He was versatile enough to do folk songs, blues, covers of old-time Rock n' roll songs, and some original material, all of them in his own unique style. Rivers's greatest success came in the mid and late 1960s with a string of hit songs (including "Seventh Son," "Poor Side of Town" and "Secret Agent Man") but he has continued to record and perform to the present.
In 1960, Rivers met fellow Louisianan, James Burton, the guitar player for Ricky Nelson. Burton later recommended one of Rivers's songs to Nelson, who went on to record it. In 1961, Rivers went to Los Angeles to meet Nelson, and ended up relocating there, working as a song writer and studio musician. In 1963, Rivers's big break came when he temporarily filled in for a jazz combo at Bill Gazzari's night club; the temporary gig became long-term due to positive customer response.
In 1964, Elmer Valentine then gave Rivers a one-year contract to open his new club, Whisky a Go Go, on Sunset Strip in West Hollywood. The Whisky opened three days before The Beatles released "I Want To Hold Your Hand" and the British Invasion knocked almost every American artist off the top of the charts. But Rivers was so popular, producer Lou Adler decided to issue Johnny Rivers Live At The Whiskey A Go Go. The live album reached #12 on the charts and the single "Memphis" (a Chuck Berry cover) reached #2. Rivers made the successful transition from nightclub entertainer to chart-busting pop singer and had created the Go Go sound, part of a scene which included Go-Go dancers.
Into 1965, Rivers continued to record mostly live, Go Go style records including "Maybellene" (another Berry cover), which he followed "Mountain of Love", "Midnight Special", "Seventh Son" (written by Willie Dixon) e "Where Have All The Flowers Gone" (with Pete Seeger's), all of which were hits.
Rivers wanted to try something different and adopted a more idiosyncratic approach as from 1966. Characterized by his smooth, soulful voice, he produced hit portrayals as "Poor Side Of Town", which would be his biggest hit ever and his only number one record. Into another hit was "Secret Agent Man", the theme from Secret Agent television series (written by P.F. Sloan and Steve Barri). He also started own record company, Soul City Records, where he won a Grammy Award as the producer of the 5th Dimension, which eventually recorded "Aquarius/Let The Sun Shine In" and "Wedding Bell Blues", two number one hits on Rivers' label. Johnny is also credited with giving songwriter Jimmy Webb a major break when they recorded Webb's song "Up, Up, and Away". James Hendricks, one of the artists of that signed with Soul City, wrote "Summer Rain", a song that Rivers recorded and turned a hit.
Johnny Rivers continued to record more hits, including "Baby I Need Your Lovin'" and "The Tracks of My Tears" (cover of The Miracles), both top 10 in 1967. In 1968, Rivers released what many fans consider his best album, Realization, a number five album on the LP charts. The album was evocative of the psychedelic influences of the time and marked a subtle change in his musical direction, with more thoughtful types of songs, included such ballads as "Going Back to Big Sur".
In the 1970s, Rivers continued to record more songs and albums which were a success with music critics, but did not sell as well as some of his earlier hits. One of these albums, "L.A. Reggae" in 1972, reached the LP charts as a result of the top 10 "Rockin' Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu" (a cover of Huey Smith & the Clowns). Anothers hits that time were "Blue Suede Shoes" (a cover of Carl Perkins), in 1973, which would reach the top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100, and "Help Me Rhonda", in 1975 - a cover of The Beach Boys on which Brian Wilson helped with backup vocals. His last entry on the charts was "Swayin' to the Music (Slow Dancing)", a top ten hit in 1977.
1980's until nowadays
Rivers continued recording into the '80's, although his recording career wound down somewhat. In spite of his music hasn't reached the best seller charts for quite a while, Rivers is still touring, doing 50 to 60 shows a year, increasingly returning to the blues that inspired him initially.
In 1998], Rivers reactivated his Soul City imprint and released Last Train to Memphis, his first new studio album in 15 years.
In early 2000, Johnny recorded with Eric Clapton, Tom Petty, and Paul McCartney on a tribute album dedicated to Buddy Holly's backup band, "The Crickets".
In all, Rivers had 9 top ten hits on the Billboard Hot 100 and 17 in the top 40 from 1964 to 1977. In total, he has sold well over 25 million records.
You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'
Johnny Rivers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You never close your eyes
Anymore when I kiss your lips.
And there's no tenderness
Like before in your fingertips.
You're trying hard not to show it, (baby).
But baby, baby I know it...
You've lost that lovin' feelin',
Whoa, that lovin' feelin',
You've lost that lovin' feelin',
Now it's gone...gone...gone...wooooooh.
Now there's no welcome look
In your eyes when I reach for you.
And now you're starting to
Criticize little things I do.
It makes me just feel like crying, (baby).
'Cause baby, something beautiful's dyin'.
