Unchained Melody#Elvis Presley version

In 1954, Alex North was contracted to compose the score for the prison film Unchained (released in 1955). North had a melody he had written in the 1930s and composed and recorded the score when he was asked to write a song based upon the movie's theme.{{Cite book |last=Padgett |first=Ray |title=Cover me: the stories behind the greatest cover songs of all time |date=2017 |isbn=978-1-4549-2250-6 |location=New York |pages=36–43 |oclc=978537907}} North asked Hy Zaret to write the lyrics. After first refusing, Zaret and North together wrote "Unchained Melody."{{cite web |url=http://www.argosymusiccorp.com/HyZaret/HyZaret.html |title= Biography of Hy Zaret |work= Argosy Music Corporation }}{{cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=11710153 |title='Unchained Melody' Lyricist Dies at 99 All Things Considered |date=July 3, 2007 |work=National Public Radio (U.S.) }} The audio linked from that page includes snippets of various artists performing the song. Zaret refused the producer's request to include the word "unchained" in his lyrics. The song eventually became known as the "Unchained Melody" even though the song does not actually include the word "unchained". Instead, Zaret chose to focus on someone who pines for a lover he has not seen in a "long, lonely time". The film centered on a man who contemplates either escaping from prison to live life on the run or completing his sentence and returning to his wife and family. The song has an unusual harmonic device as the bridge ends on the tonic chord rather than the more usual dominant chord. "Unchained Melody" is written in the key of C major.{{Cite web|first=Alex|last=North|author2=The Righteous Brothers|first3=Hy|last3=Zaret|date=January 3, 2019|title=Unchained Melody|url=https://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0192212|access-date=June 2, 2021|website=Musicnotes.com}}

Todd Duncan sang the vocals for the film soundtrack and performs an abbreviated version in the film. Playing one of the prisoners, he sings it, accompanied by another prisoner on guitar, while other prisoners listen sadly. With Duncan singing the vocals, the song was nominated in 1956 for 1955's Oscars, but the Best Song award went to the hit song "Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing".{{cite news |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070705200923/http://www.cbc.ca/arts/music/story/2007/07/03/unchained-melody-obit.html |archive-date=July 5, 2007|title="Lyricist behind Unchained Melody dies", CBC Arts|date= July 3, 2007|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/lyricist-behind-unchained-melody-dies-1.640038 |url-status=live |work=CBC }}

William Stirrat, an electrical engineer, claimed to have written the lyrics as a teenager in 1936 under the pen name "Hy Zaret" only to have North use the uncredited words in the 1955 original.{{cite news|last1=Hinckley|first1=David|title=He waxed lyrical over 'Unchained Melody'|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv-movies/waxed-lyrical-unchained-melody-article-1.267337|work=NY Daily News|date=July 9, 2007|language=en}}{{cite news|title=Zaret was songwriter|url=https://www.presstelegram.com/2007/07/03/zaret-was-songwriter/|work=Long Beach Press Telegram|date=July 3, 2007}} The case went to court and the dispute was resolved completely in favor of the real Zaret (the one born Hyman Zaritsky) who continued to receive all royalties.

Following the movie, there were several charting covers that were released in 1955. Bandleader Les Baxter released a choral version (Capitol Records catalog number 3055) which reached number 1 on the US charts and number 10 in the UK.{{cite web |url=http://www.mplcommunications.com/behind_song_unchained.asp |title=Behind the song, MPL Communications |access-date=February 26, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060226112230/http://www.mplcommunications.com/behind_song_unchained.asp |archive-date=February 26, 2006 }} The words "unchain me" are sung repeatedly at the beginning and the lyrics are sung by a choir. Billboard ranked this version as the No. 5 song of 1955.{{cite web|url=http://longboredsurfer.com/charts/1955.php|title=Billboard Top 30 – 1955|access-date=January 26, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100125092919/http://longboredsurfer.com/charts/1955.php |archive-date=January 25, 2010 }} Al Hibbler followed close behind with a vocal version (Decca Records catalog number 29441),{{Gilliland |url=https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc19767/m1/ |title=Show 17 – The Soul Reformation: More on the evolution of rhythm and blues. Part 3]|website=Digital.library.unt.edu |date=May 28, 2013 |access-date=June 10, 2013}} that reached number 3 on the Billboard charts and number 2 in the UK chart listings. Jimmy Young's release (on Decca Records UK catalog number F10502) stayed at number 1 on the British charts for 3 weeks and remained on the UK charts for 19 weeks.{{cite web |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/381/jimmy-young/ |title=Jimmy Young |work=The Official Charts Company }} Young re-recorded the song in early 1964 and it hit number 43 in the UK. Two weeks after Young's version entered the top 10 of the British charts in June 1955, Liberace scored a number 20 hit (Philips PB 430). Roy Hamilton's version (Epic Records catalog number 9102) reached number 1 on the R&B Best Sellers list and number 6 on the pop chart.{{cite book |title= Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–2004|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=2004 |publisher=Record Research |page=243}} June Valli recorded the song on March 15, 1955 (RCA Victor Records as catalog number 20-6078) with the flip side "Tomorrow",{{cite web|url=http://78discography.com/RCA206000.htm |title=RCA Victor 78rpm numerical listing discography: 20-6000 – 6500 |publisher=78discography.com |access-date=March 30, 2014}} and took it to number 29 on the Top Pop Records list.{{cite book

| last = Whitburn

| first = Joel

| author-link = Joel Whitburn

| title = Top Pop Records 1940–1955

| publisher = Record Research

| location = Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin

| year = 1973 }} Harry Belafonte recorded the song,{{cite web|url=http://78discography.com/RCA206500.htm |title=RCA Victor 20-6500 – 7000; 78rpm numerical listing discography |publisher=78discography.com |date=July 25, 2013 |access-date=March 30, 2014}} and sang his version at the 1956 Academy Awards after it was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song of 1955.{{cite book |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=2ywKAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA220 |title=Best Songs of the Movies |page=220|first=John |last=Funnell |date= 2005|publisher=McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers | isbn= 978-0-7864-2193-0 }}

