This day in music - November 28, 1966: The Righteous Brothers album Soul and Inspiration is certified Gold

By Richard K. Barry

The Righteous Brothers were Bill Medley and Bobby Hatfield. They recorded from 1963 through 1975 and then on and off until Hatfield died in 2003.

Their first major hit was "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin" in 1965, which was produced by Phil Spector. They went on to have other hit singles in 1965, all produced by Spector. These were "Just Once in My Life," "Unchained Melody," and "Ebb Tide."

Perhaps not at all surprising is the fact that the singers did not get along well with Spector, which meant the end of their collaboration.

The next release after the break with their famous producer was "(You're My) Soul and Inspiration," which sounded much like the other tunes produced by Spector. It was written by Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann, who had co-written "Lovin' Feeling," and arranged by Jack Nitzsche, who had done the earlier work.

"Soul and Inspiration," the title track of the album, was a hit, but it was the last major hit for the duo in their post-Spector incarnation. The album peaked at No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.

The value of good production aside, Medley and Hatfield were incredible singers, as this clip of "Soul and Inspiration" attests. Looks like Nancy Sinatra is doing the introduction on this segment of Hullabaloo, from which this 1966 performance is taken.

(Cross-posted at Lippmann's Ghost.)