He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother: The Hollies’ Anthem of Solidarity

“He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother” stands as one of The Hollies’ most poignant and enduring works. Released on 26 September 1969, the track evolved from a slower demo into a stirring ballad brimming with emotional depth, courtesy of Allan Clarke’s heartfelt lead vocals
. The band recorded it at the famed EMI Studios (today’s Abbey Road) in London during June 1969, adding lush orchestration and notably featuring a young Elton John on piano—credited with just £12 for his session work .Charting at No. 3 in the UK and No. 7 in the US Billboard Hot 100, the song solidified its place in pop-rock history

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐬 – 𝐇𝐞 𝐀𝐢𝐧’𝐭 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐲, 𝐇𝐞’𝐬 𝐌𝐲 𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫

Session duties by Elton John: Before fame, Elton John was paid only £12 for his piano contributions to both this song and the follow‑up single “I Can’t Tell the Bottom from the Top”

Revived twice: After its original success in 1969, the song topped the UK charts again in September 1988, thanks to its use in a Miller Lite TV advert

Not the first recording: The Hollies’ version was preceded by Kelly Gordon’s demo earlier in 1969. However, it was the band’s interpretation—with faster tempo and orchestral arrangement—that became a global hit

Founders’ legacy: The Hollies, formed in Manchester in 1962 by Allan Clarke and Graham Nash, were among the only early ’60s British Invasion bands still recording decades later. They were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2010

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