It's an ICONIC song AND vocal performance from 1969, so WHAT'S going on?! 

The elegance of this perfection is why I feel autotune is a crime. Also, Tony Hicks is underrated-and adorable.

My all-time favorite by The Hollies. Let's never forget that the pianist on the studio recording is none other than the Legendary Sir Elton John.

Emotional content without being overly exaggerated. I can't help but get a little choked up everytime.

You could almost say you know it's going to be a Hollies song even before it starts ... they were just so very distinctive

Perhaps to state the obvious, The Hollies have to be up there as one of the best live bands EVER and Alan Clark’s delivery is so full of emotion. Thank you Fil for posting this wonderful clip.

One of the greatest songs of all times! The great 1960´s music at its best! 🎸🎤

Allan had a lot of range in his voice.The Hollies in their prime were such a tight,professional group.Definitely one of the great bands of the 60s and 70s.

Allan Clarke sings without any enhancements and it shows us he is human, just like us. There is no need for computerised fiddling as we can all sing along with the song with our inaccuracies and have a great time. Great job Fil, and another fascinating insight analysis into a great "human" band 🤟

The harmonica is amazing, it has always reminded me of a train whistle on the prairies as it approaches the pitch bends. It’s like the poignant reflection that this gorgeous song is.

As a 15 year-old when this was on the charts, all I heard was the emotion behind the lyrics. Love Alan Clarke's vocals and would prefer to listen to him than most of today's singers. The Hollies were fantastic. Thanks again Fil, for your analyses and for choosing such a variety of singing styles. You're right that we, as listeners, listen to and connect with the art of the voice, i.e. not seeking perfect pitch.

Personality, humanity isn't perfect and that's what makes it beautiful and approachable, singing with emotions and feeling

Alan Clarke's voice characteristic is so incredible!!! unique... Love it when he is harmonizing....

Allan Clarke, one of the most underrated singers of the 60s. I feel he doesn't get the credit he deserves. He truly is one of the best singers of the 60s.

Allan Clarke and the Hollies had the definitive version in my opinion. I still cry every time I hear it - so moving! I am glad that I grew up in a time where there were real singers and musicians and they were allowed to express themselves through voice and music. Phooey on auto tune and pitch correction 😂. Thank you Fil for sharing your knowledge and enjoying the performances with us.

I will forever remember the feeling when listening to this song. Being a little girl of about 8, it was on the car radio, as my brother and his wife and I were driving up Mt Victoria in Auckland. Not knowing if my Mum was going to die, or I was going to see her again, as she was being treated for cancer. The ache in my throat, trying not to cry, with my whole world crashing down around me was overwhelming. It still makes me cry, and I don't think I've ever recovered from the feeling of being totally alone and afraid

Love The Hollies! This one and "The Air That I Breathe" always move me.

You can't go wrong with Allen Clarke vocal skills, thanks Fil.

The Hollies bring me a memory of my brother... he loved "long cool woman (in a black dress") 😊 He would sing that song to me, he just loved the Hollies! Thank you Fil!🌷

Love this group & had their records. The Hollies are a British pop rock group formed in 1962 & known for their great harmonies. They had so many great songs such as "Bus Stop", "Stop Stop Stop", "On A Carousel", "Carrie Anne", "Just One Look", "Here I Go Again", "Look Through Any Window", "King Midas In Reverse", "Jennifer Eccles", "Long Cool Woman In A Black Dress" etc. "Graham Nash" was originally in this group & left in 1968 to form "Crosby, Stills & Nash". Neil Diamond also had a hit with this song "He Ain't Heavy He's My Brother" in 1970.

Few singers ever sang with so much emotion! He could make you cry; what a voice.

Just try singing this song without your voice wobbling. He struggles with the weight of his load but tells us it's no problem because it's his brother. The wobbles off pitch convey this emotion beautifully. That IS perfection.

Beautifully written (Bobby Scott and Bob Russell), beautifully performed, beautifully analysed.

Ah the days when people sang without pitch correction or autotune. Remember them? A mate of mine was working in a studio one weekend when the Little River Band was rehearsing in the studio next to him. They spent the ENTIRE weekend rehearsing their various harmonies for one verse - ONE VERSE. Even Glenn Frey publicly commented that LRB were the best vocal band on the planet. It would not have mattered where they were on the planet they would have known EXACTLY what note they needed to sing. Its the slight imperfections that make vocals sound so perfect.

