AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Les Baxter

Artist:Les Baxter

Song:Unchained Melody

Album:Thinking of You

Les Baxter was an arranger and conductor for Capitol Records in the 50s. He recorded all kinds of music. The 1955 single Unchained Melody topped the charts. No doubt most listeners are familiar with the 1965 Righteous Brothers hit Unchained Melody. The song had been around for ten years. I'll explain in a minute. Baxter was born Mar. 14, 1922 in Mexia, TX. He studied piano at the Detroit Conservatory and Pepperdine College in Los Angeles. After playing sax in Freddie Slack's big band, Baxter decided he wanted to be a singer. And he sang with Mel Torme's Mel Tones. But in 1950, Baxter took a job as an arranger and conductor at Capitol Records. He conducted the orchestra for Nat King Cole's Mona Lisa. Baxter seemed to specialize in what became known as Exotica. He produced Peruvian singer Yma Sumac's first album and wrote and produced Martin Denny's 1959 hit Quiet Village. He also recorded plenty of instrumental easy listening albums. Unchained Melody was the theme for the 1955 prison film Unchained. The song was written by the film's composer Alex North with lyrics by Hy Zaret. Opera singer Todd Duncan sang it when he appeared in the film. In those days, it was not unusual for several versions of a song from a film to be recorded and compete with each other for chart position.  Baxter's version of Unchained Melody had an orchestra and chorus. It was also recorded by singers Al Hibbler and Roy Hamilton. Baxter's version topped the Billboard pop chart while Hibbler and Hamilton topped the R&B chart. I don't think Duncan's recording was released as a single. It hardly matters as all three guys were black. And in those days, white radio stations didn't play black artists. So that left clear sailing for Baxter. Baxter's version of Unchained Melody was a quickie recording so it was only released as a single. This was Baxter's biggest chart hit. Baxter continued to record easy listening albums for Capitol and for Reprise when he and Nelson Riddle moved there in 1962. Baxter also scored plenty of films including the Beach Party movies. Baxter continued to work on music until he died on Jan. 15, 1993 at age 73. This 2CD comp from the reissue label Jasmine covers his entire career. Here's a video of Unchained Melody by Less Baxter.