"He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" | ||||
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Single by Kelly Gordon | ||||
from the album Defunked | ||||
B-side | "That's Life" | |||
Released | 1969 | |||
Length | 4:49 | |||
Label | Capitol | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) | Kelly Gordon | |||
Kelly Gordon singles chronology | ||||
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"He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" is a ballad written by Bobby Scott and Bob Russell. Originally recorded by Kelly Gordon in 1969, the song became a worldwide hit for the Hollies later that year and also a hit for Neil Diamond in 1970. It has been recorded by many artists in subsequent years. The Hollies' version was re-released in 1988 and again was a major hit in the UK.
Scott and Russell were introduced to each other by Johnny Mercer, at a California nightclub. Although Russell was dying of lymphoma and the pair met only three times, they managed to collaborate on the song.
In his 1884 book The Parables of Jesus , James Wells, Moderator of the United Free Church of Scotland, tells the story of a little girl carrying a big baby boy. Seeing her struggling, someone asked if she wasn't tired. With surprise she replied: "No, he's not heavy; he's my brother." [1]
In a 1918 publication by Ralph Waldo Trine titled The Higher Powers of Mind and Spirit, Trine relates the following anecdote: "Do you know that incident in connection with the little Scottish girl? She was trudging along, carrying as best she could a boy younger, but it seemed almost as big as she herself, when one remarked to her how heavy he must be for her to carry, when instantly came the reply: 'He's na heavy. He's mi brither.'" [2]
The first editor of Kiwanis magazine, Roe Fulkerson, published a column in September 1924 carrying the title "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother", the first use of the phrase exactly as it is rendered in the song title.
In the 1940s, the words, adapted as "He ain't heavy, Father, he's my brother", were taken as a slogan for Boys Town children's home by founder Father Edward Flanagan. [3] According to the Boys Town website, the phrase as used by Boys Town was said to Fr. Flanagan in 1918 by one of the residents while carrying another up a set of stairs. The boy being carried is said to have had polio and worn leg braces. [4]
"He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" | ||||
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Single by the Hollies | ||||
from the album He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother (US) | ||||
B-side | "'Cos You Like to Love Me" | |||
Released |
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Recorded | June 25, 1969 [5] | |||
Studio | EMI, London | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 4:20 [7] | |||
Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) | Ron Richards | |||
The Hollies singles chronology | ||||
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The Hollies recorded the song in June 1969 at the EMI Studios (now Abbey Road Studios), with Allan Clarke on lead vocals. According to Tony Hicks, he was given a demo recorded by Bobby Scott and Bob Russell when he was looking for songs to record, but found it too slow. The band sped up the song, and added an orchestra when they recorded the song. [8] Elton John, who was working as a session musician at the time, played piano on the song, [9] as well their next single, "I Can't Tell the Bottom from the Top". [10] Elton John was paid £12 for his work on the song. [8]
The song was released on 26 September 1969 and reached No. 3 in the UK, [11] and No. 7 in the US. [5] The song was re-released in August 1988 in the UK following its use in a television advertisement for Miller Lite beer. It reached the No. 1 spot in the UK chart for two weeks in September 1988. [12]
Record World said, "This beautiful ballad features [the Hollies'] usual fine vocals." [13]
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
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Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United Kingdom (BPI) [37] | Gold | 400,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
"He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" | ||||
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Single by Neil Diamond | ||||
from the album Tap Root Manuscript | ||||
B-side | "Free Life" | |||
Released | November 5, 1970 | |||
Recorded | 1970 | |||
Genre | Rock | |||
Length | 4:30 | |||
Label | Uni | |||
Songwriter(s) | Bob Russell, Bobby Scott | |||
Producer(s) | Neil Diamond, Tom Catalano | |||
Neil Diamond singles chronology | ||||
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The Neil Diamond version entered at No. 68 on the Hot 100 on November 7, 1970 (UNI Records, 55264, length 4:09). [38] The flip side was "Free Life". The song appears on Diamond's album Tap Root Manuscript , which was released in November 1970. [38] The song was played by KGB-AM radio, San Diego, California, in late 1970, prior to the then-new Walk for Mankind, in dedication to those who would be walking for donations that day.
