Rating: ** (2 stars)
Title: United We Stand
Company: Deram
Catalog: DES 18046
Year: 1970
Grade (cover/record): VG/VG
Comments: minor crinkling along bottom front
Available: 1
Price: $5.00
1969 found songwriter Tony Hiller looking for a recording outlet for his material. Deciding to form a studio group, he promptly recruited Burrows, Johnny Goodison and Sunny (guess she couldn't afford a last name). As The Brotherhood of Man, the trio debuted with 1970's "United We Stand". Released in the States by Deram, the collection offered up a set of MOR pop. Suitable for television variety shows and elevators, feel good, pseudo-inspirational pop ditties such as "Love Is a Good Foundation", "Say a Prayer" and "A Little Bit of Heaven" were commercial, if largely cloying. Basically music as top-40 product, tracks such as "Sing In the Sunshine" and "Where Are You Going To My Love" layered the group's decent harmonies over big band arrangements. The results were occasionally catchy, but posed a true threat to diabetics ... Released as a single the title track b/w "" (Deram catalog number 85059), provided the group with a top-20 hit. The parent album managed to hit #168.
"United We Stand" track listing:
1.) Love Is a Good Foundation (Murphy) - 2:45
2.) Say a Prayer (Tony Hiller) - 3:08
3.) A Little Bit of Heaven (Tony Hiller - Simons) - 2:38
4.) For the Rest of Our Lives (Tony Hiller - Johnny Goodison) - 3:06
5.) Sing In the Sunshine (Tony Hiller - Johnny Goodison) - 2:06
6.) Where Are You Going To My Love (Tony Hiller - Johnny Goodison) - 3:18
7.) For Old Times Sake (Bickerton - Waddingon) - 2:58
8.) Living In the Land of Love (Tony Hiller - Tony Burrows - Johnny Goodison) - 3:17
9.) Too Many Heartaches (Tony Hiller - Simons) - 3:18
10.) Love One Another (Tony Hiller - Simons) - 3:31
11.) United We Stand (Tony Hiller - Simons) - 2:54
Hiller's idea appealed to those whose happy task in life was finding fresh new blood for British Decca’s slightly left-field subsidiary label, Deram, and at the end of August '69 those variously hand-picked to commit a first single to tape duly did so with brace of titles such as "Love One Another"/"A Little Bit Of Heaven", which in turn was rushed out at home on 10th October and offered reciprocal facilities Stateside also. The artist billing was listed, fittingly, as The Brotherhood Of Man.
Although gathering several complimentary reviews, it didn't trouble compilers of the weekly sales tabulations either side of the Atlantic divide, but on 3rd and 4th January next those concerned reconvened for a second shot at the target via an emotive beat-ballad from Mr. Hiller, "United We Stand", a sure-fire radio-friendly piece of ammunition if ever there was one.
Rapidly unveiled across the United Kingdom come the 23rd of the month - less than a week after the Dimension's "Wedding Bell Blues" had logged into our domestic best-sellers - the Brotherhood's sophisticated love ode appropriately introduced their name to the Hit Parade history books on Valentine's Day - 14th February - following which a handsome 9 week stopover was crowned by the disc climbing to No. 10. As it did so its creators hastened back into Decca's own West Hampstead, London, soundproofed rooms in March to preserve four further titles, and then cracked open the champagne when, simultaneously, Deram Australia telexed great news: "United" was in at 39 there with a bullet. Other territories reported growing interest daily, then came the coup de grace: on 18th April the single breached Uncle Sam's Billboard Hot 100 too. Metaphorical coals had been taken to Newcastle, and welcomed with open arms.
In similar vein, the group's next outing was almost as well received. "Where Are You Going To My Love?" clocked in at home on 4th July destined for a high of 22, and their first album, rushed out the previous month where the Stars and Stripes fly, duly rewarded enterprise by charting on August 8th, exactly a fortnight before "Where", which it contained, yielded a second winning 45 there. And to cap a victorious year? The group was invited to perform at Blighty's annual New Musical Express magazine Poll Winners Concert.
Thereafter, subsequent records of like excellence had to content themselves with the status of 'turntable hits' - '71's "Reach Out Your Hand" excepted in America - and a second long-player wasn't forthcoming until April 1972. However, as changing public tastes saw the 5th Dimension's popularity wane by '73, so the Brotherhood and Deram ended their liaison before the calendar turned its next inevitable page.
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