When I was done she kissed me, and asked me to marry her. Then we ate dinner. I said yes, by the way. We were married four months later. That was 19 years ago.
I was a young teen when I saw this performance on "The Andy Williams Show." I love a wide variety of music genres, but after all these years "Unchained Melody" and "You've Lost that Loving Feeling" are two of my favorite songs!
This is one of the most beautiful songs ever written, and certainly, the most beautifully performed rendition of the song, in my opinion. The most impressive thing about his performance is how, at the very end, as he's letting go of that very last note, he smiles shyly to the crowd's applause. You see no strain of the last few bars he sang, which were done in that crazy high falsetto. Also, it was said about him that he was terrified of being on stage. He certainly shows no signs of that in this performance, though. Thanks so much for listening to his one, and for the great reaction.
I was 8yrs. old, but I still remember them. They were called "Blue Eyed Soul". They were still popular when I was in high school, everyone slow danced to the Righteuos Brothers!
I didn't know he was terrified being on stage. Wow! You would never know it because he looks so relaxed and doing what he was made to do. Perfect pitch - just amazing
He wasn't singing in falsetto but soprano which comes from a 5 octave range voice that he was able to reach those high notes effortlessly...falsetto is more of a gimmick used by softer singers making you think they can sing in a higher range...The BeeGees used it but it worked for them,but for most its a fake way of singing.
Do they even make songs like this anymore? So pure, so beautifully vulnerable. This song was a hit in 1965. Nearly 60 years, it still moves people. Thank you for sharing this timeless classic. ❤️
I was 15 when this song was released. It gave me goosebumps then and it still does. Whenever it came on the radio, we would all stop whatever was going on, to stand and listen. It never became mundane - it's always special. Thanks.
Beautiful song. One of my favorite songs and performances. Great vocals runs, and emotional instrumentation with the strings and crescendos. Great reaction
My late uncle used to call this a "guaranteed panty dropper" of a song. Yes, it can make any lady (or man) swoon... LOL! Many different covers of it by different artists over the years, but Bobby Hatfield's ethereal voice is a perfect match. It's always been my favorite version. He did this in front of a live audience and on live television; decades before autotune or any type of computer enhancements existed, unlike how it's used so prevalently in today's music...
Bobby Hatfield died alone in as hotel room of a heart attack brought on by habitual use of cocaine. Another loss to the music world due to drugs. It is so sad.
Thank you for playing this. I was one of the many. This was 1965 on the Andy Williams' Show, which we always watched as a family back in the day. I was eight years old. I fell in love with Bobby Hatfield after listening to that performance -- live, no autotune back then. You had to have talent. There's another song fr that same show Medley and Hatfield did with Williams. Damn, what was the name of it! But it was very fun. Wanna Make Love To You, Soul and Inspiration are a couple of popular ones.
Yes, this was a TV performance on "The Andy Williams Show", which was a variety show that aired on NBC from 1962 to 1971. Andy Williams was a great Pop singer himself.
Straight up real... No auto tone no nothing. Just the real deal ! This music is TIMELESS. Todays music is truly already forgotten. We wont ever be looking back on todays music. If we react to todays music, it will be a face of repulsiveness
Bobby actually was dealing with a slight head cold during this performance. It's hard to tell because he was so damn good, but you can hear it in the lower registers. Consummate professional!
I was 15 years old when I watched Bobby Hatfield sing this song live on the Andy Williams Variety Show. His mother was in the audience sitting behind him in the blue dress. He was very nervous. There was sooo much passion and soul when Bobby Hatfield and Bill Medley (the other half of the Righteous Brothers) performed their songs. Brings back fond memories watching them.
I was 14 years old and in high school in 1965. This was a live performance on the Andy Williams Show. I didn't know he had the pink jacket as we only had a black and white TV set. I love you modern folks listening and reacting to "my" songs as they give me a fresh take and perspective and keep the music alive and fresh fr me. Thanks for what you do!!!
That is old school, no fancy machines , no dubbing ,no 80 track recording. Just pure powerful voice. I was 12 when this song came out, loved it then, love it now.
I was about 6 years old, my mom and dad loved watching the Andy Williams show, which this was on. I remember it because my mom teared up and released a big sigh after it was over. She so loved a great performance!
I grew up and graduated high school from a military base in Okinawa. The Ed Sullivan Show was one of my favorite TV musical show and on this show back in 1965, the Righteous Brothers, Bobby Hatfield and Bill Medley, was introduced for the first time by Ed Sullivan, The song Unchained Melody was recorded in 1955 by two Afro American by the named of Al Hibbler and Roy Hamilton, years later other singers did recording but The Righteous Brothers introduced and popularized the song with their soulful style for that generation. By the way, the video here Bobby Hatfield is singing alone. Actually the original recording of Unchained Melody were sung by both Bobby and Bill. Bill sing the lower notes and Bobby the high notes.
