Post by Rob Durkee on Jul 5, 2007 18:51:11 GMT -5
Hy Zaret, who wrote the lyrics for one of the most popular ballads of all time, "Unchained Melody," died at his home in Westport, Connecticut on Monday, July 2. He was 99 and would've turned 100 the following month (August 21).
A series of ironies led to "Unchained Melody" becoming a classic ballad. In 1955, Zaret one day got a phone call from his song-writing friend, Alex North, who told Hy that he needed lyrics for a song he'd written for a movie called "Unchained." At first, Zaret told North he was too busy painting his house. Nevertheless, he found the time to write the lyrics that begin with "Oh, my love, my darling, I've hungered for your touch." The movie "Unchained" saw little success, but the song from it fared much better.
At least five versions of "Unchained Melody" were recorded in 1955 alone. Les Baxter, Roy Hamilton and Al Hibbler all had versions fhat went to #1 on the Cash Box pop chart. June Valli also recorded it. Jimmy Young took his rendition to #1 on the UK chart in 1955...and the same thing happened to the song two more times. The duo of Robson and Jerome went to #1 on the UK chart with the song in 1995 as did Gareth Gates in 2002.
Ten years later, the Righteous Brothers remade "Unchained Melody" and took the song to unheard of heights. It was released as an afterthought. Whenever the Righteous Brothers recorded an album, Bobby Hatfield and Bill Medley would each do one song solo. Thus, Hatfield recorded "Unchained Melody" for an album. Then, the song was released as the B side to "Hung On You." Nevertheless, "Unchained Melody" reached #5.
Twenty five years later in 1990, the same recording of "Unchained Melody" became a top 40 hit all over again thanks to its inclusion on the soundtrack of the movie, "Ghost." Hatfield didn't even know about "Unchained Melody" making it onto the movie "Ghost" at first. He found out about it when a newspaper reporter called him asking for comment. Because the Righteous Brothers had signed away all their profits from their recordings many years earlier, they were making no money from the 1990 version of "Unchained Melody." So, Hatfield re-recorded the song...and "Unchained Melody" became the first rock era (1955-present) song to make the Top 40 simultaneously in two different versions sung by the same singer.
Elvis Presley recorded "Unchained Melody" during his 1970's concerts. His live concert rendition at Ann Arbor's Crisler Arena was recorded by RCA Records on March 24, 1977, less than five months before his death. Initially, only Elvis' piano playing was part of the recording. RCA would later have other instruments edited in and then have the song included on the "Moody Blue" album. On June 21, 1977, the single release was recorded at the Rushmore Civic Center in Rapid City, South Dakota.
Over 300 different versions of "Unchained Melody" have been recorded over the years. Perhaps the most unusual was the one by the group Vito And The Salutations. It was a very uptempo doo-wop song that reached #51 in 1963. Also, the Blackwells took the song to #83 in 1960.
Among the other artists to have recorded "Unchained Melody" are Air Supply, Harry Belafonte, George Benson, Mr. Acker Bilk (of "Stranger On The Shore" fame), Archie Bleyer, Pat Boone, the Brass Ring, Roy Clark, Ray Conniff, Duane Eddy, Vince Edwards, Ferrante and Teicher, John Gary, Al Green, Heart, Frank Ifield, Bert Kaempfert, the Lettermen, Al Maritno, Mantovani, the Manhattan Transfer, Joni Mitchell, Ricky Nelson, Willie Nelson, Donny Osmond, Gene Pitney, Boots Randolph, LeAnn Rimes, the Supremes, U2, Jerry Vale, Dionne Warwick, Lawrence Welk, Roger Williams and Andy Williams.
Zaret wrote other songs but none could match the overwhelming success of "Unchained Melody." He did write "My Sister and I," a #1 hit in 1941 for Jimmy Dorsey and His Orchestra. He also wrote "So Long, For A While," which became the closing theme song for the radio and TV show, "Your Hit Parade."
