Righteous Brothers/Phil Spector Collectors Items
Last updated 27 May 2021 - Updated items in red
Unchained Melody single with no producer credit
Although DJ and initial releases of Philles 129 "Hung On You" credited Phil Spector as the producer, the B side "Unchained Melody" had no producer credits, this was also the case with the Bill Medley produced tracks on the two previous Righteous Brothers Philles singles.
However, after "Unchained Melody" was switched to the A side following DJ's playing it in preference to main side and it started to climb the charts, Phil Spector's name appeared credited as producer on the subsequent pressings of the single and all other releases of the track ever since.
To set the record straight, the details of the contract for the recording session with the American Federation Of Musicians Of The United States And Canada is transcribed below.
View the original document
None of the Wrecking Crew as always used by Phil Spector are credited, many are personnel from the Righteous Brothers Band and used by Bill Medley for recording sessions.
Bill Medley has always been credited as producer of the other three tracks "Guess Who", "The Great Pretender" & "You'll Never Walk Alone" but not "Unchained Melody".
Date & time
2nd March 1965, 5pm to 8:30pm
Recording Studio
Radio Recorders
7000 Santa Monica Boulevard
Hollywood
California
Tracks recorded
Guess Who
The Great Pretender
You'll Never Walk Alone
Unchained Melody
Musicians
Carl Gilliam (leader)
Bob Edmondson
Frank Rosolino
Ken Shroyer
Philip Teele
Bill Baker
Louis Leos Jr.
Dennis Woodrich
Art Munson
Drew Johnson
Walter Anderson
Barry Rillera
Mike Patterson
Philles albums issued in Japan on Limited Edition SHM-CD (Super High Material)
You've Lost That Lovin Feelin 2012 Universal Music UICY-75147
Just Once In My Life 2012 Universal Music UICY-75148
Back To Back 2012 Universal Music UICY-75149
The three Philles albums by the Righteous Brothers are now available
on the newly developed Super High Material CD format, which can be played
on any CD player.
A major feature of the set is that the albums are in both stereo and
mono, so included are the alternate mono/stereo versions of "The
Angels Listened In" and "Summertime".
As on the previous Japanese issue of the entire Righteous Brothers Philles catalog, "The Collection Of Their Golden Years" Verve POCP-2412/3 (1996), the master tape damage noise is evident again in the quiet sections of the right hand channel on the stereo recordings of "Ol Man River" and "What'd I Say" from the "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" album. Rather surprising in this day and age, that this couldn't be removed.
However, with the inclusion of the mono recordings of these tracks, they can be listened to without the distracting noise.
Alternate issue of the Greatest Hits album
The Righteous Brothers Greatest
Hits by Phil Spector - 1981 Verve 18MM 0585 Japan
At first glance this very rare 1981 Japanese vinyl album might appear
to be the very familiar Righteous Brothers classic "Greatest Hits" album,
originally issued in 1967 and reissued many times since then.
However, on this 1981 Japanese issue, the track listing has been changed
to include B sides of the Righteous Brothers Philles singles not originally
included on the Greatest Hits album, "There's A Woman" "The Blues" and
"She's Mine All Mine" plus two Bill Medley solos from the Philles "Back
To Back" album, "Without A Doubt" and "Loving You".
Even though the title has been extended to be the "Righteous Brothers
Greatest Hits BY PHIL SPECTOR", as the changes have been made using
the identical styling and original typeface, a casual viewing of the
album cover can result in it being overlooked.
The back cover utilizes the original layout of the Righteous Brothers
1969 "Greatest Hits Vol.2" album, including the two photos
of Bill Medley and Bobby Hatfield.
Track Listing;
You've Lost That Lovin Feelin
Just Once In My Life
Loving You
(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons
Hung On You
Ebb Tide
Unchained Melody
Without A Doubt
The Blues
White Cliffs Of Dover
She's Mine All Mine
There's A Woman
Withdrawn UK Just Once In My Life single
In the UK the follow up to "You've Lost
That Lovin Feelin", "Just Once In My Life"/"The Blues", was released
in April 1965 on London American HL9962 and then rather abruptly withdrawn
by Decca. It was a controversial decision at the time, one of the reasons
given in the music press at the time was "technical reasons", which
could amount to anything.
It has been well documented that demonstration copies of the single
were released before the withdrawal. Since then several had been in
circulation, though very rare.
No regular copies of this release were thought to have existed but in
the past few years copies have surfaced.
In June 1966, just over a year after the initial release, "Just Once
In My Life"/"The Blues" was finally released by Decca on London American
HL10066. There are no differences between the recordings of either issue.
Some mis-informed record sellers are trying to sell the London American
HL10066 issue by claiming it is the withdrawn issue, something to be
aware of before buying or bidding on the item.