Unchained Melody

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"Unchained Melody" is one of the most recorded songs of the 20th century, by some counts having spawned over 500 versions.[1] The lyrics were written first, by William Stirrat (also known as Hy Zaret) in 1936 while at summer camp, in an attempt to woo a girl named Mary Louise "Cookie" Pierce. They tell of a prisoner's anguished longing for his wife. At the same camp, Stirrat met Alex North, later a renowned film composer, and begged him to write a melody to go with his words. They wanted Bing Crosby, North's neighbor at the time, to sing the song.

In 1955, North used the music as a theme for the now obscure prison film Unchained. That same year, the song was finally released. One week saw no less than four different cover versions in the top 30 on the British charts. The four artists covering the song are listed in the Guinness Book of British Hit Singles as: Jimmy Young, Les Baxter, Al Hibbler and Liberace, in May and June 1955.

[edit] Versions

Les Baxter recorded it for the film's soundtrack (it was also released as a single, Capitol Records catalog number 3055, and reached #1 on the Billboard charts). He was followed soon after by Al Hibbler (Decca Records catalog number 29441), who topped out at #3. Roy Hamilton's version (Epic Records catalog number 9102) reached #6, while June Valli took it to #29. The first hit version was by Harry Belafonte, who also sang it at the 1956 Academy Awards. There is also an extremely uptempo doo-wop version by Vito & the Salutations. The song was recorded by The Lettermen as a track on their 1962 album Jim, Tony, and Bob.

Perhaps the best-known version is from 1965, credited to the Righteous Brothers, but performed as a solo by Bobby Hatfield, who later recorded versions credited solely to himself. It climbed to #4. "Unchained Melody" reappeared on the Billboard charts in 1990, reaching #19, after The Righteous Brothers' recording was used in the film Ghost.

In 2002, Pop Idol runner-up Gareth Gates released it as a single. In 2006, singer Barry Manilow covered the song on his album Greatest Songs of the Fifties, and it reached #20.

The song has has the unique distinction of being a UK number-one hit for four different acts: Jimmy Young (1955); the Righteous Brothers (1990) [although it was recorded in 1965); Robson & Jerome (1995); Gareth Gates (2002).

On June 21, 1977, just six weeks prior to his death, Elvis Presley performed "Unchained Melody" for what would be his last television appearance, "Elvis In Concert".

It was also sung on Australian Idol by Dan England on the 1960's night, and on American Idol by Clay Aiken during the Season 2 Top 3 finals, after which he advanced to the Top 2 (finals), as well as Kellie Pickler on Season 5 Top 6 Love Songs Week, for which she was eliminated.

It was sung by Irish rock group U2 after a performance of One at 2005's Live 8, and is often performed in the same manner during ordinary live U2 performances. It appears on the Zoo TV: Live From Sydney video as well as on the B-sides of The Best of 1980-1990.

Unchained Melody by the Righteous Brothers, was #7 on the hits, 50 Greatest Love Songs, in 2006.

In 2006, Il Divo made a cover song named "Unchained Melody (Senza Catene)" on its Album "Ancora"

[edit] External links

Preceded by: The Ballad of Davy Crockett	Cash Box magazine best selling record chart #1 record May 21, 1955–July 2, 1955	Succeeded by: (We're Gonna) Rock around the Clock

Preceded by: "Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White" by Eddie Calvert	UK number-one single version by Jimmy Young 1955	Succeeded by: "Dreamboat" by Alma Cogan
Preceded by: "A Little Time" by The Beautiful South	UK number-one single version by The Righteous Brothers October 28 1990 for 4 weeks	Succeeded by: "Ice Ice Baby" by Vanilla Ice
Preceded by: "Dreamer" by Livin' Joy	UK number-one single version by Robson & Jerome 1995	Succeeded by: "Boom Boom Boom" by The Outhere Brothers
Preceded by: "Anything Is Possible" / "Evergreen" by Will Young	UK number-one single version by Gareth Gates 2002	Succeeded by: "The Hindu Times" by Oasis