[gloryblaze]

“Unchained Melody” by ...... Les Baxter .... not who comes to mind first, even if it was first.

[TexasGator]

n 1954, Alex North was contracted to compose the score for the prison film Unchained (released in 1955). North composed and recorded the score and then was asked to write a song based upon the movie’s theme. North asked Hy Zaret to write the lyrics. After first refusing, Zaret and North together wrote “Unchained Melody.”[10][11] Zaret refused the producer’s request to include the word “unchained” in his lyrics.[12]

wiki

[the OlLine Rebel]

That’s why one must pay attention to the artist. The most famous (I guess) by the Righteous Bros wasn’t until the ‘60s. And this, it turns out, was from a (bad) movie. Who knew?

[Fiji Hill]

Les Baxter had the highest-charting version of "Unchained Melody." But Al Hibbler's version seems to have had more staying power on the Oldies playlists in subsequent decades. Roy Hamilton also did a great version that made the Top 10.