He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother Explained

He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother
Cover:Kellygordoncover.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Kelly Gordon
Album:Defunked
B-Side:That's Life
Released:1969
Label:Capitol
Producer:Kelly Gordon
Prev Title:You're A Star Now
Prev Year:1964
Next Title:Some Old Funky Blues Thing
Next Year:1969

"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.

Title

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]

The Hollies version

He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother
Cover:The Hollies - He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother.jpg
Type:single
Artist:the Hollies
B-Side:'Cos You Like to Love Me
Released:
  • September 26, 1969 (UK)
  • December 1969 (US)
Recorded:June 25, 1969[5]
Studio:EMI, London
Genre:
Length:[7]
Label:
Producer:Ron Richards
Prev Title:Sorry Suzanne
Prev Year:1969
Next Title:I Can't Tell the Bottom from the Top
Next Year:1970

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 the 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, and No. 7 in the US. 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.[11]

Record World said, "This beautiful ballad features [the Hollies'] usual fine vocals."[12]

Weekly charts

Chart (1969–1970)Peak
position
Australia (KMR)[13] 8
Canadian Top Singles[14] 11
Canadian Adult Singles[15] 35
Finland (Soumen Virallinen)[16] 16
Ireland (Irish Singles Chart)[17] 3
New Zealand (Listener)[18] 7
South Africa (Springbok)[19] 1
US Cash Box Top 100[20] 8
Chart (1988)Peak
position
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[21] 6
Ireland (Irish Singles Chart)2

Year-end charts

Chart (1970)Rank
Australia[22] 54
Canada[23] 68
South Africa[24] 16
US Billboard Hot 100[25] 46
US Cash Box[26] 58
Chart (1988)Rank
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[27] 95
UK Singles (OCC)[28] 8

Neil Diamond version

He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother
Cover:Neildiamondcover.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Neil Diamond
Album:Tap Root Manuscript
B-Side:Free Life
Released:November 5, 1970
Recorded:1970
Genre:Rock
Length:4:30
Label:Uni
Producer:Neil Diamond, Tom Catalano
Prev Title:Cracklin' Rosie
Prev Year:1970
Next Title:Do It
Next Year:1970

The Neil Diamond version entered at No. 68 on the Hot 100 on November 7, 1970 (UNI Records, 55264, length 4:09).[29] The flip side was "Free Life". The song appears on Diamond's album Tap Root Manuscript, which was released in November 1970.[29] 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.

Track listings7" single
  1. He Ain't Heavy - He's My Brother - 3:59
  2. Free Life - 3:11
Charts
Chart (1970-1971)Peak
position
US Billboard Hot 100[30] 20
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)4
Australian Singles Chart94
New Zealand Singles Chart18

Bill Medley version

He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother
Cover:Billmedleycover.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Bill Medley
Album:Rambo III: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Released:August 1, 1988
Recorded:1988
Genre:Soul, adult contemporary
Length:4:30
Label:Scotti Bros
Producer:Giorgio Moroder
Prev Title:(I've Had) The Time of My Life
Prev Year:1987
Next Title:I'm Gonna Be Strong
Next Year:1989

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 Billboards AC chart.[31]

Track listings7" single
  1. He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother - 4:30
  2. Giorgio Moroder – The Bridge (Instrumental) - 4:00
Charts
Chart (1988)Peak
position
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)49
UK Singles Chart[32] 25
Dutch Top 40[33] 23
Belgian Singles Chart[34] 20

Gotthard version

He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother
Cover:Gotthardcover.jpg
Caption:Cover art for the single with alternate title.
Type:single
Artist:Gotthard
Album:G. (Asian Releases only)
Released:September 20, 1996
Recorded:1996
Genre:Pop
Length:4:37
Label:BMG
Producer:Chris von Rohr
Prev Title:One Life One Soul
Prev Year:1996
Next Title:Let It Rain
Next Year:1996

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.

Track listingsCD-maxi
  1. "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" - 4:37
  2. "All I Care For" - 3:08
  3. "One Life, One Soul" - 3:58
Charts

The Justice Collective version

He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother
Cover:The Justice Collective - He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother.jpg
Type:single
Artist:the Justice Collective
Released:December 17, 2012
Recorded:October–November 2012
Studio:
Genre:Pop rock
Label:Metropolis
Prev Title:The Fields of Anfield Road (as the Liverpool Collective)
Prev Year:2009
Next Title:All Together Now (as the Peace Collective)
Next Year:2014

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.[36] The song went on to take the coveted Christmas number one position for 2012 on the UK Singles Chart.[37]

BackgroundAfter 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.[38]

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 this song by various artists including the Justice Tonight Band would be released as the charity single.[38]

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.[38]

