You know that feeling when a song starts and the room just goes still? That's what happens every single time Bobby Hatfield Unchained Melody begins to play. Most people hear those soaring high notes and assume it was some big, over-produced Phil Spector masterpiece.
Honestly? It wasn't.
In fact, if Phil Spector had his way, you might have never heard this version at all. It’s one of the weirdest success stories in music history, involving a coin toss, a frustrated producer, and a B-side that refused to stay buried.
The Solo That Wasn't Supposed to Be
The Righteous Brothers were a duo, but "Unchained Melody" is famously a solo. Bill Medley, the baritone half of the pair, isn't on the track at all.
Basically, the guys were putting together their Just Once in My Life album in 1965 and decided they each wanted a solo spot. They actually flipped a coin to see who would get to record "Unchained Melody." Bobby won.
Imagine being Bill Medley and losing that toss. He ended up producing the track himself because Spector was busy obsessing over the A-side, a song called "Hung on You." Spector viewed "Unchained Melody" as filler. Just a little something to stick on the back of the record so DJs wouldn't be tempted to play it instead of the "real" hit.
Life has a funny way of ignoring plans like that.
Why the Production is a Lie
If you look at the original 45rpm record, Phil Spector’s name is often slapped on there as the producer. But if you ask Bill Medley or anyone in the room that day, they’ll tell you a different story.
Spector didn't want to spend his expensive studio time on a B-side. He told Medley to take Bobby into the studio and just knock something out. Medley sat down at the Wurlitzer piano—which he later joked was a "cheap" piano because he didn't think the song was going anywhere—and they tracked it.
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Bobby Hatfield didn't just sing the song; he reinvented it.
During the third take, Bobby decided to go rogue. On the line "I need your love," he ditched the standard melody and pushed his voice into a gut-wrenching, high-tenor territory. It’s that specific moment—the "I need your looooove"—that gives people chills sixty years later. When he finished, Bobby asked if he should try another take to clean it up. Medley looked at him and basically said, "No way. You’re never hitting it better than that."
The War with Phil Spector
When the single was released, "Hung on You" was the intended smash. But radio DJs are a stubborn bunch. They flipped the record over, heard Bobby’s vocal, and started playing "Unchained Melody" instead.
Spector was furious.
He actually started calling radio stations, screaming at them to stop playing the B-side. He didn't want his "masterpiece" A-side eclipsed by a song he didn't even produce. But the public didn't care about Spector’s ego. The song climbed to number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1965.
Decades later, it happened all over again.
In 1990, the movie Ghost used the song during that iconic pottery wheel scene. Suddenly, Bobby Hatfield Unchained Melody was the biggest song in the world for a second time. It hit the top of the charts in the UK and Ireland and surged back into the US Top 20. Bobby even re-recorded a version in 1990 because the original was tied up in legal licensing, and he famously remarked that he could still hit all the high notes—and had even added a new one to his range.
Breaking Down the Vocal Technique
There’s a common misconception that Bobby was singing in falsetto. He wasn't.
Technically, what you're hearing is a "full-voice" tenor. It’s incredibly difficult to maintain that kind of power and resonance at that altitude without the voice cracking or thinning out. Bobby had this unique ability to keep a "soulful growl" even while he was hitting notes that most men can't reach in their dreams.
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- Breath Control: Listen to the long, sustained notes in the bridge. There's no gasping for air.
- The "Cry" in the Voice: This is a classic Blue-Eyed Soul technique. It sounds like he’s on the verge of tears, but the pitch remains laser-accurate.
- Minimalist Arrangement: Because there isn't a "Wall of Sound" burying the vocal, every tiny imperfection and emotion is exposed.
The Song's Dark Origin
Most people don't realize "Unchained Melody" was written for a 1955 prison film called Unchained. That’s why the lyrics talk about "lonely rivers" and "wait for me." It was literally about a prisoner pining for his wife.
Before Bobby got a hold of it, it was a polite, standard ballad recorded by guys like Les Baxter and Al Hibbler. Bobby took that polite prison song and turned it into a desperate, almost erotic plea for connection. It’s the difference between a letter and a scream.
Actionable Insights for Music Lovers
If you want to truly appreciate the genius of Bobby Hatfield Unchained Melody, don't just listen to the studio version on repeat.
First, go find the 1965 live performance from The Andy Williams Show. It is widely considered one of the best live vocal performances ever caught on film. You can see the physical toll the song takes on him. His face is contorted, his eyes are closed, and he’s clearly somewhere else entirely.
Secondly, compare it to the Roy Hamilton version. Bobby was a huge fan of Hamilton and modeled his early takes after him. When you hear the two side-by-side, you can see exactly where Bobby decided to break the rules and make the song his own.
Finally, check out the 1990 re-recording. It’s a rare chance to hear an artist revisit their "lightning in a bottle" moment 25 years later with more maturity but the same incredible pipes. It proves that the 1965 version wasn't a fluke—it was just Bobby Hatfield being Bobby Hatfield.
To get the full experience of the song's history, look for the original Philles Records 45rpm pressings. Seeing "Hung on You" as the A-side is a great reminder that sometimes the "filler" is actually the soul of the record.