7" single
Chart (1970-1971) | Peak position |
---|---|
US Billboard Hot 100 [39] | 20 |
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard) | 4 |
Australian Singles Chart | 94 |
New Zealand Singles Chart | 18 |
"He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" | ||||
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Single by Bill Medley | ||||
from the album Rambo III: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack | ||||
Released | August 1, 1988 | |||
Recorded | 1988 | |||
Genre | Soul, adult contemporary | |||
Length | 4:30 | |||
Label | Scotti Bros | |||
Songwriter(s) | Bob Russell, Bobby Scott | |||
Producer(s) | Giorgio Moroder | |||
Bill Medley singles chronology | ||||
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Bill Medley recorded a version for the soundtrack of the film Rambo III . It was released as a single in the UK and peaked at No. 25, being on the chart the same time as the Hollies' version in 1988. It reached No. 49 on Billboard's AC chart. [40]
7" single
Chart (1988) | Peak position |
---|---|
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard) | 49 |
UK Singles Chart [41] | 25 |
Dutch Top 40 [42] | 23 |
Belgian Singles Chart [43] | 20 |
"He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" | ||||
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Single by Gotthard | ||||
from the album G. (Asian Releases only) | ||||
Released | September 20, 1996 | |||
Recorded | 1996 | |||
Genre | Pop | |||
Length | 4:37 | |||
Label | BMG | |||
Songwriter(s) | Bob Russell, Bobby Scott | |||
Producer(s) | Chris von Rohr | |||
Gotthard singles chronology | ||||
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In 1996, Gotthard released their version of the song, which was poppier compared to their other songs, and the structure was retained as a ballad like the original. In Switzerland, the cover was just as successful as the original. The Asian version of the album G contains the cover. It also appears on the compilation albums One Life One Soul – Best of Ballads and The Greatest Rock Ballads.
CD-maxi
Chart (1996) | Peak position |
---|---|
Swiss Singles Chart [44] | 10 |
"He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" | ||||
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Single by the Justice Collective | ||||
Released | December 17, 2012 | |||
Recorded | October–November 2012 | |||
Studio |
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Genre | Pop rock | |||
Length | 4:33 | |||
Label | Metropolis | |||
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) |
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The Justice Collective singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" on YouTube |
In 2012, a version of the song was recorded, and was released on December 17, 2012, by musicians and celebrities going under the name the Justice Collective, for various charities associated with the Hillsborough disaster. [45] The song went on to take the coveted Christmas number one position for 2012 on the UK Singles Chart. [46]
After the News International phone hacking scandal, members of the Farm along with Pete Wylie, and Mick Jones of the Clash performed at an anti- The Sun concert at the Liverpool Olympia in September 2011. Following this they formed the Justice Tonight Band and toured the United Kingdom and Europe for the next year in order to raise awareness of the Hillsborough Justice Campaign. [47]
Initially, the idea was to re-release the 2009 single "The Fields of Anfield Road" by the Liverpool Collective featuring the Kop Choir; however, this idea was rejected by Peter Hooton as only a relatively small number of people would buy it. Inspired by Everton's Hillsborough tribute on September 17, 2012, the song was played at Goodison Park prior to their match against Newcastle United. It was then decided that a re-recording of "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" by various artists including the Justice Tonight Band would be released as the charity single. [47]
Keith Mullen of the Farm recruited Guy Chambers to produce the single and with Chambers offering free use of his Sleeper Studios to record the song. On October 25, 2012, Steve Rotheram, Guy Chambers and Kenny Dalglish announced plans of the single to be recorded by various artists such as Robbie Williams, Rebecca Ferguson, Paloma Faith, Beverley Knight, Melanie C, Holly Johnson, Mick Jones, Glen Campbell, Peter Hooton, Chris Sharrock, Glenn Tilbrook, Ren Harvieu, Dave McCabe, Paul Heaton, Hollie Cook, Jon McClure, John Power, Gerry Marsden, and two original members of the Hollies, Bobby Elliott and Tony Hicks. [47]
The Hollies are an English rock and pop band formed in 1962. One of the leading British groups of the 1960s and into the mid-1970s, they are known for their distinctive three-part vocal harmony style. Singer Allan Clarke and rhythm guitarist/singer Graham Nash founded the band as a Merseybeat-type group in Manchester, although some of the band members came from towns further north, in east Lancashire. Nash left the group in 1968 to co-form Crosby, Stills & Nash, though he has reunited with the Hollies on occasion. As well as Clarke and Nash other members have included lead guitarist Tony Hicks, rhythm guitarist Terry Sylvester, bassists Eric Haydock and Bernie Calvert, and drummers Don Rathbone and Bobby Elliott.
