Song by Song: "You've Lost that Lovin' Feelin'" Quiz

Answer: The Righteous Brothers

The term "blue-eyed soul," which is used to describe an R&B-and-soul style of music performed by white musical artists, was first applied to the Righteous Brothers by "Life" magazine. The duo, consisting of Bobby Hatfield and Bill Medley, recorded the song on their album of the same name.

The single, produced by Phil Spector, was released in November of 1964 with "There's a Woman" on the B-side.

Answer: Otis Redding

The song was written by husband and wife songwriting partners Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann. According to a 2013 article in the New Yorker, the couple flew to California to write for producer Phil Spector. They wrote the melody of the song first, then the verse and the chorus. Phil Spector's contributions were, according to Barry Mann, less spectacular: "Phil came up with 'gone, gone, gone, whoa, whoa, whoa.'"

Answer: 3:05

In the article "Back to Mono (Songs)," AlbumLinerNotes.com reports that the 3:45 run time was "much too long by contemporary AM standards." Producer Phil Spector, however, was unwilling to shorten the track. "Instead, on the label where the time is indicated, he had printed 3:05...He also added a false ending which made the recording more dramatic, but also tricked the deejays into thinking it was a shorter song."

The issue with getting airplay for longer songs is well known in the music industry. In "The Entertainer," Billy Joel sings:

"If you're gonna have a hit
You gotta make it fit
So they cut it down to 3:05."

Answer: Cilla Black

Cilla Black's version hit the UK singles chart the same week the Righteous Brothers' version made the UK charts. Black's version initially came in higher, at number 28. The two versions battled it out on the UK chart, with Black's version eventually peaking at number two and the Righteous Brothers' version at number one.

The Righteous Brothers single also peaked at number eight on the Dutch Top 40 in the Netherlands, at number two in Ireland, and at number one in the U.S. and Canada.

Answer: There's no blush on her cheeks anymore when he flatters her

In the song, the man tells his lover:

"You never close your eyes anymore when I kiss your lips"

And also:

"Now there's no welcome look in your eyes when I reach for you
And now you're starting to criticize little things I do."

Bobby Hatfield and Bill Medley of the Righteous Brothers were accustomed to singing together on songs, but for "You've Lost that Lovin' Feelin'," Bill Medley sang a deep, opening solo. According to Rolling Stone magazine, Bobby Hatfield was a bit miffed by this and so asked producer Phil Spector what he was supposed to do with himself while Medley was singing the first verse. According to the magazine, Philip Spector replied, "You can go directly to the bank."

Answer: Dionne Warwick

Dionne Warwick's single was released in September of 1969 with "Window Wishing" on the B-side. It peaked at number 16 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and made the top ten on the Adult Contemporary chart.

Answer: fingertips

"You never close your eyes anymore when I kiss your lips
And there's no tenderness like before in your fingertips
You're trying hard not to show it
But baby, baby I know it."

The verses of the song have an AABB rhyme scheme.

The Righteous Brothers' recording of "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" was nominated for a Grammy in the 7th Annual Grammy Awards in 1965 in the Best Rock and Roll Recording category. Rolling Stone magazine included the song in its 2004 list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time," where it came in at number 34.

Answer: Roberta Flack

The single was released from the album "Robert Flack & Donny Hathaway" with "Be Real Black for Me" on the B-side. The two singers performed many duets together. Roberta Flack is known for such hits as "Killing Me Softly with His Song," "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face," and "The Closer I Get to You." This 1971 version of "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" peaked at number 30 on the U.S. Hot R&B Billboard Chart.

Answer: slip away

"Baby, baby, I'd get down on my knees for you
If you would only love me like you used to do, yeah
We had a love, a love, a love you don't find everyday
So don't, don't, don't, don't let it slip away."

The Righteous Brothers' version of this song was included in the National Recording Registry of the Library of Congress in 2015.

Answer: Hall & Oates

The single, which was released in September of 1980, peaked at number ten on the Canada Adult Contemporary chart and at number 12 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. The song has also been covered by a diverse array of musicians ranging from Joan Baez, Elvis Presley, and Nancy Sinatra to Westlife and The Human League.