Vocalists

Musicians

Production

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Other versions

Notes and References

  1. Book: The parables of Jesus . 10 September 2010 . 18 January 2012. Wells . James .
  2. Book: Trine, Ralph Waldo. The Higher Powers of Mind and Spirit . 1918 . Project Gutenberg .
  3. Web site: ZipUSA: Boystown, Nebraska @ National Geographic Magazine . https://web.archive.org/web/20140221065241/http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0211/feature5/ . dead . February 21, 2014 . Ngm.nationalgeographic.com . 30 March 2014.
  4. Web site: The Story Behind "He Ain't Heavy…". Boys Town. June 9, 2017 . en-US. 2019-09-18.
  5. The Hollies—Epic Anthology: From the Original Master Tapes Epic Records EGK 46161 liner notes
  6. Web site: Tom . Ewing . July 9, 2010. The Hollies - "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother. . August 2, 2022.
  7. [Epic Records]
  8. News: 'Born Slippy was a greyhound we bet on' . The Guardian . Dorian . Lynskey . Dave . Simpson. February 24, 2006 .
  9. Web site: Buskin . Richard . Classic Tracks: The Hollies 'The Air That I Breathe' . SoundOnSound . Sound On Sound.
  10. Elton John, 30 years of music with Bernie Taupin . 43 . Billboard . 4 October 1997 . Timothy . White . Craig . Rosen .
  11. Web site: All The Official Singles Chart Number 1s. www.officialcharts.com. en. 2019-12-20.
  12. Single Reviews. Record World. October 4, 1969. 6. 2023-05-04.
  13. Web site: Forum - 1970 (ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts) . Australian-charts.com . 7 May 2017 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160602084720/http://australian-charts.com/forum.asp?todo=viewthread&id=35092 . 2 June 2016.
  14. 21 March 1970 . RPM 100 . . 13 . 5 . PHP . 24 May 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141226015610/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.3769&type=1&interval=20&PHPSESSID=m89iq841abagb37ld9c0fdc1f33 . 26 December 2014 . dead . dmy-all .
  15. 14 February 1970 . RPM Adult . . 12 . 26 . PHP . 24 May 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121023054149/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.7852&type=1&interval=20&PHPSESSID=m89iq841abagb37ld9c0fdc1f33 . 23 October 2012 . dead . dmy-all .
  16. Book: Nyman, Jake . Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja . Tammi . 2005 . 951-31-2503-3 . 1st . Helsinki . 132. fi.
  17. Web site: The Irish Charts - All there is to know. 25 August 2019. Irish Recorded Music Association.
  18. Web site: Flavour of New Zealand, 19 December 1969 . July 13, 2017 . August 10, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160810075038/http://www.flavourofnz.co.nz/index.php?qpageID=search%20listener&qartistid=413#n_view_location . dead .
  19. Web site: SA Charts 1965–March 1989. 5 September 2018.
  20. Web site: Cash Box Top 100 Singles, March 21, 1970 . 13 July 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150608162352/http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/70s_files/19700321.html . 8 June 2015 . dead .
  21. Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. Music & Media. 5. 40. 24. 1 October 1988.
  22. Book: Kent, David. Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. David Kent (historian). Australian Chart Book, St Ives, N.S.W . 1993. 0-646-11917-6. Kent Music Report.
  23. Web site: Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada. collectionscanada.gc.ca. 17 July 2013.
  24. Web site: Top 20 Hit Singles of 1972. 2 September 2018.
  25. Web site: Top 100 Hits of 1970/Top 100 Songs of 1970 . Musicoutfitters.com . 13 July 2017.
  26. Web site: Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 26, 1970 . 13 July 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190722145703/https://tropicalglen.com/Archives/70s_files/1970YESP.html . 22 July 2019 . dead .
  27. Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. Music & Media. 6. 52/1. 30. 1 January 1989. Mistakenly credited as Bill Medley's version, which reached number 55 on the Eurochart.
  28. Top 100 Singles: Year-End Chart 1988. Music Week. 12. 4 March 1989.
  29. Web site: I Am...I Said, A Fan of Neil Diamond . Iaisnd.com . 18 January 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120124135308/http://iaisnd.com/biography.cfm?id=70 . 24 January 2012 . dmy-all .
  30. https://www.chartsurfer.de/artist/neil-diamond/he-ain-t-heavy-he-s-my-brother-song_eeccr.html chartsurfer.de
  31. Bill Medley Chart History: Adult Contemporary . Billboard.
  32. https://www.chartsurfer.de/artist/bill-medley/he-ain-t-heavy-he-s-my-brother-song_hhecu.html chartsurfer.de
  33. https://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Bill+Medley&titel=He+Ain%27t+Heavy%2C+He%27s+My+Brother&cat=s ultratop.be
  34. https://www.ultratop.be/nl/song/1f0ae/Bill-Medley-He-Ain't-Heavy,-He's-My-Brother ultratop.be
  35. https://hitparade.ch/song/Gotthard/He-Ain't-Heavy,-He's-My-Brother-3296 hitparade.ch
  36. News: Paul McCartney guests on Hillsborough charity single with Robbie Williams. 23 November 2012. Guardian UK. 23 November 2012. London. Sean. Michaels.
  37. News: Hillsborough single is Christmas number one. 23 November 2012. Daily Telegraph UK. 4 December 2013.
  38. Web site: Interview With Keith Mullin | Players | Interviews . Blue Kipper . 8 December 2012 . 12 March 2013.
  39. Web site: Promusicae (Week: December 26, 2012). 26 December 2011.
  40. Web site: Top 100 Singles of 2012 . . 31 December 2012 . 5 January 2013.
  41. Record World. November 29, 1975. 2023-03-08. Hits of the Week. 1.