"Let's Stick Together" is a blues-basedrhythm and blues song written by Wilbert Harrison. In 1962, Fury Records released it as a single. Harrison further developed the song and in 1969, Sue Records issued it as a two-part single titled "Let's Work Together". Although Harrison's original song did not appear in the record charts, his reworked version entered the U.S. Top 40.
Several artists subsequently recorded the songs; "Let's Work Together" by Canned Heat (1970) and "Let's Stick Together"[1] by Bryan Ferry (1976) were both chart successes.
"Let's Stick Together" is a mid-tempo twelve-bar blues-style R&B song.[2] According to music writer Richard Clayton, "Harrison probably intended 'Let’s Stick Together' as his follow-up single [to 'Kansas City'], but a contract dispute prevented him from releasing it while his star was in the ascendant".[3] In 1959, "Kansas City", written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, was a number one hit for Harrison on both the Billboard R&B and Hot 100 singles chart.[4]
In 1962, Harrison recorded "Let's Stick Together" for Fury Records, one of several labels operated by record producer Bobby Robinson, that had issued "Kansas City". Fury pressed the single with two different A-side and B-sides: "Kansas City Twist" (Fury 1059) and "My Heart Is Yours" (Fury 1063). It had been three years since Harrison's last chart appearance[4] and the singles failed to reach the charts.[3]
In 1969, Harrison reworked the song with the title "Let's Work Together".[3] The two songs use the same melody line and structure, but the lyrics differ:[2]
"Let's Stick Together"
Well now the marriage vow is very sacred The man put us together now you want to make it Stick together, come on, come on let's stick together You know we made a vow not to leave one another never
"Let's Work Together"
Together we will stand divided we'll fall Come on now people let's get on the ball And work together, come on, come on let's work together, now, now people Say now together we will stand, every boy, girl, woman, and man
Instrumentally, the 1962 recording is an ensemble piece, while the one in 1969 is a solo performance, with Harrison (credited as the "Wilbert Harrison One Man Band") providing the vocal, harmonica, guitar, and percussion.[5]
Sue Records released "Let's Work Together" as a two-part single that reached number 32 on Billboard's Hot 100 in 1970,[6] however, it did not appear on the magazine's R&B chart.[4] In Canada the song reached number 26 on the RPM charts.[7]
Shortly after the release of Wilbert Harrison's "Let's Work Together", Los Angeles blues-rock band Canned Heat recorded their version of the song.[8] Unlike their previous singles ("On the Road Again", "Going Up the Country", and "Time Was") that featured vocals and harmonica by Alan Wilson, for "Let's Work Together" Bob Hite provided the vocals, with Wilson adding the slide-guitar parts.[3] The song was prepared for release as a single in December 1969, but was cancelled due to the popularity of Harrison's single.[8]
In the UK, where Harrison's single failed to generate interest, Canned Heat's version was released in January 1970.[8] There it became their biggest hit, reaching number two on the UK Singles Chart during a stay of fifteen weeks.[9] In the US, Canned Heat's "Let's Work Together" was first released on August 3, 1970, on their album, Future Blues. An American single followed on August 25, 1970, and reached number 26 on the Billboard Hot 100.[8] In Canada, the song reached number 15 on the RPM charts.[10]
Bryan Ferry versions
In 1976, Island Records released a version of "Let's Stick Together" by Bryan Ferry. The song is the title track for his album of the same name.[11] Ferry plays harmonica and pianos (electric and acoustic), Chris Spedding on electric guitar, John Wetton on bass, Paul Thompson on drums, Mel Collins on soprano saxophone and the tenor saxophone solo is played by Chris Mercer.[11] The video, featuring the band playing the song, includes an appearance by "sexily seductive" model Jerry Hall, Ferry's girlfriend at the time, who mimes the "mid-riff yelping of an unnamed female backing vocalist [that] only adds to the frenetic edge of lustful excitement", according to AllMusic reviewer Dave Thompson.[11]
The single is Ferry’s biggest solo hit in the UK,[12] where it reached number four in the UK chart on June 27, 1976.[13] It was certified Silver by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).[14] In 1988, Ferry released a remix of the song as "Let's Stick Together '88", on E.G. Records in the UK. The single reached number 12 on the UK chart on October 29.[13]
References
^The original Island Records (UK, WIP 6307-A) and Atlantic Records (US, 45-3351) singles by Ferry are titled "Let's Stick Together (Let's Work Together)"
^ ab Margotin, Philippe; Guesdon, Jean-Michel (2015). "Let's Stick Together". Bob Dylan All the Songs: The Story Behind Every Track. Running Press. ISBN978-0316353533.
