Elusive US regular copy of Stay With Me single

Although very easy to obtain as a promotion copy, the regular or stock copy as often referred to, 1972 American issue of Bobby Hatfield's "Stay With Me" on Warner Brothers 7649 has proved to be really elusive for most collectors.

It seems most unlikely that the record had a full release, which is more than a little surprising as the Richard Perry produced track, is often acknowledged as his finest solo recording.

The track did have a full release in West Germany where it was known as "Stay With Me (Baby)" and issued in a title sleeve.

Images on the left are of the US release, West German release and picture sleeve.

Stereo release of Bobby Hatfield Verve tracks

Although at first glance, the Righteous Brothers "Gold" double album’s track listing, might appear to be simply a revamp of Rhinos definitive "Anthology" set, there are several major additions that makes this a ‘must have’ to any Righteous Brothers collection.

The major factor being the inclusion of the four stereo mixes of Bobby Hatfield's tracks, "Brothers" "Only You" "My Prayer" and "Answer Me" (with longer fade out) none of which, have ever been issued on any compilation previously. They were originally mono only single tracks but scheduled to be included on an unissued 1969 Bobby Hatfield Verve album.

The first Bobby Hatfield solo single issued by Moonglow Records, "Hot Tamales" - that was included as a Righteous Brothers track on their "Back To Back" Philles album, is also in stereo for the first time and has a longer fade out.

After the break up of the Righteous Brothers partnership, Bobby Hatfield initially producing his first two releases himself, “Hang Ups” and “Brothers” (written by Hatfield) – the latter being autobiographical, charting the career of the Righteous Brothers.

With no chart success from either release, Verve Records probably decided that commercial success would be most likely, by having Bobby Hatfield performing ‘standards’ – as he did when with the Righteous Brothers with massive hits “Unchained Melody” and “Ebb Tide”, both solos by him of course.

Verve teamed him with producer Dick Glasser and arranger Ernie Freeman, recording what was scheduled to be the nucleus of an album, which unfortunately never did see the light of day.

Interesting to note, that the track "Woman Man Needs Ya" by the Bobby Hatfield and Jimmy Walker Righteous Brothers partnership is acknowledged on the track listing. Not the first time that a track by this partnership has been included on a compilation - but certainly a first that it has been acknowledged.

Bobby Hatfield's first solo release

It is widely assumed that the 1968 Bobby Hatfield release of “Hang Ups” was his first solo effort, he did in fact have his first solo release in 1963 on Moonglow Records with “Hot Tamales”/“I Need A Girl”.

After the Righteous Brothers scored with “Little Latin Lupe Lu” on Moonglow 215, both Bill Medley and Bobby Hatfield had solo releases on the Moonglow label, prior to the follow up, “My Babe”.

Although the main track, “Hot Tamales” written by Bobby Hatfield himself, is probably best described as a novelty record – the single is very desirable not only by Righteous Brothers collectors but also collectors of doo-wop who seek the B-side track, “I Need A Girl”.

“I Need A Girl” written by Bill Medley, is billed as being by Bobby Hatfield, it is fair to say that it could fall into the category of a doo-wop group and is listed in several publications as such.

The version of “I Need A Girl” on the Moonglow 220 Bobby Hatfield single is the original recording, all other releases of the track, which subsequently were billed as being by the Righteous Bothers, including on Moonglow 245 as B side to “Bring Your Love To Me”, are remixed to include a string section.

White label promotion copies of the Moonglow 220 single are the most common and can be sought without any difficulty, the regular blue label singles are extremely rare but the blue label, red vinyl promotion copy is virtually impossible to locate.

The single was also issued in Belgium on Moonglow 5412.

"Hot Tamales" was issued in stereo for the very first time ever on the Righteous Brothers "Gold" album in 2006.

The Ringo Starr connection

In December 1971, following his new recording contract with Warner Brothers, Bobby Hatfield recorded his first session in England working with producer Richard Perry.

Most likely at the Abbey Road Studios in London, Bobby Hatfield recorded a version of the Fred Hughes soul classic “Oo Wee Baby I Love You”, the session featured a very famous drummer in Ringo Starr.

The subsequent single was issued in the US (Warner Bros 7566) and the UK (Warner Brothers 16163), in France it was issued with same catalogue number as the UK but with a title sleeve complete with a list of musicians on the rear cover.

Ringo Starr (drums)
Al Cooper (guitar-piano)
Klaus Voorman (bass)
Jim Price (trumpet)
Chris Stainton (organ)
Bobby Keys (sax)

It is not really clear if Ringo Starr participated on the flip side “Rock N Roll Woman” though it has been suggested on various Beatles websites that he was involved on the tracks albeit in a very minor role, handclaps.

Both tracks have been included on a Ringo Starr bootleg CD “I Gotta Blues” issued in 2002 but the Bobby Hatfield tracks are only taken from a scratched vinyl single, not the master tapes.

Tracks on Japanese soundtrack CD

Radio interview double album

An extremely rare double album of a four part radio series that was used by the US Navy in their recruitment program, it includes Sam Riddle interviewing Bobby Hatfield with specially recorded tracks for the project.

Recorded at the Sunset Sound Studios in Hollywood, with Joey Carbone on keyboards, Richie Zito on guitar, Claude Pepper on drums and Howard Tsukamoto on bass.

Comprising Bobby Hatfield's versions of Delaney & Bonnie's "Only You Know As I know", Bread's "If", a Beatles medley, the Johnny Nash song "I Can See Clearly Now", the classic "Rainy Night In Georgia" and familiar Righteous Brothers songs including a five minute version of "You've Lost That Lovin Feelin" plus his tribute to Bill Medley in the form of "Brown Eyed Woman".

The song "Let The Good Times Roll" is the one written by Theard/Moore (Bill Medley also recorded this song on MGM Records) and not the song as recorded by the Righteous Brothers on Moonglow.

The "Oldies medley" was later used on the Koala "Unchained Melody" bootleg album.

Interviews with Bobby Hatfield plus -

Only You Know As I Know
You've Lost That Lovin Feelin
Oldies medley (Great Balls Of Fire/Blue Suede Shoes)
Let The Good Times Roll
If
Beatles medley (The Long And Winding Road/Something)
I Can See Clearly Now
Unchained Melody
Brown Eyed Woman
Drown In My Own Tears
Stagger Lee
Rainy Night In Georgia