"The Power of Love" is a 1984 single released by British band Frankie Goes to Hollywood which was written by Holly Johnson, Peter Gill, Mark O'Toole and Brian Nash. It was released on 19 November 1984 as the third single single from the album Welcome to the Pleasuredome (1984).
The Farm are a British band from Liverpool. Their first album, Spartacus, reached the top position on the UK Albums Chart when it was released in March 1991; Spartacus 30 was released in 2021 to commemorate the anniversary. Spartacus includes two songs which had been top 10 singles the year before. In 2012, they toured with their Spartacus Live shows and formed part of the Justice Tonight Band, supporting the Stone Roses at Heaton Park, Phoenix Park, Lyon and Milan. They formed part of The Justice Collective which had the 2012 Christmas number one with their recording of "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother".
"Get Ready" is a Motown song written by Smokey Robinson, which resulted in two hit records for the label: a U.S. No. 29 version by the Temptations in 1966, and a U.S. No. 4 version by Rare Earth in 1970. It is significant for being the last song Robinson wrote and produced for the Temptations, due to a deal Berry Gordy made with Norman Whitfield, that if "Get Ready" did not meet with the expected degree of success, then Whitfield's song, "Ain't Too Proud to Beg", would get the next release, which resulted in Whitfield more or less replacing Robinson as the group's producer.
"Ain't No Sunshine" is a song by Bill Withers, from his 1971 debut album Just As I Am, produced by Booker T. Jones. The record featured musicians Donald "Duck" Dunn on bass guitar, Al Jackson Jr. on drums and Stephen Stills on guitar. String arrangements were arranged by Jones. The song was recorded in Los Angeles, with overdubs in Memphis by engineer Terry Manning.
"Ain't No Mountain High Enough" is a song written by Nickolas Ashford & Valerie Simpson in 1966 for the Tamla label, a division of Motown. The composition was first successful as a 1967 hit single recorded by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, and became a hit again in 1970 when recorded by former Supremes frontwoman Diana Ross. The song became Ross's first solo number-one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.
"Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing" is a 1968 single released by American R&B/soul duo Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, on the Tamla label in 1968. The B-side of the single is "Little Ole Boy, Little Ole Girl" from the duo's United LP. The first release off the duo's second album: You're All I Need, the song—written and produced by regular Gaye/Terrell collaborators Ashford & Simpson—became a hit within weeks of release eventually peaking at number eight on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Hot Soul Singles chart, the first of the duo's two number-one R&B hits. In the UK "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing" reached number 34.
"The Air That I Breathe" is a ballad written by the British-Gibraltarian singer-songwriter Albert Hammond and the English songwriter Mike Hazlewood. It was initially recorded by Hammond on his debut album, It Never Rains in Southern California (1972). After being covered by Phil Everly in 1973, it was a major hit for the Hollies in early 1974, reaching number two in the UK Singles Chart. It was the Hollies' last major hit. The English rock band Radiohead reused the chord progression and melody of "The Air That I Breathe" for their 1992 song "Creep".
