(You're My) Soul and Inspiration
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| “(You're My) Soul and Inspiration” | |||||
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| Single by The Righteous Brothers from the album Soul and Inspiration |
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| B-side | "B-Side Blues" | ||||
| Released | April 1966 | ||||
| Format | 7" single | ||||
| Genre | Pop, Rock and Roll, Blue-eyed soul | ||||
| Length | 3:22 | ||||
| Label | Verve | ||||
| Writer(s) | Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil | ||||
| Producer | Bill Medley | ||||
| The Righteous Brothers singles chronology | |||||
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"(You're My) Soul And Inspiration" was the first major hit for the Righteous Brothers after parting ways with their long time producer, Phil Spector, as well as the title track to the album [1]. The single peaked at #1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and the Canadian CHUM Charts as well as reaching #15 on the UK Singles Chart.
After leaving Spector's Philles Records in late 1965, citing personal difficulties with the producer [2], the duo made the jump to the mostly jazz-oriented Verve label and teamed up with Songwriters Hall of Famers, Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, who were then part of the legendary Brill Building pop machine in New York City[3]. Mann and Weil had already co-written the group's previous #1, "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'"[3][4] with Spector, and were already familiar with their style and capabilities. The production, by group baritone Bill Medley, with reverbing pop-orchestra and soaring female back-up choir, is a spot-on imitation of Spector's "Wall of Sound" and fits in perfectly alongside of the group's early hits. This would, however, mark the end of the group's peak in popularity. Although they would chart again with their next single, the religiously-oriented "He"(#18 US), before briefly splitting in 1968, they would not break the top-10 again until reuniting in 1974 with "Rock and Roll Heaven", an ode to fallen musical comrades[1].
[edit] Cover versions
In 1972, reggae artist Paddy Corea covered the tune instrumentally for UK-label, Trojan Records', cover-compilation Keep on Running.
Donnie & Marie Osmond released a version for their 1977 album A Winning Combination.
In 1990, country music group The Oak Ridge Boys recorded a cover version for the soundtrack to the film My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys. Their version peaked at #31 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts.
[edit] References
- ^ a b Richmond, Peter. Righteous Brothers Discography. Retrieved on 2007-09-11.
- ^ Unterberger, Richie. Biography of The Righteous Brothers. Retrieved on 2007-09-18.
- ^ a b Kurutz, Steve. Biography of Cynthia Weil. Retrieved on 2007-09-17.
- ^ You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'. Retrieved on 2007-09-18.
| Preceded by "Ballad of the Green Berets" by SSgt Barry Sadler |
Billboard Hot 100 number one single April 9, 1966 (3 weeks) |
Succeeded by "Good Lovin'" by The Young Rascals |
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