United We Stand

United We Stand may refer to:

Music

United We Stand (Brotherhood of Man album)

United We Stand is the debut album by The Brotherhood of Man. It was released in 1970 on Deram.

Background

Songwriter and producer Tony Hiller formed The Brotherhood of Man in 1969 from a selection of session-singers and songwriters. Originally a five-member group (although they became a quartet soon after), they began recording and writing together with the resultant first single "Love One Another" being released late in the year. The single failed to chart anywhere, but early in 1970, the second single "United We Stand" became a major hit worldwide. Encouraged by this, the group, with Hiller as producer, began putting together an album. Along with a third single, the hit "Where are You Going to My Love", United We Stand was released. Despite the last two singles charting in the UK, the album met with little British success when it was released in August. In the US (released two months earlier), the album reached a peak of #168, spending eight weeks on the Billboard Hot 200.

United We Stand (song)

"United We Stand" is a song written by Tony Hiller and Peter Simmons. It was first released in 1970 by The Brotherhood of Man (in their original, pre-Eurovision line-up), becoming the band's first hit, peaking at #13 in the U.S., #9 in Canada, and #10 in the U.K.

Billboard Magazine gave the song a favourable review on 14 March 1970 calling it a "strong production" and (correctly) predicting it would become a top 20 hit on the Billboard Hot 100.

It has been recorded by over 100 different artists. In 1977, it was used as the closing theme song of the short-lived Brady Bunch Hour. Thirty years after the original 1970 hit it was popularised again by becoming a patriotic and spiritual anthem for many during the post 9/11 recovery. It has also been used as a football chant and by gay rights groups. Taken literally, the song's lyrics convey two lovers who tell each other that no matter what hardships come their way, they will always be together. In general terms, it relates a message of strength in unity.