"You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet" is a song by Canadian rock band Bachman–Turner Overdrive (BTO). The song was written by Randy Bachman for the band's third studio album Not Fragile (1974). It was released as a single in 1974, with an instrumental track "Free Wheelin'" as the B-side. It reached the number one position on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart and the Canadian RPM chart the week of November 9, 1974, as well as earning the band their only major hit single in the United Kingdom, peaking at number 2 on the UK Singles Chart. The follow-up single, "Roll on Down the Highway", was also a minor UK hit.
"(They Long to Be) Close to You" is a song written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David with sections of the early version written by Cathy Steeves. The best-known version is that recorded by American duo the Carpenters for their second studio album Close to You (1970) and produced by Jack Daugherty. Released on May 14, 1970, the single topped both the US Billboard Hot 100 and Adult Contemporary charts. It also reached the top of the Canadian and Australian charts and peaked at number six on the charts of both the UK and Ireland. The record was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in August 1970.
"It's Only Make Believe" is a song written by drummer Jack Nance and Mississippi-born singer Conway Twitty, while they were touring across Ontario, Canada in 1958. Twitty was a relatively unknown rock n' roll singer at the time, and this song was his first hit, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard chart in November 1958 for two weeks.
"The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine (Anymore)" is a song written by Bob Crewe and Bob Gaudio.
"(At Your Best) You Are Love" is a song by R&B group the Isley Brothers. It was originally released on their album Harvest for the World. The song was dedicated to their mother, Sally. Although not a single, the song was a radio hit in 1976, and later became a hit for R&B singer Aaliyah in 1994.
"This Ain't a Love Song" is the lead single from American rock band Bon Jovi's sixth studio album, These Days (1995). The rock ballad is an example of the strong rhythm and blues influence that Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora wanted the album to have. Released in May 1995 by Mercury, it reached number 14 on the US Billboard Hot 100, number two on the Canadian RPM 100 Hit Tracks chart, number six on the UK Singles Chart, and number one on the Finnish Singles Chart.
Tap Root Manuscript is the sixth studio album recorded by Neil Diamond, released in October 1970. It was one of the most experimental albums he ever recorded, featuring rock music fused with prominent African sounds and instruments. The album was a commercial success, going Gold in three months, eventually certified Platinum by the RIAA. The album's success was powered primarily by "Cracklin' Rosie", his first number 1 single, with help from Diamond's cover of "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother", which rose to number 20. The latter song had been a major hit for the Hollies the previous year.
"To Love Somebody" is a song written by Barry and Robin Gibb. Produced by Robert Stigwood, it was the second single released by the Bee Gees from their international debut album, Bee Gees 1st, in 1967. The single reached No. 17 in the United States and No. 41 in the United Kingdom. The song's B-side was "Close Another Door". The single was reissued in 1980 on RSO Records with "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart" as its flipside. The song ranked at number 94 on NME magazine's "100 Best Tracks of the Sixties". The entry was a minor hit in France but reached the top 10 in Canada.
The discography of British rock and pop band the Hollies consists of 21 studio albums, 24 compilation albums, two tribute/covers albums, seven extended plays, and 67 singles.
"Hello It's Me" is a song written by American musician Todd Rundgren. It was the first song he wrote, and was recorded by his group Nazz as a slow ballad, released as the B-side of the band's first single, "Open My Eyes", in 1968. A mid-tempo version of "Hello It's Me", recorded for Rundgren's 1972 solo album Something/Anything?, was issued as a single in 1973, reaching No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
"Arms of Mary" is a song written by Iain Sutherland and performed by Sutherland Brothers and Quiver. It was a 1976 international hit single for the band; the Glasgow Herald in its obituary for Iain Sutherland described "Arms of Mary" as "a plaintive and radio-friendly folk-rock ballad in which the narrator reminisces over the woman he first made love to."
"I Can't Tell the Bottom from the Top" is a song by rock group the Hollies, released in April 1970 as a single. It peaked at number 7 on the UK Singles Chart.