Alan Clarke's voice always touches me and this one makes me cry every time. My brother died two years ago of a horrendous disease. Still so painful

This song is the first one about which I remember myself saying "this is my favorite song of all time", back in my early teens. It may not still be "my favorite song of all time", but it's definitely pretty high in the ranking. Absolutely breathtaking!

Fil, your streams are amazing. I was 17 when this came out. We all loved it. The lyrics and emotion were spot on for us. Thankfully no auto tune then. It was perfect as it was. Thank you for covering these great songs from my generation.

Ohhhh wings, this is a fantastic song, wonderful text. Do you know the reason for this song? "He ain’t heavy, Father… he’s m’ brother.” Those iconic words have symbolized the spirit of Boys Town for decades. But many people don’t know how it originated. Back in 1918, a boy named Howard Loomis was abandoned by his mother at Father Flanagan’s Home for Boys, which had opened just a year earlier. Howard had polio and wore heavy leg braces. Walking was difficult for him, especially when he had to go up or down steps. Soon, several of the Home’s older boys were carrying Howard up and down the stairs. One day, Father Flanagan asked Reuben Granger, one of those older boys, if carrying Howard was hard. Reuben replied, “He ain’t heavy, Father… he’s m’ brother.” But the story doesn’t end there. In 1943, Father Flanagan was paging through a copy of Ideal magazine when he saw an image of an older boy carrying a younger boy on his back. The caption read, “He ain’t heavy, mister… he’s my brother.” Immediately, the priest was reminded of a photo of Reuben carrying Howard at a Boys Town picnic many years before. Father Flanagan wrote to the magazine and requested permission to use the image and quote. The magazine agreed, and Boys Town adopted them both to define its new brand. Nearly 75 years later, the motto is still the best description of what our boys and girls at Boys Town learn about the importance of caring for each other and having someone care about them. “He ain’t heavy” is relevant beyond Boys Town, though. At some point in our lives, most of us have needed to be carried by someone, metaphorically speaking. And, at some point, we probably carried somebody else. We’re human. We stumble. And we look to each other for help when we do." www.boystown.org/blog/Pages/story-behind-aint-heavy.aspx

SUCH a beautiful track - the lyrics and the emotion in his voice gets me every time... I'm truly THANKFUL that I grew up during a time when Auto Tune/Pitch Correction wasn't available. THANKS, Fil!💕

You are so right Fil. This version of this song (to me) is the best. Timeless, the Hollies had so many hits, this one stands out. I think everyone who bought 45's had to have this. This made me think of another 60's band (they got over-shadowed by the 70's disco era,) the Bee Gees. Gotta get a message to you, and Words are just 2 that come to mind. They had the slow melodic sound similar to this but different at the same time. This is one of the best songs to come out of the 60's. Great analysis as always Fil.

My all-time favorite from The Hollies. I cry every time I listen. Hard to get much better.

What a beautiful song , and Fil's respect and love he's given it is beautiful. Very emotional. Thank you once again.

One of my all time favorites, a masterpiece, in my opinion.

I am 70 years old.. I didn't know what pitch correction was or autotune, but I have said for the last few years that singers all sound the same to me. Of course some of the younger people think I am just old and don't appreciate new music. I couldn't figure out what has been bothering me. But of course having grown up with the Beatles and so many great bands, what could I say? 😊

Singers that convey a piece of their soul in their singing are the best.Rockers that sing with attitude,give a lot more in their performances too...an edge.No matter what genre of music ,that lead singer has to bring it and do their job to make songs have meaning.

It's all about the humanity in the expression, particularly in the vocals, but across the board. That's where the art is. Tell it, Mr. Fil! You are a top notch educator as well as musician. I always appreciate your analyses. Thanks!

This song was recorded in 24 hours at Abby Roads Studio. It hit number 1 in 1969 and it was re-released in 1988 and hit number 1 again!!

Love this...how can a song convey emotion if the voice isn't allowed to be real, like it is here? Thanks, Fil.

Hi Fil…I am one of those golden oldies ladies! Remember this well…I was 23 years of age! The Osmond Brothers also did this one! I loved the Hollies version so much, although the Osmond’s were phenomenal too! Thanks for taking me back to my youth! ✌️

That harmonica intro hooked me into the original listening of the song,, then the lyric 'he aint heavy, he's my brother' was substantive and resonant enough to follow it through. A classic !..