I liked your reaction and appraisal of the song, It has to be remembered that back then there was no such thing as auto tune and backing tracks were unheard of or at least seen as cheating, These people learned their trade by singing wherever they could from local bars and dances to being warm up artists for other bands (if they were lucky), Success was hard earned by being almost constantly on the road until they might be lucky to get spotted, This is true talent in action and I remember it being played on the radio often when I was a kid in the 60’s and I still love it.
bob cl It’s actually a bit worse than just that. Industry today pretty much has gotten to the point where producers are just sweeping people up that follow the 4 conditions: they’re completely unknown, have made music that they know that can capitalize and monetize to death, and are desperate enough that they blindly sign a record deal that pretty much lets the producer completely own and control them; including their music. It’s the reason why the mainstream today sounds a lot more industrial compared to the old.
I was living in a fraternity house in Fresno, California when this song came out. My fraternity brothers were all Ag majors--farmers and cowboys--and the music they liked was solid C & W, but this one kid who was living in the house was not an Ag major and he had a record collection that most of us had never heard before, including the Righteous Brothers. He played Unchained Melody over and over and I used to lie on my bed in my room and listen to it, weeping, it was so beautiful. Music like this can change people. I believe the music of the fifties and sixties is one of the things that kept America from becoming worse than it has. It's prayerful, soulful, loving music.
I got to see this live on tv in 1965. The concert was about 2 hrs long and they did most of their hits. Just think, no autotune, no gimmicks, just their voice and orchestra.
I was 13-years-old, just before my 14th birthday when I watched the Andy Williams Show and this performance. Later, I would attend one of their concerts with my lady at the time.
Hes solo here,just perfect. Rest peacefully Mr Bobby Hatfield. Your guys music was the stories of our teen years. Bobby can sing this live ,no autotune,with his parents in the audience.
The host of this show - Andy Williams - also had a really beautiful voice and was very popular. Moon River may be the song he was most known for. Everyone knew Andy Williams
Chill bumps every time I hear this song.... perfection. I read that he had severe stage fright and would sometimes throw up before performing. A voice from the angels and he had stage fright. Thanks for the great reaction video.
I was watching my parents slow dance in the living room, my dad had a nice baritone voice and he softly hummed a harmony. They loved each other so much; four short years later pancreatic cancer claimed my Dad at 45 years old. He arranged to have a friend sing “You’ll Never Walk Alone” at his funeral. Check out the Righteous Brothers version of that song.
Now this was Real Music, I love this kind of Music I grew up Hearing all this musics 60's and 70's especially when they played this Music for a Movie, I was living in California and I was around 10 or 11
Actually, they were definitely of their time. I saw these and many other singing groups, mostly black, in the 1960s as a primary school child on black and white TV. The Beatles and the English invasion pushed them off the charts and into Las Vegas Casino auditoriums.
Back in the day, it was called "Blue-eyed Soul" - I loved how after one performance an African American Marine in the audience called out "That's righteous, brothers!" and it stuck - C
I first heard this on the radio in 1965 when I was stationed at Camp Pendleton Naval Hospital in California. It blew me away, and it has withstood the test of time. I enjoyed your reaction to it. Thanks.
Just think....Back in the day we had music like this on TV all the time....This is from the Andy Williams show from about 1965, back when TV was a real thing, with really talented people on the tube....!
I am 81 and remember quite a few singers doing this but Bobby's tops them all. I was heading to Viet Nam when his version can out. I can feel the loneliness in every word. Bill and Bobby always did one solo on each of there albums and while on tour. They both wanted to do Unchained, so they flipped a coin. The music was written as the theme for the little-known prison film “Unchained” (January 1955), hence the song title. Todd Duncan sang the vocals for the film soundtrack. It has since become a standard and one of the most recorded songs of the 20th century, most notably by the Righteous Brothers. The movie “Unchained” is about a man in prison and longing for his wife and children. Hoping his wife will still be there when he gets out. So you can now understand the meaning of the song. The movie was not very good, or so my friends told me. But we were all teenagers so what did we now. Several artists sang it and it made the billboard top 100. But no one can come close to Bobby Hatfield’s version. Bobby’s version hit the top ten chart. And did it again when it was used in the movie “Ghost” It has since become a standard and one of the most recorded songs of the 20th century, most notably by Bobby. According to the song's publishing administrator, over 1,500 recordings of "Unchained Melody" have been made by more than 670 artists, in multiple languages.
