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"You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" is a 1964 song by The Righteous Brothers which became a number-one hit single in the United States and the United Kingdom the following year. In 1999, the performing-rights organization Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) ranked the song as having had more radio and television play in the United States than any other song during the 20th century.[2] Additionally, the song was chosen as one of the Songs of the Century by RIAA and ranked #34 on the list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time by Rolling Stone.


Writing, recording and public reception[edit source | editbeta][]

Written by Barry MannPhil Spector and Cynthia Weil, the song is one of the foremost examples of producer Phil Spector's "Wall of Sound" technique. Recorded in Studio A of the famedGold Star Studios in Los Angeles, it features 'The Wrecking Crew' instrumentally and lead vocals by Bill MedleyBobby Hatfield reportedly expressed his annoyance to Spector upon learning that he would have to wait until the chorus before joining Medley’s vocals. When Hatfield asked Spector just what he was supposed to do during Medley’s solo, Spector replied: “You can go straight to the fucking bank.”[3] The strings were arranged by legendary arranger Gene Page. Among the background singers in the song's crescendo is a young Cher. The form of the song is the tried and true pop song form of verse-chorus-verse-chorus-bridge-chorus or ABABCB form.[4]

Cynthia Weil recalled that, "After Phil, Barry and I finished [writing it], we took it over to the Righteous Brothers. Bill Medley, who has the low voice, seemed to like the song."[5] Even with his interest in the song, however, Medley had his doubts. In an interview with Rolling Stone magazine, he recalled, "We had no idea if it would be a hit. It was too slow, too long, and right in the middle of The Beatles and the British Invasion." Indeed, the song ran for nearly four minutes when released. This was much too long by contemporary AM standards, but Spector refused to cut it shorter. On the label where the time is indicated, he had "3:05" printed, instead of the track's actual running time of 3:45. He also added a false ending which made the recording more dramatic, and would also trick radio deejays into thinking it was a shorter song. Upon being played the finished record over the phone, co-writer Barry Mann reacted to Medley’s deep baritone by telling Spector, “Phil, you have it on the wrong speed!”[5]

To Spector's surprise,[1] "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" topped the Billboard Hot 100 dated 6 February 1965 and remained at #1 the week of 13 February 1965. In addition the song crossed over to the R&B charts peaking at number two.[6]

Preceded by

"Downtown" by Petula Clark

Billboard Hot 100 number-one single (The Righteous Brothers version)

February 6, 1965 (two Weeks)

Succeeded by

"This Diamond Ring" by Gary Lewis & the Playboys

In the UK[edit source | editbeta][]

"You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'"
Single by Cilla Black
B-side "Is It Love"
Genre PopR&Bblue-eyed soul
Length 3:09
Label Parlophone
Writer(s) Phil SpectorBarry MannCynthia Weil
Producer George Martin
Cilla Black singles chronology
"It's for You"

(1964)

"You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'"

(1965)

"I've Been Wrong Before"

(1965)

The Righteous Brothers' "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" debuted at #35 on the UK Top 40 chart dated 16 January 1965: on the same chart a rival version by Cilla Black debuted at #28. Black had become a recording star by covering Dionne Warwick's newly released American hit "Anyone Who Had a Heart" for the UK market with a resultant #1 in February 1964; Black's producerGeorge Martin had repeated the strategy that had given Black her first #1 hit by having the songtress cover the Righteous Brothers new American release "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling". (Black's version had an abbreviated bridge which she explained saying: "I don't want people to get bored";[7] the abridgment also removed the necessity of Black's attempting to match the Righteous Brothers' climactic vocal trade-off.)The 24 January chart saw Black remain in ascendancy at #12 while the Righteous Brothers at #20 but while the 6 February chart saw Black jump to #2 the Righteous Brothers made a larger jump to #3 powered by a full-page ad Andrew Oldham had run in Melody Maker:

"This advert is not for commercial gain, it is taken as something that must be said about the great new PHIL SPECTOR Record, THE RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS singing "YOU'VE LOST THAT LOVIN' FEELING". Already in the American Top Ten, this is Spector's greatest production, the last word in Tomorrow's sound Today, exposing the overall mediocrity of the Music Industry. Signed, Andrew Oldham"[8]

The UK Top 40 dated 20 February saw the Righteous Brothers' "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" at #1 - it would remain there 27 February - while Black's version began its descent dropping to #5. Although Black's version of "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" would prove to be her highest charting UK single apart from her two #1's: "Anyone Who Had a Heart" and "You're My World", and also reached #2 in Australia - where the Righteous Brothers' version was also a hit at #5 - the eclipse of Black's version by the original did usher in a downtime in Black's recording career: after the followup "I've Been Wrong Before" fell short of the Top Ten at #17 in the spring of 1965 Black spent the remainder of the year concentrating on performing and resumed recording only at the start of 1966 when "Love's Just a Broken Heart" (#5) began the most successful year of her recording career.

