Let's Stick Together (song)

Original songs

"Let's Stick Together" is a mid-tempo twelve-bar blues-style R&B song. | access-date = June 15, 2019 | author-link = Joel Whitburn | url-access = registration

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 and the singles failed to reach the charts.

In 1969, Harrison reworked the song with the title "Let's Work Together". The two songs use the same melody line and structure, but the lyrics differ: :"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.

Sue Records released "Let's Work Together" as a two-part single that reached number 32 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1970, however, it did not appear on the magazine's R&B chart. In Canada, the song reached number 26 on the RPM charts.

Canned Heat version

| B-side = I'm Her Man

• (UK)
• August 1970 (US)
• Skip Taylor
• Canned Heat 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. 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. The song was prepared for release as a single in December 1969, but was cancelled due to the popularity of Harrison's single.

In the UK, where Harrison's single failed to generate interest, Canned Heat's version was released in January 1970. There it became their biggest hit, reaching number two on the UK Singles Chart during a stay of fifteen weeks. | access-date = June 28, 2013

Bryan Ferry versions

| B-side = Sea Breezes

• Chris Thomas
• Bryan Ferry 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 | access-date = June 5, 2018

The music video, featuring the band playing the song, includes an appearance by "sexily seductive" model Jerry Hall, Ferry's girlfriend at the time. Hall mimes to 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.

The single spent two weeks at No. 1 in Australia where it was the 9th best-selling single of 1976. It is also Ferry's biggest solo hit in the UK, where it reached number four on the UK chart on June 27, 1976, and was certified silver by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).

The song is used near the end of the film The Family Plan on Apple TV.

1988 remix

In 1988, Ferry released a remix of the song, titled "Let's Stick Together '88", on E.G. Records in the UK. The single reached number 12 on the UK chart on 29 October.

Charts

Weekly charts

References

References

1. 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)"
2. Whitburn, Joel. (2004). "The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits: Eighth Edition". [[Record Research]].
3. (February 28, 1970). "RPM100".
4. (December 5, 1970). "RPM100 Singles".
5. Pinnock, Tom. (February 23, 2018). "Bryan Ferry: "People like you to be difficult and weird"".
6. (27 December 1976). "National Top 100 Singles for 1976". [[Kent Music Report]].
7. Clayton, Richard. (August 1, 2016). "The Life of a Song: 'Let's Stick Together'". [[Financial Times]].
8. "Let's Stick Together". [[Official Charts Company]].
9. "Let's Stick Together".
10. "Let's Stick Together '88". [[Official Charts Company]].
11. (1 January 1989). "Playlist Report: RAI - Italy".