They adopted their name in 1962 while performing together around Los Angeles, USA as part of a five-member group called The Paramours, which featured John Wimber (who was much later one of the founders of the Vineyard Movement) on keyboards.
Hatfield and Medley both possessed exceptional vocal talent, with range, control, and tone that helped them create a strong and distinct duet sound (and perform as soloists). Medley sang the low parts with his deep, soulful baritone, with Hatfield taking the higher register vocals with his soaring tenor. They gained their name when an African-American Marine shouted out "That was righteous, brothers" at the end of a show. John Wimber, one of the founding leaders of the Vineyard Movement, played the keyboard in the band.
Their first major hit single was "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" in 1965. Produced by Phil Spector, the record is often cited as one of the peak expressions of Spector's Wall of Sound production techniques. It was one of the most successful pop singles of its time, despite exceeding the standard length for radio play. Indeed, "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" remains the most played song in radio history, estimated to have been broadcast over 8 million times to date. A little known fact about this song was that Spector utilized Sonny and Cher as back-up singers.
They had several other Spector-produced hit singles during the 1960s, including "Ebb Tide" and "Unchained Melody" in 1965 and "(You're My) Soul and Inspiration" in 1966.
Soul and Inspiration was produced by Bill Medley for Verve Records. Phil Spector was not involved with this recording in any way, shape or form. Also, although it is credited to Phil Spector, Bill Medley produced "Unchained Melody". Medley produced the B-Side for the singles and Spector handled the production work on the A-Side. The A-Side for "Unchained Melody" was the single "Hung on You" produced by Phil Spector although it was the B-Side that ended up being the hit.
In the Midnight Hour
The Righteous Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That's when my love comes tumblin' down
I'm gonna wait 'til the midnight hour
When there's no one else around
I'm gonna take you girl and hold you
And do all the things I told you
In the midnight hour
Yes I am, oh, yes, I am
I'm gonna wait 'til the stars come out
And see that twinkle in your eyes
I'm gonna wait 'til the midnight hour
That's when my love begins to shine
You're the only girl I know
That really loves me so
In the midnight hour
Oh, yeah, in the midnight hour
(Yeah! All right - play it for me one time now)
I'm gonna wait til the midnight hour
That's when my love comes tumblin' down
I'm gonna wait 'til the midnight hour
When there's no one else around
Just you and I oh, baby, hah!
Just you and I nobody around, baby, just you and I
All right
You know what?
I'm gonna hold you in my arms
The lyrics to The Righteous Brothers' song "In The Midnight Hour" speak of waiting until the late hours of the night to be with the one he loves. The lyrics evoke a sense of secrecy and intimacy, as the singer waits for the world to quiet down and for the stars to come out before he can be with his loved one. The lines "I'm gonna take you girl and hold you, And do all the things I told you" further emphasize the intimacy these two are sharing in the midnight hour. The repetition of the phrase "in the midnight hour" emphasizes the significance and importance of the time of day, suggesting that there is something special and magical about this time.
The lyrics also suggest that this love may not be publicly accepted or approved. The line "When there's no one else around" implies that the singer does not want anyone else to know about their love or be present when they are together. The fact that they are only able to be together in the late hours of the night suggests that their love may be considered taboo by society.
All in all, "In The Midnight Hour" is a song about the intimate love shared between two people who may not be able to express their love freely in the light of day, but find solace and joy in the late hours of the night.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm gonna wait til the midnight hour
I'll be patient until midnight
That's when my love comes tumblin' down
That's when my emotions intensify
I'm gonna wait 'til the midnight hour
I'm going to hold off until midnight
When there's no one else around
When we'll be alone together
I'm gonna take you girl and hold you
I'm going to embrace you
And do all the things I told you
I'll follow through on my promises
In the midnight hour
Late at night
Yes I am, oh, yes, I am
That's exactly what I'm going to do
I'm gonna wait 'til the stars come out
I'll continue to wait until nightfall
And see that twinkle in your eyes
And notice the sparkle in your gaze
That's when my love begins to shine
That's when my affection becomes evident
You're the only girl I know
I haven't met anyone else like you
That really loves me so
Who loves me as much as you do
Oh, yeah, in the midnight hour
In the late hours of the night
Just you and I oh, baby, hah!
Only you and I, my beloved
Just you and I nobody around, baby, just you and I
Alone with each other, no one else present
All right
Okay
You know what?
Can I tell you something?
I'm gonna hold you in my arms
I'll embrace you tightly
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Wilson Pickett, Steve Cropper
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind