With this Real Gone Music release we celebrate one of the great bass voices in all of popular music, that of one-time Righteous Brother Bill Medley, who had just split from Bobby Hatfield when he recorded these two solo albums for MGM in 1968 and 1969, respectively. Fans who swoon over the Righteous Brothers' blue-eyed soul sound will find a lot to like here, as these two records feature the same blend of pop and R&B styles that graced their classic sides, all backed by the kind of production value you'd expect from a guy who learned some studio chops from Phil Spector (and had some of his own, as Medley himself produced some of the Righteous Brothers' biggest hits). Bill Medley 100% is the more pop-oriented of the two; it features two chart hits, the Goffin-King song I Can't Make It Alone and the Mann-Weil tune Brown-Eyed Woman, while Soft and Soulful, as the title indicates, stuck closer to Medley's soul roots with songs like the gospel-tinged hit Peace Brother Peace. Neither of these albums have ever been on CD, and appear here on a single CD inside a snazzy four-panel, full-bleed wallet with liner notes and photos.
Damn Near Righteous - is Bill Medley's first record since the untimely passing of Bobby Hatfield (Medley's partner in the Righteous Brothers). This album honors thier legacy and showcases the singular artistry of Bill Medley in his own right....Damn Near Righteous features a soulful reimagining of the Beach Boys hit "In My Room" performed with Beach Boy frontman Brian Wilson and Phil Everly of the Everly Brothers....As an added bonus - Damn Near Righteous includes a 40 minute DVD featuring archival concert footage and interviews with Bill Medley, Brian Wilson, and many other music luminaries.