While the sheet music business was losing its prominence to sound recordings,{{cite magazine |title=Music Printers Decry Pop Sheet Business Doldrums |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CxwEAAAAMBAJ&q=%22unchained+melody%22+%22sheet+music%22+1965+-wikipedia&pg=PA39 |pages=34, 39 |magazine=Billboard |date = May 28, 1955|access-date=January 8, 2018 |via=Google Books }} a sheet music release of the song peaked at number 1 on its tenth week on the Billboard Best Selling Sheet Music chart on the week ending June 18, 1955.{{cite magazine |title=Best Selling Sheet Music |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ch0EAAAAMBAJ&q=%22unchained+melody%22+sheet+music+1955&pg=PA26 |magazine=Billboard |date=June 18, 1955 |page=26 |access-date=January 8, 2018 }} It stayed at its peak position for nine weeksBillboard 1955 issues: [https://books.google.com/books?id=FCEEAAAAMBAJ&dq=%22unchained+melody%22+%22sheet+music%22+billboard+-wikipedia&pg=PA32 July 2], [https://books.google.com/books?id=OSMEAAAAMBAJ&dq=%22unchained+melody%22+%22sheet+music%22+billboard+-wikipedia&pg=PA32 July 16], [https://books.google.com/books?id=jSEEAAAAMBAJ&dq=%22unchained+melody%22+%22sheet+music%22+billboard+-wikipedia&pg=PA34 July 30], [https://books.google.com/books?id=1yMEAAAAMBAJ&dq=%22unchained+melody%22+%22sheet+music%22+billboard+-wikipedia&pg=PA38 August 13], [https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/50s/1955/Billboard%201955-08-27.pdf August 27] until it dropped to number 4 on its twentieth week on the week ending August 27.{{cite magazine |title=Best Selling Sheet Music |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/50s/1955/Billboard%201955-08-27.pdf |magazine=Billboard |date=August 27, 1955 |page=44 |access-date=January 8, 2018 |via=World Radio History }}

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{{Infobox song

| name = Unchained Melody

| cover = Unchained Melody by Righteous Brothers 1965 US vinyl B-side.png

| alt =

| caption = B-side label of the original US vinyl single "Hung on You"

| type = single

| artist = the Righteous Brothers

| album = Just Once in My Life

| A-side = "Hung on You" (original 1965 release)

| B-side = "You're My Soul and Inspiration" (1990 European reissue)

| released =

• July 17, 1965 (US, original)
• October 15, 1990 (UK, reissue){{cite magazine|title=New Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=39|date=October 13, 1990}}

| recorded = March 2, 1965

| studio = Radio Recorders (Hollywood)

| genre = Blue-eyed soul

| length = {{Duration|m=3|s=36}}

| label =

• Philles (US, original)
• Verve (UK, reissue)

| composer = Alex North

| lyricist = Hy Zaret

| producer =

• Uncredited (original pressings)
• Phil Spector (later pressings, Back to Mono (1958-1969))
• Bill Medley (uncredited)

| prev_title = Just Once in My Life

| prev_year = 1964

| next_title = Ebb Tide

| next_year = 1965

| misc = {{Extra album cover

| header = Alternative release

| type = single

| border = yes

| cover = Unchained Melody by The Righteous Brothers UK vinyl reissue 1990.jpg

| caption = 1990 UK vinyl re-release of the original 1965 recording

}}

}}

The best-known version of "Unchained Melody" was recorded by the duo the Righteous Brothers for Philles Records in 1965. The lead vocal was performed solo by Bobby Hatfield, who later recorded other versions of the song credited solely to him. According to his singing partner Bill Medley, they had agreed to do one solo piece each per album. Both wanted to sing "Unchained Melody" for their fourth album, but Hatfield won the coin toss.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QWBPAQAAQBAJ&pg=PA632 |title=Encyclopedia of Great Popular Song Recordings, Volume 2|author=Steve Sullivan|page=632 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |date=October 4, 2013 |isbn= 978-0-8108-8295-9 }}

{{listen|type=music

| filename = Righteous Brothers - Unchained Melody.ogg

| title="Unchained Melody"

| pos = left

| description =Bobby Hatfield changed the tune to the line "I need your love" for the climax of the song, a change found in most subsequent versions

}}

The song was not originally intended to be released as an A-side. As Spector was not especially interested in producing B-sides or album tracks he left the production to Bill Medley,{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UH_EOUR4tmkC&pg=PT450 |title=1001 Songs: You Must Hear Before You Die|author= Robert Dimery |publisher=Cassell Illustrated |date=December 5, 2011 |isbn=978-1-84403-717-9}} who had produced the duo before they signed with Spector and Philles. He brought in a similar 'wall of sound' instrumental track.{{cite web |url=http://www.songfacts.com/blog/interviews/bill_medley_of_the_righteous_brothers/ |last=Prato |first=Greg |title=Bill Medley of The Righteous Brothers |publisher=Songfacts.com |date=June 15, 2014 |access-date=September 9, 2015}} Medley said: "Phil came to me and asked me to produce the Righteous Brothers albums because he would have taken too long and it would have cost too much money."{{cite web |url=http://www.rockcellarmagazine.com/2014/05/06/soul-inspiration-a-conversation-with-bill-medley-of-the-righteous-brothers/2/#sthash.FJKhPQPz.dpbs| title=Soul & Inspiration: A Conversation with Bill Medley of the Righteous Brothers (page 2)|last=Sharp |first=Ken |publisher=Rockcellar Magazine |access-date=September 8, 2015}} By Medley's account, Spector only claimed production credit after it supplanted "Hung On You" as the hit.{{cite web |url=http://www.rockcellarmagazine.com/2014/05/06/soul-inspiration-a-conversation-with-bill-medley-of-the-righteous-brothers/| title=Soul & Inspiration: A Conversation with Bill Medley of the Righteous Brothers |last=Sharp |first=Ken |publisher=Rockcellar Magazine |access-date=September 8, 2015}} Early copies of the single did not credit a producer for "Unchained Melody" and only credited Spector as producer of the original single "Hung On You". Later pressings of the single credited Spector as the producer, as do album liner notes in the Spector box set Back to Mono (1958–1969).{{cite web |title=Back To Mono (Songs) |url=http://albumlinernotes.com/Back_To_Mono__Songs_.html |website=albumlinernotes |access-date=February 6, 2022}}