^ abcd Clayton, Richard (July 31, 2016). "The Life of a Song: "Let's Stick Together"". Financial Times. Retrieved June 15, 2019.
^Clayton, Richard (August 1, 2016). "The Life of a Song: 'Let's Stick Together'". Financial Times. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
^ ab"Let's Stick Together". Official Charts. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
^"British certifications – Bryan Ferry – Let's Stick Together". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
External links
Canned Heat – "Let's Work Together" (Remastered 2005) on YouTube
Bryan Ferry – "Let's Stick Together" [Official] on YouTube
Bryan Ferry – "Let's Stick Together" ('88 Remix) on YouTube
August 25, 2023
stick, together, song, stick, together, blues, based, rhythm, blues, song, written, wilbert, harrison, 1962, fury, records, released, single, harrison, further, developed, song, 1969, records, issued, part, single, titled, work, together, although, harrison, o. Let s Stick Together is a blues based rhythm and blues song written by Wilbert Harrison In 1962 Fury Records released it as a single Harrison further developed the song and in 1969 Sue Records issued it as a two part single titled Let s Work Together Although Harrison s original song did not appear in the record charts his reworked version entered the U S Top 40 Let s Stick Together Single by Wilbert HarrisonA side Kansas City Twist 1st issue B side My Heart Is Yours 2nd issue Released1962 1962 Recorded1962GenreBlues R amp BLength2 55LabelFurySongwriter s Wilbert HarrisonProducer s Bobby RobinsonSeveral artists subsequently recorded the songs Let s Work Together by Canned Heat 1970 and Let s Stick Together 1 by Bryan Ferry 1976 were both chart successes Contents 1 Original songs 2 Canned Heat version 3 Bryan Ferry versions 4 References 5 External linksOriginal songs Edit Let s Stick Together is a mid tempo twelve bar blues style R amp B song 2 According to music writer Richard Clayton Harrison probably intended Let s Stick Together as his follow up single to Kansas City but a contract dispute prevented him from releasing it while his star was in the ascendant 3 In 1959 Kansas City written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller was a number one hit for Harrison on both the Billboard R amp B and Hot 100 singles chart 4 In 1962 Harrison recorded Let s Stick Together for Fury Records one of several labels operated by record producer Bobby Robinson that had issued Kansas City Fury pressed the single with two different A side and B sides Kansas City Twist Fury 1059 and My Heart Is Yours Fury 1063 It had been three years since Harrison s last chart appearance 4 and the singles failed to reach the charts 3 In 1969 Harrison reworked the song with the title Let s Work Together 3 The two songs use the same melody line and structure but the lyrics differ 2 Let s Stick Together Well now the marriage vow is very sacred The man put us together now you want to make it Stick together come on come on let s stick together You know we made a vow not to leave one another never Let s Work Together Together we will stand divided we ll fall Come on now people let s get on the ball And work together come on come on let s work together now now people Say now together we will stand every boy girl woman and man Instrumentally the 1962 recording is an ensemble piece while the one in 1969 is a solo performance with Harrison credited as the Wilbert Harrison One Man Band providing the vocal harmonica guitar and percussion 5 Sue Records released Let s Work Together as a two part single that reached number 32 on Billboard s Hot 100 in 1970 6 however it did not appear on the magazine s R amp B chart 4 In Canada the song reached number 26 on the RPM charts 7 Canned Heat version Edit Let s Work Together Single by Canned HeatB side I m Her Man ReleasedJanuary 1970 1970 01 UK August 1970 US RecordedDecember 3 1969StudioInternational Sound Los AngelesGenreBlues