The Righteous Brothersā Unchained Melody is a soaring, or as Billboard put it in 2007, towering song. Few know that it was not an original. In fact, the song was over ten years old when The Righteous Brothers recorded it. It was originally written by written by Alex North and Hy Zaret, penned for the 1955 prison movie Unchained, hence the name of the song, starring the famous football player Elroy Hirsch. Its original singer was Tod Duncan, who performed it for the soundtrack. It received an Academy Award for Best Original Song.
Unchained Melody: The Original
- The Origin: Written by Alex North and Hy Zaret for the 1955 prison film Unchained, which explains the title despite the word “unchained” never appearing in the lyrics.
- The First Voice: It was originally performed by Todd Duncan, an opera baritone, who sang it from the perspective of a lonely prisoner.
- The Spector Factor: Phil Spector famously considered this a “throwaway” B-side and even called radio DJs to beg them to stop playing it in favor of the A-side.
- The “Ghost” Era: The song saw a massive resurgence in 1990 due to the pottery scene in Ghost, leading to a re-recording because of licensing issues with the original.
While the song is now a cornerstone of romantic pop, its origin was far more somber. It was originally performed by Todd Duncan, a renowned baritone and actor, for the 1955 prison film Unchained. In the movie, Duncanās character sings the track as a soulful expression of longing while serving time, a stark contrast to the lush orchestral arrangements that would follow in later years. This original recording set the stage for the song’s first wave of popularity, even earning an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song long before it became a jukebox staple.
Who Sang Unchained Melody First, Elvis or the Righteous Brothers?
One of the main questions people have in regard to covers of the song is who sang it first, Elvis Presley or the Righteous Brothers. Elvis actually didnāt sing the song until 1977, shortly before his death. In fact, some say it was the last (new?) song he performed. Another notable cover artist is Ricky Nelson. Many, if not most, versions afterward have been based on the Righteous Brothers, who changed the melody on the last āI need your loveā verse.
Bobby Hatfield of the Righteous Brothers also recorded a solo version of the song, having won a coin toss to decide which of the two, between him and Bill Medley, would get to record it. Bobby Hatfield sang the leads on the duo recording alone so, as youād expect, the solo version wasnāt a departure.
Better Be Good to Me: The New Wave Original: Tina Turner turned this into a rock powerhouse in 1984, but it was originally a synth-heavy track by the band Spider. Interestingly, the song was co-written by Holly Knight, who also penned Turner’s other massive hit, “The Best.”
Read the Full Investigation: Better Be Good to Me
Phil Spector, who is credited as the producer of the song, famously never wanted the song to be played on the radio. It is said that he would intentionally place throwaway songs on the B-side of singles to discourage them from being played and to make sure that the song he thought of as a āhitā would be focused on.
In this case, the A-side was Hung On You while Unchained Melody was intended to be an album song, what people today would call a ādeep cut.ā Radio DJās never got the memo, however, and began playing the B-side, much to Spectorās annoyance, who actually called them to get them to stop playing it. According to Bill Medley, who was a producer in his own right, Spector only claimed producer credits after the song became a hit.
In 1990, the songās fame was renewed by the movie Ghost, starring Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore. According to Medley, a new recording was needed due to licensing issues with the original. The new recording sold well, was certified Platinum and received a Grammy Award nomination. Although Bobby Hatfield felt his voice was not as good as it used to be but, personally, I feel that the new version may be better as his voice has a mature and rich timber that was lacking on the original and it is the imperfection that helps drive the emotion of the song. Perfection is not all itās cracked up to be.
Me and Bobby McGee: The Road to Janis: Most people associate this song with Janis Joplinās posthumous #1 hit, but it was actually written by Kris Kristofferson and first recorded by Roger Miller. Before Janis gave it her signature grit, it was a country-flavored travelogue that had been covered by several artists, including Kenny Rogers.
Read the Full History: Me and Bobby McGee
Other Versions of Unchained Melody
In 1955 there were three other versions of the song, by orchestra leader Lex Baxter, and singers Al Hibbler and Roy Hamilton. All of them were hits in their own right, reaching the top 10 in the United States. Additional version charted in the UK, by Liberace and Jimmy Young.
To date, there have been hundreds of versions of the song. The Righteous Brothersā version, released in 1965, will remain the standard, despite some notable additional covers.
š Quick Facts: Unchained Melody
- First Recorded By: Todd Duncan (1955)
- Most Famous Version: The Righteous Brothers (1965)
- Songwriters: Alex North (Music) and Hy Zaret (Lyrics)
- Film Debut: Originally written for the prison drama Unchained.
- Unique Achievement: One of the most recorded songs of the 20th century, with over 1,500 versions by hundreds of artists.
šµļø Frequently Asked Questions: Unchained Melody
What movie was “Unchained Melody” originally written for? The song was written for the 1955 prison drama film Unchained. It was performed in the movie by Todd Duncan, who sang it as a lonely prisoner longing for his lover. This is why it is called “Unchained” despite the word never appearing in the lyrics.
Did Elvis Presley ever record “Unchained Melody”? Yes. Elvis performed a legendary live version of the song in June 1977, just weeks before his death. It was recorded during his final televised special and is often cited as one of the most emotional performances of his career.
Who is the singer on the Righteous Brothers’ version? While credited to the duo, the 1965 hit is actually a solo performance by Bobby Hatfield. He famously won a coin toss against partner Bill Medley to decide who would sing the lead on the track.
Why did Phil Spector try to stop the song from being a hit? Phil Spector originally released “Unchained Melody” as the B-side to a song called “Hung on You.” When radio DJs preferred the B-side, Spector was so annoyed that he reportedly called stations to demand they stop playing it so they could focus on his “intended” hit.
Is “Unchained Melody” the most recorded song ever? It is certainly one of them. According to the song’s publisher, there are over 1,500 recordings by more than 670 different artists in multiple languages, making it a certified global standard.
š Further Reading
- Jet Airliner: Before the Steve Miller Band
- Who Recorded Evil Woman Before Black Sabbath?
- Venus: The Song Before Bananarama
- The New Wave Roots of Better Be Good to Me
- The Story of Me and Bobby McGee