Hatfield made a change to the song during the recording sessions. The first two takes of the song he performed it in the same style as Roy Hamilton. For a third take, he decided to change the melody for the "I need your love" line in the final verse, and sang it much higher instead. After this recording, Hatfield said he could do another take better, to which Medley replied: "No, you can't." Medley played the Wurlitzer piano on the song; later, he noted that "if I knew that it was gonna be a hit I certainly would have brought in a better piano player."

"Unchained Melody" was originally released as the "B" side of the single "Hung On You" as the follow-up single to "Just Once in My Life". However, "Hung On You" failed to interest radio DJs who instead chose to play the 'B' side "Unchained Melody". According to Medley, producer Phil Spector, who would deliberately place a throwaway song that was not meant to be played on the B side,{{cite news|last=Howe|first=Alan|date=January 6, 2022|url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/life/the-story-behind-the-righteous-brothers-unchained-melody/news-story/dae2f809f13317b0eb8c2592a06a99fc|title=The story behind the Righteous Brothers' Unchained Melody|newspaper=The Australian|access-date=January 8, 2022}} was so incensed by DJs choosing to play the B side that he started to call their radio stations to get them to stop playing "Unchained Melody".{{cite book |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=8pX_AgAAQBAJ&pg=PA53 |title=The Time of My Life: A Righteous Brother's Memoir|last=Medley|first=Bill|author-link=Bill Medley|publisher=Da Capo Press |date=April 24, 2014|isbn= 978-0-306-82316-9 |pages=53–54 }} However, he failed, and the song reached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and No. 14 in the UK in 1965.

"Unchained Melody" reappeared on the US Billboard charts in 1990 after the Righteous Brothers' recording was used in the box office blockbuster film Ghost. Two versions charted in the US that year – the original and a new recording. According to Medley, he was interested in having the original recording released due to the renewed interest in the song, but was told that there were licensing issues. Although Hatfield's voice was no longer as good as when he first recorded the song, they decided to re-record it for Curb Records.{{sfn|Medley|2014|page=140}} The re-recorded version was released as both a cassette single{{cite AV media notes |title=Unchained Melody |author=Righteous Brothers |publisher=Curb Records |year=1990 |id=4JM-76842 |quote=The newly recorded version by the original Righteous Brothers }} and a CD single.{{cite AV media notes |title=Unchained Melody |author=Righteous Brothers |publisher=Curb Records |year=1990 |id=D2-76844 |quote=Contains Special New TIMELESS LOVE Extended Version Remix }} It received minimal airplay but sold well, peaking at number 19. The re-recorded version was certified Platinum by the RIAA on January 10, 1991,{{Certification Cite Ref|region=United States|type=single|title=Unchained Melody|artist=Righteous Brothers}} and received a Grammy Award nomination.{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KA8EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA71 |title=Hatfield dies at 63 |magazine=Billboard |date=November 15, 2003 }}

The 1965 original Righteous Brothers recording was reissued in 1990 by oldies-reissue label Verve Forecast{{cite book |first=Dave |last=McAleer |year=2001 |title=The Book of Hit Singles: The Top Twenty Charts from 1964 to the Present Day |edition=2001 |page=305 |publisher=Music Player Network |isbn=0-87930-666-1 }} "Unchained Melody" positioned on number 15 on the October 1990 US chart. under licensing from Polygram Records{{cite AV media notes |title=Unchained Melody |author=The Righteous Brothers |publisher= Verve Forecast / Polygram Records |id=871 882-7 |quote=Printed in USA }} (which had acquired the rights years earlier). The original version received a lot of airplay, and topped the U.S. adult contemporary chart for two weeks in 1990. However, sales for this version were minimal in the US since it was available as only a 45 RPM single and the song peaked at No. 13 based largely on airplay. For eight weeks, both versions were on the Billboard Hot 100 simultaneously and the Righteous Brothers became the first act to have two versions of the same song in the Top 20 at the same time.{{cite web |url=http://www.spectropop.com/remembers/BHobit.htm |title=BOBBY HATFIELD (1940–2003) Blue-eyed Soul Brother |author=Peter Richmond |work=Spectropop }} This re-released song reached number 1 in the UK where it stayed for four weeks, becoming the UK's top selling single of 1990. As of 2017, it had sold 1.17 million copies in the UK.{{cite news |url=http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/the-uks-official-chart-millionaires-revealed__20459/ |title=he UK's Official Chart 'millionaires' revealed |first= Rob |last=Copsey |work=The Official Charts Company |date=September 19, 2017 }} The 1990 reissue also reached number 1 in Australia, Austria, Ireland, the Netherlands, and New Zealand.

