{{short description|1962 single by Wilbert Harrison}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}} {{Infobox song | name = Let's Stick Together | cover = Let's Stick Together single cover.jpg | alt = | type = single | artist = Wilbert Harrison | A-side = "Kansas City Twist" (1st issue) | B-side = "My Heart Is Yours" (2nd issue) | released = {{Start date|1962}} | recorded = 1962 | genre = Rhythm and blues<ref name="RSguide">{{cite book|last1=Considine|first1=J.D.|last2=Coleman|first2=Mark|last3=Evans|first3=Paul|last4=McGee|first4=David|chapter= Bryan Ferry|editor1-last=DeCurtis|editor1-first=Anthony|editor2-last=Henke|editor2-first=James|editor3-last=George-Warren|editor-first3=Holly|date=1992|title=Rolling Stone Album Guide|publisher=Random House|location=New York|page= 116}}</ref> | length = 2:55 | label = Fury | writer = Wilbert Harrison | producer = Bobby Robinson }} "'''Let's Stick Together'''" is a blues-based rhythm and blues song written by American singer 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"<ref>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)"</ref> by Bryan Ferry (1976) were both chart successes.
==Original songs== "Let's Stick Together" is a mid-tempo twelve-bar blues-style R&B song.<ref name="Margotin"> {{cite book | last1 = Margotin | first1 = Philippe | last2 = Guesdon | first2 = Jean-Michel | year = 2015 | title = Bob Dylan All the Songs: The Story Behind Every Track | publisher = Running Press | isbn = 978-0316353533 | chapter = Let's Stick Together }}</ref> 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".<ref name="Clayton"> {{cite web | url = https://www.ft.com/content/65e4660e-4906-11e6-8d68-72e9211e86ab | last = Clayton | first = Richard | title = The Life of a Song: "Let's Stick Together" | date = July 31, 2016 | website = Financial Times | access-date = June 15, 2019 }}</ref> 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.<ref name="Whitburn"> {{cite book | last = Whitburn | first = Joel | author-link = Joel Whitburn | year = 1988 | section = Wilbert Harrison | title = Top R&B Singles 1942–1988 | location = Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin | publisher = Record Research | isbn = 0-89820-068-7 | page = [https://archive.org/details/joelwhitburnstop00whit/page/183 183] | url-access = registration | url = https://archive.org/details/joelwhitburnstop00whit/page/183 }}</ref>
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<ref name="Whitburn"/> and the singles failed to reach the charts.<ref name="Clayton"/>
In 1969, Harrison reworked the song with the title "Let's Work Together".<ref name="Clayton"/> The two songs use the same melody line and structure, but the lyrics differ:<ref name="Margotin"/> :"Let's Stick Together" {{poemquote| 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" {{poemquote| 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.<ref> {{cite magazine | last = Wenner | first = Langdon | date = September 20, 1969 | issue = 42 | title = Let's Work Together, Parts 1 & 2, Wilbert Harrison One Man Band (Sue 11) | magazine = Rolling Stone }}</ref>
Sue Records released "Let's Work Together" as a two-part single that reached number 32 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 in 1970,<ref>{{cite book |title= The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits: Eighth Edition |last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=2004 |publisher=Record Research |page=276}}</ref> however, it did not appear on the magazine's R&B chart.<ref name="Whitburn"/> In Canada, the song reached number 26 on the ''RPM'' charts.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/CANADA/RPM/70s/1970/RPM-1970-02-28.pdf| title=RPM100|magazine=RPM|date=February 28, 1970|volume=13|issue=2|issn=0315-5994|page=11}}</ref>
==Canned Heat version== {{Infobox song | name = Let's Work Together | type = single | artist = Canned Heat | album = <!-- The single was released well in advance of the album, so it is not "from the album", but later added to it; see --> | B-side = I'm Her Man | released = * {{Start date|1970|01}} (UK) * August 1970 (US) | recorded = December 3, 1969 | studio = International Sound (Los Angeles) | genre = Blues rock | length = {{Duration|2:48}} | label = Liberty | writer = Wilbert Harrison | producer = * 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.<ref name="Russo"/> 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.<ref name="Clayton"/> The song was prepared for release as a single in December 1969, but was cancelled due to the popularity of Harrison's single.<ref name="Russo"> {{cite AV media notes | title = Uncanned! The Best of Canned Heat | others = Canned Heat | first = Greg | last = Russo | year = 1994 | type = Compilation booklet | location = New York City | publisher = EMI Records | id = E2 29165 | pages = 13, 19 }}</ref>
