Damn Near Righteous

As a child of the 60's The Righteous Brothers were a huge part of the soundtrack I grew up to. Having lost Bobby Hatfield several years ago, it has been a good while since we have heard any thing from his partner Bill Medley. Recently I was searching You Tube and I was going to watch a medley of songs by Chicago singer Bill Champlin, this was titled a "Bill" medley, so it makes a perfect accident that the next thing up was a song by "Bill Medley", from his new album "Damn Near Righteous". I immediately got on Amazon and ordered the CD. I figure Bill Medlry to be at least in his early 70's and his voice has not lost a step. Up beat rockers like "Trick Bag" and "Find Someone Who Will" get in a groove and kick. The slow laid back stuff like "Lonely Street", Something Blue and others are so soulful. He does a Beachboys song "In My Room" with Brian Wilson singing harmony. Again I voice my dissatisfaction at the music industry. Here in the ATL there is not a radio station that would include this album in its playlist. The adult rock stations are too covered up with 70's Fleetwood Mac and Eagles, calling themselves "Classic Rock" stations. So it's frustrating wondering how much more music is out there that we are not hearing.

His voice...a cross between aged sour mash whiskey and a buzz saw cutting through a 4X4 is exactly the Bill Medley we've been waiting for. An album dripping with gospel is simply superb.Well produced with stunning musicianship, Medley delivers the goods on 10 ballads and two rockers. Friends Phil Everly and Brian Wilson add a beautiful harmonic gospel tinged reworking of the Beach Boys "In My Room" and Doc Pomus'"Lonely Ave" is given a remarkable (better than Ray Charles and Van Morrison versions) soulful rendition with a slow electric piano and drum beat that is punctuated with that rasp of the only Righteous Brother we have left.The piano work on Dylan's "Just Like a Woman" is unparalled and Dean Parks guitar work throughout is outstanding as is the female backup singing.The Title cut should be released as a single.."Sit Down and Hurt" is a masterpiece.Deep Soul Blues.The only negative I can find is the absence of lyrics printed on the liner notes and the additional use of some horns on the ballads.

I stumbled upon this unexpected gem quite by accident, searching for the Everly Brothers on YouTube and finding, of all wonderful things, a remarkable cover of the Beach Boys classic, "In My Room", featuring Medley with Phil Everly and songwriter Brian Wilson on vocals. The legendary trio interpret this ode to teen angst and confusion as men whose life experiences have taught them that the answers to life's questions can be as elusive in maturity as they were in adolescence. "In My Room" is arguably the cd's artistic high point, but that's not to diminish the remaining eleven tracks. I purchased this CD soon after hearing "In My Room", hoping Bill Medley's first recordings since the untimely, unexpected passing of his little Righteous brother, Bobby Hatfield, would at least approach the musical standard of that duo's best recordings. It comes damn near. Medley wisely avoids attempts to mimic the "wall of sound" production techniques of Phil Spector or the r'n'b-inspired shout-fests of the RB's early, underrated Moonglow recordings, instead keeping things simple and, for the most part, musically sparse.The overreaching theme of Damn Near Righteous is one of pain and loss--the set opens with "Sit Down and Hurt" and closes with "California Goodbye", the former reflecting a struggle to absorb grief over a painful loss (which Medley admits in one of two NPR interviews to be reflective of his handling of Bobby's death) and the latter a heartfelt, mournful good-bye dedicated "for Bobby" that might seem maudlin to those who haven't felt grief's deepest clutches but which Medley delivers with genuine world-weary soul. In between these tracks, Medley pays homage to r'n'b heroes Ray Charles (in a gritty, bluesy rendition of "Lonely Avenue") and Earl King ("Trick Bag") while risking criticism by giving Bob Dylan's much-covered "Just Like a Woman" a brand-new treatment that re-translates the original. Among the remaining original songs, "Hurt City" (written by Bill LaBounty, who contributes four songs to this project) is perhaps the most engaging, with it's catchy, listenable melody line and straightforward lyrics about wanting to start a relationship over after screwing up. Also of note, Medley's daughter, McKenna, contributes soulful vocals on the James Taylor/Carole King-sounding "Rock My Baby" (as well as on an unlisted bonus track, a reprise of "Two Lives") that shows her to have inherited her father's vocal chops. This disc was released in 2007, and time has shown it didn't turn out to be Medley's big career comeback in a commercial way, but perhaps that wasn't necessarily the idea. Damn Near Righteous triumphs because Bill Medley put that same guttural soul into this that he put into the best Righteous Brothers recordings, a personal comeback that suggests he's finally ready for this chapter in his life, and that should be good enough for anyone.A 40-minute DVD is included with the CD, and it's real treat for Righteous Brothers fans--included is archival footage and a lengthy interview in which Medley shares stories of the his long career with the Righteous Brothers and as a solo artist, including a few surprisingly personal revelations about some difficult moments in his life. Footage of the recording session for this CD is also included.

Love the Righteous Brothers and love my favorite one, Bill Medley. For years I thought he was southern born and bred but then I find out he's West Coast, from Orange County, CA of all places! No wonder he's got so much soul! This combo CD/DVD is absolutely wonderful! All I can say is, thank you Bill!

The surviving member of the Righteous Brothers - the one with the deep voice - offers a nice mix of rockers and emotional ballads. That includes "California Goodbye," about Bobby Hatfield, the not-surviving "brother," and "In My Room," with Brian Wilson in the background. Medley may be alone but he's still got some great singing chops.

not the greatest. I'd heard the review of it on NPR which sounded really good. Their rendition of "in my room" was very good, but then, that's a great song. The rest was pretty dull.

This is a great CD by Bill Medley! Having Phil Everly and Brian Wilson sing on the cut "In My Room" makes it even more special and exciting! The original songs are well done and thought provoking. A great listen for anyone! Time for a comeback the likes of Tony Bennett! Bill's Back!

Fabulous! I purchased this with "His Heart to Mine", as well as his book, "The Time of My Life".

BILL STILL HAS THE CHOPS ANICE SURPRISE

Bill Medley and the Righteous Brothers have been my favorite recording artists for 40 years.This is one of Bill's best!

Great cd but the recording of his voice on this cd is very harsh bright to the extent that you cant listen to itYour Heart to Mine the recording is much betterWhat is the point of spending good money on HiFi to put a good artist like this on and for it to sound like it's coming out of a transistor radio

Bought this on the strength of my love of the Righteous Brothers, but it's so disappointing.