Spot on with the comment about how "he is almost begging a little bit" probably one of the best ways to describe how he sings this song and how they tend to sing in other tracks.
You are correct, they were a polished and a class act. I was a teenager when Unchained Melody was on the radio and swooned over it, I never saw the 1965 live version on The Andy Williams show until 2022! It is the absolute best version I’ve heard Bobby Hatfield sing of Unchained Melody....Hands down.
BOBBY HATFIELD still owns this song today . Live performance no autotune , talent & emotion Blue eyed soul = Righteous Bros, they were brothers by choice .RIP Bobby , heavenly concerts now 😇🥰
You asked about if this performance was an awards show or a concert. This is an example of one method how music in the 50's 60's and 70's was made available to the masses. There were multiple television shows known as variety shows. One of the best known was Ed Sullivan. People tuned in each week to see their favorite musicians, actors, jugglers, ventriloquists, comedians and more perform. The Beatles performance on Sullivan is legendary in that the screaming of the young girls in the audience nearly drowned out the music.
Too young for me to have seen them live, but I heard the song for the first time while watching Ghost. I grew up in the 80s, so these are the types of answers you will see.
when I was in high school...telling my age.... I had only heard them sing and like everyone else thought they were black.... I listened to a lot of Motown then as my friends did also...this was before they were ever on videos exctra....we had a little community building that we could go to and dance...they came to this place and performed and we thought it was a good copy of what we heard on the radio and was impressed....found out later it was the righteous brothers in person and was floored.
Pure talent...masterful technique...no auto tune or studio magic...and this LIVE version is actually vastly better than even the studio/album version...sadly not many have seen this exact version...the best by far.
I loved their singing the first time I heard then. A bunch of us went to a Bar (Was the longest Bar on earth, LoLo,s in Cambridge, Ontario.) Friend said lets be earley I said don"t matter nobody knows then, the line went completely around the building. We were third in the door. By Far the best show I"ve seen. Great Night.
This was a live performance on The Andy Williams Show from 1965 or 66. It was a variety show hosted by, obviously, Andy Williams who, himself, was a great singer in his own right. I remember watching this show when it aired. Yes, I'm old.
There were a lot of great tv shows with music back then. Music ruled the industry back then and everyone was vying for their own show, but he was guesting on this performance. There were also wonderful christmas programs on tv back then. Lots of christmas caroling and joy. We have lost all of that now.
We had this played at my dad’s funeral. I remember how much he loved the song abs how he loved to sing it in a stairwell at work and the ladies in the shop would think he was wonderful. If I’m ever lucky enough to marry, I’ll walk down the aisle to this song.
When I first heard this song in the sixties, I was ten........I remember it made me cry........roughly around the same time. Ray Charles released.......I can't stop loving you.....same thing happened.........The sixties were amazing.......
I was 6 years old sitting on the floor in front of the tv console with my 4 older sisters. My sisters aged from 19 to 12 y/o and they were screaming as my dad shook his head. My dad ended up buying the album.
He was singing this on a TV Variety show called “The Andy Williams Show”. TV has a number of these variety shows, both musical & comedy, back the day. The Beatles made their first US appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show”.
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 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 were each allowed to choose a song to sing 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. *In Nov. 2003 Hatfield died of a heart attack at age 63. The Righteous Brothers version was a huge hit, but it was recorded with far more modest expectations. 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 to 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 a 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 if he could 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.' [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' and 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’.
This performance was on the old Andy Williams show. One of 3 songs they performed, this one was solo as you see. Andy Wiliams also is a legend with a golden voice. Check him out. Kisses Sweeter Than Wine or Moon River.
Love your channel. I was 6 ( Nov 7, 1965) the first time I heard them on the Ed Sullivan show- the only time they did that show. I fell in love with Bobby Hatfeld. My uncle bought me 2 of their records and I wore grooves thru them. He went out and got several more for me. That was a long time ago, but I still love his sound.
What I'd Say from that same show is so much fun. They are singing with Andy Williams, another popular singer from the day. You know, I'm pretty sure they used Bobby Hatfield as the model for Barbie's boyfriend Ken, which you are probably too young to remember.😉🤦♀️😂
I have been enjoying your reaction videos, thank you. We are in lockdown in Straya too. Yesterday I actually found myself watching dancing bloody spiders. Thanks for giving me an alternative. I would love to see you react to a couple of Australian bands. Nick Cave and the bad seeds, the songs I would suggest would be Into my arms, Red right hand or Dig Lazarus dig. The other band is Tex Perkins and The Cruel Sea, I would suggest The honeymoon is over, I know you know I know or Better get a lawyer. Anyway, thanks for the entertainment.