Hyman Harry Zaritsky was born on August 21, 1907. He legally changed his name to Hy Zaret in 1934. Somebody else claimed to have written "Unchained Melody" but Zaret prevailed in court and continued to receive all royalties for the song.
A series of ironies led to "Unchained Melody" becoming a classic ballad. In 1955, Zaret one day got a phone call from his song-writing friend, Alex North, who told Hy that he needed lyrics for a song he'd written for a movie called "Unchained." At first, Zaret told North he was too busy painting his house. Nevertheless, he found the time to write the lyrics that begin with "Oh, my love, my darling, I've hungered for your touch." The movie "Unchained" saw little success, but the song from it fared much better.
At least five versions of "Unchained Melody" were recorded in 1955 alone. Les Baxter, Roy Hamilton and Al Hibbler all had versions fhat went to #1 on the Cash Box pop chart. June Valli also recorded it. Jimmy Young took his rendition to #1 on the UK chart in 1955...and the same thing happened to the song two more times. The duo of Robson and Jerome went to #1 on the UK chart with the song in 1995 as did Gareth Gates in 2002.
Ten years later, the Righteous Brothers remade "Unchained Melody" and took the song to unheard of heights. It was released as an afterthought. Whenever the Righteous Brothers recorded an album, Bobby Hatfield and Bill Medley would each do one song solo. Thus, Hatfield recorded "Unchained Melody" for an album. Then, the song was released as the B side to "Hung On You." Nevertheless, "Unchained Melody" reached #5.
Twenty five years later in 1990, the same recording of "Unchained Melody" became a top 40 hit all over again thanks to its inclusion on the soundtrack of the movie, "Ghost." Hatfield didn't even know about "Unchained Melody" making it onto the movie "Ghost" at first. He found out about it when a newspaper reporter called him asking for comment. Because the Righteous Brothers had signed away all their profits from their recordings many years earlier, they were making no money from the 1990 version of "Unchained Melody." So, Hatfield re-recorded the song...and "Unchained Melody" became the first rock era (1955-present) song to make the Top 40 simultaneously in two different versions sung by the same singer.
Elvis Presley recorded "Unchained Melody" during his 1970's concerts. His live concert rendition at Ann Arbor's Crisler Arena was recorded by RCA Records on March 24, 1977, less than five months before his death. Initially, only Elvis' piano playing was part of the recording. RCA would later have other instruments edited in and then have the song included on the "Moody Blue" album. On June 21, 1977, the single release was recorded at the Rushmore Civic Center in Rapid City, South Dakota.
Over 300 different versions of "Unchained Melody" have been recorded over the years. Perhaps the most unusual was the one by the group Vito And The Salutations. It was a very uptempo doo-wop song that reached #51 in 1963. Also, the Blackwells took the song to #83 in 1960.
Among the other artists to have recorded "Unchained Melody" are Air Supply, Harry Belafonte, George Benson, Mr. Acker Bilk (of "Stranger On The Shore" fame), Archie Bleyer, Pat Boone, the Brass Ring, Roy Clark, Ray Conniff, Duane Eddy, Vince Edwards, Ferrante and Teicher, John Gary, Al Green, Heart, Frank Ifield, Bert Kaempfert, the Lettermen, Al Maritno, Mantovani, the Manhattan Transfer, Joni Mitchell, Ricky Nelson, Willie Nelson, Donny Osmond, Gene Pitney, Boots Randolph, LeAnn Rimes, the Supremes, U2, Jerry Vale, Dionne Warwick, Lawrence Welk, Roger Williams and Andy Williams.
Zaret wrote other songs but none could match the overwhelming success of "Unchained Melody." He did write "My Sister and I," a #1 hit in 1941 for Jimmy Dorsey and His Orchestra. He also wrote "So Long, For A While," which became the closing theme song for the radio and TV show, "Your Hit Parade."
Hyman Harry Zaritsky was born on August 21, 1907. He legally changed his name to Hy Zaret in 1934. Somebody else claimed to have written "Unchained Melody" but Zaret prevailed in court and continued to receive all royalties for the song.