Due to the success of their re-recording, the Righteous Brothers also re-recorded other songs and released them as part of a budget-priced CD compilation by Curb Records. For the original recordings, Polydor had licensed the CD rights to Rhino Records for a premium-priced 1989 compilation of Righteous Brothers hits from various labels;{{cite web |url=https://www.amazon.com/Righteous-Brothers-Anthology-1962-1974-CDs/dp/B00000334C |title=Righteous Brothers Anthology 1962–1974 (2 CDs) |website=Amazon |access-date=September 8, 2015}} later in 1990, it issued its own regular-priced Righteous Brothers greatest hits CD that included the recording.{{cite web |url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000001FZC/ |title=Unchained Melody: Very Best Of The Righteous Brothers |website=Amazon |date=April 21, 1991 |access-date=September 8, 2015}}

The Righteous Brothers' cover of "Unchained Melody" is now widely considered the definitive version of the song. Hatfield's vocal in the original recording in particular is highly praised; it has been described as "powerful, full of romantic hunger, yet ethereal," and a "vocal tour de force", although his later re-recording was noted as "fudging only a bit on the highest notes".{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-11-21-ca-4754-story.html |title= POP MUSIC REVIEW : Righteous Brothers Keep Their Melodies Unchained: They still generate the vocal excitement that made them a sensation a quarter-century ago |date=November 21, 1990|author=Jim Washburn |work=The Los Angeles Times}} The production of their original recording has been described as "epic", and that with "Hatfield's emotion-packed tenor soaring to stratospheric heights, it's a record designed to reduce anyone separated from the one they loved to a "pile of mush".

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{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=single|title=Unchained Melody|artist=Righteous Brothers|award=Platinum|relyear=1990|certyear=1990|access-date=November 9, 2021}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Austria|type=single|title=Unchained Melody|artist=Righteous Brothers|award=Gold|relyear=1990|certyear=1991}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|type=single|title=Unchained Melody|artist=Righteous Brothers|award=Gold|relyear=1990|certyear=2024|id=13195}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Japan|type=single|title=Unchained Melody|artist=Righteous Brothers|award=Platinum|relyear=1990|certyear=1991|certmonth=3|access-date=July 31, 2021}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=single|title=Unchained Melody|artist=Righteous Brothers|award=Gold|relyear=1990|id=1991-02-22|source=newchart|access-date=2024-11-20|certyear=1991}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Spain|type=single|title=Unchained Melody|artist=Righteous Brothers|award=Gold|relyear=1990|certyear=1991 |certref={{cite web |url=http://www.mediafire.com/file/x263f6daopkswo8/Spanish_certifications_for_1979-1990.pdf/file |title=Sólo éxitos año a año 1959-2002|page=929}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|title=Unchained Melody|artist=Righteous Brothers|award=Platinum|relyear=1990|certyear=1990|id=7873-451-1|salesamount=1,167,000|salesref=}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|title=Unchained Melody|artist=Righteous Brothers|award=Platinum|relyear=1990|certyear=1991}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Unchained Melody

| image = Elvis_Unchained_Melody_PS.jpg

| caption =

| type = single

| artist = Elvis Presley

| album =

| B-side = Softly, As I Leave You

| published =

| released = March 1978

| recorded = June 21, 1977

| studio =

| venue = Rushmore Civic Center in Rapid City, South Dakota

| genre =

| label = RCA

| writer =

| composer = Alex North

| lyricist = Hy Zaret

| producer = Felton Jarvis

| chronology =

| prev_title = My Way

| prev_year =

| next_title = (Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear

| next_year =

}}

On June 21, 1977, Elvis Presley performed the song at a show in Rapid City, South Dakota. The performance, described by Rolling Stone as "the last great moment of his career", was recorded for his last television special two months before his death in August 1977.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/videos/flashback-elvis-presley-sings-unchained-melody-two-months-before-his-death-20130404 |title=Flashback: Elvis Presley Sings 'Unchained Melody' Two Months Before His Death|author= Andy Greene |date=April 4, 2013 |magazine= Rolling Stone |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160223124146/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/videos/flashback-elvis-presley-sings-unchained-melody-two-months-before-his-death-20130404 |archive-date= February 23, 2016}} A single, based on this recording, was released in March 1978 by RCA Records with "Softly, As I Leave You" as the b-side.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CE6JPQyNKawC&pg=PA65 |title=Presleyana VI – the Elvis Presley Record, CD, and Memorabilia Price Guide|page=65|author= Jerry Osborne|publisher=Osborne Enterprise Publishing |year=2007|isbn=978-0-932117-49-6}}{{sfn|Whitburn|2008|p=330}} The song reached No. 6 in the country charts of both the US and Canada,{{cite web |url=http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.4582&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.4582.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.4582 |title= Country Playlist|work=RPM|date=May 20, 1978}} and was certified Gold by Music Canada on July 10, 1986.{{Certification Cite Ref|region=Canada|type=single|title=Unchained Melody|artist=Elvis Presley}}

Another live version recorded earlier on April 24, 1977, at Crisler Arena in Ann Arbor, Michigan, was included in his last album Moody Blue.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=igH2AgAAQBAJ&pg=PT618 |title=Elvis Presley: A Life In Music|author= Ernst Jorgensen|publisher=St. Martin's Griffin |year= 2014 |isbn=978-1-4668-6855-7}} Both versions had studio overdubs with additional instruments added before they were released.

