Columnist Joe Delaney: Righteous Brothers sparked ‘blue-eyed soul’

Joe Delaney

Friday, May 4, 2001 | 9:01 a.m.

Joe Delaney's column appears Thursdays and Fridays. Reach him at 259-4066 or joe@lasvegassun.com

When Bobby Hatfield and Bill Medley sing, they can achieve a "righteous sound," capturing the essence of gospel, blues and rock ... Hatfield can achieve a soulful, searing, sometimes almost screeching tenor a la James Brown, while Medley's deep bass sound is similar to the late Jimmy Ricks of the Ravens and, more recently, Barry White.

Originally the duo, working around Orange County, Calif., called themselves the Paramours ... It was noted record producer who Phil Spector who heard their first record to create some interest, a Medley original entitled "Little Latin Lupe Lu" ... This was in the early 1960s ... Spector suggested Righteous Brothers as a new name based on a comment made by an observer while Hatfield and Medley were recording.

"Blue-eyed soul" is another term coined for the duo at this period. "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling," produced by Spector, launched their career nationally ... At first the overall sound had the record industry thinking Hatfield and Medley were black ... The discovery that they were not led to the descriptive term "blue-eyed soul."

While Spector was a major influence, both Hatfield and Medley deserve equal credit for selecting well and creating song stories that generated strong record-buyer response, resulting in songs that have enjoyed more than one life on the best-selling charts.

The Righteous Brothers' version of "Unchained Melody" hit the top of the pop charts in 1965 ... A quarter-century later the rerecorded version, used on the soundtrack of the hit film "Ghost," was declared platinum, outselling the original version ... The second recording also earned the duo a Grammy nomination.

"You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling" was also rerecorded and featured on the "Top Gun" soundtrack ... Broadcast Music Inc. (BMI) recently announced that the song was the most-played song on radio and television during the past century.

During the past four decades Hatfield and Medley have gone separate ways but always managed to reunite .... In 1987 a duet by Medley and Jennifer Warren, "I've Had the Time of My Life" from the film "Dirty Dancing," resulted in Academy- and Grammy-Award nominations.

There was a quiet period in the early 1980s when the Righteous Brothers were featured with the orchestra of the late Russ Gary at the Frontier, during the pre-Christmas period, admission $5, big crowds.

They have been successful headliners in the 1990s, playing Bally's and the MGM Grand before moving to the Orleans where they are the only attraction that plays multiple-week engagements ... Hatfield and Medley are blue-eyed soul survivors and so are the songs they select to sing on recordings ... They're at the Orleans through May 13 (dark Monday).

Weekend wrap-up

Cinco de Mayo reminders: Ricardo Cobo and the American Flamenco Theatre (Sammy Davis Jr. Festival Plaza), both on Saturday, plus special Cinco de Mayo observances Friday and Saturday (Sam's Town); check for times.

Jazz notes: Friday it's Pogo's, Sunday, 2-5 p.m.; the World's Smallest Jazz Band is at Swede's Corner ... Sunday, at 3 p.m., it's the annual LV Jazz Society Picnic with five groups: the Eldorado Jazz Choir, Nevada Jazz Orchestra (Latin Connection); Young Jazz Giants; Rick Arroyo's Latin Jazz Ensemble; and the Brass on the Grass Band ... Bring lunch, blankets or chairs, refreshments will be served, but no pets, please.

Also on Sunday Joe Darro, Jay Orlando and the Cousins play for a swing dance, 6-9 p.m. (Club 1030 on East Flamingo Road) ... Tenor sax man Pete Christlieb plays Monday at 9 and 11 p.m. (Riviera Lounge) ... See you next Thursday.