"I Love You for Sentimental Reasons" (The Righteous Brothers)

"I Love You for Sentimental Reasons" was written in 1945 by Deek Watson and Pat Best of the vocal group The Brown Dots, a group Watson formed in 1944 after leaving The Ink Spots.  (Although, Best claimed that he alone wrote the song as a love letter to a girl, and Watson just took a writing credit as the leader of the group.)  Whatever the case, it's a song I never tire of hearing, no matter who's covering it or how many times it's covered.  And many have covered it: Nat "King" Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Sam Cooke, Marvin Gaye & Mary Wells...  They all did great versions.  However, I prefer the Phil Spector-produced version for The Righteous Brothers from 1965.
Released as the B-side of the hit single "Ebb Tide," it's essentially a solo record by Bobby Hatfield (not unlike "Ebb Tide," actually).  As usual, Spector uses his "Wall of Sound" production technique, surrounding Hatfield with swirling strings, plucked harps, thumping bass, heavily reverbed drums, and female backing vocals.  It's no less dramatic than anything else Spector ever produced, but the feel here is even more pillowy and—dare I say it—sentimental; sonically, it's like taking a stroll through a cloud.
And there's nothing quite as soul-stirring as hearing Hatfield hit those high notes on the bridge.  If you've never heard this rendition before, you'll be a convert after you hear him sing Whenever you're in sight.