The Righteous Brothers

In a marketing fluke too good to be a strategy, the Righteous Brothers' performance video In Concert managed to make it into stores not long before Bobby Hatfield died. It's a better than decent representation of the duo in concert, from the Roxy Theatre in Los Angeles in 1983 (though finding the date requires a sharp eye), both of them looking decidedly better than they did in their appearances on Cheers over the ensuing decade. Of course, there's no chance of their live band emulating the sound of the duo's classic recordings, nor is that the goal here -- rather, it's to present their voices in center stage instead of studio effects, and the results are very satisfying in this surprisingly relaxed, very nicely paced show. In addition to their own hits, all of which are well represented, the Righteous Brothers deliver enthusiastic performances of the Coasters' "Young Blood" and Sam & Dave's "Hold On! I'm Comin'" and "Soul Man"; the audience appreciates these more than well enough (especially the Sam & Dave songs), but it's their own hits, such as "Ebb Tide," that bring forth the biggest response. To judge from what viewers see, women really did fixate on their sound, even during this transition period between the duo being stars and revered veterans. Their singing is impressive, especially given than this show took place more than 20-plus years into their careers -- and it's all enjoyable, if not overly revelatory (beyond the fact that it all comes off so well). ~ Bruce Eder, All Music Guide