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|type=single|title=Unchained Melody|artist=Elvis Presley|award=Gold|relyear=1978|certyear=1986}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Unchained Melody

| cover = Robson and Jerome - Unchained Melody.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Robson & Jerome

| album = Robson & Jerome

| released = {{start date|1995|5|8}}{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1995/Music-Week-1995-05-06.pdf|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=59|date=May 6, 1995|access-date=August 23, 2021}}

| recorded = 1995

| studio =

| venue =

| genre =

| length = 3:17

| label = BMG

| composer = Alex North

| lyricist = Hy Zaret

| producer = Mike Stock, Matt Aitken

| prev_title =

| prev_year =

| title =

| title2 = White Cliffs of Dover

| next_title = I Believe

| next_title2 = Up on the Roof

| next_year = 1995

}}

The version by Robson & Jerome is notable as the best-selling single of 1995 in the UK. It also launched the singing career of Robson & Jerome, and became the biggest hit in the UK for Simon Cowell, marking his beginning as a significant figure in the music industry.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2Yc7AAAAQBAJ&pg=RA1-PT23 |title=Olly Murs – The Biography|author= Justin Lewis |publisher=John Blake |year=2012 |isbn=978-1-78219-085-1 }}

In November 1994, in an episode of the UK television drama series Soldier Soldier, characters Dave Tucker and Paddy Garvey, portrayed by actors Robson Green and Jerome Flynn respectively, performed "Unchained Melody" as an impromptu duo, The Unrighteous Brothers, after the entertainment failed to appear for a friend's wedding.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BwwLBaH9488C&pg=PT933 |title=1000 UK Number One Hits|author= Jon Kutner |publisher=Omnibus Press |date=May 26, 2010 |isbn=978-0-85712-360-2 }} Their performance triggered a strong response from the audience who attempted to find a recording of the song that was then unavailable. Simon Cowell was alerted to the interest shown by the public, and pursued the two reluctant actors for the next four months to record the song, to the extent that Robson Green threatened legal action to stop Cowell harassing them.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wh_dAgAAQBAJ&pg=PT36 |title=Simon Cowell: The Unauthorized Biography| author=Chas Newkey-Burden |publisher= Michael O' Mara Books|isbn=978-1-84317-445-5 |date=October 10, 2009}} The actors were eventually persuaded to sign a recording contract with Cowell and record a Righteous Brothers-type version of the song as a duo. The recording was produced by Mike Stock and Matt Aitken. It was later revealed by Stock that the vocals were "assisted" and parts of the song were sung by other session singers.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2sR1LAf4lhgC&pg=PT72 |title=Sweet Revenge: The Intimate Life of Simon Cowell|author=Tom Bower |publisher=Faber & Faber Non Fiction |date=2012|isbn=978-0-571-29938-6 }} It was released as a double A-sided single with "White Cliffs of Dover", a popular song during World War II, included in recognition of the 50th anniversary of VE day, the date of the single release.{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JA0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA70 |title=For English Duo, 'So Far So Good': Robson & Jerome Hit Gold with Vintage Songs |author=Nigel Hunter |magazine=Billboard |date=December 16, 1995 }}{{cite book |title=The Virgin Encyclopedia of Nineties Music|author=Colin Larkin|publisher=Virgin|year=2000 |page=333 }} The video released for "Unchained Melody" also incorporated clips from the 1945 film Brief Encounter.

Their recording immediately reached number 1 in the UK, selling 314,000 copies in its first week, at that time the fastest-selling debut single in UK chart history.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0zQDAwAAQBAJ&pg=PT256 |title=Million Sellers|author= Official Charts Company |publisher= Omnibus Press |date=November 4, 2012 |isbn=978-0-85712-882-9 }} It stayed at the top of the chart for seven weeks. It became the best selling single of 1995, and one of the country's all-time biggest-selling singles (No. 9 in November 2012),{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2012/nov/04/uk-million-selling-singles-full-list |title=UK's million-selling singles: the full list |author= Ami Sedghi |work=The Guardian |date=November 4, 2012 |access-date=November 4, 2012 }} with 1.87 million copies sold. The self-titled album they released later in the year also became the best-selling album of 1995.{{cite news |url=http://metro.co.uk/2015/06/17/what-was-the-biggest-selling-album-in-1995-britpop-britain-the-answer-may-surprise-you-5250259/ |title=What was the biggest selling album in 1995 Britpop Britain? The answer may surprise you |author=Ross McG |date= June 17, 2015 |work=Metro}} Although the duo decided to quit the following year, they would eventually sell 7 million copies of albums and 5 million copies of the 3 singles released.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wh_dAgAAQBAJ&pg=PT37 |title=Simon Cowell: The Unauthorized Biography| author=Chas Newkey-Burden |isbn=978-1-84317-445-5 |date=October 10, 2009|publisher=Michael O'Mara Books }} Simon Cowell, who before this was known largely as a creator of novelty records with television characters such as the puppets Zig and Zag and action characters Power Rangers,{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/robson-jerome-mn0000640522/biography |title=Robson & Jerome |author=Stephen Thomas Erlewine |work=Allmusic}} then came to the attention of the media for his ability to create hit records.

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{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|title=Unchained Melody/White Cliffs of Dover|artist=Robson & Jerome|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=1995|certyear=1995|id=7875-928-1|salesamount=1,872,000|salesref=}}

|}

{{Infobox song

| name = Unchained Melody

| cover = Gareth Gates - Unchained Melody (single cover).jpeg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Gareth Gates

| album = What My Heart Wants to Say

| released = {{start date|2002|3|18}}

| recorded = 2002

| studio = A-side (Stockholm, Sweden)

| genre = Pop

| length = {{Duration|m=3|s=54}}

| label = RCA, 19, S

| composer = Alex North

| lyricist = Hy Zaret

| producer = Steve Mac

| next_title = Anyone of Us (Stupid Mistake)

| next_year = 2002

}}

English singer-songwriter Gareth Gates first performed "Unchained Melody" as a contestant in the quarter-final of the first series of the UK singing competition television show Pop Idol, which included Simon Cowell as one of the judges.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0zQDAwAAQBAJ&pg=PT356 |title=The Million Sellers |publisher= Omnibus Press |isbn=978-0-85712-882-9|date=November 4, 2012 }} Gates reprised the song in the final as his personal choice,{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1384337/Will-Young-wins-Pop-Idol-contest.html |title=Will Young wins Pop Idol contest|date= February 9, 2002 |work=The Daily Telegraph }} but the competition was won by Will Young. Gates was signed by Cowell, and as the runner-up, Gates released the song as his first single three weeks after the winner had released his single, the double A-sided "Anything Is Possible" / "Evergreen". Gates' cover of "Unchained Melody" was released together with his versions of the same two songs released by Young, which Gates had also performed in the final.{{cite web |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1384337/Will-Young-wins-Pop-Idol-contest.html |title=Will Young wins Pop Idol contest |work=The Telegraph |date=February 9, 2002 }}

