Orange Moonglow label Little Latin Lupe Lu

Moonglow 215 US 1963

"Little Latin Lupe Lu"/"I'm So Lonely"

The releases on the Moonglow Records label reveal many contradictions but possibly the release of the Moonglow 215 "Little Latin Lupe Lu" single using an orange label represents one of the most puzzling.

Moonglow Records distribution deal with Atlantic Records began with the Righteous Brothers Moonglow 223 "My Babe" single on an orange label, prior to this, the national distribution of Moonglow singles including 215 "Little Latin Lupe Lu" was handled by Dart Record Sales on a blue label.

Before "Little Latin Lupe Lu" broke nationally and Dart Records Sales became involved, the single was pressed locally by Moonglow Records themselves. The locally pressed singles are easily identified as they don't have any reference to a distributor on the record label.

Interesting to note, the etching in the deadwax is identical to the blue label release although on the orange label release there is no producer credit as there is on the blue label releases.

Reissue Of Souled Out album on CD

Spectrum 9838873 UK 2006

The Righteous Brothers 1967 album "Souled Out" has been re-issued on CD by UK based Spectrum Records, a Universal Music Group company.

The "Souled Out" album, recorded in July 1967, was the final studio album that the Righteous Brothers recorded as a duo before their break up at the end of the year. Unlike all their other Verve albums, which were produced by Bill Medley - "Souled Out" was produced by ex Motowner, Mickey Stevenson. The album contained eleven original songs written by Mickey Stevenson, Doug Brown, Leon Ware and Vicki Basemore.

Rather oddly until this year, of all the countless Righteous Brothers compilations that have been made on vinyl and CD since the 60’s, only two tracks from the "Souled Out" album, "Stranded In The Middle Of Noplace" and "So Many Lonely Nights Ahead", had ever been included.

Spectrum Records should be commended for taking the initiative to re-issue “Souled Out”, over the few years they have put together several Righteous Brothers compilation CDs that contain tracks that have never been issued on CD previously, breaking the annoying tradition of repackaging the same tried and trusted tracks. They have tapped in on the popularity of several tracks from the "Souled Out" album with Northern Soul fans, "It's Up To You", "Love Keeps Calling My Name" and "Here I Am" being the main contenders.

Blue label My Babe Moonglow single

Moonglow 223 US 1963

"My Babe"/"Fee Fi Fidily I Oh"

Without doubt, one of the rarest Righteous Brothers singles is the Moonglow 223 issue of “My Babe” on a blue label, as opposed to the familiar and customary orange label.

Following the Righteous Brothers chart success of Moonglow 215 “Little Latin Lupe Lu”, Moonglow entered into a distribution deal with Atlantic Records that their subsidiary Atco, would distribute all Moonglow's future releases, including non Righteous Brothers, from Moonglow 223 “My Babe” onwards. The label design was changed to include the Atco legend and would now be orange in colour.

This distribution deal also applied to the Moonglow albums but as with the “My Babe” single, there are copies of all four Righteous Brothers albums in circulation without the Atco legend, on a plain yellow label with no distribution details, these presumably are local pressings by Moonglow Records themselves. An example of this is on the left, also interesting to note the album title is not included.

Alternate versions of Soul And Inspiration

Verve 889274-7 West Germany MONO ISSUES

The two singles above are a completely different version to the standard "(You're My) Soul And Inspiration", unfortunately the Verve "Sounds Of Fame" single doesn't indicate if the track is mono (with the alternate version) or stereo (with the standard version).

There is a definite way of establishing whether it is the alternate version without having to play the record. Etched in the deadwax (the run out before the label) is the master number, if this is "65 VK 634-M" it is the alternate version - IT MUST INCLUDE THE "M" the standard version doesn't include the "M"

The West German reissue does fortunately indicate that the track is in mono, it is unsure if a stereo standard version was issued.

A full length version of the original “(You’re My) Soul And Inspiration” which includes a 10 second instrumental intro, has been issued by Eric Records on “Dick Bartley Presents Classic oldies 1965-1969”.

The intro is the same as the instrumental bridge that precedes Bobby Hatfield’s spoken last verse of the track.

The fade out is also longer than the original single issue, although Rhino on the Righteous Brothers “Anthology” set has issued this.