Cilla Black remade "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" for her 1985 Surprisingly Cilla album.

The Righteous Brothers' "You've Lost that Lovin' Feelin'" is the only single to enter the UK Top 10 three times, having successful re-releases in 1969 (#10) and 1990 (#3), the last release being to follow-up the re-release of "Unchained Melody", which had hit #1 due to being featured in the film Ghost. "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" also reached #42 after a 1977 re-release and in 1988 reached #87.

Nottingham Forest FC fans frequently sing this to taunt away fans after Nottingham Forest score

Hall & Oates' US Top 20 remake of "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" in 1980 was a minor UK hit at #55. More successful was Telly Savalas' 1975 version which reached #47; Savalas' single was the follow-up to his novelty #1 "If" and was similarly talked rather than sung.

Preceded by

"Go Now" by The Moody Blues

UK number-one single (The Righteous Brothers version)

February 4, 1965 (two weeks)

Succeeded by

"Tired of Waiting for You" by The Kinks

Other versions[edit source | editbeta][]

Other hit versions[edit source | editbeta][]

"You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling"
Single by Dionne Warwick
from the album Soulful
B-side "Window Wishing"
Genre PopR&B
Length 3:02
Label Scepter Records
Writer(s) Phil SpectorBarry MannCynthia Weil
Producer Chips MomanDionne Warwick
Dionne Warwick singles chronology
"Odds and Ends"

(1969)

"You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling'"

(1969)

"I'll Never Fall in Love Again"

(1970)

"You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'"
[1]
Single by Hall & Oates
from the album Voices
B-side "Diddy Doo Wop (I Hear The Voices)"
Released September 27, 1980
Format 7"
Recorded 1979
Genre Blue-eyed soulsoft rock
Length 4:10
Label RCA
Producer Daryl Hall & John Oates
Hall & Oates singles chronology
"How Does It Feel to Be Back"

(1980)

"You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'"

(1980)

"Kiss on My List"

(1981)

In the Netherlands "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" reached #8 in March 1965 with three versions ranked in tandem: the versions by the Righteous Brothers and Cilla Black plus a local coverby Trea Dobbs (Nl).

"You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling" was the only single released off Soulful, a 1969 release aimed to showcase Dionne Warwick as more of an R&B singer than was evidenced by her work withBurt Bacharach. Co-produced by Warwick and Chips Moman and recorded at American Sound Studios in Memphis, TennesseeSoulful was one of Warwick's most successful albums with a #11 peak and the single "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling" peaked at #16 on the Billboard Hot 100. In Australia the Go-Set Top 40 chart ranked Warwick's version of "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling" with a #34 peak in January 1970.[1] (Warwick's version spells the last word of the title out fully as "feeling" rather than the usual "feelin'".)

Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway's self-titled 1972 album featured a version of "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" which was released as the second single after the Top 30 version of "You've Got a Friend". The Flack/Hathaway take on "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" reached #30 R&B with a Billboard Hot 100 peak of #71 (Cash Box Top 100 Singles peak was #57;Record World100 Pop Chart rank peak was #53). [2][3][dead link]

In 1979 Long John Baldry remade the song as "You've Lost That Loving Feeling'" on Baldry's Out, the Jimmy Horowitz-produced disc which was Baldry's first recording in his newly adopted homeland of Canada. This version is performed as a duet with Kathi McDonald, who in singing the latter half of the first and second verse inverts the usual order. Released as a single, the mild Canadian chart success (#45) of Baldry's "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" spilled over into the US charts at #89. However the track did reach #2 in Australia in 1980 and Bill Medley of the Righteous Brothers has called the Baldry/McDonald version the best remake of "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'". Baldry had first recorded the song - as "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" - for his 1966 album Looking at Long John. The Baldry/McDonald duet version of "You've Lost That Loving Feeling" also reached #37 in New Zealand.

The 1980 Hall & Oates Voices album featured a remake of "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" with a spare arrangement contrasting with the lavish Righteous Brothers version; the second non-original song Hall & Oates had ever recorded, the track was issued as the album's second single after the original "How Does It Feel to Be Back" peaked at a disappointing #30. The November peak of #12 made "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" the first Hall & Oates single to ascend higher than #20 since the #1 hit "Rich Girl" in the spring of 1977. The Hall & Oates comeback which began with "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" was strengthened by the follow-up single "Kiss on My List" which inaugurated the duo's 80s superstardom attaining a #1 chart position and refocusing attention on Hall & Oates' original material.