In the UK, where Harrison's single failed to generate interest, Canned Heat's version was released in January 1970.<ref name="Russo"/> There it became their biggest hit, reaching number two on the UK Singles Chart during a stay of fifteen weeks.<ref> {{cite web | url = http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/canned%20heat/ | title = Canned Heat – Singles | website = Official Charts | access-date = June 28, 2013 }}</ref> 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.<ref name="Russo"/> In Canada, the song reached number 15 on the RPM charts.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/CANADA/RPM/70s/1970/RPM-1970-12-05.pdf| title=RPM100 Singles|magazine=RPM|date=December 5, 1970|volume=14|issue=16|issn=0315-5994|page=9}}</ref>
==Bryan Ferry versions== {{Infobox song | name = | cover = | alt = | type = single | artist = Bryan Ferry | album = Let's Stick Together | B-side = Sea Breezes | released = May 1976<ref>{{cite magazine|title=News|magazine=Record Mirror|date=22 May 1976|page=4}}</ref> | recorded = | studio = AIR Studios, London | venue = | genre = Hard rock<ref name="RSguide"/> | length = 2:59 | label = Island | writer = Wilbert Harrison | producer = * Chris Thomas * Bryan Ferry | prev_title = You Go to My Head | prev_year = 1975 | next_title = The Price of Love | next_year = 1976 | misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|Z9EbR0ckb40|"Let's Stick Together"}}}} }} 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<ref name="Thompson"> {{cite web | url = https://www.allmusic.com/song/lets-stick-together-mt0035597577 | title = Bryan Ferry: 'Let's Stick Together' – Review | last = Thompson | first = Dave | website = AllMusic | access-date = June 5, 2018 }}</ref> and was recorded at AIR Studios in London.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Pinnock |first=Tom |date=February 23, 2018 |title=Bryan Ferry: "People like you to be difficult and weird" |url=https://www.uncut.co.uk/features/bryan-ferry-people-like-difficult-weird-103600/2/ |magazine=Uncut |access-date=March 22, 2025}}</ref> Ferry plays harmonica and electric and acoustic pianos, with Chris Spedding on electric guitar, John Wetton on bass, Paul Thompson on drums, Mel Collins on soprano saxophone, and Chris Mercer on tenor saxophone.<ref name="Thompson"/>
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.<ref name="Thompson"/>
The single spent two weeks at No. 1 in Australia where it was the 9th best-selling single of 1976.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://imgur.com/a/QxANsEK|title= National Top 100 Singles for 1976|publisher= Kent Music Report |issue= 131 |via= Imgur |date= 27 December 1976 |access-date= 11 January 2022 }}</ref> It is also Ferry's biggest solo hit in the UK,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.ft.com/content/65e4660e-4906-11e6-8d68-72e9211e86ab |title=The Life of a Song: 'Let's Stick Together' |first=Richard |last=Clayton |date=August 1, 2016 |publisher=Financial Times |access-date=December 24, 2021}}</ref> where it reached number four on the UK chart on June 27, 1976,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/songs/bryan-ferry-lets-stick-together/ |title=Let's Stick Together |publisher=Official Charts Company |access-date=22 January 2026}}</ref> and was certified silver by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).<ref>{{cite certification|region=United Kingdom|access-date=February 4, 2023|artist=Bryan Ferry|title=Let's Stick Together|id=3823-3363-1}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/songs/bryan-ferry-lets-stick-together-88/|title=Let's Stick Together '88 |publisher=Official Charts Company |access-date=22 January 2026}}</ref> {{-}}
===Charts===
====Weekly charts==== {|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" !Chart (1989) !Peak<br/>position |- !scope="row"|Italy Airplay (''Music & Media'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/80s/1989/M&M-1989-01-01.pdf|title=Playlist Report: RAI - Italy|magazine=Music & Media|volume=6|issue=52/1|page=6|date=1 January 1989}}</ref> | 18 |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
== External links == *{{YouTube|nhjXekFdsis|Canned Heat{{snd}}"Let's Work Together" (Remastered 2005)}} *{{YouTube|FhYaFplWam0|Bryan Ferry{{snd}}"Let's Stick Together" [Official]}} *{{YouTube|HJGEsUWuR3A|Bryan Ferry{{snd}}"Let's Stick Together" ('88 Remix)}}
{{Canned Heat}} {{Bryan Ferry}} {{Authority control}}
Category:1962 songs Category:1962 singles Category:1970 singles Category:1976 singles Category:1988 singles Category:Canned Heat songs Category:Bryan Ferry songs Category:American blues songs Category:Fury Records singles Category:Liberty Records singles Category:Island Records singles Category:E.G. Records singles