One For The Road reissued on CD

Polydor 847 840-2 Australia 1990

One of the rarest Righteous Brothers items to surface in the past year is the 1990 official re-release on CD and cassette in Australia, of the 1968 live Verve album “One For The Road”.

As with the Australian only release of the Bill Medley “Unchained” compilation CD album a year later, this was an ideal opportunity for Polygram, owners of the Righteous Brothers 1960’s catalogue, to capitalise on the tide of interest in the Righteous Brothers and Bill Medley, following the success of their songs in the blockbuster films, “You’ve Lost That Lovin Feelin” (Top Gun), “(I’ve Had) The Time Of My Life” by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes (Dirty Dancing) and at this particular time, “Unchained Melody” (Ghost).

To emphasise to any new generation Bill Medley or Righteous Brothers fans exactly who the Righteous Brothers were, the back cover of the album included their names – a notable addition to the original album. The front cover was also slightly modified with “featuring – Unchained Melody, You’ve Lost That Lovin Feelin and (You’re My) Soul & Inspiration” added.

A great pity that Polygram didn't deem it viable to release this classic album in other parts of the world, they had made an excellent job of remixing the album into mono.

Live Gold seizing on the opportunity of the ineptitude of Polygram, made a very inferior sounding copy with poor remixing, of the album the following year by overcoming any legalities by having the CD made in Czechoslovakia.

Elusive Moonglow 234 single You'll Be Crying Someday

Moonglow 234 US 1964

"Bring Your Love To Me"/"If You're Lyin You'll Be Crying"

As with all major recording artists, the Righteous Brothers back catalog is relatively easy to obtain, even recordings made before they really hit the big time in 1965, are still not that difficult to locate due to their popularity and the vast quantities pressed.

However there is one exception, the Moonglow 234 single "Bring Your Love To Me"/"If You're Lyin You'll Be Crying" . Copies are very hard to come by, the regular issue being harder to locate than the promotional copy - which is usually the case whenever a record has been withdrawn from circulation or the release cancelled.

For whatever reason, the plug was pulled on Moonglow 234 and "This Little Girl Of Mine" on Moonglow 235 was released as the replacement retaining "If You're Lyin You'll Be Crying" as the B side.

"If You're Lyin You'll Be Crying" is not the same track as issued on the Bill Medley solo Moonglow 221 and on the Moonglow 1003 album "This Is New" by the Righteous Brothers.

It is in fact a version of the song by the Righteous Brothers using the same basic backing track as the Bill Medley solo track but with Barry Rillera featured on guitar and credited on the record label.

To confuse things even further, the track was issued in the UK on the Righteous Brothers Pye International NPL 28056 album "Right Now" as "You'll Be Crying Someday", the reason why it was re-titled is unknown.

Plus on the UK issue of "This Is New", retitled "In Action" on Sue 937, although not in the same order, the track listing is identical, except that Bill Medley's solo version of "If You're Lyin You'll Be Crying" is omitted.

Verve disc jockey box set

Verve Celebrity Scene CS 8-5 1967

In 1967 MGM/Verve Records issued a special five record Box Set to disc jockeys by the recording artists on the MGM/Verve label, including the Righteous Brothers.

The set includes a separate photo of the front cover pus a brief biography, also included are juke box strips for all five singles.

Of all the five singles, only four tracks had been included on a single previously.

Verve 10520 Go Ahead And Cry/(You're My) Soul And Inspiration

Verve 10521 Hold On I'm Comin/He Will Break Your Heart

Verve 10522 I Believe/Melancholy Music Man

Verve 10523 Island In The Sun/I (Who Have Nothing)

Verve 10524 Something You Got/My Girl

Unreleased Haven tracks

(Disky DCD 5285) Netherlands 1993

Double CD set that includes 3 previously unreleased Righteous Brothers tracks "If That's The Way You Want It" (Lambert/Potter), "Happy Song" (Medley) and "Father Of The Rock & Roll" (Medley). The latter two tracks were produced by Bill Medley and Art Munson.

Also included is "Hey Girl" which only surfaced on their Curb "Best Of Vol 2" in 1991 and their final Haven single tracks "Hold On (To What You Got)" and "Let Me Make The Music" .