I first heard the righteous brothers on my transistor radio at the laying on the beach at Jones Beach I was 16 yes old Why not react to more Righteous Brothers one of their biggest a song praising past performers sang by them in 1974 U'd love this "ROCK & ROLL HEAVEN" trust Us it will blow U away!
I saw them once in 1965 (senior in high school). They were an add-on as part of a dance the true reason why I was there. They probably sang You've Lost That Loving Feeling which was very popular at that time.
This was a live television performance from the Andy Williams show. Both Righteous Brothers were there but Andy requested this song, so Bobby sang it. They had already sang another song with Andy before Bobby sang this.
Your reaction and comments are one of the Best! No matter who watches this performance, they are really appreciative of TALENT in this video. You may be African American, Latino, Asian, Caucasian reviewing this, it doesn't matter. His performance transcends race or culture. Aptly called RIGHTEOUS.
I was 15 & in my boyfriend's car!! Oh yeahhhh!!!! ❤️ They are magnificent, talented & super! Check out their whole body of works & Solo's!! Pass them on please!!! They are forever Righteous Brothers!!! 🌹😘❤️
So glad you liked it! I 1st heard this track a long time ago...when I was 6yrs old on my folks vinyl record. They have an amazing collection. Music runs in my family. Fun fact. My great uncle Curtis was best friends with Elvis. My mom was born & raised in Memphis TN. Curtis was also a musician. He & Elvis wrote music, & played music all the time Elvis came over. It drove my great grandpa crazy. Anyway, There is so many crazy and cool & sad things about situations he wrote my uncle about being famous. He was really just wanting to be back in Memphis. He even mentioned my family in a book. He was really just a good ole boy at heart. Sorry about the book. New subbie.. Music 🎶 is life!! ✌🏻Ttyl
Greatest voice of all time, with the greatest live performance of all time. Unreal talent
Bobby Hatfiled's singing his version of this song is the best solo vocal any male singer ever sang. RIP Bobby
These guys weren't only singers, they were artists. An artist will make you feel how he wants you to feel no matter what mood you are in. And that's what this guy does. That performance was amazing.
Purest perfectly vocal ever recorded imo.
OMG....the late Bobby Hatfield! I was 15 years old when I watched him sing this beautiful song on the Andy Williams show in 1965. He sang his heart out on this song. He owns it. No auto tune, just pure raw talent. RIP Bobby! We miss hearing your beautiful voice! 💖💖💖
Bobby's rendition of this song is the ultament goal of any singer to reach. Remember one very important thing about how he sings this song, it's sung unassisted by an army of sound techs. That's his real singing voice.
He sang this LIVE
Correct! Shows his talent. 👍
And it was flawless! Not many people could off a flawless live performance.
Bobby Hatfield had one of the greatest voices I have ever heard. There are very few male vocalists with his range, power and feeling.👍
A voice touched by angels.
My absolute all-time favorite song DEFINITELY. My NUMBER ONE!
He performed it on an episode of '"The Andy Williams Show", a popular variety show of the time, hosted by a singer named Andy Williams , whose show was aimed mainly at older adults and was in no way, shape or form a "teen" show. But the guy obviously knew talent when he saw it, and as you can see, his audience did, too.
I guess what most singers don't keep in mind, is that every sound that comes out of their mouth is part of the song and should be treated that way. THIS guy knew that.
I sang this song for my girlfriend one night, while I was making dinner for her. I hadn't planned on it or anything, its just that her kitchen had amazing acoustics, and I like to sing when I cook. When I was done she kissed me, and asked me to marry her. Then we ate dinner.
I said yes, by the way. We were married four months later. That was 19 years ago.
Amazing! God bless you both!
😊
My Man
Wow! That was cute! Like a Disney tale.
❤
Bobby Hatfield’s voice gives me chills. He sang effortlessly and so beautiful. He’s is truly singing with the angels.
I was a young teen when I saw this performance on "The Andy Williams Show." I love a wide variety of music genres, but after all these years "Unchained Melody" and "You've Lost that Loving Feeling" are two of my favorite songs!
This is one of the most beautiful songs ever written, and certainly, the most beautifully performed rendition of the song, in my opinion. The most impressive thing about his performance is how, at the very end, as he's letting go of that very last note, he smiles shyly to the crowd's applause. You see no strain of the last few bars he sang, which were done in that crazy high falsetto. Also, it was said about him that he was terrified of being on stage. He certainly shows no signs of that in this performance, though. Thanks so much for listening to his one, and for the great reaction.
