Pop Music

The Righteous Brothers left Phil Spector late in 1965 because of “personal difficulties” with the famous and infamous producer. They went to Verve Records, which was a bit more jazz-oriented, but they worked with husband and wife team Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil for “(You’re My) Soul and Inspiration.” Mann and Weil had written “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin'” and knew their style very well. The arrangement certainly has a BIG sound, not too different from Spector’s use of the dense “wall of sound” on previous tracks by The Righteous Brothers. Instead of the Wrecking Crew session musicians, they had Art Munson (guitar), Michael Patterson (piano, “Jimmy Bond (bass), Drew Johnson (drums, Bill Baker (sax), and Dick Shearer (trombone). On trumpet were Bill King, Sanford Skinner, and Bob Faust.  That’s a lot of brass!

in 1966, the song soared to #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and in Canada. It was in the Top 20 at #15 on the U.K. Singles Chart. They also featured it on their 1966 album Soul & Inspiration.

The Righteous Brothers were Bobby Hatfield and Bill Medley. They formed in Orange County, California, and recorded from 1963 to 197. They  continued to tour and perform until Hatfield’s passing in 2003. Both had tremendous vocal power, with Hatfield on the higher parts and Medley on the lower ones.

Here are the lyrics to “(You’re My) Soul and Inspiration:

“Girl, I can’t let you do this
Let you walk away
Girl, how can I live through this
When you’re all I wake up for each day

Baby, you’re my soul and my heart’s inspiration
You’re all I’ve got to get me by
You’re my soul and my heart’s inspiration
Without you, baby, what good am I?

I never had much goin’
But at least I had you
How can you walk out knowin’
I ain’t got nothin’ left if you do

Baby, you’re my soul and my heart’s inspiration
You’re all I’ve got to get me by
You’re my soul and my heart’s inspiration
Without you, baby, what good am I? Oh, what good am I?

Baby, I can’t make it without cha
And I’m, I’m tellin’ ya, honey
You’re my reason for laughin’, for cryin’, for livin’ and for dyin’

Baby, I can’t make it without you
Please, I’m begging you, baby
If you go, it will kill me
I swear it, dear, my love can’t bear it

You’re my soul and my heart’s inspiration
You’re all I’ve got to get me by
You’re my soul and my heart’s inspiration
Without you, baby, what good am I? What good am I?”

For another song by The Righteous Brothers: “Unchained Melody.”

Check Out The Groove Pad for More 1960s Music

The Pass the Paisley Groove Pad is a resting stop, a place to chill out and listen to the featured song on the stereo. If the mood strikes you, click on the juke box to access and listen to the 50+ free online songs there. The TV has several channels, with selections updated twice a week. Every now and then, Pass the Paisley hosts an all-request of 1960s and 1970s songs for a Be-In at the juke box in the Groove Pad. Keep on truckin’. Hope you enjoyed “(You’re My) Soul and Inspiration” by The Righteous Brothers.