Tuesday September 22, 2020 “You’ve Lost That Lovin Feeling” Hall & Oates

The most frequently played radio song of all time.

Written by Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann “You’ve Lost That Lovin Feeling” was Phil Spector’s first real ‘wall of sound’ production venture with dozens of vocalist and musicians jammed into the Gold Star studio, before engineers had seriously begun mult-tracking so it was all recorded ‘live’ 

When the Righteous Brother’s version was first presented to DJs with the opening vocals done with Bill Medley’s deep rich voice the response was that the record was playing at the wrong speed (remember when records had different speeds).

John Oates who doesn’t often get to sing lead with John & Darryl  does his best Bill Medley imitation on this tune at least for a few opening lines and the Hall & Oates boys with their amazing backing band do a fine Righteous Brothers interpretation.  After all why fool with the kind of success the song already had.  

Both versions were number one songs and I am guessing that the Righteous Brothers, John & Darryl, Cynthia, Barry and Phil (except that he is in prison) are all living quite comfortably on the continuing royalties of this one song which in addition to its frequent radio play has also been included in TV and movies.  Think Top Gun for instance.

Here's a link to the original in case you have forgotten it.

Stay safe and well...and don’t ever lose that loving feeling.

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

But baby, baby I know it

 You lost that lovin' feelin'

Whoa, that lovin' feelin'

You lost that lovin' feelin'

Now it's gone, gone, gone, whoa-oh

 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

'Cause baby, something beautiful's dyin'

 You lost that lovin' feelin'

Whoa, that lovin' feelin'

You lost that lovin' feelin'

Now it's gone, gone, gone, whoa-oh

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 you please, please, please, please

I need your love, 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, 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, whoa-oh

 Bring back that lovin' feelin'

Whoa, that lovin' feelin'