I was 8yrs. old, but I still remember them. They were called "Blue Eyed Soul". They were still popular when I was in high school, everyone slow danced to the Righteuos Brothers!
I didn't know he was terrified being on stage. Wow! You would never know it because he looks so relaxed and doing what he was made to do. Perfect pitch - just amazing
His parents were in the audience that night and he was even more nervous than usual. I always thought he was smiling at his mother. So charming!
He wasn't singing in falsetto but soprano which comes from a 5 octave range voice that he was able to reach those high notes effortlessly...falsetto is more of a gimmick used by softer singers making you think they can sing in a higher range...The BeeGees used it but it worked for them,but for most its a fake way of singing.
Our beautiful Bobby how we miss him. This was his song, nobody could ever do it better.
Do they even make songs like this anymore? So pure, so beautifully vulnerable. This song was a hit in 1965. Nearly 60 years, it still moves people. Thank you for sharing this timeless classic. ❤️
The first time I heard this song was on AM radio. The biggest memory I have is slow dancing with this very cute boy at a Jr. Hiigh School dance.
I was 15 when this song was released. It gave me goosebumps then and it still does. Whenever it came on the radio, we would all stop whatever was going on, to stand and listen. It never became mundane - it's always special. Thanks.
Beautiful song. One of my favorite songs and performances. Great vocals runs, and emotional instrumentation with the strings and crescendos. Great reaction
My late uncle used to call this a "guaranteed panty dropper" of a song. Yes, it can make any lady (or man) swoon... LOL! Many different covers of it by different artists over the years, but Bobby Hatfield's ethereal voice is a perfect match. It's always been my favorite version. He did this in front of a live audience and on live television; decades before autotune or any type of computer enhancements existed, unlike how it's used so prevalently in today's music...
I knew you would love it. To bad this brother Bobby Hatfield passed away however Bill Medley (the one with the really deep voice) is still living.
Bobby Hatfield died alone in as hotel room of a heart attack brought on by habitual use of cocaine. Another loss to the music world due to drugs. It is so sad.
@@efw9060 that's sad. :(
I was 17 years old, at my house and my mother showed me this on her iPad because she thought that I would like it since I like The Four Seasons.
I remember watching the Righteous Brothers on variety shows I the 70’s at my grandmas house. The tv was the size of a washing machine
Thank you for playing this. I was one of the many. This was 1965 on the Andy Williams' Show, which we always watched as a family back in the day. I was eight years old. I fell in love with Bobby Hatfield after listening to that performance -- live, no autotune back then. You had to have talent.
There's another song fr that same show Medley and Hatfield did with Williams. Damn, what was the name of it! But it was very fun. Wanna Make Love To You, Soul and Inspiration are a couple of popular ones.
It was What’d I say
@@ewanmacmillan8426. Thank you. It was driving me nuts!
Yes, this was a TV performance on "The Andy Williams Show", which was a variety show that aired on NBC from 1962 to 1971. Andy Williams was a great Pop singer himself.
Straight up real... No auto tone no nothing. Just the real deal ! This music is TIMELESS. Todays music is truly already forgotten. We wont ever be looking back on todays music. If we react to todays music, it will be a face of repulsiveness
Now try You're my soul and my inspiration, you wont be disappointed!
Yes! That's my favorite of all their songs.
It’s their best in my opinion.
Agreed. The low tones in this song are impressive!
Your comments are spot on!!
Excellent observations about the act.
I first heard this song about 60 years ago
Bobby actually was dealing with a slight head cold during this performance. It's hard to tell because he was so damn good, but you can hear it in the lower registers. Consummate professional!
I cry every time I see this particular performance
Had such control with his voice, technique, etc. Then, he had the beautiful vocal to make that song special.
I was 15 years old when I watched Bobby Hatfield sing this song live on the Andy Williams Variety Show. His mother was in the audience sitting behind him in the blue dress. He was very nervous. There was sooo much passion and soul when Bobby Hatfield and Bill Medley (the other half of the Righteous Brothers) performed their songs. Brings back fond memories watching them.
I saw him sing this live - and this was in the late 1980s/early 1990s. He STILL had it!!
I was 14 years old and in high school in 1965. This was a live performance on the Andy Williams Show. I didn't know he had the pink jacket as we only had a black and white TV set. I love you modern folks listening and reacting to "my" songs as they give me a fresh take and perspective and keep the music alive and fresh fr me. Thanks for what you do!!!
One of our great voices that should still be with us. Make better choices people, RIP Bobby.
That is old school, no fancy machines , no dubbing ,no 80 track recording. Just pure powerful voice. I was 12 when this song came out, loved it then, love it now.