A great song from my youth in the 60’s. Thanks for the analysis pointing out the imperfections which add to the character of the song. Thanks for this trip down memory lane, Fil!

You are so right, Fil - the personality is what draws us in, not pitch perfection on every note.

One of the greatest pop songs of all time.

Great example of emotional singing! Theirs is definitely the version I think of when I think of this song. And all what you explained is why my children and many others who were born after the great blues, soul and rock era (60's to very early 80's) still gravitate to this music. When the radio was staticy, and the car engine was loud and the windows were rolled down, do you think we could perfectly hear each word and note - no - it was the feeling and emotion of the song that caused us to want to hear it over and over again. Thank you for continuing to highlight this!

I graduated from high school in 1969 and was a fan of the Hollies from the beginning. Whenever I hear this song it Jets me right back to that year. What a time that was!

allan clarke is a simply awesome singer, and this song is him at his very best. if this song and his performance doesnt touch your heart id say theres something wrong with you.

I'm glad you noticed that little off-pitch harmonica at the beginning, I always loved that. It is so human and natural.

Really enjoyed this one! Years back I also liked The Osmonds version as well. Hollies were the best, but never heard a bad version. This song never gets old. Thanx, Fil

The variance in frequency of the human voice is the most perfect medicine. Huge blessings Fil, and All

I love the harmonies from the Hollies but Allan had the most beautiful voice.

I've always loved this song. It is so sad and beautiful and it can make me cry. I think Allen Clarke had an awesome voice and he did a beautiful job on this song. I agree that changing the voice through anything like a pitch corrector or auto tune would just take away the uniqueness of the voice and all the emotions that are put into a song. You did a tremendous job analysing Allen's voice. The amazing thing is that all the members of the Hollies are still alive! 🙂👍♥️

Autotune is a crime against music.

This video blew me away because I just downloaded Stop, Stop, Stop a few weeks ago. I loved the banjo in it. The use of it was so clever. He Ain't Heavy is sung beautifully. I love their harmonizing. You are absolutely right...young people today will say stuff like 'When does the song/singing start?' Not many intros nowadays. What a drag! Your breakdown of this song is excellent and interesting to watch.

This is a beautiful song! I remember this song from the past, when it came out. But I was young and could feel nothing good in my cold , broken, wounded heart. I am so glad I have been healed and can feel the love in this song.

Fil, as I am not a musician, but a music lover, your analyses always bring me new understanding of why I loved these songs. Thank you for your knowledge and integrity. Janet from Louisiana☮🖤🤘

That harmonica... sets up the song like nothing else. Song made me cry. Like I'm hearing it for the first time. I remember it as a kid it didn't have the same impact. Is it possible the best pop music is behind us now?

Imagine that. Can people really be surprised that using a machine to perfect your voice takes the humanity out of it. Thanks for the cool analysis and for advocating for the real human voice.

I always find that your reviews give me so much more to appreciate in every song. Thanks for that! ❤

Great analysis as usual Fil. Many thanks. The Hollies were wonderful and had their own sound and were very talented performers. All the greats have their own sound

Beautiful song form a terrific band❤

I was in high school and to this day, this song can choke me up. Where are songs of this quality now?

I don’t know how much gain was applied to the mic input but when he hits those first high notes I’m pretty sure the VU meters slammed into the red. It reminds me of the story when Roy Orbison recorded his vocals for the Travelling Wilburys and Jeff Lynne had to rip of his headphones and ask Roy to step back from the microphone because the levels were just too high. There’s no substitute for the power and emotion of the human voice.

This song is SO Beautiful! Alan, the harmonies, the instruments! (And the pocket squares :)

Thanks for doing this song Fil. Alan seemed to have a fantastic ability to pick just the right thing to do during the entire course of the songs the group performed. As he got older, I feel he just got better with his voice.

