Righteous Brothers’ gig packed with hits

Joe Delaney

Friday, June 18, 1999 | 9:35 a.m.

The Righteous Brothers, Bobby Hatfield and Bill Medley, are not brothers, but their sound is righteous, "blue-eyed soul," and their fans faithful, making the duo one of the few acts to play the state-of-the-art Orleans showroom successfully two and three weeks at a time. They sounded even better this week with the showroom's new sound system.

Musical conductor Barry Rillera plays lead guitar and triples as road and tour manager. Original cadre, he has been with Hatfield and Medley from their early-1960s beginning. He leads an awesome octet, which includes Lucinda (her last name was garbled each time it was said). Lucinda plays hot harmonica and is equal to Medley on his Grammy Award-winning duet on "(I've Had) The Time Of My Life" from the "Dirty Dancing" soundtrack.

"You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling," short version, brings the Righteous Brothers onstage to a tumultuous welcome. After numerous "Thank you's," they jump-start the program with "Let The Good Times Roll." Hatfield introduces a 1966 hit, ("You're My) Soul And Inspiration." It's time to rock 'n' roll and the room rocks to "Koko Jo" and "Justine."

Carole King's "Hung On You," written for the Brothers, slows the pace and sets up some doo-wop singing, backed by three of the band members starting with "Who Wrote The Book Of Love" followed by "Guess Who," "He Will Break Your Heart," a solo by Hatfield on "Ebb Tide," "(I've Had) The Time Of My Life" and "Rock 'n' Roll Heaven." Hatfield exits at this point.

Medley earns a spontaneous standing ovation with his Ray Charles tribute, featuring "Born To Lose," "You Don't Know Me" and "I Can't Stop Loving You," from Charles' seminal country album. The entire audience was on its feet for the bravura ending. Hatfield returned for the two sides of their original hit, the very first release, "Little Latin Lupe Lu" and "My Babe."

It's Bobby's turn, Medley departs, and Hatfield solos on "Unchained Melody," a hit in 1966 and a platinum single in 1991 when it was featured on the film soundtrack of "Ghost." The standing ovation here equaled the response to Medley's Ray Charles tribute. Medley rejoins Hatfield for "Kokomo," which gives conductor-guitarist Rillera a chance to shine on an extended solo segment.

This time the duo gives the audience the full treatment version of "That Lovin' Feeling," and they are standing and cheering for the third time. Members of the band rejoin Hatfield and Medley for slower doo-wop versions of "Earth Angel," "Still of the Night" -- a hit for Della Reese in the 1950s -- and "What's Your Name."

Band acknowledgements, some nice words, a reprise of "Let The Good Times Roll" and a spirited "Old Time Rock 'n' Roll" concluded a beautifully paced 85 minutes and left the audience wanting more. It was unanimous; the audience and the critic both had a good time. The Righteous Brothers close Sunday.