Song:United We Stand
Album:Golden Classics
The 1970 single United We Stand was the only big US hit for Brotherhood Of Man. But they have been more successful in their native England and a second version of the group still performs today. The group was formed in 1969 by songwriter and producer Tony Hiller using session singers. Hiller wrote United We Stand with John Goodison. Goodison was a member of Brotherhood Of Man along with Tony Burrows, Roger Greenaway, Sue Glover and Sunny Leslie. Burrows was the man behind groups like Edison Lighthouse and White Plains. Greenaway usually wrote songs with partner Roger Cook. Sue and Sunny were sisters Yvonne and Heather Wheatman. They were mainly backup singers who recorded as a duo occasionally. They signed with Deram Records and United We Stand was the second single. Sue and Burrows sang the leads. The record was a hit in England and then crossed the pond and reached #13 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song has been frequently used as a patriotic anthem. They had one other chart hit, Where Are You Going To My Love, and the original group only recorded one album. Goodison and Greenaway left in 1971 and Hiller dissolved the rest of them in 1972. Then he formed a new version of Brotherhood Of Man with Martin Lee and Lee Sheriden who worked as songwriters for Hiller and singer Nicky Stevens. Sandra Stevens was added in 1973. They signed with Pye Records and scored a number one hit in England with Save Your Kisses For Me in 1976, Angelo in 1977 and Figaro in 1978. You can get the hits from both versions of the group on this budget comp. Brotherhood Of Man split up in 1983 but they reformed in 1990 and they still perform in England today. Here's Brotherhood Of Man performing United We Stand on Top Of The Pops 1970.
I grew up listening to this song in the 70's. Then heard it after 9/11 played as a patriotic song. Interesting about Tony Burrows being involved in both White Plains and Edison Lighthouse. I liked the singles from both those groups.
ReplyDeleteTony Burrows was lead singer of The Kestrels, The Ivy League, the Flower Pot Men, Brotherhood of Man, Edison Lighthouse, White Plains, The Pipkins and The First Class. He once appeared three times on a 1970 episode of Top Of The Pops with Edison Lighthouse, White Plains and Brotherhood of Man. He did record under his own name but he never had a hit single. Varese released a Tony Burrows CD but I think it's out of print. There is a Tony Burrows CD available but they are not original recordings so stay away from it.
ReplyDeleteWow, he was both very busy and prolific, thanks for the warning about the recordings Frank. Its good information and interesting history of this man.
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