‘You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’’: The Righteous Brothers Make Pop History

Udiscovermusic ^ | December 12, 2025 | Paul Sexton

[nickcarraway]

Among its countless achievements, the song was named the 20th century’s most-played song on American radio and television by the BMI.

Only the most momentous songs in pop history make it into the Grammy Hall of Fame, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Top 40 of Rolling Stone’s 2004 list of the 500 greatest songs of all time, and the Top 10 of the RIAA’s Top 365 Songs of the Century. But only one could achieve all that and be named the most-played song on American radio and television during the 20th century by the BMI. Its title? “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin.’”

That remarkable set of achievements befits a song that completely changed the lives of vocal duo Bill Medley and Bobby Hatfield. They’d formed the Righteous Brothers in 1962, having recorded as the Paramours for the Smash label that same year. Now signed to Moonglow, the “brothers” made the Hot 100 twice in 1963, but neither “Little Latin Lupe Lu” nor “My Babe” could crack the Top 40, peaking at Nos.49 and 75 respectively.

Hotshot producer Phil Spector happened to see the duo performing at the Cow Palace in San Francisco on a bill with one of his acts, the Ronettes. He was so impressed that he bought the Righteous Brothers out of the remaining two and a half years of their contract with Moonglow and signed them to Philles, the label he’d formed with Lester Sill in 1961.

Longer than it seemed

“Lovin’ Feelin,’” written by the A-list team of Spector and husband and wife Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, and imbued with Spector’s undeniable production genius, was a melodrama of epic proportions. So much so, in fact, that Spector lied about its running time: the track’s duration on the Philles label was listed as 3’05”, so as not to deter disc jockeys from playing what was actually a recording of 3’45.”

It needed every one of those seconds to wring out all of the emotion in Medley and Hatfield’s tortured, back-and-forth vocalising. Broadcasters welcomed it with open arms, and so did the public. The song made its debut on the Hot 100 of December 12, 1964 at No.77, and was No.1 in the US by February 6, replacing Petula Clark’s “Downtown” for a two-week run.

It did the same in the UK that week, succeeding the Moody Blues‘ “Go Now.” Just to underline the power that brought it all those accolades we mentioned at the beginning, the indestructible ballad returned to the Top 20 in versions by Dionne Warwick in 1969 and Daryl Hall & John Oates in 1980.

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TOPICS: History; Music/Entertainment
KEYWORDS: 60s; music; righteousbrothers; soul

[Adder]

Really great song! Unchained Melody also.

I so remember when it was new. I had even bought “Downtown” as the 1st 45 I ever purchased on my own.

Dang, that was a bit ago...

[redangus]

My late wife and I danced to Unchained Melody at numerous wedding reception, proms and after game dances. (She was a HS teacher) I always sang the song to her while we danced. I guess from a dance standpoint it was our song. Still pulls on the heart strings when I hear it. Nino Rota’s “Romeo and Juliet” and the Carpenter’s “Close to You” are right up there when it comes to moist eyes.

[USS Alaska]

For me that would be the Platters “Only You”

I loved that song and all of the Platters work, but my all time favorite was in 1956, The Five Satins doing "In The Still Of The Night".

What is amazing that 75 years later, while I can't remember many friend's names, I can still remember all of the lyrics to so many "Oldies but Goodies" from the 50's and 60's...but they did have real words that you could understand.

Remember..."Gloria" or "Can I Come over Tonight?" or "Sweet Was The Wine"?

I could go on for pages and pages of Oldies but so could you.

[Fiji Hill]

Flip "Only You" over and listen to the Platters' answer to "Hound Dog," "The Doggie in the Window" and "Shake, Rattle & Roll."

Bark, Battle & Ball (1955)

[Fiji Hill]

Remember..."Gloria" or "Can I Come over Tonight?" or "Sweet Was The Wine"?

Gloria--Arthur Lee Maye & the Crowns (1956)

Can I Come Over Tonight?--The Velours (1957)

Sweet Was the Wine--Jerry Butler & the Impressions (1958)

[Fiji Hill]

This record by Casey Kasem got a lot of airplay on KRLA in the late summer of 1964. Not very believable, but it captures the spirit of Beatlemania.

A Letter from Elaina--Casey Kasem

[newfreep]

Songwriters: Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil

Wrecking Crew Musicians:
Don Randi on piano
Tommy Tedesco on guitar
Carol Kaye and Ray Pohlman on bass
Steve Douglas on sax
Barney Kessel on guitar
Earl Palmer on drums

[Inyo-Mono]

Thanks, I remember that well!

[USS Alaska]

Gloria--Arthur Lee Maye & the Crowns (1956)

The Cadillacs {1954} and I'm playing it now as I type this correction.