Hey Fil, thanks for the great analysis of this marvellous anthem from my favourite band! What I always love when you analyse singers like this is you go into a lot of detail but, at the same time, with the respect and affection that they deserve. The thing about Clarkey is that he was never a great singer, technically. However, he was a fantastic vocalist, which this song really highlights, as there isn't anyone who can touch his interpretation of this song. I say "was" because, sadly, he developed vocal problems and, particularly in the mid-to-late 1990's, his performances suffered. However, I had the privilege of seeing the band many times in the 90's and they blew the roof off the place every time! I recommend that you check out "Here In My Dreams" and "Sanctuary" by the Hollies, as these are, in my opinion, Allan's two finest vocal performances, as well as being cracking songs. I don't know if you're aware, but Allan has got back into singing after a 20 year hiatus and has a new album coming out on 12th April. Of course, he's a lot older and his voice has changed massively, but he still delivers and it's unmistakably Allan Clarke! And with Graham Nash contributing a lot to the new album, it's like he's come full circle.

This is a classic song and performance, and like you say, the emotion of the song and the personality of the performer is in all the little details that definitely don't need to be "corrected". Your analysis videos have made me understand now that I realized something was "going on" in the music industry 10-12 years ago, but I didn't understand what. I was traveling and had nothing to listen to but a pop station, and I kept hearing these young female vocalists, and every time I would say, "okay, that's Britney Spears." And then it would be someone else, over and over. They all sounded like Britney Spears to me (the one exception being Lady Gaga), and I couldn't understand it, it seemed weird. Now I know why, thanks to your analyses. At least I know I'm not going crazy!

Wow, this really truly is a beautiful song. ❤️ And it's a perfect illustration of your point, Fil. The lyric is so deeply emotional---and it's all about real love. How hollow it would end up sounding if technical tweaking erased all the little imperfections of such a heartfelt delivery. Thank you Fil!

The Osmonds do a beautiful take on this and their family harmony is great but also so full of emotion as they sing together as brothers. I recommend it.

Oh, and if you've never done any Three Dog Night you might want to take a look. Nice harmonies, very recognizable voices and style. They had TONS of hits. You can find videos of them performing live all over YT. They were all over the place, sound wise, not where every song sounds exactly like all the others. Old Fashioned Love Song would be a great one to do, I think. Or Shambala, or ONE, or Eli's Comin, or Family of Man, or any one of about fifteen other hits they had. They were VERY popular. Great music, too.

This is a soulful and touching masterpiece! It takes me back and still moves me.

I would have been 7 years old at the time, not at the age that you’d sit around purposefully listening to groovy music or buying albums😂 but, I know all the words to this and other songs of the 60’s-80’s, after all this time. I’m sure I can thank my Mum who always had the radio playing in the kitchen. Is it any wonder that we connect so deeply to these songs? They are full of feeling, and they were the constant background entertainment going on in my young life. Thanks for appreciating, and making me appreciate these oldies but goodies, Fil.🤟😊

This song is a Classic. Great vocals, Great song, Great production, Great Band. And as always Great Video by Fil.

I did not “get” this song, when I was younger, when it came out. I have, with age, grown to understand it. I was excited to see your analysis. What a great piece. ❤️

This song is one of my favorites. That slurred harmonica, the singer's voice, everything is great. It's shame that the Hollies never really got their due and weren't as popular here in America. Oddly, I heard a story that the records for the US were pressed incorrectly and actually sped up.

Excellent! You let me love the performance even more than I already did! Thank you, Fil, as always.

I was in elementary school when this version was popular. I loved it then and still do. I looked up the Neil Diamond version and the Osmond Brothers for comparison. Allan Clarke with The Hollies harmonizing is definitely my favorite of the three with the Osmonds and Diamond second and third. As much as I like Diamond his version of this is not his well suited to his delivery. This song sounds best with backing harmonizing IMO. Allan Clarke is truly great. Thanks for this analysis Fil.

Love your takes on music my friend. Special shout out as to how you pinpointed how beautiful Karen's voice was and how even more pitch accurate it was live. Amazing.

Thanks for this great analysis of the Hollies' performance. It's been ages since I've heard this lovely iconic song. I could hear the emotion and the conversational quality in Allan Clarke's voice. I hope you don't take this wrong way but when you mentioned that "all of the greatest singers sing flat," it triggered this memory: I was studying for my music therapy internship. My supervisor told me that singing flat was forbidden, that I kept singing flat, and that I "should consider collecting garbage." Nevertheless, I continued to sing and play music despite what she said for the years to follow. Anyway, thanks for providing fascinating insight and that inaccuracies are part of what make a singer/musician/band unique as well as what makes a song memorable. Bravo, Fil!