In 1986 a remake of "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" by Grant & Forsyth (formerly of Guys 'n' Dolls) reached #48 in the Netherlands, where the song was a #57 chart item in 2002 for André Hazes & Johnny Logan.

Günther Neefs reached #31 on the Belgian charts (Flemish region) with his 1996 recording "You've Lost That Loving Feeling".

"You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" charted C&W at #41 for Barbara Fairchild in 1975 while in 1988 Carroll Baker took the song to #8 on the C&W chart in Canada.

Other notable versions[edit source | editbeta][]

Barry Mann has twice recorded his composition "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'", the first time on his 1971 album Lay It All Out and on Soul and Inspiration a 2000 Atlantic release comprising Mann's own renditions of his classic songs.

In 1969, Bill Medley produced a version of "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" for the Blossoms who'd provided background vocals on the Righteous Brothers' hit: the Blossoms' track was released as single Bell 780. Medley himself remade "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" for his 1971 A Song For You album.

Glen Campbell who was the rhythm guitarist along with 'The Wrecking Crew' members, on the Righteous Brothers' version of "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" cut his own version of the song; it first appeared on the 1999 album My Hits and Love Songs.

The concert movie The Big T.N.T. Show filmed at the Moulin Rouge in Los Angeles 29 November 1965 features Joan Baez singing "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" to the piano accompaniment of Phil Spector.

Elvis Presley covered the song with Zane Ashton's (aka Bill Aken) unique arrangement on his 1970 live album & concert film That's the Way It Is. Presley's version was reprised for his 1972 album Elvis: As Recorded at Madison Square Garden.

The song was featured in the movie Top Gun, sung by Maverick (played by Tom Cruise) to Charlie (portrayed by Kelly McGillis) in a bar.

Phil Collins performed "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" at the Princes Trust Rock Gala in 1987.

During the Main Event Tour of Australia in 1998, the headliners John FarnhamOlivia Newton-John and Anthony Warlow joined vocal forces on "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'"; the performance was included on the 1999 album release Highlights from The Main Event.

Reggae versions of "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" have been cut by Lorna Bennettthe BlackstonesDennis Brown, Ray Darwin, the Heptones and Sugar Minott.

Instrumental versions have been recorded by Acker BilkPaul BrettFania All-StarsFloyd CramerSonny CrissKing CurtisJohnny HarrisShake KeaneJames LastLincoln Mayorga,Junior ManceBill PursellBoots RandolphJohn Schroeder, and Kai Winding.

Other versions (table)[edit source | editbeta][]

ARTIST RECORDING INFO YEAR
The Ambassadors Soul Summit (Arctic) 1969
Richard Anthony À Londres (Columbia) 1965
Fontella Bass The New Look (Chess) 1965
The Boogie Kings The Boogie Kings (Montel Michelle) 1965
Pat Boone Great Hits of 1965 (Dot) 1966
Mike Brant released on Mike Brant - 20ème Anniversaire de Mike Brant (EMI) 1995
Ann Hampton Callaway/