Gates' version of "Unchained Melody" became one of the fastest-selling singles in the UK, selling around 328,000 copies in the first day of release.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/1881346.stm |title=Gates fails to match Young's debut|date=March 19, 2002 |work=BBC }}{{cite news |url=https://www.nme.com/news/muse/11037 |title=Gareth Lacks Will Power |work=NME |author=Adam Bychawski |date=March 19, 2002 }} It reached number one on the UK Singles Chart in its first week of release with sales of 850,000 copies,{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/1891053.stm |title= Pop Idol's Gareth is number one |date= March 24, 2002 |work=BBC }}{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/76355/a-new-pop-idol-tops-uk-singles-chart |title=A New Pop Idol Tops U.K. Singles Chart|date=March 25, 2002|magazine=Billboard }} and stayed at the top of the chart for four weeks.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=F7hpXcrqA-8C&pg=PA247 |title=The Rough Guide to Cult Pop|author= Paul Simpson |pages=246–247 |publisher=Rough Guides |date=October 2, 2003|isbn= 978-1-84353-229-3 }} It became the second best-selling song in the UK in 2002, as well as that of the decade of 2000s, after the single by the winner Will Young.{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/music-news/6917900/Will-Young-has-biggest-selling-single-of-the-decade.html |title=Will Young has biggest selling single of the decade |date=January 1, 2009 |work=The Daily Telegraph }} It has sold 1.35 million copies in the UK as of 2017.

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{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=2003|certyear=2003|access-date=July 6, 2019}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Belgium|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=2003|certyear=2003|access-date=July 6, 2019}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|title=Unchained Melody|artist=Gareth Gates|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=2002|certyear=2002|id=7873-3503-1|salesamount=1,348,000|salesref=}}

