"Unchained Melody" (written by Alex North & Hy Zaret) is one of the most beautiful and emotional songs of all-time. Most of you I'm sure have heard the Righteous Brothers' classic rendition of it. If not, here it is.
There are over 500 versions of this song, but maybe the best, certainly the most powerful is by Vito & the Salutations. This is a master class in interpretation. I warn you -- you're going to need a hanky.
That was just wrong.
ReplyDelete--Nikki
BWHAHAH!
ReplyDeleteSAD & WRONG on so many levels, but intensly hilarious!
It's ... (sob!) ... so ... (SOB!) ... BEAUTIFUL!!
ReplyDeleteIt left me weak and weepy.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely criminal that this was never featured on a single PBS doowap special. I've got a good mind to leave the room, even if that means missing a pledge break.
Thank you. And I'm not just saying that. I'm typing it.
The only arrangement I heard for many years, growing up, was the one by Burt Bacharach, with Dionne Warwick on vocals. It's got this neat little asymmetrical instrumental bit as an intro and between verses.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, that's the most unchained version I've ever heard.
ReplyDeleteSadly, it should be straightjacketed.
I love Doo Wop. Alas, born 15 years too late.
I got my hanky out...but ended up waving it in the air as I danced manically.
ReplyDeleteYou should've done an intro! Take it to the post!
That was terrific, actually. The words actually work as a Doo Wop song! My world, it is now upside-down.
ReplyDeleteOh, by the way, which one is Vito?
ReplyDeleteoy.
ReplyDeleteAh! So THAT's where the Manhattan Transfer stole it from!
ReplyDeleteMore like Un-hinged Melody.
ReplyDeleteThat made me doo-wop all over myself...
ReplyDeleteI'd pay to hear their version of 'Ave Maria'.
ReplyDeletehttp://members.aol.com/rnbhighway/salutationspic.jpg
ReplyDeleteHow romantic!
ReplyDeleteHurry up and get your butt home - I'm horny.
Hallie
If Bobby Hatfield had sung this instead of "We've Got Tonite" during the Cheers episode titled, Wedding Bell Blues, Rebecca WOULD have married Robin.
ReplyDeleteThis might be the second song I'll play on my little upcoming radio show...
I used to play this version for people who loved the movie GHOST just to annoy them. It also shows that some doo-wop singers did have a sense of humor about doo-wop.
ReplyDeleteDon't-wop.
ReplyDeleteMan, Ken, I know you're a comedy writer, but your set-up truly did not prepare me for that.
ReplyDeleteI am ashamed to say, however, that it got my toes to tapping.
And now I feel dirty all over.
There are two versions of Unchained Melody that deserve attention.
ReplyDelete1. The song was featured in the old movie that I think was titled "Unchained." It was the story of a prison in California which experimented with low security, no guards, nothing to prevent the inmate from leaving except his own judgment. An inmate sang the song inside the prison. Touching.
2. Joni Mitchell featured it in a song she did from her Fast Horses album, the song title was something about a China Cafe. She weaves it gently into her own song, closing with it. That's the first time I heard it, way back in the 80s, but it allowed me to trace it and get the RB version.
The song was featured in the old movie that I think was titled "Unchained."
ReplyDeleteWhich featured in its lead role the former football star Elroy "Crazy Legs" Hirsch--yet another very romantic detail associated with this song.
Why does "Crazy Legs Hirsch" make me think of a klezmer breakdancer?
ReplyDeleteGood. Now you try to get that image out of your own head.
Look for the Al Hibbler version, too.
ReplyDeletegosh darn, if that wasn't the song and version that joe pesci's character in 'goodfellas' lost his virginity, i ain't sure what is.
ReplyDeleteand i apologize for that sentence.
Yoiks. The funny thing about this version is that they changed the tune so much, they could've used different lyrics and passed it off as an entirely different song, thus keeping the songwriting royalties for themselves.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of which, for years there was some a-hole going around passing himself off as Hy Zaret, lyricist of Unchained Melody. Caused a lot of grief for the real Zaret, who died this summer just shy of his 100th birthday.
I can't believe this. I hated that goddam song when it was NEW! Probably the most overplayed song of that generation. I haven't heard it in possibly 50 years, until now. I STILL hate it, any version, by anybody.
ReplyDeleteI gonna send both versions to my kiddies to illustrate how much I had to suffer and endure, unlike their pampered and perfumed selves, while attempting to grow up.
Wow. That was new.
ReplyDeleteA doo-wop polka. Who knew?
You are an evil evil man, and your sense of humor rocks my world.
ReplyDeleteI am so glad that I found your blog. It is one of the fringe benefits of the writier's strike.
I will worship you from afar forever now. If I can ever stop laughing.