I was about 6 years old, my mom and dad loved watching the Andy Williams show, which this was on. I remember it because my mom teared up and released a big sigh after it was over. She so loved a great performance!
I grew up and graduated high school from a military base in Okinawa. The Ed Sullivan Show was one of my favorite TV musical show and on this show back in 1965, the Righteous Brothers, Bobby Hatfield and Bill Medley, was introduced for the first time by Ed Sullivan, The song Unchained Melody was recorded in 1955 by two Afro American by the named of Al Hibbler and Roy Hamilton, years later other singers did recording but The Righteous Brothers introduced and popularized the song with their soulful style for that generation. By the way, the video here Bobby Hatfield is singing alone. Actually the original recording of Unchained Melody were sung by both Bobby and Bill. Bill sing the lower notes and Bobby the high notes.
I liked your reaction and appraisal of the song, It has to be remembered that back then there was no such thing as auto tune and backing tracks were unheard of or at least seen as cheating, These people learned their trade by singing wherever they could from local bars and dances to being warm up artists for other bands (if they were lucky), Success was hard earned by being almost constantly on the road until they might be lucky to get spotted, This is true talent in action and I remember it being played on the radio often when I was a kid in the 60’s and I still love it.
bob cl It’s actually a bit worse than just that. Industry today pretty much has gotten to the point where producers are just sweeping people up that follow the 4 conditions: they’re completely unknown, have made music that they know that can capitalize and monetize to death, and are desperate enough that they blindly sign a record deal that pretty much lets the producer completely own and control them; including their music. It’s the reason why the mainstream today sounds a lot more industrial compared to the old.
Nailed it.
I was living in a fraternity house in Fresno, California when this song came out. My fraternity brothers were all Ag majors--farmers and cowboys--and the music they liked was solid C & W, but this one kid who was living in the house was not an Ag major and he had a record collection that most of us had never heard before, including the Righteous Brothers. He played Unchained Melody over and over and I used to lie on my bed in my room and listen to it, weeping, it was so beautiful. Music like this can change people. I believe the music of the fifties and sixties is one of the things that kept America from becoming worse than it has. It's prayerful, soulful, loving music.
I got to see this live on tv in 1965. The concert was about 2 hrs long and they did most of their hits. Just think, no autotune, no gimmicks, just their voice and orchestra.
I was 13-years-old, just before my 14th birthday when I watched the Andy Williams Show and this performance. Later, I would attend one of their concerts with my lady at the time.
Hes solo here,just perfect. Rest peacefully Mr Bobby Hatfield. Your guys music was the stories of our teen years. Bobby can sing this live ,no autotune,with his parents in the audience.
The host of this show - Andy Williams - also had a really beautiful voice and was very popular. Moon River may be the song he was most known for. Everyone knew Andy Williams
Chill bumps every time I hear this song.... perfection. I read that he had severe stage fright and would sometimes throw up before performing. A voice from the angels and he had stage fright.
Thanks for the great reaction video.
This song was actually used in the movie “Ghost” with Patrick Swayzee, Demi Moore and Whoopi Goldberg
I was 22 years old when I saw this on the Andy Williams show. If you look through the historical records, they call this music. Love you bro.
I was watching my parents slow dance in the living room, my dad had a nice baritone voice and he softly hummed a harmony. They loved each other so much; four short years later pancreatic cancer claimed my Dad at 45 years old. He arranged to have a friend sing “You’ll Never Walk Alone” at his funeral. Check out the Righteous Brothers version of that song.
1966, 8 years old on the Ed Sullivan show.. Plus mom and dad back then had records the old single 45’s. 62 now, their music lives on..
Now this was Real Music, I love this kind of Music I grew up Hearing all this musics 60's and 70's especially when they played this Music for a Movie, I was living in California and I was around 10 or 11
He sang this live on the Andy Williams show 1965. No voice boxes or electronics. Just straight up his ability.
1965 OMG, I had just graduated from high school, that song is truly nostalgic for my husband of 40 years and myself.
insane man. grew up with this stuff,,,,always loved it, but as a kid ya don't know exactly how amazing they were. now i do...
Random performance...they were before their time ...love them
Actually, they were definitely of their time. I saw these and many other singing groups, mostly black, in the 1960s as a primary school child on black and white TV. The Beatles and the English invasion pushed them off the charts and into Las Vegas Casino auditoriums.
Back in the day, it was called "Blue-eyed Soul" - I loved how after one performance an African American Marine in the audience called out "That's righteous, brothers!" and it stuck - C
I first heard this on the radio in 1965 when I was stationed at Camp Pendleton Naval Hospital in California. It blew me away, and it has withstood the test of time. I enjoyed your reaction to it. Thanks.