{{Certification Table Bottom}}

• Spike Milligan and Peter Sellers of The Goons recorded a parody of the song, produced by George Martin, on June 29, 1955. It would have been the first single by the Goons but EMI refused to release it, fearing a lawsuit from its music publisher.{{cite news |url=http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/main-topics/local-stories/surreal-brand-of-humour-which-baffled-the-beeb-1-2429920 |title=Surreal brand of humour which baffled the Beeb| work=Yorkshire Post |date= February 27, 2002}} It prompted Spike Milligan to move to Decca Records which released other works from the Goons.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5qTm4H0nlJ8C&pg=PA171 |title=Lennon: The Man, the Myth, the Music – The Definitive Life|author= Tim Riley |pages=171–172 |publisher= Virgin Books |date=September 29, 2011|isbn=978-0-7535-4019-0 }} The Goons later released an album titled Unchained Melodies with Decca, but without the actual song.{{cite web |url=http://www.discogs.com/Goons-Unchained-Melodies/release/1585701 |title=The Goons – Unchained Melodies |work=Discogs |date=November 19, 1964 }} The single was later released in 1990,{{cite web |url=http://www.discogs.com/Spike-Milligan-Peter-Sellers-Unchained-MelodyDance-With-Me-Henry/release/3071233 |title=Spike Milligan & Peter Sellers – Unchained Melody/Dance With Me Henry |work=Discogs |date=November 19, 1990 }}{{cite web |url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Unchained-Melody/dp/B001IJSDA6 |title=Unchained Melody: Peter Sellers & Spike Milligan |work=Amazon }} and the song was then included in the 2007 compilation album titled Unchained Melodies – The Complete Recordings 1955-1978.{{cite web |url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/radio/the_goon_show/shop/5670/unchained_melodies/ |title=The Goons – Unchained Melodies – The Complete Recordings 1955-1978 |work=British Comedy Guide }}{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/unchained-melodies-the-complete-singles-recordings-1955-1978-mw0001107549 |title=The Goons – Unchained Melodies: The Complete Singles Recordings 1955-1978 |first=Richie|last= Unterberger |work=AllMusic}}
• In 1963, an uptempo doo-wop version by Vito & the Salutations peaked at number 66 on the Billboard Hot 100;{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/biz/charts/1963-11-30/the-billboard-hot-100 |title=The Billboard Hot 100 |date=November 30, 1963 |magazine=Billboard }} this version was used in the soundtrack for Goodfellas in 1990.{{cite web |url=http://dailydoowop.com/doo-wop-unchained-melody/ |title=Doo Wop Unchained Melody |work=The Daily Doo Wop |date=March 17, 2015 }}{{cite web |url=https://joetroiano.wordpress.com/2011/04/01/vito-and-the-salutations-unchained-melody/ |title=Vito and the Salutations–"Unchained Melody" |work=Joe T'S Soda Shop |access-date=December 7, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304221509/https://joetroiano.wordpress.com/2011/04/01/vito-and-the-salutations-unchained-melody/ |archive-date=March 4, 2016 }}
• David Garrick released a version which reached No. 14 in the Netherlands in 1968.{{cite web|url=https://www.top40.nl/david-garrick/david-garrick-unchained-melody-12470 |title=David Garrick - Unchained Melody |work=Top 40 }}
• In 1975, Clem Curtis had a disco version which spent three weeks in the Record Mirror UK Disco Chart, peaking at no. 75.James Hamilton's Disco Page - [https://jameshamiltonsdiscopage.com/chart-archive/a-full-list-of-all-record-mirror-uk-disco-chart-entries-1975-1979/ A full list of all Record Mirror UK Disco Chart entries, 1975-1979, Clem Curtis Unchained Melody (RCA) — 25 August 1979: 75, 3]
• Willie Nelson included a version of the song on the album Stardust, released in 1978.{{Citation |title=Stardust - Willie Nelson {{!}} Album {{!}} AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/stardust-mw0000177347#trackListing |access-date=2024-08-25 |language=en}}
• In 1981, a live version performed by the band Heart, with lead vocals by Ann Wilson, peaked at number 83 on the Billboard Hot 100.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/heart/chart-history/hsi/ |title=Heart > Chart History > Hot 100|magazine=Billboard }}
• In 1986, Leo Sayer released a version of the song with a contemporary reworking of the "wall of sound" production technique that included an unusual electric guitar solo near the climax. The single charted in the UK at No. 54.{{cite web |url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/27976/leo-sayer/ |title=Leo Sayer |work=The Official UK Charts Company }}
• U2 covered the song as a B-side to their 1989 single, "All I Want Is You", and included in their compilation album The Best of 1980–1990. They have performed the song live many times, including one captured on their 1993 concert film Zoo TV: Live from Sydney.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZWAyHJQVMLQC&pg=PA141 |title=Exploring U2: Is This Rock 'n' Roll?|author=Scott Calhoun|publisher=Scarecrow Press |year= 2011|isbn= 978-0-8108-8157-0 |page=141}} Bono and The Edge also performed the song together with "One" for the charity 46664 Concert in tribute to Nelson Mandela held in Cape Town in 2003.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9tw9vnZT4REC&pg=PA116 |title=U2: A Musical Biography|author= David Kootnikoff |page=116 |publisher=Greenwood Press |year= 2009|isbn= 978-0-313-36523-2}}
• Cyndi Lauper was nominated for a 2005 Grammy award for "Best Instrumental Composition Accompanying a Vocal" for her interpretation of the song, which appears on her 2003 studio album At Last.{{cite web |url=http://www.playbill.com/news/article/which-cast-album-will-win-the-grammy-feb.-13-avenue-q-assassins-boy-from-oz-124168 |title=Which Cast Album Will Win the Grammy Feb. 13? Avenue Q, Assassins, Boy From Oz, Wicked or Wonderful Town?|author= Kenneth Jones|date= February 11, 2005 |work=Playbill }}
• In 2006, singer Barry Manilow covered the song on his album The Greatest Songs of the Fifties and was released as a single.{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7BQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA22 |title= Oldies Good to Manilow | page=22 |magazine=Billboard |date=February 18, 2006 }} The song reached number 20 on the Adult Contemporary chart.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/280721/barry-manilow/chart?f=341 |title=Barry Manilow: Adult Contemporary |magazine=Billboard }}
• In 2020, country singers Orville Peck and Paul Cauthen released a cover of the song under the name "The Unrighteous Brothers" along with a cover of "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'".{{Cite web|last=Bloom|first=Madison|title=Orville Peck and Paul Cauthen Cover the Righteous Brothers|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/orville-peck-and-paul-cauthen-cover-the-righteous-brothers-listen/|access-date=October 18, 2020|website=Pitchfork|date=September 24, 2020 |language=en-us}}
• In 2023, Lana Del Rey covered the song live on the "Christmas at Graceland" special.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/lists/christmas-at-graceland-performances-videos/ |title=Here's Every 'Christmas at Graceland' Performance: Watch Lana Del Rey, Post Malone & More |last=Dailey |first=Hannah |magazine=Billboard |date=November 30, 2023 |access-date=December 3, 2023}}

Different versions of the song have made the US Hot Country Songs charts.

• Joe Stampley (number 41, 1975){{cite book|last=Whitburn|first=Joel|author-link=Joel Whitburn|title=Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008|publisher=Record Research, Inc|year=2008|page=397|isbn=978-0-89820-177-2}}
• Ronnie McDowell (number 26, 1991){{sfn|Whitburn|2008|p=269}}
• LeAnn Rimes (number 3, 1997){{sfn|Whitburn|2008|p=352}} LeAnn Rimes's cover was originally released in September 1996 as a B-side track to "One Way Ticket (Because I Can)" and again in November 1996 on the promotional single, "Put a Little Holiday in Your Heart", that was only available at Target stores with the purchase of her debut album, Blue.{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ugkEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA52 |magazine=Billboard|title=Movie Roles Abound For Country Artists; Mark Miller to Shoot Hoops |date=November 23, 1996}} It was released as a single to radio on December 17, 1996, and included on the album Unchained Melody: The Early Years (1997).{{cite magazine |last=Jessen |first=Wade |date=January 11, 1997 |title=Country Corner |magazine=Billboard |page=28 |volume=109 |issue=2}}{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wA4EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA28 |title=Country Corner |page=28 |author=Wade Jesson |magazine=Billboard |date=February 8, 1997 }} The song reached No. 3 on the Hot Country Songs chart in the US, and No. 3 in the RPM Country Tracks chart in Canada.{{cite web |url=http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.3151&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.3151.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.3151 |title="Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 3151." RPM |work=Library and Archives Canada |date=March 17, 1997 }} It was ranked No. 64 on the 1997 Year End Country Songs chart in the US,{{cite magazine | url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1997/hot-country-songs| title=Best of 1997: Country Songs | magazine=Billboard | publisher=Prometheus Global Media | year=1997| access-date=July 17, 2013}} and No. 49 in Canada's Year End Country Tracks chart.{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.7902&type=1&interval=24|title=RPM Top 100 Country Tracks of 1997|work=RPM|date=December 15, 1997|access-date=July 17, 2013}}