You lost that lovin' feelin',
Whoa, that lovin' feelin',
You've lost that lovin' feelin',
Now it's gone...gone...gone...woooooah
Baby, baby, I'd get down on my knees for you.
If you would only love me like you used to do, yeah.
We had a love...a love...a love you don't find everyday.
So don't...don't...don't...don't let it slip away.
Baby (baby), baby (baby),
I beg of you please (please), please (please)
I need your love (I need your love), I need your love (I need your love),
So bring it on back (So bring it on back),
Bring it on back (so bring it on back).
Bring back that lovin' feelin',
Whoa, that lovin' feelin'
Bring back that lovin' feelin',
'Cause it's gone...gone...gone,
And I can't go on,
Woh-oh-oh-oh
Bring back that lovin' feelin',
Whoa, that lovin' feelin'
Bring back that lovin' feelin',
'Cause it's gone...gone...gone...
And I can't go on.. wooooah
The song "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" by the Righteous Brothers, became a huge hit and was, in fact, the most played song of the 20th century in the United States. It was written by Barry Mann, Phil Spector, and Cynthia Weil and released in 1964. The song is a haunting ballad that tells the story of a relationship that is slowly falling apart. The lyrics are full of sorrow and desperation as the singer pleads with his lover to bring back the passion and emotion that they once shared.
In the first verse, the singer realizes that something has changed in his relationship. His lover is no longer responsive to his kisses and there is no tenderness in her touch. He can tell that she is trying to hide the fact that she no longer feels the same way about him, but he knows the truth. The chorus echoes his sadness as he admits that the "lovin' feelin'" is gone and he fears that it will never return.
The second verse reveals that his lover is now critical of him and no longer welcomes his affection. He is frustrated and sad as he feels that something "beautiful" is dying between them. The bridge of the song is a plea to his lover to bring back the love that they once shared. He is willing to do anything to save their relationship and begs her to love him like she used to. The song ends with a repetition of the chorus and the singer admitting that he cannot go on without the love that he once had.
Line by Line Meaning
You never close your eyes Anymore when I kiss your lips.
You don't show any interest or passion when I kiss you anymore.
And there's no tenderness Like before in your fingertips.
You don't touch me with the same affection as before.
You're trying hard not to show it, (baby). But baby, baby I know it...
Even though you're trying to hide it, I can still feel that you're distant from me.
You've lost that lovin' feelin', Whoa, that lovin' feelin', You've lost that lovin' feelin', Now it's gone...gone...gone...wooooooh.
You've lost your love for me and it's gone now, it's disappeared.
Now there's no welcome look In your eyes when I reach for you.
When I try to be close to you, I can see in your eyes that you're not happy to see me there.
And now you're starting to Criticize little things I do.
You're becoming more critical of me and it's starting to wear down our relationship.
It makes me just feel like crying, (baby). 'Cause baby, something beautiful's dyin'.
Your behavior is hurting me and it feels like we're losing something beautiful.
Baby, baby, I'd get down on my knees for you. If you would only love me like you used to do, yeah.
I would do anything for you if you would show me the same love and affection you used to.
So don't...don't...don't...don't let it slip away.
Don't let our love fade away, we need to work on it.
Bring back that lovin' feelin', Whoa, that lovin' feelin' Bring back that lovin' feelin', 'Cause it's gone...gone...gone...
We need to bring back the love we used to have, because it's gone now.
And I can't go on, Woh-oh-oh-oh Bring back that lovin' feelin', Whoa, that lovin' feelin' Bring back that lovin' feelin', 'Cause it's gone...gone...gone...
I can't continue like this, we need to revive our love for each other.
Contributed by Maria J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@marcelorodrigues5483
Quem está ouvindo essa linda música na voz do Johnny Rivers em 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026 e por aí vai? Diga de que cidade é, e dê um like. 👍👍
@rosangelasouza1012
Euzinha
@jaircoelhojair
Eu também. Praia Grande- SP.
@rochabala24rocha43
A canção que embalou minha vida
@anderson50214
❤❤❤❤❤❤ aqui❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤😂😂❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤😂@@jaircoelhojair
@MarciaMaria-ws9fj
2024....Elvis tbm cantava essa música qdo jovem e eu criança
@josenaldosousa5690
Tenho 63 anos essa sempre foi e e minha meus tempos dourados 🤣🤣❤️👍
@sandraregina676
Nossa, tempo maravilhoso! romantismo na flor da pele. Ouvia música de verdade rsrs.Só saudades😊
@erabiopereiradasilva7271
Johnny Rivers é inegavelmente uma lenda viva do romantismo e da música de altissima qualidade. Me entristece ver jovens nos tempos de hoje ouvindo verdadeiros lixos sonoros.
@jeanrocha1040
Tempo maravilhoso...Nosso ouvido era muito bem tratado...👏👏👏👏💕