A love song...

I was amazed recently to see a YouTube video of a 1960s song that appears to be making a comeback of sorts. It is a love song that hit the charts in 1965.  It was in Billboard’s Top 100 that year – Number 4 in August ’65 performed by The Righteous Brothers. These guys; Bill Medley and Bobby Hatfield, were not brothers. They were performing in night clubs in the early 1960’s. In one place, a group of U.S. Marines, mostly Blacks, couldn’t believe how intense and soulful their songs were. Many people didn’t believe the singers were white. One marine remarked “You brothers have righteous music.” And so the name stuck.
The interesting thing on YouTube is that so many young people – young women mainly – are reacting to the song like it is the most wonderful thing they’ve ever heard. It is easy to understand why.

Here is the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYj2hex99gY
When you think about the time this song hit the charts, the Viet Nam war was ramping up. Ten of thousands of young men were on the other side of the world. Their sweethearts were back at home. People were in love and missing each other. It didn’t matter if you were black or white.
So then you have Bobby Hatfield in a voice as smooth as warm chocolate crooning;

“Ohhh,  my love, my darling, I’ve hungered for your touch….

“I’ll be coming home. Wait for me. Wait for me.

You’ve got to go and listen to this song on YouTube to get the full effect. Hatfield is amazing. He performed the song live, with just an orchestra, no Auto Tune, no back up singers. Just the man, singing his heart out.
Don’t forget that when these guys hit the charts – twice that year – The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Supremes, The Four Seasons, Stevie Wonder, Elvis and Bob Dylan were already dominating the scene.  
Hatfield sings solo on this song, but the Brothers  were in full bloom that same year when they released You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling, another chart topper. Fans of Bill Medley will remember his voice when he performed a duet years later with Jennifer Warnes in the movie Dirty Dancing, singing I’ve Had The Time of My Life. Another amazing song.