Unchained Melody – Al Hibbler | Top 40 Chart Performance, Story and Song Meaning
Chart Performance: Pop (#3); 1955
Story Behind The Song By Harris Sterling
In 1955, Al Hibbler recorded Unchained Melody, one of several versions released that year. The song was written by Alex North and Hy Zaret for the prison film Unchained, which gave the composition its title.
Produced by Decca Records’ team, Hibbler’s version featured a dramatic orchestral arrangement and his expressive baritone vocal. Released in the spring of 1955, the single reached #3 on the Billboard Pop chart.
The lyric centers on longing and separation. Rather than referencing the film’s storyline directly, the song speaks in universal terms about yearning for reunion and the passage of time.
Unchained Melody would later be recorded by numerous artists, becoming one of the most covered songs in popular music history. Hibbler’s rendition remains one of the earliest charting versions and helped establish the song’s enduring appeal.
This content was created and written by Top 40 Contributing Editor Harris Sterling. © 2026 Harris Sterling. All rights reserved.
Produced by:
Decca Records Production
Lyrics Written by:
Hy Zaret
Alex North
Awards:
No major Grammy Awards were awarded specifically for the single.
Harris Sterling
Independent music label executive Harris Sterling has worked in the music industry for most of his career.
As Executive Vice President for independent music label Madacy Entertainment, he led the strategic marketing and business development for the label, negotiating agreements with the major record labels to release custom music compilations under license with major brands, such as Ford Motor Company, Crayola, Care Bears and Elvis Presley Enterprises.
Harris also led Madacy’s strategy for the licensing of its entire music catalogue to Apple for their launch of the IPOD.
In 2011, Harris co-founded Starting Five Media, a company that specializes in recording and licensing custom renditions of popular songs as well as clearing the rights to the music composition for use by their clients in media projects.
Harris has negotiated publishing and master recording rights for many Top 40 songs for use in various media projects, TV Commercials and more.