Give It to the People - The Righteous...

The big comeback album for Bobby Hatfield and Bill Medley spawned three hits eight years after their last chart success. Of the three, it was the Alan O'Day co-write with J. Stevenson, "Rock & Roll Heaven," which -- though a novelty -- came to be one of their best known titles. The passing of Bobby Hatfield in November of 2003 gave the song even more of a boost on oldies stations, as the singer became part of the subject matter by leaving this world. Producers Dennis Lambert and Brian Potter put together a thin but effective sound for their string of hits with various artists in this time period, the formula utilized here fitting Glen Campbell well a year later. Despite the three shots of commercial success there was something too Vegas and glitzy about the Give It to the People album, the title track going Top 20 four months after "Rock & Roll Heaven"'s chart penetration. The tune "Give It to the People" was written by the production team of Lambert and Potter, as was the third single, the Top 35 "Dream On" with its catchy melody. Coming a year after Aerosmithcharted in New England with a similar title but a different song, there was little confusion over the two "Dream On"s, as the melodies were so different. There was one other similarity, though, Aerosmith returned to the charts in 1976 with their composition just as The Righteous Brothers did with the Top 40 activity of "Unchained Melody." Old friends Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil are represented with two enjoyable titles, "You Turn Me Around" and "Together Again," perhaps the best-written and most effective of the album tracks. But it is the Alan O'Day fantasy of Janis Joplin jamming with Jimi Hendrix that sweeps in and gets the award for most memorable number. "Rock & Roll Heaven" might have been trite, but it is irresistible. The Righteous Brothers were a singles act, and it is the singles which stand out across their career, the LP production good for the time, but not as timeless as their work with Phil Spector. ~ Joe Viglione, All Music Guide