Just think....Back in the day we had music like this on TV all the time....This is from the Andy Williams show from about 1965, back when TV was a real thing, with really talented people on the tube....!
I am 81 and remember quite a few singers doing this but Bobby's tops them all. I was heading to Viet Nam when his version can out. I can feel the loneliness in every word. Bill and Bobby always did one solo on each of there albums and while on tour. They both wanted to do Unchained, so they flipped a coin. The music was written as the theme for the little-known prison film “Unchained” (January 1955), hence the song title. Todd Duncan sang the vocals for the film soundtrack. It has since become a standard and one of the most recorded songs of the 20th century, most notably by the Righteous Brothers. The movie “Unchained” is about a man in prison and longing for his wife and children. Hoping his wife will still be there when he gets out. So you can now understand the meaning of the song. The movie was not very good, or so my friends told me. But we were all teenagers so what did we now. Several artists sang it and it made the billboard top 100. But no one can come close to Bobby Hatfield’s version. Bobby’s version hit the top ten chart. And did it again when it was used in the movie “Ghost” It has since become a standard and one of the most recorded songs of the 20th century, most notably by Bobby. According to the song's publishing administrator, over 1,500 recordings of "Unchained Melody" have been made by more than 670 artists, in multiple languages.
Spot on with the comment about how "he is almost begging a little bit" probably one of the best ways to describe how he sings this song and how they tend to sing in other tracks.
You are correct, they were a polished and a class act. I was a teenager when Unchained Melody was on the radio and swooned over it, I never saw the 1965 live version on The Andy Williams show until 2022! It is the absolute best version I’ve heard Bobby Hatfield sing of Unchained Melody....Hands down.
It was a live show back in the day Andy Williams show always had great music I'm 65 and still love it.
Good music is universal ❤️
BOBBY HATFIELD still owns this song today . Live performance no autotune , talent & emotion
Blue eyed soul = Righteous Bros, they were brothers by choice .RIP Bobby , heavenly concerts now 😇🥰
This was the first time seeing this particular performance but I've heard the song dozens of times over the years.
You asked about if this performance was an awards show or a concert. This is an example of one method how music in the 50's 60's and 70's was made available to the masses. There were multiple television shows known as variety shows. One of the best known was Ed Sullivan. People tuned in each week to see their favorite musicians, actors, jugglers, ventriloquists, comedians and more perform. The Beatles performance on Sullivan is legendary in that the screaming of the young girls in the audience nearly drowned out the music.
Love the Righteous Brothers!
Give Soul and Inspiration by them a listen to when you get a chance...just amazing!! ❤❤
First time I heard them was when my older brother was playing one of their records. I immediately fell in lust.
Too young for me to have seen them live, but I heard the song for the first time while watching Ghost. I grew up in the 80s, so these are the types of answers you will see.
Blue eyed soul and Motown. Very well put together groups, vocals and class! I was a young girl, probably watching the Ed Sullivan Show.
when I was in high school...telling my age.... I had only heard them sing and like everyone else thought they were black.... I listened to a lot of Motown then as my friends did also...this was before they were ever on videos exctra....we had a little community building that we could go to and dance...they came to this place and performed and we thought it was a good copy of what we heard on the radio and was impressed....found out later it was the righteous brothers in person and was floored.
Pure talent...masterful technique...no auto tune or studio magic...and this LIVE version is actually vastly better than even the studio/album version...sadly not many have seen this exact version...the best by far.
Chills :) it's so beautiful, love the old classics, nothing like it.
I loved their singing the first time I heard then. A bunch of us went to a Bar (Was the longest Bar on earth, LoLo,s in Cambridge, Ontario.) Friend said lets be earley I said don"t matter nobody knows then, the line went completely around the building. We were third in the door. By Far the best show I"ve seen. Great Night.
This was a live performance on The Andy Williams Show from 1965 or 66. It was a variety show hosted by, obviously, Andy Williams who, himself, was a great singer in his own right. I remember watching this show when it aired. Yes, I'm old.
Notis how the orchestra works it's way into this song. Remember this was back live in 1965. You can feel Bobby's voice in your soul. RIP Bobby
There were a lot of great tv shows with music back then.
Music ruled the industry back then and everyone was vying for their own show, but he was guesting on this performance.
There were also wonderful christmas programs on tv back then.
Lots of christmas caroling and joy.
We have lost all of that now.
We had this played at my dad’s funeral. I remember how much he loved the song abs how he loved to sing it in a stairwell at work and the ladies in the shop would think he was wonderful. If I’m ever lucky enough to marry, I’ll walk down the aisle to this song.
