From the archives of my Those Were the Days radio show today we go back to 1992 and an interview with Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Bill Medley of the Righteous Brothers. Bill joined me by phone just ahead of a show in Wisconsin. At the time, they were fresh off Unchained Melody making the Billboard charts again after it was used in the movie 'Ghost' in 1990.
Bill Medley had a number one in 1987 with Jennifer Warnes when they teamed for 'Dirty Dancing's' theme (I've Had) The Time of My Life. He had a few country chart hits in the 80's. 'I Still Do' from 1984 was the biggest.
During my time on the phone with Bill, he talked about some of the Righteous Brothers best known songs.
Bobby Hatfield was born in 1940 in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. He joined 'Rock and Roll Heaven' on November 5th, 2003.
Bill Medley talked about the many artists that they worked with that were mentioned in the original hit which was a comeback single for the duo in 1974.
The Righteous Brothers had a unique sound - truly a case of two great vocalists who complimented each other during the course of each music endeavor.
"Little Latin Lupe Lu" (#47, 1963), "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' (#1, 1965), "Just Once In My Life" (#9, 1965), "Unchained Melody" (#4, 1965), "Hung On You" (#43, 1965), "Ebb Tide" (#4, 1966), "You're My Soul And Inspiration" (#1, 1966), "He" (#15, 1966), "Go Ahead And Cry" (#23, 1966), "On This Side Of Goodbye" (#45, 1966), "Melancholy Music Man" (#43, 1967), "Rock And Roll Heaven" (#3, 1974), "Give It To The People" (#20, 1974), "Dream On" (#32, 1974) and "Unchained Melody" (#13 for the re-released original version from the film "Ghost" and #19 for a newly recorded version that competed with it on the charts at the same time!) all made The National Top 50 in a career that spanned over thirty years. (And then, of course, Bill Medley reaching #1 again in 1987 with "I've Had The Time Of My Life," his duet with Jennifer Warnes from the big closing dance number in "Dirty Dancing," a film that still seems to air continuously 24/7 all these years later. A pretty remarkable career to say the least! (kk)
Alan O'Day became a good friend of Forgotten Hits - we shared some great moments together - so naturally I was devastated when I learned of his passing in 2013.
Another good friend of FH, Dawn Lee Wakefield, wrote this at the time ... which tells a little bit of the history as to how the song "Rock And Roll Heaven" actually came about ...
On Sunday, May 19, when Kent
Kotal’s Forgotten Hits blog announced the passing of singer/songwriter Alan O’Day, thanks to the
information from oldies music writer Ron Smith, sharing the news, the first song
that came to mind was “Rock and Roll Heaven.” Alan O’Day had left us for the
very place he’d written of long ago.
The history of “Rock and Roll
Heaven” begins with iconic record producer Artie Wayne, who
tells a story better than most, and who was once at the very epicenter of all
rock music at Warner Brothers Music, as general professional manager (among
other titles). It was at Artie’s suggestion
that songwriter Johnny
Stevenson take his (then) new song, “Rock and Roll Heaven,” and collaborate with
Warner songwriter Alan O’Day and “turn it into a tribute to rock stars who have
passed away.”