Liz Callaway

Boom! Live at Birdland (Ps Classics) 2011
David Campbell Good Lovin' (Sony)/ track features Jimmy Barnes 2008
The Charmels "Lovin' Feeling" (Volt 4004) 1971
Howard Carpendale Nr.1 (Columbia) 1970
Checkmates, Ltd. Live at Caesar's Palace (Capitol) 1967
Tony Christie With Loving Feeling (MCA) 1973
The Contours Great Dirty Dancing Hits released 1998 (Goldies Records) 1988/ recorded for Motorcity Records
Delaney & Bonnie Genesis (GNP CrescendoLondon Records) 1971 c.1967-8/ produced by Leon Russell
Neil Diamond Up on the Roof: Songs from the Brill Building (Columbia)/ track features Dolly Parton/ produced by Peter Asher 1993
Dino (it) "Ma c'e' un momento del giorno" (Italian lyric by Franco Migliacci) B-side of "Il ballo della bussola" (ARCit AN 4044 ) 1965
Denny Doherty Waiting For a Song (Ember)/ background vocals by Cass Elliot & Michelle Phillips 1974
Anita Dobson On My Own (Telstar) 1986
Katja Ebstein "Hab ich dich schon verloren" (German lyric by Peter Moesser) Wir leben - wer lieben (United Artists) 1972
Stephan Eicher Les Chansons Bleues (Virgin) 1983
Ann-Mette Elten (da) Close to You (RecArt Music) 1999
Erasure Other People's Songs (Mute) 2003
The Firm The Firm (Atlantic) 1985
Morgan Fisher Hybrid Kids Vol.1: a Collection of Classic Mutants (Cherry Red)/ track credited to Atom, R.W. 1979
The Flying Pickets Lost Boys (Virgin) 1984
Anita Harris Just Loving You (CBS) 1967
David Hasselhoff Sings America (Edel)/ track features Marilyn Martin 2002
Isaac Hayes ...To Be Continued ("Monologue/ Ike's Mood/ You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'") (Stax) 1970
Lee Hazlewood & Nancy Sinatra Nancy & Lee (Reprise) 1968
Vince Hill That Loving Feeling ("You've Lost That Loving Feeling") (K-tel) 1978
Peter Hofmann Peter Hofmann 2 - Ivory Man: Songs & Ballads' (CBS) 1984
The Human League Reproduction ("Morale...You've Lost That Loving Feeling") (Virgin) 1979
Etta James first released on The Chess Box (Chess) 2000
Tom Jones Tom (Parrot) 1970
Jussi (fi) & Boys (fi) & Friends Kehä Kaartuu ("You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling") (Scandiafi) 1975
The Kendalls Meet the Kendalls (Stop) 1971
Gladys Knight & the Pips Silk & Soul (Gordy) 1968
Legs Diamond Cream 7831/ Fire Power (Cream) 1978
Vicky Leandros Ich Gehe Neue Wege ("You've Lost That Loving Feeling") (Phonogram) 1981
The Lettermen Hit Sounds of the Lettermen (Capitol) 1965
Helmut Lotti My Tribute To The King (Electrola) 2002
The Lovelites released on The Lovelite Years (Lovelite/Chi-City) 1999 c.1970-72
M & M Get Ta Know Ya Betta (Atlantic) 1992
Siw Malmkvist Underbara Siw ("Vart Tog Din Kärlek Vägen" - Swedish lyrics by Stig Anderson) (Metronome 1970
Barry Manilow Greatest Songs of the 60s (Arista) 2006
Barbara McNair The Real Barbara McNair (Motown) 1969
Juice Newton Duets, Friends & Memories (Fuel 2000)/ track features Melissa Manchester released 2010
Chris Norman Break the Ice (Polydor) 1989
The Osmonds The Osmonds Live (MGM) 1972
Freda Payne How Do You Say I Don't Love You Anymore (MGM) 1966
Gene Pitney Golden Greats (Musicor) 1968
The Pozo-Seco Singers Time (Columbia) 1966
Billy Preston Early Hits of 1965 (Vee-Jay) 1965
Aarno Raninen "Kaikki Siitä Kertoo" (Finnish lyric by Aarno Raninen) (RCA FAS 973 ) 1967
Lou Rawls Philadelphia International 70051/ Shades of Blue (Philadelphia International) 1981
Vivian Reed "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'/ "Soul & InspirationEpic 10382 1968
Martha Reeves The Rest of My Life (Arista) 1977
Cliff Richard Japan Tour '74 (EMI) 1975
Johnny Rivers ...and i know you wanna dance (Imperial) 1966
Smokey Robinson & the Miracles Four in Blue (Motown) 1969
Kenny Rogers & Dottie West Classics (United Artists) 1979
The Rokes (it) The Rokes - Volume 2 ("Ma c'e' un momento del giorno"/ Italian lyric by Franco Migliacci) (ARC-SA 8) 1966
John Rowles That Lovin' Feeling ("You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling") (MCA) 1969
The Sangin' Cowboys Dead Sexy (DGC Entertainment) 2011
Seija Simola Aranjuez Mon Amour - Näkemiin ("Kaikki Siitä Kertoo"/ Finnish lyric by Aarno Raninen) (RCA Victor) 1970
Andee Silver "You've Lost That Loving Feeling" (Decca Mo 717)/ produced by Juan Pardo (es) (Silver's husband) 1969
Spring Fever

(Jackie Lynton & Andee Silver)

B-side of "My World Could Be Your World" (Decca F 23023)/ produced by Juan Pardo (es) (Silver's husband) 1970
Unit 4+2 Concrete & Clay (London) 1965
Johnny and Edgar Winter Together: Edgar Winter and Johnny Winter Live (Blue Sky) 1976
Vanity Fare The Sun, The Wind & Other Things (Page One) 1968
Westlife The Love Album ("You've Lost That Loving Feeling") (RCA) 2006
Roger Whittaker I Will Always Love You (RCA) 1994
Iris Williams The Many Moods Of Iris Williams ("You've Lost That Loving Feeling") (CBW) 1977
Maurice Williams & the Zodiacs At the Beach (Snyder) 1965
Brian Wilson first released on In My Room (Invasion Unlimited) 1998 1976
Nancy Wilson Today - My Way (Capitol) 1965
Timi Yuro All Alone Am I (Dureco Benelux) 1981
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