When I first heard this song in the sixties, I was ten........I remember it made me cry........roughly around the same time. Ray Charles released.......I can't stop loving you.....same thing happened.........The sixties were amazing.......
Where was I Vietnam, 22 years of age in 1965 with the 1st Air Cav. Greatest song of love in a land of death. Total irony.
I was 14, sitting with my family watching the Andy Williams show when I first heard this performance.
I was 6 years old sitting on the floor in front of the tv console with my 4 older sisters. My sisters aged from 19 to 12 y/o and they were screaming as my dad shook his head. My dad ended up buying the album.
!00% flawless, people don't understand how much detail, technique and timing go in to this. This man has truly perfected his craft RIP Bobby Hatfield
He was singing this on a TV Variety show called “The Andy Williams Show”. TV has a number of these variety shows, both musical & comedy, back the day. The Beatles made their first US appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show”.
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 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 were each allowed to choose a song to sing 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.
*In Nov. 2003 Hatfield died of a heart attack at age 63.
The Righteous Brothers version was a huge hit, but it was recorded with far more modest expectations. 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 to 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 a 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 if he could 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.' [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' and 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’.
This performance was on the old Andy Williams show. One of 3 songs they performed, this one was solo as you see. Andy Wiliams also is a legend with a golden voice. Check him out. Kisses Sweeter Than Wine or Moon River.
Love your channel. I was 6 ( Nov 7, 1965) the first time I heard them on the Ed Sullivan show- the only time they did that show. I fell in love with Bobby Hatfeld. My uncle bought me 2 of their records and I wore grooves thru them. He went out and got several more for me. That was a long time ago, but I still love his sound.
This song was done live on the Andy Williams show at NBC studios in New York in Oct 1965. The music was by the show orchestra. I was in the audience.
I love the little smirk at the end..like,yeah I'm good
Simply red holding back the years !
What I'd Say from that same show is so much fun. They are singing with Andy Williams, another popular singer from the day. You know, I'm pretty sure they used Bobby Hatfield as the model for Barbie's boyfriend Ken, which you are probably too young to remember.😉🤦♀️😂
I have been enjoying your reaction videos, thank you.
We are in lockdown in Straya too. Yesterday I actually found myself watching dancing bloody spiders. Thanks for giving me an alternative.
I would love to see you react to a couple of Australian bands.
Nick Cave and the bad seeds, the songs I would suggest would be Into my arms, Red right hand or Dig Lazarus dig.
The other band is Tex Perkins and The Cruel Sea, I would suggest The honeymoon is over, I know you know I know or Better get a lawyer.
Anyway, thanks for the entertainment.
I first heard the righteous brothers on my transistor radio at the laying on the beach at Jones Beach I was 16 yes old
Why not react to more Righteous Brothers one of their biggest a song praising past performers sang by them in 1974 U'd love this "ROCK & ROLL HEAVEN" trust Us it will blow U away!
I saw them once in 1965 (senior in high school). They were an add-on as part of a dance the true reason why I was there. They probably sang You've Lost That Loving Feeling which was very popular at that time.
This was a live television performance from the Andy Williams show. Both Righteous Brothers were there but Andy requested this song, so Bobby sang it. They had already sang another song with Andy before Bobby sang this.
Your reaction and comments are one of the Best! No matter who watches this performance, they are really appreciative of TALENT in this video. You may be African American, Latino, Asian, Caucasian reviewing this, it doesn't matter. His performance transcends race or culture. Aptly called RIGHTEOUS.
Back in the day, this was one of the best “date” and dance songs of the time. It seems like yesterday.
I was 15 & in my boyfriend's car!! Oh yeahhhh!!!! ❤️ They are magnificent, talented & super! Check out their whole body of works & Solo's!! Pass them on please!!! They are forever Righteous Brothers!!! 🌹😘❤️
So glad you liked it! I 1st heard this track a long time ago...when I was 6yrs old on my folks vinyl record. They have an amazing collection. Music runs in my family. Fun fact. My great uncle Curtis was best friends with Elvis. My mom was born & raised in Memphis TN. Curtis was also a musician. He & Elvis wrote music, & played music all the time Elvis came over. It drove my great grandpa crazy. Anyway, There is so many crazy and cool & sad things about situations he wrote my uncle about being famous. He was really just wanting to be back in Memphis. He even mentioned my family in a book. He was really just a good ole boy at heart. Sorry about the book. New subbie.. Music 🎶 is life!! ✌🏻Ttyl
Soul and Inspiration, bro
One of the best singers and songs ever.
I was having a really shitty day but watching your beautiful reactions to a very favourite song brings tears but also a smile - so thank you