So much to love in this song and your analysis. I have a lot of favorite songs from this era, but this has now rocketed to the top. You have an amazing ability to mimic the singer(s) and even sing alternative ways he might have done it. You hear every detail and pause at important parts to emphasize special qualities. I wouldn’t change a thing about Allen Clarke’s performance or the harmonies with the band. I’ll say it again: There’s so much to love in this song. Thank you for the creative work you put into each of these analyses and your passion for great music and emotional content. Btw, I saw the Hollies live in 1969 perform this song in a college gymnasium in Latham, NY. It was an emotional experience then and it still has an impact on me now.

This song by The Hollies and Bridge Over Troubled Waters are two songs that really impacted me when they first came out and still pack an emotional punch all these years later.

My goodness so much fantastic music you great Brits have given to all of us - Did see The Hollies once in Copenhagen. Great band and delivered the vocals also live- just like the Beach Boys, also in Tivoli, Copenhagen :) Thank you :)

Thank you once again, Fil. Solid backing vocals on this iconic song as well as stellar work by Allan. I love how unjaded this song is, and as always I appreciate your ability to tell us everything that works to make it great.

Hi Fil, This is a wonderful analysis of a poignant song and powerful vocal delivery. Allan really feels and expresses true emotion and reverence for the song and it’s message. The sharps/ flats are really not a detriment to the song, but glad we could “see” through the pitch monitoring software how it doesn’t make a difference, it’s just a great song! Love the harmonica and the harmonies. Great job on this one Fil! An Iconic and classic song that never gets old. Thanks for analyzing this awesome song. Have a great night! Debbie☮️

Beautiful lyrics and performance....we need more sentiments like this today....another professional analysis, Fil! Thanks as always.❤

Loved your analysis of this great song, Fil, as I always enjoy all you do! The Hollies were a great band; I was so blessed to have been young during that time period. I especially love your analyses of music during the 60's "British Invasion" and also the 70's and 80's. There is no music being made today that can even come close. I think you're exceptionally talented, I very much enjoy your music, covers of others' songs and, of course, the analyses. Thanks much for all you do! Rosemarie 💖

And a word for one of the finest drummers of his generation. His beat placement is impeccable and cadences really understated. He’s a real ‘under the radar’ guy and worth listening to on the full band version of this video - easily found.

This is why people born after 1990's are discovering through reaction videos of how good singers and bands were between the 1950's - 1980's, as the music provides emotion, expression, light and shade. This song was relevant in 1969 as it is today, as families still struggle and give support to a family member is no different between the decades.

I've loved this song for years - both this one, and Neil Diamonds version. Did some research on the back story - had no idea Elton John played piano on this! Thanks Fil.

This song touches my heart. I love it!

This is such a great song by The Hollies. It's one of my favorites. The lyrics have so much meaning and Allan's vocals are so expressive. I enjoyed this analysis including your singing examples of the vocal slides. 😊🎵

Great vocals, great analysis. Hollies first big hit after Graham Nash left the band.

Beautiful! Alan has an amazing voice!Great choice Fil✌️🎵

The Hollies are awesome musical artists. The lead singer is so talented. The harmonies really make this song come to life.

The Hollies were a great rock band from the 60's. I still love their music. the reverb tank was huge in that studio.

With tears in my eyes Fil,, many thanks for this song anaylis. My brother passed away 3 yrs ago, he was only 52 yrs. old.I was in rehab recovering from a stroke I had. His passing was such a shock, I had this song played at his memorial.

Beautiful song. Didn't realize who sang it originally haha. Older music such a different feel. Thanks Fil😊🎶🎙🎵🎼🌛

Don here from Hamilton NZ, I watched this group live in Hamilton NZ, many years ago and they were absolutely Stunning, in the Hamilton Showground's building, what a show!!😊

One of my favourite things to listen to is the evolution of Allan Clarke from those early hits to a song like this one. He always sang wholeheartedly and passionately, and even when I first got into them as a teen in the '80s, I loved the sheer nasal force of his voice, but here... he found the deepest of English soul. I read somewhere that he had a cold when they recorded this, which may account for the slight rasp during the bridge... and makes his performance all the more stunning.

Thanks for your expert analysis. 🎸

I also love The Osmonds renditions of this song... Their harmonies are exquisite.

Such a beautiful song - I loved the Hollies. This is a great channel - Thank you Mr Fil. ❤✌