"Join Together" | ||||
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Single by Steve Allen | ||||
B-side | "Silas Peabody" | |||
Released | 1973 | |||
Recorded | 1973 | |||
Genre | Pop | |||
Label | Viking VS 283 | |||
Songwriter(s) | Steve Allen | |||
Producer(s) | Keith Southern [1] | |||
Steve Allen singles chronology | ||||
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"Join Together" was a hit for singer Steve Allen in 1974. The song was chosen for the Commonwealth Games that year. It was released on the Viking record label.
Allen had previously had a No. 1 hit in New Zealand with his version of "Top Of The World". [2] [3] "Join Together" was recorded in Wellington in the EMI studios in the winter of 1973. The backing track was recorded with just four musicians. It had Allen on piano, vocals and drums, Mike Conway on drums, Dave Orams on bass, and organist Mike Le Petit. The other parts were added later. [4] It was an entrant in the Studio One competition. Competing against "Country Spring" by Larry Philip, "Take My Life" by Desna Sisarich, "Natural Man by Bunny Walters, "What Do You Do" by Lutha, and "Games Spirit" by Nash Chase, [5] it won by a margin of 30,000. [6] The song made it to No. 2 in the Top 20, and was kept from the No. 1 spot by Helen Reddy's 'Delta Dawn'. [7]
The song was banned in South Africa because the words freedom, race, peace, black and white were deemed unsuitable. [8]
Mott the Hoople were an English rock band formed in Herefordshire. Originally named the Doc Thomas Group, the band changed their name after signing with Island Records in 1969. The band released albums at the beginning of the 1970s but failed to find any success. On the verge of breaking up, the band were encouraged by David Bowie to stay together. Bowie wrote their glam-style signature song "All the Young Dudes" for them, which became their first hit in 1972. Bowie subsequently produced their album of the same name, which added to their success.
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The 1974 British Commonwealth Games was held in Christchurch, New Zealand from 24 January to 2 February 1974. The bid vote was held in Edinburgh at the 1970 British Commonwealth Games. The event was officially named "the friendly games". There were 1,276 competitors and 372 officials, according to the official history, and public attendance was excellent. The main venue was the QEII Park, purpose-built for this event. The Athletics Stadium and fully covered Olympic standard pool, diving tank, and practice pools were all on the one site. The theme song was "Join Together", sung by Steve Allen. The event was held after the 1974 Commonwealth Paraplegic Games in Dunedin for wheelchair athletes.
"The Ballroom Blitz" is a song by British glam rock band The Sweet, written by Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman. The song reached number one in Canada, number two in the UK Singles Chart and the Australian Chart, and number five on the US Billboard Hot 100. It remains an enduring favourite, with more than 90 million streams on Spotify alone by the end of 2022.
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Steve Allen is a New Zealand singer and recording artist who found popularity as a singer during the 1970s. He is also known for the hit song "Join Together", and the song for the television commercial, "Use Your Nana".
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