Help It Along
{{short description|1973 single by Cliff Richard}}
{{Infobox song
|name = Help It Along
|cover = Cliff Richard Help It Along.jpg
|alt =
| caption =
|type = single
|artist = Cliff Richard
|album =
|B-side =
|released = {{start date|1973|4|27|df=yes}}
|recorded = 28 December 1972{{Cite web|title=Cliff Richard Song Database – Song Details (Help It Along)|url=http://www.cliffrichardsongs.com/popup.php?data=HelpItAlong19734_popupplus|website=www.cliffrichardsongs.com}}
|studio = EMI Studios, London
|venue =
|genre = Pop
|length = 2:52
|label = EMI
|writer = Christopher Neil
|producer= David Mackay
|prev_title = Power to All Our Friends
|prev_year = 1973
|next_title = Take Me High
|next_year = 1973
}}
"Help It Along" is a song by British singer Cliff Richard, released as a four-track maxi single. It peaked at number 29 on the UK Singles Chart.
Release
"Help It Along", written by Christopher Neil, was the first track of the maxi single titled Eurovision Special. The other three tracks were "Tomorrow Rising", written by Mike Hawker and Brian Bennett, "Days of Love", written by Alan Hawkshaw and Dougie Wright, and "Ashes to Ashes", written by Tony Cole.{{Citation|title=Cliff Richard - Help It Along|url=http://www.45cat.com/record/emi2022|access-date=2021-10-18}} The four songs were the remaining of the six songs selected as finalists for the UK Eurovision national selection process.{{Cite web|title=United Kingdom: A Song for Europe 1973|url=https://eurovisionworld.com/national/united-kingdom/a-song-for-europe-1973|access-date=2021-10-18|website=Eurovisionworld|language=en-gb}} The other two, "Power to All Our Friends" and "Come Back Billie Jo" were released as the previous A-side and B-side single and had received the two highest votes.{{Citation|title=Cliff Richard - Power To All Our Friends|url=http://www.45cat.com/record/emi2012|access-date=2021-10-18}} The track listing for the Eurovision Special single followed the next highest votes.
The four songs were released as two singles in Denmark. The first, "Ashes to Ashes" backed with "Days of Love", peaked at number 14 on the IFPI Hitlisten.{{Cite web|title=Cliff Richard – Ashes To Ashes (1973, Vinyl)|url=https://www.discogs.com/release/2416001-Cliff-Richard-Ashes-To-Ashes|website=Discogs|year=1973 |language=en|access-date=2021-10-18}}{{cite magazine|date=22 August 1973|title=Top 30|magazine=Ekstra Bladet|page=21}} However, the second, "Tomorrow Rising" backed with "Help It Along", failed to chart.{{Cite web|title=Cliff Richard – Tomorrow Rising (1973, Vinyl)|url=https://www.discogs.com/release/7204807-Cliff-Richard-Tomorrow-Rising|website=Discogs|year=1973 |language=en|access-date=2021-10-18}}
"Help It Along" was re-recorded in September 1973 and included as the title track to Richard's gospel album Help It Along, released in June 1974.{{Cite web|title=Cliff Richard Song Database – Song Details (Help It Along [Album Version])|url=http://www.cliffrichardsongs.com/popup.php?data=HelpItAlong197340_popupplus|website=www.cliffrichardsongs.com}}
Track listing
7": EMI / EMI 2022
- "Help It Along" – 2:52
- "Tomorrow Rising" – 2:44
- "Days of Love" – 2:57
- "Ashes to Ashes" – 3:02
Personnel
Single version
- Cliff Richard – vocals
- Terry Britten – guitar, backing vocals
- Kevin Peek – guitar
- Alan Tarney – bass guitar, backing vocals
- Trevor Spencer – drums
- Barrie Guard – percussion
Album version
- Cliff Richard – vocals
- Terry Britten – guitar
- Kevin Peek – guitar
- Alan Tarney – bass guitar
- Anna Peacock – backing vocals
- Jean Hawker – backing vocals
- Cliff Hall – keyboards
- Patrick Halling – violin, orchestra leader
- Trevor Spencer – drums
- Barrie Guard – percussion, orchestra conductor
Chart position
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| Chart (1973)
!Peak |
|---|
| {{singlechart|UKsinglesbyname|29|artist=Cliff Richard|artistid=19899|rowheader=true|refname=uk}} |
References
{{reflist}}
{{Cliff Richard}}
{{Cliff Richard singles}}
{{authority control}}