1955 Songs: Unchained Melody
By Four Walls
@FourWalls (86939)
United States
March 20, 2025 11:18am CST
Ah, a song that “everybody” knows…but by someone else. 
You know what I say about my silly posts: you’re gonna learn something. And today you learn that the Righteous Brothers, while they may have defined this song, did NOT originate it. Here’s today’s classic that’s now 70 years old.
Unchained Melody - Al Hibbler
This song was an Oscar-nominated tune. You’ve probably never heard of the movie (let alone seen it): Unchained. The movie title is what gave this song its name. In the film, Todd Duncan sang the song in a prison barracks scene.
The song was extremely popular aside from the movie, with no fewer than four hit versions in 1955. And, remember, all of this is ten years BEFORE the Righteous Brothers recorded it and turned it into the classic that they made it.
So enjoy an early version of one of the timeless hits of the rock era.
Unchained Melody
Written by Alex North and Hy Zaret
Recorded by Al Hibbler
Released as a single, 1955
(Also recorded by Les Baxter, 1955; Jimmy Young, 1955; and Roy Hamilton, 1955)
Wait for me, wait for me:
You know what I say about my silly posts: you’re gonna learn something. And today you learn that the Righteous Brothers, while they may have defined this song, did NOT originate it. Here’s today’s classic that’s now 70 years old.
Unchained Melody - Al Hibbler
This song was an Oscar-nominated tune. You’ve probably never heard of the movie (let alone seen it): Unchained. The movie title is what gave this song its name. In the film, Todd Duncan sang the song in a prison barracks scene.
The song was extremely popular aside from the movie, with no fewer than four hit versions in 1955. And, remember, all of this is ten years BEFORE the Righteous Brothers recorded it and turned it into the classic that they made it.
So enjoy an early version of one of the timeless hits of the rock era.
Unchained Melody
Written by Alex North and Hy Zaret
Recorded by Al Hibbler
Released as a single, 1955
(Also recorded by Les Baxter, 1955; Jimmy Young, 1955; and Roy Hamilton, 1955)
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13 people like this
12 responses
@FourWalls (86939)
• United States
22 Mar 25
Absolutely! There’s a version for every taste, too.
2 people like this
@andriaperry (118793)
• Anniston, Alabama
21 Mar 25
Love this song by whoever sings it.
2 people like this
@snowy22315 (209239)
• United States
21 Mar 25
I thought that was a Sam Cook song.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (86939)
• United States
21 Mar 25
I don’t know if Sam Cooke ever recorded it, but what a delicious thought!!!
2 people like this
@celticeagle (190074)
• Boise, Idaho
20 Mar 25
I have The Righteous Brothers and Unchained Melody on YouTube. It keeps popping up. Reminds me of an old love of mine. Alex and Hy did a good job writing it.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (190074)
• Boise, Idaho
22 Mar 25
@FourWalls .......I totally agree.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (86939)
• United States
21 Mar 25
Funny story: Hy, who wrote the lyrics, had problems with the people who made the movie. They wanted the word “unchained” in the song, and he steadfastly refused. In hindsight, he definitely made the right decision!
2 people like this
@FourWalls (86939)
• United States
20 Mar 25
Thank you! And I’m glad you like this rendition. One of my favorites, believe it or not, is by Jim Ed, Maxine, and Bonnie Brown…love sibling harmony. It’s not as “powerful” as this version, but it shows how great harmony is in a song.1 person likes this
Never heard of those three, I'll have to check em out.@FourWalls (86939)
• United States
21 Mar 25
@rebelann — this is the Browns’ biggest hits.
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1 person likes this
@FourWalls (86939)
• United States
21 Mar 25
Nokay. We’ll try again tomorrow..and fail miserably. 
2 people like this
@RasmaSandra (98156)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
20 Mar 25
I love the version of this song in all forms. This one I had not heard but the one the always stays in mind is the scene from the movie Ghost.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (86939)
• United States
21 Mar 25
It’s a memorable song, so it’ll stick with you in any version. (Unless Yoko Ono ever does it. )
)1 person likes this
@FourWalls (86939)
• United States
21 Mar 25
I know! That’s one of the cool, yet sort of scary, things about this list. This is a 70-year-old song now!
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (86939)
• United States
21 Mar 25
It’s one of those weird things that nobody remembers it from its Oscar nomination but everyone remembers it from 35 years later!
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222987)
• United States
21 Mar 25
He has a nice voice; but I think I prefer the RB version. So sue me!!!! lol
@Dreamerby (10111)
• Calcutta, India
20 Mar 25
Another day of me learning artists' names from your posts!
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (86939)
• United States
20 Mar 25
I think Les Baxter was the biggest name of the people who recorded it in the 50s. Most people definitely associate the song with the 1965 Righteous Brothers version.
1 person likes this
@Beestring (15372)
• Hong Kong
20 Mar 25
Thank you for uploading this version. I like it.
1 person likes this