rockLength2 48LabelLibertySongwriter s Wilbert HarrisonProducer s Skip Taylor Canned HeatShortly after the release of Wilbert Harrison s Let s Work Together Los Angeles blues rock band Canned Heat recorded their version of the song 8 Unlike their previous singles On the Road Again Going Up the Country and Time Was that featured vocals and harmonica by Alan Wilson for Let s Work Together Bob Hite provided the vocals with Wilson adding the slide guitar parts 3 The song was prepared for release as a single in December 1969 but was cancelled due to the popularity of Harrison s single 8 In the UK where Harrison s single failed to generate interest Canned Heat s version was released in January 1970 8 There it became their biggest hit reaching number two on the UK Singles Chart during a stay of fifteen weeks 9 In the US Canned Heat s Let s Work Together was first released on August 3 1970 on their album Future Blues An American single followed on August 25 1970 and reached number 26 on the Billboard Hot 100 8 In Canada the song reached number 15 on the RPM charts 10 Bryan Ferry versions EditIn 1976 Island Records released a version of Let s Stick Together by Bryan Ferry The song is the title track for his album of the same name 11 Ferry plays harmonica and pianos electric and acoustic Chris Spedding on electric guitar John Wetton on bass Paul Thompson on drums Mel Collins on soprano saxophone and the tenor saxophone solo is played by Chris Mercer 11 The video featuring the band playing the song includes an appearance by sexily seductive model Jerry Hall Ferry s girlfriend at the time who mimes the mid riff yelping of an unnamed female backing vocalist that only adds to the frenetic edge of lustful excitement according to AllMusic reviewer Dave Thompson 11 The single is Ferry s biggest solo hit in the UK 12 where it reached number four in the UK chart on June 27 1976 13 It was certified Silver by the British Phonographic Industry BPI 14 In 1988 Ferry released a remix of the song as Let s Stick Together 88 on E G Records in the UK The single reached number 12 on the UK chart on October 29 13 References Edit The original Island Records UK WIP 6307 A and Atlantic Records US 45 3351 singles by Ferry are titled Let s Stick Together Let s Work Together a b Margotin Philippe Guesdon Jean Michel 2015 Let s Stick Together Bob Dylan All the Songs The Story Behind Every Track Running Press ISBN 978 0316353533 a b c d Clayton Richard July 31 2016 The Life of a Song Let s Stick Together Financial Times Retrieved June 15 2019 a b c Whitburn Joel 1988 Wilbert Harrison Top R amp B Singles 1942 1988 Menomonee Falls Wisconsin Record Research p 183 ISBN 0 89820 068 7 Wenner Langdon September 20 1969 Let s Work Together Parts 1 amp 2 Wilbert Harrison One Man Band Sue 11 Rolling Stone No 42 Whitburn Joel 2004 The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits Eighth Edition Record Research p 276 RPM100 PDF RPM Vol 13 no 2 February 28 1970 p 11 ISSN 0315 5994 a b c d Russo Greg 1994 Uncanned The Best of Canned Heat Compilation booklet Canned Heat New York City EMI Records pp 13 19 E2 29165 Canned Heat Singles Official Charts Retrieved June 28 2013 RPM100 Singles PDF RPM Vol 14 no 16 December 5 1970 p 9 ISSN 0315 5994 a b c Thompson Dave Bryan Ferry Let s Stick Together Review AllMusic Retrieved June 5 2018 Clayton Richard August 1 2016 The Life of a Song Let s Stick Together Financial Times Retrieved 24 December 2021 a b Let s Stick Together Official Charts Retrieved December 28 2021 British certifications Bryan Ferry Let s Stick Together British Phonographic Industry Retrieved February 4 2023 External links EditCanned Heat Let s Work Together Remastered 2005 on YouTube Bryan Ferry Let s Stick Together Official on YouTube Bryan Ferry Let s Stick Together 88 Remix on YouTube Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Let 27s Stick Together song amp oldid 1150457214, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