"Unchained Melody" was the only song to have reached No. 1 in the UK in four different recordings on the official chart until it was joined by the charity single "Do They Know It's Christmas?" in its fourth re-recording in 2014.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/6327596/band-aid-30s-do-they-know-its-christmas-opens-at-no-1-in-uk-with |title=Band Aid 30's 'Do They Know It's Christmas' Opens at No. 1 in U.K. With Huge Sales|date=November 24, 2014 |author= Paul Sexton|magazine=Billboard }} It is the only song to have sold over a million by three separate acts in the UK – Robson and Jerome (1.87 million), Gareth Gates (1.35 million), the Righteous Brothers (1.17 million). The song has been number 1 on lists of love songs featured on the United Kingdom's Channel 4 and Five.

The song has been covered by many artists; according to the song's publishing administrator, over 1,500 recordings of "Unchained Melody" have been made by more than 670 artists in multiple languages. Its popularity also meant that the song is one of the highest grossing songs for its copyright holders, estimated in 2012 to be the fifth biggest earners of royalties according to the BBC's list of The Richest Songs in the World at £18 million.{{cite web |url=http://www.didyouwatchit.com/bbc4/bbc4-the-worlds-richest-songs/ |title=BBC4....The World's Richest Songs |work=Did You Watch It |date=December 29, 2012 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101163252/http://www.didyouwatchit.com/bbc4/bbc4-the-worlds-richest-songs/ |archive-date=January 1, 2016 }}

The song was nominated in 1956 for 1955's Oscar for best original song from the film Unchained.{{cite web |url=http://www.hitfix.com/galleries/25-greatest-original-song-nominees-that-lost-at-the-oscars#24 |title=25 Greatest Original Song Oscar Nominees that lost |work= HitFix |date=February 24, 2014 }} The re-recorded version by the Righteous Brothers was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1991 in the best pop performance by a duo or group category,{{cite news |url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/141767/GRAMMY-NOMINEES-ANNOUNCED.html?pg=all |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208115931/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/141767/GRAMMY-NOMINEES-ANNOUNCED.html?pg=all |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 8, 2015 |title=Grammy Nominees Announced|author=Paul Geitner|agency=Associated Press |date= January 11, 1991 }} and their original version was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2000.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hSCfBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA338 |title=Hit Songs, 1900–1955: American Popular Music of the Pre-Rock Era|author= Don Tyler |page=338 | publisher=McFarland & Co Inc |date= June 15, 2007|isbn= 978-0-7864-2946-2 }}{{cite web |url=https://www.grammy.org/recording-academy/awards/hall-of-fame |title=GRAMMY Hall Of Fame List |work= GRAMMY.com }} The use of the Righteous Brothers' cover of "Unchained Melody" in the film Ghost resurrected the song's popularity as it was recognized as the "most played" song of 1992 by the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP).{{cite web |url= https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2015/07/the-song-that-helped-ghost-live-on/398390/ |title=How 'Unchained Melody' Broke Free|author=Megan Garber |date= July 13, 2015 |work=The Atlantic }} ASCAP also announced it to be one of the 25 most-performed songs and musical works of the 20th century in 1999, and the most-performed love song of the 1950s in 2003.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/03/arts/03zaret.html?_r=1& |title=Hy Zaret, 99, Tin Pan Alley Lyricist, Is Dead|author= Douglas Martin|date= July 3, 2007 |work=NY Times |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170709190924/https://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/03/arts/03zaret.html |archive-date=July 9, 2017}}

In 2001, the song was ranked at No. 138 in the list of Songs of the Century released by the Recording Industry Association of America and the National Endowment for the Arts.{{cite news |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2001/SHOWBIZ/Music/03/07/list.top.365.songs/index.html |title=Songs of the Century|date= March 7, 2001 |work=CNN }} In 2004, Rolling Stone placed the Righteous Brothers version of the song at number 365 on its list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. It was placed first in Magic 1278's 500 greatest songs of all time. It was also listed in 2004 at No. 27 in the list of the 100 top movie songs of all time in American Film institute's centenary AFI's 100 Years...100 Songs survey of songs in American cinema.{{cite web |url=http://www.afi.com/100Years/songs.aspx |title=AFI'S 100 Years...100 Songs |work=American Film Institute }} In 2007, the Songwriters Hall of Fame honored "Unchained Melody" with a Towering Song award that is presented to creators of a song "that has influenced the culture in a unique way over many years."{{cite web |url=http://songhall.org/news/entry/unchained_melody_honored_as_2007_songwriters_hall_of_fame_towering_song |title="Unchained Melody" Honored As 2007 Songwriters Hall Of Fame "Towering Song" |work=Songwriters hall of Fame }}{{cite magazine |magazine=Billboard |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7BIEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA49 |title=They Wrote The Song |author=John Bessman |date= June 9, 2007

}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Commons category}}

• [http://www.unchainedmelodypublishing.com/ Publishing administrator for "Unchained Melody"]
• [http://www.argosymusiccorp.com/HyZaret/HyZaret.html Biography of Hy Zaret]
• {{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071030043425/http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/50s_files/1955.html |archive-date=October 30, 2007 |url= http://www.cashboxmagazine.com/archives/50s_files/1955.html | title=Cashbox charts 1955 Cash Box Top Singles of 1955}}
• {{YouTube|8fgUY-kXlBA|Music video on official Vevo channel}} Robson & Jerome's version
• {{YouTube|A0EBj68dlak|Music video on official Vevo channel }} Gareth Gates' version
• {{YouTube|zoxsuL_PT9o|Elvis Presley - Unchained Melody (Official Music Video)}}

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