The Hollies - He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother (Stereo) Pop Goes The Sixties; 31st Dec 1969 (Overdub)

Square Disc is delighted to bring you The Hollies performing their song "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" that was broadcast on a cold New Years Eve in the UK on a show called 'Pop Goes The Sixties'. Also known as Pop Go The 60s! was a one-off, 75-minute TV special originally broadcast in colour on 31 December 1969, to celebrate the major pop hits of the 1960s. The show was a co-production between the United Kingdom's BBC and West Germany's ZDF broadcasters. The BBC's Johnnie Stewart produced the show, while Stanley Dorfman directed. Both men were involved with the regular production of the BBC music show Top of the Pops and this show had a very similar look and production style. The artists performed surrounded by a standing audience who danced along with the music. Klaus Weiding was the co-producer for the German station. Some of the artists performed live, singing with an orchestra directed by Johnny Harris but many mimed to their original studio recordings. The Ascot Dancers appeared with a large number of the performers. Although a British-West German co-production, only one West German artist appears and that is on a pre-recorded film insert. The only song performed in German was sung by Sandie Shaw, who performed incomplete versions of two songs. "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 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. Elton John, who was working as a session musician at the time, played piano on the song, as well their next single, "I Can't Tell the Bottom from the Top". Elton John was paid £12 for his work on the song. 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. It's a fabulous song that still sounds as fresh today as it did when The Hollies first released it. Hope you'll all enjoy this incredible performance with an enhanced stereo overdub. Thanks for popping by The Square Disc. EVB. #thehollies #topofthepops #pop